This tale is drawn from Carl Carmer’s 1955 book, The Susquehanna, a work that captures the rich folklore and history of the region. Carmer, one of America’s most celebrated writers of the 1940s and 1950s, wove vivid narratives that continue to captivate readers today. This particular story delves into the legend of a lost Spanish treasure, said to be hidden somewhere on Turkey Hill, high above the Susquehanna River.
Spanish Treasure on Turkey Hill
In the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where the rolling hills meet the mighty Susquehanna River, legends abound of buried treasures and forgotten fortunes. Among these tales is the story of Joe and the cursed Spanish gold of Turkey Hill.
Joe was just a young man when he first heard whispers of the treasure. The source was an Indigenous elder, a quiet man who spoke sparingly but with an authority that silenced all around him. One summer evening, as the sun cast golden hues across the river, the elder shared his story:
“High atop Turkey Hill, hidden beneath the earth, lies a chest filled with Spanish gold, left behind by men who never returned to claim it. The treasure is there, but it is guarded by a powerful curse—one that has already claimed many lives.”
Joe’s heart raced at the thought of untold riches. “How can the curse be broken?” he asked, leaning closer.
The elder’s face darkened. “It is said that only the blood of a pure white dog, sprinkled in a circle around the treasure, can break the spell. But mark my words,” he warned, “this is no mere tale. The curse is real, and those who seek the gold invite disaster upon themselves.”
Joe dismissed the elder’s warning as superstition. A young man with more ambition than sense, he saw only the gleam of gold in his mind’s eye. But he lacked the means to search alone. So he persuaded a wealthy local patron—rumored to be a collector of unusual artifacts—to fund an expedition.
With the promise of treasure as bait, Joe assembled a team of men and set out for Turkey Hill. They scoured the hilltop, digging by day and poring over maps and strange symbols by lantern light at night. But days turned to weeks, and the treasure eluded them.
The men grew restless, muttering about the elder’s curse. At first, Joe dismissed their fears, insisting they were close. But as hole after hole yielded nothing but dirt and stone, doubt crept into his mind. Could the curse be real?
Desperation led Joe to reconsider the elder’s words. He decided they had no choice but to perform the ritual. But finding an all-white dog in Lancaster County was no easy feat. Joe and his men combed the countryside, asking farmers and townsfolk, but such a creature seemed impossibly rare—or perhaps the curse itself kept it hidden.
After weeks of fruitless searching, Joe’s frustration boiled over. If a white dog could not be found, perhaps another pure white animal might suffice. One of his men suggested a lamb, a creature often associated with innocence and sacrifice. Joe seized upon the idea.
Under a pale moon, the men brought the lamb to Turkey Hill and performed the ritual. They sprinkled its blood around a freshly dug hole, reciting words Joe had heard from the elder. For a moment, the night seemed to hold its breath. But when the wind rose and blew out their lanterns, they realized the ritual had failed.
No gold. No answers. Only the eerie silence of the hilltop and the growing certainty that they had invoked forces they did not understand.
Defeated and haunted, Joe abandoned the search, vowing never to return. The legend of the Spanish gold faded into local folklore, a cautionary tale whispered around campfires and over tavern tables. Some say the treasure is still there, hidden beneath the cursed soil of Turkey Hill, waiting for the one brave—or foolish—enough to seek it.
And as the story goes, if you ever find yourself on Turkey Hill, armed with the courage to defy the curse, remember: the key to the treasure lies not in maps or tools but in the blood of an all-white dog.
Disclaimer
Killing a white dog is not going to help you find a buried treasure at Turkey Hill or anywhere else, for that matter. In fact, killing a dog of any color will land you in a lot of trouble. Please do not attempt for any reason.
Resources
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1864 Map of Manor Township, Lancaster County, PAPrice range: $24.99 through $25.99