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To: lexington minuteman 1775
I'm not sure about Elenor Roosevelt. Somehow I don't think that the paranormal would be her "thing," but it's certainly possible. But seances, "table-knocking" ("If there is a presence here, knock 3 times..."), elevation and other such activities known as "spiritualism" were quite popular in the late 1800's, particularly as parlor or party games. By the way, I was checking online and it seems that Mrs. Lincoln possibly hosted 8 seances in the White House.

One of the most fascinating monuments to the whole spiritualist movement is the big house in San Jose, CA built by the heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune. She apparently had all this guilt about her money being made from weapons. She went cuckoo and built this ridiculous Victorian mansion that is more like a labyrinth - it's purpose was to confuse the so-called spirits (victims of Winchester guns) that she felt were haunting her. You can tour the home, which is really quite beautiful - but obviously the result of a mind that had been completely warped by these huckster "spiritualist" opportunists.

94 posted on 08/17/2009 7:02:56 PM PDT by ponygirl
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To: ponygirl

Is that the house that has lots of stairways leading no where?


124 posted on 08/17/2009 10:35:57 PM PDT by Slip18
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