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A Ghost Photography Book Review: The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln’s Ghost

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If you ever peruse Victorian photographs on Pinterest or the web, you probably have stumbled across one of the most famous pictures of ghost photography- Mary Todd Lincoln being consoled by the ghost of her husband, Abraham Lincoln. The picture is creepy, yet somehow draws you in. It is a photo of mourning, yet comfort at the same time. The photo has a universal quality to it. Don’t we all want to know that our passed loved ones are still near and watching over us, even to this day?

Lincoln's Ghost_Photograph of Widowed Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln being consoled by the spirit of Abraham Lincoln in famous ghost photograph by William H. Mumler. From the collections of Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

The ghost photograph of the Lincolns was taken by William H. Mumler around 1869. Mumler was an early dabbler in the art and science of photography just as the invention arrived in the United States from Europe. The new book, The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln’s Ghost by Peter Manseau takes us on a fascinating journey through the 1850s to just after the Civil War when photography becomes all the rage in the United States.

The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln’s Ghost

For the first time, people could capture and preserve- in the moment- images of their loved ones and hold them close even after that person passed away. Until that time, people of means maybe had a painted portrait or two created during their lifetime. For most people, images of their loved ones simply faded away with memories.

Photography, especially in the early years, was certainly a grand science experiment. First, the desired image needed to be captured on plates, then developed with a series of chemicals, followed by the printing of the image. The process was often dangerous, depending on the chemicals used, and time-consuming. In the early days, people had to sit without moving for several minutes so that there was enough time for the exposure to take place. Preparation of the camera plates and development of the photos also left lots of room for human error.

Whether he meant to be or not, William H. Mumler became one of the most famous and sought-after photographers of his time. Mumler appeared to have a gift- he caught spirit images in his photographs. How he did it, he never revealed. But most likely, he manipulated his camera plates and chemicals to expose such images into his portraits.

With such massive loss of life during the Civil War, coupled with the affordability of photography during the 1860s – almost every soldier had a photo taken of himself in uniform before heading off to war to leave with loved ones- people turned to photography to help them grieve. And Mumler one-upped this by capturing the spirits of those loved ones they were grieving.

In The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln’s Ghost, Manseau explores the role of the Spiritualism Movement in America, which also helps explain people’s obsession with ghost photography. As we recently explored in the post about the Erie Canal, Spiritualism started in Upstate New York. People wanted to know their passed loved ones were still close and helping to guide their lives. Contacting the dead through mediums and séances became all the rage. Many of these activities were acts of showmanship and sleight of hand, but people didn’t care. They desperately wanted beliefs to hold onto. Spirit photography easily found its place among such believers.

Yet many people set out to prove Spiritualism practices such as Mumler’s ghost photography as fraud. Numerous people, including competitor photographers, came to Mumler’s studio to try and spot his manipulations. Articles for and against ghost photography were written about in popular magazines of the day.

William Mumler Trial_Harper's Weekly_May 6_1869
The front cover of the widely read Harper’s Weekly from May 8, 1869 describing the Spirit Photography trial of William Mumler in detail.

All of this activity came to a head in 1869, when William Mumler gets charged with fraud and finds himself in the center of a lengthy and expensive court case. Most of the case was dramatically published in Harper’s Weekly. Manseau walks the reader through many of the transcripts of the trial. The trial takes numerous turns as witnesses argue not just whether William Mumler is guilty of fraud but whether ghosts are real and Spiritualism, in general, is reputable. Even P.T. Barnum, the ultimate showman of the time, steps in as a witness.

While a trial like William Mumler’s would certainly be thrown out of today’s courts, in 1869, the case received national attention. It is a curious look at how the court was conducted in Victorian America and leaves a lot to be desired.

I will leave the rest of the whodunnit and how, plus the outcome of the trial for you to find out when you read the book. The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln’s Ghost is an incredibly interesting read well worth your time.


Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold and Murder on the Erie Canal: Book Review

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I am excited to review Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold and Murder on the Erie Canal, by Jack Kelly, a fascinating look at the building and impact of the Erie Canal on American history, commerce and expansion.

