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American hermit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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 |
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 of 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]
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]
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]
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