Southwick’s Own "Believe It or Not!"
— A Southwick Time Machine Oddity
On July 13, 1821, a fire of unknown origin broke out at a powder works in Southwick, Massachusetts. Inside the sifting mill was 21-year-old Julius Lee, the only person in the building at the time.
Julius Lee was born in Southwick in 1800. He was the son of Campbell Lee, who owned the powder works with Messrs. Booth & Co. of Westfield and Colonel Enos Foote of Southwick.
The sifting mill exploded first. Within seconds, the pounding mill, located about ten rods away, also exploded. The blast was reportedly heard and felt 10 to 12 miles away.
Although severely injured, Julius did not die immediately. He survived for about an hour, but his injuries were so extensive that no account of the accident could be obtained from him.
When his body was examined, some of his bones were found to be broken. He was blackened by the smoke of the powder but was otherwise not greatly disfigured or bruised.
Julius Lee was buried in Southwick Cemetery. His gravestone records the cause of his death, stating that he “... exploded in a powder mill,” a detail rarely found on cemetery markers today.
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| Julius Lee’s grave in Southwick Cemetery, Southwick, Massachusetts |
The destruction of the powder works resulted in considerable property loss. The accident came about a year after another powder mill explosion in Southwick. In May 1820, a blast destroyed a powder mill and seriously injured one man.
More than a century later, Southwick’s Julius Lee appeared in one of America’s most popular newspaper columns.
In 1932, Robert Ripley featured Julius Lee in his nationally distributed Believe It or Not! series.
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| Believe It or Not! cartoon panel about Julius Lee, March 1932 |
By that time, Believe It or Not! had become one of the most recognizable newspaper features in America, sharing unusual stories and remarkable facts with readers throughout the country.
Julius Lee was not the only Southwick story to appear in Ripley’s work. In early 1934, Believe It or Not! featured another Southwick curiosity, a birch tree that had grown completely through a white pine tree on Malone’s pasture near Congamond Lake.
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| Believe It or Not! cartoon panel featuring the Congamond Lake tree, 1934 |
— A Curious Story from the Southwick Time Machine
Julius Lee
1800 — July 13, 1821
“How sudden was the fatal stroke,
When the Lord his summons spoke”
When the Lord his summons spoke”
Legendary Explorer Robert Ripley
Robert Ripley published his first Believe It or Not! book in 1929.
In 1930, he signed with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and began a 14-year run in radio.
His second Believe It or Not! book was published in 1931. That same year, he began producing movie shorts for Vitaphone Pictures, made by Warner Bros.
In 1933, Ripley opened his first Odditorium as part of the Chicago World's Fair.
Believe It or Not!
began as a newspaper panel featuring bizarre events and unusual items
that challenged readers to decide whether the claims were true. It later
expanded into books, radio, films, television, comic books, museums,
and other formats.
Today, the Ripley collection includes approximately 20,000 photographs, 30,000 artifacts, and more than 100,000 cartoon panels.
Southwick appeared in Ripley's work again in early 1934, when Believe It or Not!, produced by King Features Syndicate, featured a birch tree that had grown completely through a white pine tree on Malone's pasture near Congamond Lake.
Robert Ripley collapsed and died while filming his television program in 1949.
Author’s Note
The story of Julius Lee is only one small piece of the fascinating world created by Robert Ripley. Beyond Believe It or Not!, Ripley was an explorer who traveled the globe searching for unusual people, places, and discoveries that challenged readers to look at the world differently.
I encourage you to explore more about Ripley’s life, travels, and the remarkable collection of oddities that grew into one of the most recognizable names in popular culture.
You won't be disappointed. — Ross
This article is based on original primary-source research, including official records and documents, census data, Ripley's Believe or Not! archives, Robert Ripley biographies, and period newspapers and directories.
Southwick Time Machine stories are living documents. Research is ongoing, and this account may evolve as new information comes to light.
Photographs accompanying this story are authentic, unless
otherwise noted. In keeping with historical preservation standards, some
of the images may have been digitally enhanced for clarity and detail,
without
altering the original subjects.
There are still countless forgotten stories waiting to be uncovered.
Researching these stories takes time, dedication, and access to historical records. Your support helps preserve the past and bring more hidden pieces of local history back to life.
Thank you for helping keep these stories alive.
Researching these stories takes time, dedication, and access to historical records. Your support helps preserve the past and bring more hidden pieces of local history back to life.
Thank you for helping keep these stories alive.
Edited Out/Author's Additional Research Notes
Ownership of the powder works is listed two different ways: "Messrs. Booth & Co., Westfield, Campbell Lee, and Col. Enos Foote." One source states it was owned by Smith, Booth & Co. but this does not appear correct. Some sources spell Booth as Boothe, which appears to be incorrect.
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