Book Review_Erie Canal_ Heaven's Ditch by Jack Kelly

Growing Up Near the Erie Canal

Having grown up in central New York, we learned about the Erie Canal, visited places that once were part of the canal and played along parts of the Erie Canal that still existed. We visited the Erie Canal Village and Erie Canal Museum. We rode in a packet boat pulled by mules and sang the “Low Bridge, Everybody Down” song. I still remember parts of it all these years later.

Erie Canal song_Low Bridge Everybody Down
The Most famous song about the Erie Canal, Low Bridge, Everybody Down

The Erie Canal is just part of Upstate New York culture, and we are pretty darn proud of it. Construction of the Erie Canal began in 1817 and completed in 1825, so we are in the middle of celebrating its bicentennial. Surveying of the land began in 1808 and according to Jack Kelly’s research, the terrain was such wilderness, the surveyor, James Geddes, had to take a team of people with him just to rough cut a path to measure and place his survey markers.

Building the Erie Canal

Canals were very common all over Europe, but in the early 1800s, a revolutionary idea, especially in America. Ridiculed as “Clinton’s Ditch” after New York Governor Dewitt Clinton, many felt building a canal across New York State was a huge waste of money. Visionaries, however, who saw how much the Appalachian mountains along the Eastern part of the United States made it difficult for Western expansion, were interested in the curious break in the mountains in upstate New York near Albany. The idea was if a canal could connect the Hudson River, which was deep enough for seafaring ships to move between New York City and Albany, with points to the west, goods and people could be transported easily and affordably. Vast lands to the west were ideal for farming and feeding the growing number of people living in cities along the Eastern seaboard if the cost of transporting such supplies could be reduced.

The story of how the Erie Canal was designed and built is such a tale of American aspiration and ingenuity. If you’ve ever taken a drive across New York State, you will notice how diverse the terrain. New York was once covered by glaciers that receded creating mountains and hills laced with lakes and rivers, ravines and waterfalls, while the middle of the state just south of the Lake Ontario is relatively flat and swampy. Trying to navigate East-West even today can be tedious depending on the weather, as anyone knows who’s been caught in a rain or snow storm along the New York State Thruway. So imagine trying to create a waterway flat enough to connect the Hudson River with Lake Erie, an area that spans over 360 miles. The terrain actually rises around 600 feet between the banks of the Hudson River and the shores of Lake Erie. This meant building locks and aqueducts throughout the canal to make it feasible by boat.

Erie Canal drawing showing survey of terrain differences between the Hudson River and Lake Erie.

The engineers taking on the Erie Canal project had little to no experience in building such structures, so much of the canal was built in a trial and error format. Working on the canal was difficult and dangerous, and used a huge immigrant workforce to complete. According to Kelly, it was the first organized labor force of its kind in America.

Influence of the Erie Canal

Once completed, the cost of travel for people and goods dropped drastically. Towns and cities, like Rochester and Syracuse, burgeoned with population growth and new industries. People moved west in droves hoping to cash in on farming and other businesses that could now use the Erie Canal to ship their goods. Immigrants used the canal to move Westward into Ohio and beyond where land was still cheap and the hopes of keeping their culture and religions intact seemed likely. New York City’s population also grew quickly as an advantageous port city.

View on the Erie Canal_painting_John William Hill
Erie Canal Painting by John William Hill, 1830-1832, showing packet boat being pulled by mules.

What’s most interesting about Jack Kelly’s book is his careful weaving of the stories of some of the famous people who came out of this era of Erie Canal expansion. Having lived most of my life in the Fingerlakes region of central New York State, I had always learned that this area was a hotbed for all sorts of political, religious and moral thinking. People like Fredrick Douglas and Harriet Tubman resided in the area. The anti-slavery movement was huge here, as was the Underground Railroad. The first Women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls in 1848. Women’s Right to Vote leaders Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B Anthony and Matilda Joslyn Gage all lived in Central New York. The Mormons and Church of Latter Day Saints were founded by Joseph Smith in Palmyra, NY. Other forms of Christianity expanded greatly through upstate New York in this same time period. The Masons and anti-Masonic movement got its strength from this region.

