This pretty little park tucked away on a rural road in Newark is so much more than it appears at first glance. There are lovely gardens, benches, and a brick walkway to stroll on. However, the real highlight of this park resides within the building on the grounds. Inside this innocuous-looking building is what remains of the Fox Sister’s home and the birthplace of Spiritualism.
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The Fox Sisters
The Fox Sisters were three girls who were at the center of creating the movement of modern-day spiritualism. Leah, Maggie, and Kate Fox were living in the house (the foundation of which is in the building on the park grounds.), which already had a reputation for being haunted. In March 1848, the family began to hear unexplainable noises and knocking sounds. (They also saw moving furniture.) The two young Fox sisters, Kate and Maggie, began to interact with the spirit that they claimed was haunting their home. They nicknamed him “Mr. Splitfoot,” although the ghost eventually identified himself as Charles B. Rosna, a peddler who had been murdered and buried in the basement.
Interestingly, a body was allegedly discovered buried in one of the walls of the home. However, no trace of a Charles B. Rosna was ever found.
The Birthplace of Spiritualism
It wasn’t long after the girls first began communicating with the spirit that the news of their accomplishment spread, and people began to flock to their home to see the sisters communicate with the other side. Quickly their fame began to grow, and they found themselves under much scrutiny from non-believers. Even when the two younger sisters, Kate and Maggie, were separated, when one of the sisters went to live with their elder sister Leah in Rochester, they continued to be able to communicate with the spirit world. This was a huge disappointment for their critics, who assumed the separation would end the sisters’ “ghostly charade.” This only served to reinforce the budding spiritualism movement.
Even when Maggie told the press in 1888 that their communicating with the dead was really a hoax, the movement had already generated such a following that her confession didn’t seem to matter. Many people just believed that she claimed it was a hoax in order to receive money to help her out of heavy financial debt. Years later, she retracted her statement.
Hydesville Memorial Park
As I mentioned previously, this is a really pretty park. It’s not large, but it is a nice place just to sit and relax and soak in the beauty around you. The park is clearly very well maintained.
Visiting Fox Sister’s Property & Hydesville Memorial Park
Address: 1510 Hydesvilles Rd., Newark
Google Map Link
The park is open daily from 9 am – 6 pm, although access to the building is open by appointment only. However, you can clearly see the building through all of the windows. Everything inside is very visible.
To make an appointment call: (315) 879-8804 or email: foxsisters1848@gmail.com
Have you visited this historic site before? What did you think? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.