"The Witch of Lime Street" is a gripping and fascinating book by David Jaher that delves into the world of mediums and psychics during the 1920s. The book revolves around a real-life controversy involving a woman named Mina Crandon, who became famous as the "Witch of Lime Street" for her alleged abilities to communicate with the dead. Set against the backdrop of the spiritualist movement and the widespread fascination with the supernatural, "The Witch of Lime Street" offers a detailed account of the events surrounding Mina Crandon's rise to fame. Crandon, a charismatic and enigmatic figure, captured the attention of both believers and skeptics with her demonstrations of psychic phenomena, such as levitating objects and summoning spirits. However, her claims and public demonstrations also attracted a fair share of skeptics and critics, including the well-known magician Harry Houdini. Houdini, himself a prominent figure in the spiritualist movement, was determined to expose fraudulent mediums who capitalized on the grief of the bereaved.
It was not, however, good enough for Harry Houdini. The magician and skeptic began to supplement his escape artistry by debunking any psychic or medium whose tricks caught his attention. When Scientific American set itself the task of definitively proving or debunking mediums, Houdini became the ringer on their jury, exposing one medium after another. But when they set their sights on Mrs. Mina Crandon — a medium from the right side of the tracks whose séances were famous for their results — they thought Houdini must at last have met his match.
Jaher writes with a novelist s panache about the intricacies of the egos in play Houdini s and Doyle s more than most, though several contest judges give them a run for their money. Against this backdrop, in 1924, the pretty wife of a distinguished Boston surgeon came to embody the raging national debate over Spiritualism, a movement devoted to communication with the dead.
Houdini, himself a prominent figure in the spiritualist movement, was determined to expose fraudulent mediums who capitalized on the grief of the bereaved. He set out to investigate Crandon's claims, attending her séances and attempting to uncover any trickery or deception. "The Witch of Lime Street" provides an in-depth exploration of the conflicts and controversies that arose during Crandon's time in the public eye.
The witch of lime street
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I recently finished reading David Jaher’s fascinating non-fiction book, The White of Lime Street: Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World. I adored it.
Spiritualism first arrived in America in the mid-1800s with the Fox sisters, mediums who used the cracking of their ankles to fake their way to ghost communication fame. This was soon after the end of the American Civil War so there were lots of people grieving for lost loved ones and looking for a way to connect with them on the other side.
Spiritualism gained a huge following for the rest of the 19th century and then became popular again after World War I when—once again—friends and relatives of dead soldiers sought séances and mediums in order to have some closure.
Harry Houdini, who made his living from daring stunts and trickery, and a handful of men were tasked with seeking out mediums who could potentially have real abilities. They interviewed many spiritualists, some more impressive than others, but they all agreed that Mina “Margery” Crandon either had real abilities or was especially good at tricks. Houdini was more of the mind that, and excuse my language, you can’t bullshit a bullshitter.
This book covers their search, much of the recorded experiments with Crandon at her home on Lime Street in New York, and the aftermath of their research. In addition, it goes into previous spiritualists who rose to fame, including Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a friend of Houdini’s until they had a falling out because of their disagreements on the religion. The Witch of Lime Street is an entertaining dip into 1920s American culture that doesn’t include gin or jazz. If you’re into the more scientific look at how spiritualists faked their tricks, or just want to know what the heck was up with ectoplasm, this is a must-read.
I expect it will make a fantastic film as well!
- David Jaher’s website
- The Witch of Lime Street on Amazon
- Houdini Museum of New York
If you want more spiritualism and séance goodness, check out my historical fiction novel, The Spirited Mrs. Pringle now available on paperback and at all major ebook retailers. (Audiobook coming soon.)
Jillianne Hamilton is a history enthusiast and the author of The Spirited Mrs. Pringle (historical fiction), The Hobby Shop on Barnaby Street (historical romance), and The Lazy Historian’s Guide to the Wives of Henry VIII (non-fiction). Jill launched The Lazy Historian in 2015. She lives in Charlottetown on Canada’s beautiful east coast. Learn more.
It delves into the clash between believers in spiritualism and those who sought to debunk it, shedding light on the complex and often mysterious world of mediums and psychic phenomena. Jaher's book is well-researched and presents a balanced view of the events, incorporating a variety of perspectives from those involved. He meticulously examines the evidence, the testimonies from witnesses, and the scientific experiments conducted to determine the authenticity of Crandon's abilities. Ultimately, "The Witch of Lime Street" explores more than just the story of Mina Crandon. It delves into the broader social and cultural context of the 1920s, offering insights into the public's fascination with the occult, the rise of the spiritualist movement, and the deep-rooted desire to communicate with the afterlife. Overall, "The Witch of Lime Street" is a riveting and thought-provoking book that explores the fascinating world of mediums, psychics, and the controversies surrounding their alleged abilities. It presents an engaging narrative that will captivate both skeptics and believers alike, inviting readers to question their own beliefs and consider the enigmatic nature of the spiritualist movement..
Reviews for "The Witch of Lime Street: Debunking the Paranormal?"
1. John - 2/5 stars
"The Witch of Lime Street was a disappointment for me. I was expecting an intriguing and captivating account of the famous medium, but instead, I found myself bored throughout the book. The author, David Jaher, seemed more interested in portraying the personalities and egos of the people involved rather than delving into the actual events and evidence surrounding the medium. The writing style felt dry and lacked any excitement or suspense. Overall, I found this book to be a lackluster read."
2. Rachel - 1/5 stars
"I couldn't finish The Witch of Lime Street, it was that bad. The author failed to present a well-researched and balanced view of the events surrounding the medium Margery. Instead, the book felt biased and focused more on criticizing spiritualism than providing any depth or analysis. It lacked depth and substance, making it a tedious read. There are much better books out there if you want to learn about this period in history or explore the topic of mediums."
3. Mark - 2/5 stars
"The Witch of Lime Street fell short of my expectations. While the story had the potential to be fascinating, the author failed to capture my interest. The pacing was slow, and the book felt bogged down by excessive detail and unnecessary tangents. In my opinion, Jaher's writing style lacked finesse, making it hard to fully engage with the material. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you have a specific interest in the subject matter and are willing to push through its shortcomings."