Established in 1894
Cassadaga feels both peaceful and alarming. Amidst the unusual architecture and ominous Spanish moss dangling from the treetops, it’s like a trip back in time, but what happens behind closed doors is what makes it so unusual…
Stemming from the religion Spiritualism, the town is populated by mediums, who communicate with spirits through many different senses, or “clairs;” hearing (clairaudience), seeing (clairvoyance), knowing (claircognizance) and feeling (clairsentience) messages from spirits—bridging the spiritual and physical world.
Believe it or not, Spiritualism can be accredited to three young girls—Leah, Maggie and Kate Fox.
In 1848, in the bedroom of their Hydesville, New York home, these sisters allegedly communicated with spirits through sequences of raps and taps. Quickly becoming a national sensation, the Fox sisters went on tour, drawing large crowds of both believers and skeptics who never found any evidence of trickery.
One way this gap is bridged is through séances…
Historically, skeptics have tried to debunk séances by binding mediums with ropes, gagging them and even sealing them in “spirit cabinets,” to see if phenomena would occur despite restraint. Many believe these events can be explained by manipulation, but in Cassadaga they are a truly spiritual experience. Rev. Louis Gates has experienced many forms of phenomena during his séances at the Colby Memorial Temple, including “apports”—objects appearing to materialize and fall from the ceiling!
The oddities that occur in Cassadaga leave visitors questioning if people are simply susceptible to the power of suggestion or if they can truly communicate with spirits. The town’s residents have no doubt that the latter is true.
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER ALL-NEW ANNUAL!
Ripley’s has spent the past year collecting the most unbelievable stories from around the world, filling Unlock the Weird to the brim with fantastic, fun, and even freaky features. Join us back here every week for an exclusive inside look at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Unlock the Weird!
wow