Hydesville Memorial Park

1510 Hydesville Road Newark, NY 14513

 

    
 
The site where the Fox Sisters First Communicated with Spirit
  
 
The Birthplace and Shrine of Modern Spiritualism
  
             
         
 
  On December 11, 1847 the Fox Family moved to the rural community of Hydesville, New York.

During the last two weeks of March 1848, strange knockings were heard from the floors, the walls, the furniture at night.

During the night of March 31, 1848 Katie suddenly got the idea of talking to the knocks. She called out, "Here Mr. Split-foot (a common nickname for the devil) do as I do."

She rapped several times on the floor and the spirit responded with the same number of raps.

  
         
 

During the night of March 31, 1848 Katie suddenly got the idea of talking to the knocks. She called out, "Here Mr. Split-foot (a common nickname for the devil) do as I do."

She rapped several times on the floor and the spirit responded with the same number of raps.

    
         
 
 

 

The breakthrough had been made! This was the first recognition that Spirit had intelligence. A system was established for asking questions and Spirit would rap once for yes, and no rap for no.

Neighbors were summoned to the house to witness the phenomena. This single event began an explosion of interest in Spirit Communication, and led to the founding of the religion of Spiritualism.

  
 

 

In 1915 Benjamin Bartlett moved the Fox cottage from Hydesville, New York to Lily Dale, the headquarters for National Spiritualist Association of Churches.

Unfortunately, the cottage mysteriously burned down in 1955.

    
         
   

 

 

In 1998 the National Spiritualist Association of Churches purchased the property where the Fox Cottage stood. Today it is a memorial park was designed for Spiritualists Worldwide.

 
         
   

 

Today, the Hydesville Memorial Park is located on Hydesville Road (Route CR 221).
 
   

 

 

The park is located in a very rural community in Wayne County, New York.

  
 

 

 

 

    
         
   

 

 

This new building is on the site of the original Fox Cottage

  
         
 

 

 

 

Rev. Sidney Schwartz, Pastor of Gifts of the Spirit Church at Hydesville Memorial Park.

    
         
   

 

 

Inside this structure, hangs a picture of the Fox sisters … as well as the exposed foundation of the original cottage.

  
             
     
         
     
         
   

 

 

Around the building is a brick path. Many of these bricks have been inscribed by people or groups who hold Spiritualism dear to their hearts. Some of these are memorials to Spiritualists.

  
         
     
         
   

Rev. Joseph Merrill

President of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches

    
             
   

Sally Crowell

Frequently attended Gifts of the Spirit Church

  
 
             
   

Rev. James Buchanan

I write about a reading I had with this medium in My First Encounter with an Angel

    
             
   

First Spiritualist Church of Willamantic, CT

Carl Hewitt, the founder of Gifts of the Spirit Church was president of this church for several years

    
             
   

Connecticut State Spiritualist Association

 

    
             
 

 

 

The rest of the grounds is a park, dedicated to meditation and inward reflection.

    
     
         
 

 

 

Click on the picture to the right to download the National Spiritualist Association of Churches' brochure on Hydesville Memorial Park.

    
         
Tel: 843.571.2334
25 Grand Avenue, Apt. 1J, Hackensack, NJ 07601