The Mad Gasser of Botetourt

The Mad Gasser of Botetourt, VA (and Mattoon, IL)

The unexplained "Mad Gasser" attacks began on December 22, 1933, in Botetourt when the home of Mrs. and Mrs. Cal Huffman, near Haymakertown, was attacked by a mysterious figure. At around 10:00 p.m., Mrs. Huffman grew nauseated after smelling something strange that apparently had been sprayed into her home.

A half-hour later, another wave of gas filled the house and Mr. Huffman went to the home of his landlord, K.W. Henderson, where he telephoned the police. Officer Lemon responded. After he left, another gas attack hit the Huffman home, filling both floors of the house. All eight members of the Huffman family, along with Ashby Henderson, were affected by the gas.

According to reports, the gas caused the victims to become very nauseated, gave them a headache and caused the mouth and throat muscles to restrict. No one could determine what kind of gas was used or who could have sprayed it into the house. The only clue that Lemon found at the scene was the print of a woman’s shoe beneath a window.

From then on, similar attacks occurred in Cloverdale (about 10 miles away)  on Christmas Eve;  December 27 in Troutville (also nearby); January 10, again in Haymakertown as well as one in Troutville; January 16 in Bonsack; January 19 in Cloverdale, January 21 (Cloverdale); and three more on January 22 in the Carvin's Cove area over a two-mile area.

On January 23, an attack occurred in the Pleasant Dale Church area (Lee's Gap). Other attacks occurred in Nace and Lithia, but after about 20 more reports in nearby Roanoke County, police decided that only the original few incidents were real and the rest hysteria. Newspapers reported the the unconvincing theory that faulty chimney flues and wild imaginations had caused the entire affair. Those who were attacked and police officers involved, like investigator Lemon, never accepted this explanation.

Similar attacks occured in Mattoon, IL, in 1944.

(As an aside, my great aunt, Ruth Harris Morris, remembered this incident, as one of the "gassing attacks" occurred in her neighbor's home).

1959

"The people of Troutville are grimly silent over the state's decision to build a convict camp within two miles of the town." - The Roanoke Times, November 30, 2009, in "Your Community"

2009

The Commonwealth of Virginia closes Camp 25, the Botetourt Correctional Unit located outside of Troutville, due to budgetary issues.

1909

"By the formation of of the Botetourt Canning Association perfected at a meeting held yesterday in Troutville by the majority of the substantial growers and canners of the county, a step was taken which is expected to be of great benefit to the canning interests of this part of the state."

As reported in The Roanoke Times, "Your Community," as part of its Looking Back section, May 11, 2009 (from the newspaper archives).

Troutville

Botetourt County’s youngest town is Troutville.

The town is larger than the county’s oldest town, Fincastle, by about 100 people. Troutville has around 430 residences; Fincastle has 350.

Troutville was incorporated in 1956. The community is older than that, though.

The Troutville Town Hall was rebuilt in the late 1980s following a disastrous fire. The town hall also houses the town’s volunteer emergency services.

Troutville has a budget of over $310,000, including its utility services. The town has 202 housing units. Those residents have a per capita income of $17,807 and 54.2 percent of them are employed. They spend 21.3 minutes getting to work every day.

The community of Troutville existed well before 1900. One source indicated there was a “Troutsville” post office in the area as early as 1868; a 1879 article in The Fincastle Herald lauds the community for its ability to grow fruit.

One report said the name was changed to “Troutville,” removing the “s,” in 1881, when the railroad came through. In any event, the name apparently refers to families named “Trout” who lived in the area.