According to the most common version of the legend, the woman known as the Witch of 8th Street lived there during the mid-20th century. Known to neighbors as Elara, she was a recluse who rarely ventured out during daylight. Those who caught a glimpse of her described a figure draped in heavy, dark fabrics, her hands always stained with the juices of the herbs she grew in her hidden backyard garden. While some feared her, others sought her out under the cover of night, seeking remedies for ailments that traditional medicine couldn't touch.