Erie Canal Pottery_Staffordshire
This Staffordshire Pottery commemorated the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. From the collections of the Rochester Museum & Science Center.

After reading Heaven’s Ditch, I finally understood WHY all of this came to be in and around Central New York. The Erie Canal made it possible. Points along the Erie Canal made it one of the easiest places to travel to, and affordably. The canal was used by the Underground Railroad to move escaped slaves along to Canada. Transportation enabled political people to meet and share information. Religious evangelists, like Charles Finney, arrived by the canal to bring huge tent revivals the area. Saving souls was big business at the time of American expansion.

I will say no more, but to recommend getting your hands on a copy of Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold and Murder on the Erie Canal, by Jack Kelly. I will leave the murder part and some of the other more interesting characters up to you to discover. His writing makes the book a fast, interesting read, and if you didn’t already recognize so many of the people by name, you’d wonder if some of the characters are fiction. Heavens Ditch is the best book I have read about what life was like along the Erie Canal in the 1800s.


Velvet Throw Blanket Love! Add Super Soft Plush Blankets to Cozy Up Your Boho Décor

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Plush_Throw_Blanket_DIY_Joann_Sew_Lush

It’s Velvet throw blanket time of year! With winter weather fast approaching, it’s time to cozy up and stay warm.

Velvet throw blankets are one of my absolute favorite items. Throws add comfort and a cozy feel to any living space. We’ve been busy redecorating our living room in shades of gray, adding in select bohemian décor to make the room pop. Shopping around, I haven’t found the perfect throw blankets yet- the kind that says, “Take me home!,” so I decided to make some on my own.

Jo-Ann Fabrics is having some amazing sales lately on all of their Fall/Winter plush fabrics. I immediately fell in love with Jo-Ann’s Sew Lush line of fabrics. Sew Lush is by far their softest line of velvet plush fabrics and it comes in over 40 colors and prints. Sew Lush solids are around $12.99 a yard and prints are around $14.99, though they are often on sale or you can use a coupon to reduce the cost of your purchase.

For my velvet throw blanket project, I chose the Navy Geometrics pattern. I like the boho design of this fabric. The fabric comes in a 57 inch width, so I purchased 2 yards for each blanket. To start, I trimmed about one-half inch off the raw selvage edge. I used regular white Coats & Clark thread, but definitely suggest putting a medium weight ballpoint needle in your machine. Ballpoints are best used when stitching knit or other stretchy, performance fabrics.

DIY_velvet_throw_blankets_Sew_Lush_from_JoAnn

I began by sewing the long lengths of the blankets first. You can pin ahead if you like, but I found it just as easy to create a rolled hem as I sewed. I turned under about one-quarter inch of the fabric edge, then turned the hem a second time to hide the raw edge. I used a medium width large zigzag stitch that easily caught the raw edge underneath. I noticed that my commercially made plush throws only rolled the hem under once, but I decided I liked the cleaner look of the double rolled hem and hope that it will prevent the blankets from letting off excess lint.

As with any new fabric, remember to wash your blankets after you craft them to get rid of any unhealthy chemical finishes that are on the fabric. (You can also wash them before.) Washing should also help cut down on the lint coming off the plush.

Boho_Throw_Blanket_How-to

And like any project in our house, I had help. This is Squee, our newest rescue cat. Squee is our household’s quality control expert and confirmed the Sew Lush fabric was indeed super velvety soft and cozy. He was parked on the fabric before I even started sewing. I have a feeling that we are going to be arguing over whose blankets these are in the coming days!

Happy Boho Crafting!


The Locker Hooking Experiment- Boho Fiber Crafting Fun

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Hello boho crafty friends! Question for you…Have you ever heard of Locker Hooking? (Insert funny, off-base comments from my husband here!)

