7 Things to Know about Joe Root, “The Hermit of Presque Isle”

Recently, I visited the Heritage Room at Blasco Library and came across some interesting information that had nothing at all to do with why I was there. But such is the way of research. You often find treasures you weren’t looking for, and as long as you don’t get carried away with your detours, it’s just fine to take them.

Now, if you’re a northwestern Pennsylvania local, you’ve certainly heard of Joe Root. He’s a legend in every household. There’s even a restaurant named for him, and that restaurant has a nice biography about Mr. Root on its menu.

While looking for information on William E. Dimorier, a long-time research subject of mine, I came across the article, “Joe Root Man of Mystery” in Tales of Old Erie by John G. Carney, which I found in the Heritage Room at the Blasco Library in Erie, PA. Here are seven of the most fascinating points Carney included in his article:

1. “He had the appearance of a dreamer. He would sit and stare out on the water for hours at a time.” With all that sitting and staring, Joe didn’t have much use for personal hygiene. His hair was long and stringy, he didn’t shave or wash, and he was crawling with lice. He wore second-hand clothing, and his favorite item was an old bear-skin coat.

2. He would occasionally come across Presque Isle Bay to the City of Erie, and despite his odd appearance, he usually got along well with everyone there. 

3. Joe would eat anything available and would fill his basket with whatever he could find. Nuts, roots, and a dead fish here or there made up his usual diet.

4. He lived in a dry-goods box open on one side. One hot summer, he figured out how to air-condition his home by nailing a cantilevered board on top of the box. From that board, he hung an old pair of pants with ice in the pockets.

5. Joe was a ventriloquist and would entertain many Presque Isle visitors. He would rap on the pier and call down to greet one of his deceased friends. A voice would answer as if it had come from under the pier, but it came from Joe, of course. Joe would ask how things were going down there, and the voice would reply that it was burning hot.

6. In 1903, Joe was accused of stealing fishing tackle from a boat-house. Joe maintained his innocence, and many prominent Erie citizens vouched for his character, including U.P. Rossiter, who would later become an Erie County judge. Mr. Rossiter testified that although he did not think Joe had “all his buttons,” he also didn’t believe that the eccentric man would deliberately commit a theft. Joe Root was found not guilty, but he said he liked the jail so much, he didn’t want to leave.

7. Eventually, as Joe got older and was unable to care for himself anymore, the county officials convinced him to “visit” the county home. Even though he had enjoyed his jail experience, “The confinement at the County Home proved his undoing. Poor Joe was like a caged animal. He missed the freedom of his beloved peninsula.” As his behavior became more and more unmanageable, he was transferred to Warren State Hospital, where he died in 1912.

In John Kupetz’ article on Joe Root for the Erie Press in 1971, he referenced the same source I found in the Heritage Room, but I’ve added a little more color in my seven things above. Kupetz’ article was entitled, “Legendary Joe Root. . . Erie’s ‘Henry Thoreau,” and it was recapped in an Old Time Erie blog, “Whatever Happened to Joe Root?” In addition, local-writer Gene Ware, wrote, “A Short History of Presque Isle’s Former Resident Hermit” for the Erie Times-News in 2018.

Do you have more stories to share about Joe Root? Comment below!