Mrs. Root's Peculiar Footprints
— A Southwick Time Machine Original Mystery
Edward S. Root married Mary J. Blanchard on February 23, 1898. The couple later settled at 39 King Street in Westfield, Massachusetts. Edward was a whipmaker who also moonlighted as a well-known dance promoter for many of the city's major balls. Mary was prominent in Western Massachusetts fraternal circles, active in the Daughters of Rebekah and holding several positions within the order. With no children, she was free to travel, entertain friends, and attend gatherings.
 |
| Mrs. Mary Jane Root |
In early May 1920, Mary, a member of Eastern Star Rebekah Lodge, was appointed marshal of the Massachusetts assembly, then in session in Boston.
She remained socially engaged through most of that summer. On July 15, members of the Past Noble Grands' Club of Eastern Star Rebekah Lodge surprised her with a party at her home; she entertained them with a lawn party.
Mary observed her birthday on July 18, and about a week later fourteen friends arrived at her home around 4:00 p.m. and stayed through most of the evening. Tables were set up on the lawn for supper. Afterwards, several musical numbers were played, and the group presented Mary with a thermos and case.
On July 27, Mary traveled to New Haven, Connecticut, with her friend and associate Mrs. Frank A. Phelps. There they met Mrs. J. P. Fox, also of Westfield, who was visiting the city. The three women went on to Savin Rock and spent what was described as a most enjoyable day.
 |
| Savin Rock |
Edward and Mary had been planning a vacation to Nahant, Massachusetts, set to begin August 24.
They would never make the trip.
On Monday afternoon, August 23, at about two o’clock, while Edward was at work, Mary telephoned the Park Square Garage to have her automobile, which was there for minor repairs, made ready. She then went to the garage to pick it up.
Edward returned home from the whip factory at about five o'clock. Mary was not in the home. She routinely left her husband a note of her whereabouts, but no note was found.
When she didn't return home, Edward called the state authority of the Daughters of Rebekah; they hadn’t seen or heard from Mary. Edward then called the Park Square Garage.
A man at the garage took a car and drove Edward to Dry Bridge Road, a place Mary often went to pick berries and flowers. It was her girlhood haunt. There they found Mary’s automobile abandoned along the roadway, near the foot of Russell Mountain. It had been parked under a tree and securely locked. There was no sign of Mary. To their relief, there were no obvious signs of a struggle.
Some woodsmen helped Edward search for his wife. The surrounding country was wild and heavily wooded, and as darkness fell, Edward’s concern intensified. With still no sign of Mary, he notified Westfield authorities.
 |
| Park Square Garage (far right) |
Shortly before 9:00 p.m., a search party formed: about a dozen citizens, a special officer, and two patrolmen, dividing into three groups to spread through the countryside. They searched through the night despite difficult-to-navigate and dangerous terrain.
One of the search party groups came across a boys’ camp in a ravine. The boys told the searchers that around 7:00 p.m. they heard a man and a woman’s voices, and shortly after they heard a woman cry for help.
Then the officers received a report that complicated matters.
 |
| An 1898 print depicting various themes related to the work of the Rebekahs. |
In nearby Granville, a wealthy New York businessman named Ellis Latham was attacked by two masked men with guns. They had entered his country estate that same night and demanded he hand over his diamond ring and other valuables. Shots were fired; Latham was wounded.
With a prominent Westfield woman missing only hours earlier, authorities couldn't immediately rule out a connection. A patrolman searching for Mary was diverted to Granville, losing considerable time before he determined the two cases were unrelated and returned to Westfield to continue the search.
News of the Granville masked robbery spread quickly throughout New England and New York. Residents, already on edge due to Mrs. Root’s mysterious disappearance, became more fearful.
When daylight broke, the search for Mary accelerated. One of her shoes had a worn heel that left a distinctive impression in the ground. Walter J. Kellogg, familiar with the surrounding country, followed the peculiar footprints about a mile along an obscure wood road, then another half-mile through the woods after the trail left the road, ending at a high rocky ledge.
At approximately six o'clock on the morning of August 24, Walter Kellogg found Mary Root’s lifeless body in a crack in the ledge.
Mary's head was securely wrapped in a Turkish towel and a pillow slip, both saturated with chloroform, tied around her head with string taken from her silk sweater (one source describes it as the sweater's belt or sash). Near the body was a two-ounce bottle with traces of chloroform.
A note was found in her purse:
 |
| The words of Mary Root’s suicide note, August 1920 |
Associate Medical Examiner Robert D. Hildreth viewed the body, which was then taken to the undertaking rooms of the Lambson Furniture Company and later returned to the Root residence on King Street. Hildreth determined the death was suicide by chloroform. Mary had reportedly been suffering from melancholia for some time and was subject to very violent headaches.
Authorities later confirmed that either on her way to retrieve her car from the Park Square Garage, or shortly thereafter, Mary stopped at Judson's, a local drugstore at 26 Elm Street, and purchased a half-ounce of chloroform, which was dispensed into a two-ounce bottle.