I was a child of the 80s, so every kid I knew who was remotely crafty had to go through a creative rite of passage: Receiving latch hook kits for Birthdays and Holidays. And making goofy pillows in middle school Home Economics class. (My pillow was an apple with a worm coming out of it and my sister’s pillow was a turtle. I think we both also completed horse latch hook kits).

Locker Hooking Black & Gray Grid Pillow

I have to be in the mood to work on hand stitching projects because, at times, I still find them a little tedious. I also really have to pay attention if I am knitting so I don’t drop stitches and have to take out numerous rows. So I recently found a fun craft that is in between- not quite as slow as latch hooking but easy to fix in a hurry, unlike most knitting screw-ups.
Introducing Locker Hooking!

About Locker Hooking

Locker Hooking is a continuous rug hooking technique that uses latch hook rug canvas and fibers such as yarn, string, and narrow fabric strips. A locker hooking tool has both a crochet end and a needle end. You simply use the crochet hook end of the tool to pull your yarn or fabric up through the latch hook canvas holes. Then use the needle end to thread a simple black cotton yarn through the loops to “lock” the loops in place. Click here to get step-by-step locker hooking instructions.

According to Theresa Pulido, author of the books, Hook, Loop & Lock, and Locking Loops, locker hooking originated in England in the early 1900s where wool yarn was used to create rugs. Some Americans took up locker hooking in the 1940s, but it never became a widespread craft. More recently, artisans have begun experimenting with fiber techniques and with the help of Lisa’s books and projects, locker hooking is becoming more popular worldwide.

My Locker Hooking Projects

So far, I have completed 3 locker hooking projects so far and I LOVE the art!

1. I started by making a square pillow using dyed sari fabric yarn from India. The yarn is so colorful and I love the texture the fabric makes when it is looped through the latch hook canvas.

Locker Hooked Pillow_Front

2. For my second project, I experimented with multiple colors of bamboo yarn and designed a tribal pattern. The loops of bamboo yarn are super soft (like kittens), but slippery to work with. Because the yarn is super soft, the pattern also came out a bit less structured, but the design is still eye-catching.

Locker Hooked Pillow_Tribal boho design

3. For my third project, I decided to run with a serious pattern. On Pinterest, I noticed people posting cool designs that were created on Grid-Paint.com. I selected one of the patterns pinned on Pinterest, then went onto Grid-Paint.com and doubled the design to make the end result big enough to be a pillow or wall hanging. I then chose black and gray chunky cotton yarn to complete the locker hooking. I love the result! The chunky yarn held the pattern well and this piece adds wow factor to our living room.

Locker Hooking Black & Gray Grid Pillow

To learn more about locker hooking, check out my instructions here. I also suggest you get your hands on Theresa Pulido’s books to give you further locker hooking project ideas. She also sells some great colorful locker hooking kits and supplies on Amazon and her site, ColorCrazy.com. I am also happy to see her cat participating in her instructional videos.

Happy Boho Crafting!


Why We Own a Chevy Volt and Plan to Get a Second One

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Are you curious about owning an electric car such as the Chevy Volt?

We are not exactly early adopters when it comes to new technology. We are definitely not “Keeping up with the Jones’” folks. In fact, my husband, Al, laughs and says we’re setting a new trend in our neighborhood: “Holding back with the McMahons.”

But one place where we have been early adopters is with our cars. We have owned hybrid vehicles since 2003, when we invested in our first Honda Civic Hybrid. We loved it so much, we bought a second one. We now own a Chevy Volt and plan to invest in a second Volt in the coming months.

2013_Chevy_Volt_gray_electric car

Why Invest in a Hybrid or Electric Car

When we went to buy our Honda Civic Hybrids, everyone told us we were crazy: They were too expensive. They were untested. They were a fad. We even had dealers ask us, “Why would you want to do that?!” At the time only Honda and Toyota had hybrid cars on the market, but we knew quality when we saw it.

