Witching For Water
St. Clair County Courier
4 February 2005
Historical Society
As pioneers came into St. Clair County they looked for a branch or spring for
their water supply but everyone couldn’t live by a water supply. Maybe it had
been a dry year and the creek went dry, so the next step would be to dig a well.
Digging by hand was a lot of work and most times did not produce water, so what
did they do? Hopefully there was a person nearby that could witch or dowse for
water.
A water-witcher is someone who, with the help of a V-shaped stick, might find
water. Most say any kind of stick would work, as long as it is green and pliable
but maybe a peach stick is best. Some say anyone can learn to witch, but about
one out of a thousand is more accurate. However, everyone agrees that it’s just
a gift from God. It doesn’t matter what kind of stick you use. The main thing is
to believe in it yourself.
The witcher finds, or brings a stick, kind of in the shape of a chicken’s
wishbone, and trims off the leaves. Actually, some witchers may use a clothes
hanger, a metal wire or something else in the shave of a V. He grips the two
long ends in each hand, the single end pointing ahead. He walks until the
pointing end starts twitching, then turning down to point where to dig for the
water. Some say as soon as the stick starts twitching, it will tell how deep you
will find water, but it is also said that not every body can do that.
Now that they knew where to dig, the digging will begin. A Foxfire book, volume
four told how pioneers dug. To dig by hand, three people are really needed, one
to dig and two to wind the windlass that cranks the bucket of dirt, rock, water
or digger up and down. One of the two is needed to keep the rim clean so dirt
wouldn’t fall on the person doing the digging. To begin, some traced around a
wagon rim for the size to dig.
Then they started to dig. The tools for digging were a short handed mattlock and
shovel. They dug straight down to water. Some went a few feet, others a lot
further. Once they hit water they would go down another 6-8 feet to make sure it
was a good strong stream, and to provide for lots of storage space. Then they
would rock the walls four feet above the water level or all the way up if the
walls were weak.
Digging by hand was very dangerous. They may have to blast through rock, walls
would fall in or gas would build up. The bucket rope could break and fall on
you, or could break while bringing up the dirt or digger. A digger could earn 40
cents a day on top, 50 cents a foot through dirt and $1 a foot through rock.
Some spent thousands to pay a commercial well digger, and finally use the
services of a witcher. A fee for witching is not required for most, or was it in
pioneer days. Something usually was given as payment, however.
The internet tells of several scientific studies to determine if witching is a
real science, but determined there was none. Most considered it was witchcraft,
or just a foolishness. But they all agreed that it works.
Water witching is still used today. There just isn’t as much need for one with
water lines and companies selling water. We do still have a few left in St.
Clair County today. Ask around and someone can tell you of someone. But there
are many satisfied persons who have used the services of a water-witcher.
The St. Clair County Historical Society will have its next meeting at Peggy’s
Restaurant in Collins, Feb. 8 with Dr. Kevin Evans of SMSC as speaker. He will
tell us of the new findings and progress of the Weaubleau Crater. The meeting
will begin at 7 p.m. All are welcome to come hear a little more of our county’s
history.