Joe Root | |
|---|---|
 Root while residing at Presque Isle State Park (circa 1890s) | |
| Born | 1860
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | 1912 (aged 51–52)
Warren, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Resting place | Odd Fellow Cemetery ( Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Known for | Well-known hermit who lived in Presque Isle State Park; lived completely off the land |
Joseph Root (1860 – 29 October 1912) was a well-known hermit who lived in what is now Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, [1] [2][ better source needed] Root lived on Presque Isle without any modern conveniences. [3] He has sometimes been nicknamed "the King of the Peninsula" [2] or "the King of Presque Isle". [4]
Life
Presque Isle State Park
Root moved away from his childhood home to Presque Isle while still in his adolescent years. [1] [2] He was one of the first permanent inhabitants to the peninsula (Presque Isle wasn't declared an official state park until 1921 [5]). There was also a lighthouse keeper who resided at the park during the late 19th century and he often had his tomatoes swiped by Root. [3]
Root hunted and fished to support himself in the harsh environment – he would become fond of raw fish in particular. [6] There was a rumor that a dead cow once washed up on the shore of Presque Isle and Root fed off of it for an entire week. [6] Root also ate local wild plants such as wild cattails, duck potatoes, spatterdocks, rice, blueberries, dewberries, and wild strawberries. [3]
Root was a favorite with local children, entertaining them with ventriloquism and stories about his "friends". [1] [2] These friends were called the Jee-Bees (alternatively known as either GBs [3] or jeebies [6]); they were invisible nature spirits [7] who could accurately predict the weather. [1] [2] During long winter nights, Root would walk to Erie to spend some time at the local poorhouse. [6] Locals could sometimes see him walking on State Street with either a fishing net or a cane pole. [6]
Later life
Root was committed to the Warren State Hospital for the Insane in Warren, Pennsylvania, on 14 April 1910 after a short stay at an Erie-area poorhouse. [6]
Legacy
Joe Root is remembered in the Erie, Pennsylvania, area as a colorful character and something of a symbol of Erie's history. A now-shuttered local restaurant, Joe Root's Grill, whose last day open for business was 30 September 2019, honored his name, as does a winter golf tournament, Joe Root's Frostbite Open (sponsored by local businesses, one of which was the restaurant). [4] [8]
References
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Basic history of Joe Root". Joe Roots Grill. Archived from the original on 17 March 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( link) - ^ a b c d e "King of The Peninsula". Innvista. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ a b c d Richards, Dave (18 March 2010). "What was Joe Root, the legendary inhabitant of the peninsula, really like? Ask Brian Akula". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ a b Martin, Jim. "Erie's Joe Root's Grill has closed". GoErie.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Cupper, Dan (1993). Our Priceless Heritage: Pennsylvania's State Parks 1893-1993. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks. ISBN 0-89271-056-X.
- ^ a b c d e f Massing, Dana (10 March 2010). "Naturalist preserves history with Presque Isle program on Joe Root". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ Palmer, Joe. "Interview With Sean McGrath". Prism Comics. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ "Joe Root's Frostbite Open". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
