The Fox Sisters: Talking to the Dead

In 1848, the cottage home of the Fox family was alive with activity. One-night, young sisters Kate and Maggie grabbed their mother, Margaret, by the sleeve, vying for her attention. “Mr. Splitfoot”, the girls echoed purposefully as the three paused to listen. Suddenly, a disembodied rapping sound echoed in the night. Margaret’s eyes grew wide. “Mr. Splitfoot,” one of her daughters chimed in, “Are you there?” Another rapping sound boomed. Finally, Margaret herself cleared her throat before asking hoarsely: “Mr. Splitfoot, how many children do I have?” The correct number of raps resounded, seemingly through the cottage walls…

As the occurrences in the Fox family home grew more pronounced, so too did the rumours; theirs was a haunted house, surely. Little did the Fox family know, these paranormal rappings and the unchecked reports that unfurled from them would result in the birth of a movement that would hold hopeful souls, true believers, and charlatans in a choke-hold for nearly a century. 

Today, on Haunted History, I am telling you the tale of the Fox Sisters and the birth of the Spiritualism Movement.

Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe. 

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Sources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com/episode34