York County, PA – Over a century ago, a secluded farm nestled in North Hopewell Township became the dark backdrop for a tale that mingled archaic folk beliefs with a brutal murder that would grip and horrify a community. Nelson Rehmeyer, the farmer at the heart of this story, was an enigmatic figure known locally for his reclusive tendencies as well as his engagement in powwowing, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch form of ritual healing.
In the 1920s, this practice drew both needy and nefarious elements to his doorstep. His involvement in powwowing would eventually spiral into obsession, causing estrangement from his wife and placing him at the center of a fearsome rumor – that he was a malevolent witch capable of casting devastating hexes on the unsuspecting.
The accusations bore fatal consequences in November 1928. Driven by fear and desperation, three individuals – John Blymyer, John Curry, and Wilbert Hess – believed themselves to be cursed by Rehmeyer. Their solution was grim: to eliminate the source of their supposed affliction. They confronted Rehmeyer in his home, resulting in his death from a violent attack that ended with his body being set on fire, an act meant to destroy evidence of their crime. However, the fire did not take hold, and Rehmeyer’s remains were discovered days later, leading to public outrage and a murder trial that would be followed across the nation.
The incident exposed York County’s secretive pocket of powwowing at a time when such practices were being overshadowed by modern medicine and viewed skeptically at best, maliciously at worst. Newspapers of the day depicted the event as a primitive act of violence rooted in superstition reminiscent of medieval witch-hunts, portraying York – only 100 miles from the medically progressive city of Philadelphia – as a backward place steeped in arcane rituals.
Despite a broad push from the medical and legal communities to quash powwowing, which they considered quackery, the practice persisted discreetly among communities with deep-rooted cultural ties to the old ways.
The trial itself was a watershed moment for local law enforcement and the judicial system, illuminating the need for scientific understanding to combat ignorance and fear. Blymyer and Curry received life sentences, while Hess was handed a lighter sentence of 10 to 20 years due to his lesser involvement. None served their full terms; Blymyer and Curry were released in the mid-20th century, with Curry going on to serve in the military and Blymyer working as a night watchman until his death.
The murder also significantly impacted the careers of several figures involved in the trial. Blymyer’s attorney, Herbert Cohen, notably advanced to roles as a state House majority leader, attorney general, and state Supreme Court justice between 1957 and 1970.
Historical analysis suggests that the Rehmeyer case was a catalyst for change in how unconventional medical practices were perceived and treated in the region. Following the trial, York’s medical infrastructure developed rapidly, setting the stage for improved health care access and education. Today, Rehmeyer’s house still stands, a lonely testament to a past marred by fear and misunderstanding.
The infamous murder has continued to captivate public imagination, inspiring films, documentaries, and even haunted hayrides, showing that despite attempts to suppress powwowing, both the practice and the intrigue surrounding it endure.