Most hybrid and electric cars are still pricey, but the federal government and many states offer rebates or tax credits when you purchase an alternative vehicle. We also bought our cars before the gas prices landed in the $4.00 a gallon range, so we saw tremendous savings because we only had to fill up once a month. We also feel strongly that we should not be a nation so dependent on Middle East gas commodities, and it’s only a matter of time before gas prices go through the roof again. And we do feel everyone should take global warming and the carbon footprint seriously. For us, there is just no going back to a fully gas-driven car.

2016-chevy-volt_electric_car

Why Buy a Chevy Volt

So this time around we invested in a 2013 Chevy Volt and we LOVE the car. We are currently shopping for a second one.

Pros

*The Volt has a sports car sleekness, inside and out.

*The steering wheel and dashboard are filled with electronic features which are easy to use.

*The Volt is very powerful. The electric juice allows it to accelerate quickly. The car offers an amazingly smooth ride.

*The back seats fold down, which makes hauling stuff back from Home Depot and Lowe’s easy.

*The car turns off when stopped at lights so you don’t waste gas or electric energy.

*You can take the car anywhere. We have taken our car on many road trips. When the electric charge is spent, the Volt seamlessly bumps over to using gas, so you will never be stranded somewhere with a dead car. Here’s more info on how the Chevy Volt works:

*The car is primarily designed for commuting on electric energy. The electric charge lasts for about 35 miles on the older Chevy Volts. The 2016 and 2017 Volts have been redesigned with the capability of up to 53 miles per electric charge. Then the gas kicks in.

*The Volt can be driven in several modes: Normal Mode, Mountain Mode and Sport Mode depending on location and road conditions. Switching between the modes helps you extend the distance driven on electric power alone. Or you can ignore all of these options and just drive it in Normal Mode if you don’t like fussing with buttons while you are driving.

*You just plug the car in to a 120v or 240v outlet when not in use. We’ve run a cord out the garage and right into the driveway. It only takes an extra 30 seconds to plug in and unplug the car once you get into the routine. Al charges the car off of his work’s solar panels during the day, then charges at our house at night. We’ve barely seen any increase in our electric bill at home.

*Electric car charging stations are becoming more common in most communities and are easy to use. Some are free and often give you GREAT up front parking spots at events and venues. Call the number on the charging station to get started.

*You can find used Chevy Volts for under $20,000. If you are willing to drive out of town, you can also find Volts with low mileage. Use Carfax.com to find cars worth traveling for.

interior of 2017 Chevy Volt

Cons

*The car is low to the ground, so rumor has it tall people have difficulty getting in and out of the Volt. And you tend to scrape the bottom fenders pulling over drainage and any driveway inclines. Just go slow.

*You have to be careful not to speed. It’s very easy to look down and not realize you are driving WAY over the speed limit, even around town.
As with any electric or hybrid car, high quality Winter snow tires make a huge difference and investing in quality all-weather tires for the rest of the year is highly recommended. The car tends to slide most when starting up from stop lights, even on wet roads, and sometimes slides a bit if you brake too quickly.

*The Volt has what we call a “cross walk blind spot.” The front framework for the car blocks your view just right that in town and in parking lots, it’s hard to anticipate people crossing in front of the car.

*The car is so quiet, people don’t hear you coming. Be extra careful backing out of your driveway and in parking lots. Also, check for pets under the car before you get in and back up slowly.

*The charge door on the front driver’s side sometimes likes to stick in winter, especially if we get a lot of ice. Members of the various Chevy Volt users groups have solutions on how to deal with this issue.

*We wish the distance you can go on the electric charge is just a bit further. The 2016 and 2017 Chevy Volts’ electric range is supposed to be up to 53 miles.

*New Chevy Volts are priced in the lower luxury car range, starting around $32,000. However, do the math because state and federal tax credits can help bring the price down.

Learn More

*Click here to learn more about how the Chevy Volt works and why it’s different from other hybrid and electric vehicles.

*Check out this Consumer Reports Buying Guide for Hybrid and Electric cars, including the Chevy Volt.

*Here is a great article on charging your electric car.

*Want to buy a used Chevy Volt? Here are some good tips to consider.

*Join the Chevy Volt Users Group on Facebook or one of the many Chevy Volt Forums online such as this one.