Hydesville The Story of the Rochester Knockings, Which Proclaimed the Advent of Modern Spiritualism

"Hydesville" by Thomas Olman Todd is a deep look into the beginnings of Modern Spiritualism in the 1800s, told from a historical perspective written in the early 1900s. The narrative focuses on the strange happenings around the Fox family in Hydesville, New York, particularly the experiences of sisters Margaretta and Kate, who heard mysterious rapping noises in their house in 1847. As the disturbances grew, they tried to understand where the sounds came from and accidentally discovered they could talk to spirits. With help from neighbors and curious investigators, the family learned that the knockings answered questions and even revealed stories about the past, like the story of a murdered salesman. The book captures the profound spiritual revelations and the huge changes they brought to society, highlighting the Fox sisters' part in starting an age of spiritual exploration.