Joseph Root (1860 – 29 October 1912) was a well-known hermit who lived in what is now Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania. Root lived on Presque Isle without any modern conveniences.
As one of the first permanent inhabitants to the peninsula (Presque Isle wasn't declared an official state park until 1921), he built a number of shacks in various parts of the peninsula to suit the particular activity of any given day.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.
Root would have built his shacks out of driftwood, packing crates and anything else that washed up on shore.Root hunted and fished to support himself in the harsh environment - he would become fond of raw fish in particular. Reportedly a dead cow once washed up on the shore of Presque Isle and Root fed off of it for an entire week (without using any implements to either cook or eat the animal).Root also ate local wild plants.
Root was a favorite with local children, entertaining them with ventriloquism and stories about his "friends".These friends were called the Jee-Bees; they were highly invisible nature spirits who could accurately predict the weather.During long winter nights, Root would walk to Erie to spend some time at the local poorhouse. Locals could sometimes see him walking on State Street with either a fishing net or a cane pole.
No Night caching
