Well if we are to start a blog about Spiritualism it does seem important to place some context to the historical and social elements that preceded the events in Hydesville on 31st March 1848.
One of the first things which may be of interest to people is the actual geographic location where the events took place, whilst Americans may know others may be as geographically challenged as I was. Given the importance of the second act in Rochester, November 1849, the map chosen covers the entire area and shows in faint letter the site of the famous Spiritualist Camp at Lily Dale.
Now Modern Spiritualism was founded from the events which occurred over several days commencing on the evening of March 31st 1848, at the Cottage where the Fox family lived in Hydesville New York State. This whole area was only developed because of the newly built Erie Canal which was developed to open up the trade in wheat by linking the great lakes area to the City of New York. This one development was to create New York as the most important City and Sea Port on the East Coast of America. For interest the history of the Erie Canal can be found here http://www.canals.ny.gov/history/history.html . This will also show just how much this affected the economic and social development of the area
The Philosophy and History of Spiritualism 