In 1888, the New York Times shared a story about a unique type of apple. These apples were described as "cherry-red" on the outside and had a "snowy interior." However, what caught people's attention was the "large red globule near the heart of the fruit resembling a drop of blood." This unusual characteristic sparked an investigation, but no theories could explain it as well as the legend of "Micah Rood's curse," according to the Times.
The tale of Micah Rood and his prized apples takes place in the 1700s, specifically in Franklin and Windham, Connecticut. He was known for his remarkable apples and guarded his orchards and unique variety fiercely. According to the Times, there is a legend that a peddler carrying valuable jewels was found murdered under an apple tree on Rood's farm with his pack ransacked. Despite denying any involvement, he fell under suspicion and subsequently became reclusive and unsuccessful.
The apples from the tree where the slain man was discovered, known as the "bloody heart" apples, appeared in the following autumn. According to the Times, this was seen as a sign of retribution for the man's killer, who was believed to be Rood. The newspaper claims that Rood meets his demise shortly after the apples appear. However, there is another account with a different outcome. It is said that once rumors began spreading about Rood being responsible for the peddler's death, he retreated from society.
According to local legend, when he hadn't been seen for some time, the townspeople embarked on a search. Eventually, they discovered that he had hung himself in an apple tree in his orchard. Interestingly enough, after his death, the apples on that particular tree began to show a red hue. However, the story does not end there. The Daily Constitution of Middletown, Connecticut published a version of events entitled "The Legend of Micah Rood" in 1876. In this rendition, Rood's motives for the murder differ. He believes he is taking revenge for his father's death at the hands of a Frenchman and mistakenly targets a German peddler. When news arrives that the peddler's friends are offering a reward for information about their missing comrade from Philadelphia, Rood realizes his mistake. Trying to help his mother by earning the reward money, he confesses and reveals the location of the peddler's body under one of his apple trees before taking his own life in that same orchard.
As stated in the book Apples of Uncommon Character, while Franklin farmers eagerly grafted from the original Rood tree to produce their own crimson-cored apples, perpetuating the Rood curse myth, the fruit ultimately vanished around 1888.