A few weeks after his wife’s body was found, Edward S. Root spent a week to ten days at Provincetown on Cape Cod.
— Uncovered and preserved by the Southwick Time Machine
Mary Jane (Blanchard) Root
July 18, 1872 – August 23, 1920
This article is based on original primary-source research, including official records and documents, census data, 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.
Support the work of uncovering and preserving forgotten history.
It can only be done with your help.
Edited Out/Author's Additional Research Notes
Edward Spencer Root: November 12, 1867 – January 9, 1957
Walter Joseph Kellogg: July 22, 1890 – September 12, 1967
Thomas Charles Judson: November 17, 1846 – May 8, 1913
George Edie Judson: July 19, 1867 – July 11, 1925
Emma Francis Blanchard: May 13, 1876 – October 15, 1880
Edward Root died in a nursing home from chronic congestive heart failure on January 9, 1957.
Edward was a veteran in the once thriving whip industry in Westfield. He was a superintendent of the United States Whip Company.
Date conflicts surround Edward’s birthdate. Records differ on Edward's age at death. The November 12, 1867 birth date appears to be correct. His obituary says he was born in 1868.
Edward's parents were James Root and the former Miss Clara Harris.
Sources differ on how the towel and pillow slip were secured around Mrs. Root's head. Descriptions include string, a sash, or a belt - all from her sweater.
Mary Jane's brother, Charles Andrew Blanchard, suffered a heart attacked and died suddenly on August 18, 1937. About a month later, Charles' son got married.
After Mary's death, Edward received many flowers.
Mary had a sister, Emma Frances Blanchard, who died on October 15, 1880. Emma was only four years old.
Today, Daughters of Rebekah is known as the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies. Edward was a member of the Odd Fellows; Daughters is an women's auxiliary of that organization.
On June 18, 1913, Mrs. Root presided over a meeting of the Past Noble Grand Association of the Rebekah Lodge of Western Massachusetts at Odd Fellows' Hall. Approximately 40 guests were present.
On February 16, 1919, Mrs. Root sailed from New York City for Florida for an approximately four-week stay.
Some sources say the search party formed around midnight. This is not correct. The one search party resumed after the officer returned from Granville.
Some sources summarizing the events of the night say that the boys camping only heard a woman scream. This does not appear correct.
The Park Square Garage was once Fletcher’s Garage, a Socony gasoline dealer. Socony was formed after the Standard Oil monopoly breakup. Socony later became Mobil. Today it’s ExxonMobil.
Walter J. Kellogg's obituary has misinformation in it.
George E. Judson owned the popular Judson's Drugstore at 26 Elm Street in Westfield. He we very well-known throughout the greater Westfield area. The store held special events, including soda fountain nights.
Walter J. Kellogg was injured in a motorcycle accident on Loomis Street.
Walter J. Kellogg enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. (maybe as part of the draft??) He served in World War I.
Judson graduated from the College of Pharmacy in New York. He began his career as a clerk at Lillie & Simmons in Westfield and subsequently worked at several other drugstores. He later became a partner in the druggist firm Prout & Judson.
In addition to medicines, the business sold candy, ice cream, chocolate, cigars, and other goods.
Judson’s was also known for its window displays, which included a list of legislative acts, children’s artwork, the season’s best string of trout, and more.
George Edie Judson married Miss Mabelle Ana Stewart on June 10, 1902. Some sources give the marriage date as June 11. Mabelle died September 15, 1964.
George Judson was a partner in Prout & Judson Drugstore. While working at the store on July 7, 1906, George was directing a clerk on how to charge the soda tank. As the clerk was charging it, the tank exploded. The explosion shook the entire building. Fragments of the tank completely shattered Judson's right arm, crippling it permanently. It also tore a large hole in the drugstore floor. The clerk escaped without injury.
Judson's father, Thomas Charles Judson, was severely injured after being struck by an automobile on April 28, 1913. He died from his injuries on May 8, 1913.
George Judson was active in the Republican Party and served on the Republican Town Committee.
Ill health eventually forced Judson into retirement.
In early July 1925, George Judson became seriously ill. He died on July 11, 1925, at age 57.
A Massachusetts State Inspector paid an unexpected visit to several Westfield druggists and merchants on March 2, 1915. After the inspector found that Judson’s had camphor that did not meet the required standard, he issued a summons requiring George to appear in Westfield District Court the following morning to answer charges.
In the 1870s, Savin Rock became a popular seaside resort. There were restaurants, hotels, amusement rides, and games. Eventually an amusement park was added. The popular had several fun houses, including Bluebeard's, numerous games lined the midway, and at one time it had a mile long boardwalk.
Amazon may pay the Southwick Time Machine a small commission for any purchases you make when you access your Amazon account through any of the Amazon links on this page.