The Crucible of Ferment: New York’s “Psychic Highway”
by Emerson Klees
Friends of gthe Finger Lakes Publishing, 2001
Price: $16.95
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The Crucible of Ferment: New York’s “Psychic Highway” highlights the religious fervor and social activism that occurred during the nineteenth century across a narrow band of New York State from southwest Buffalo to Albany. This region was the crucible for an active ferment that had its origin in the social, religious, and economic activity in the State.
The activism that bubbled out of this crucible included the anti-Masonic movement, the temperance movement, the antislavery movement with accompanying underground railroad activity, and the women’s rights movement. It is difficult to think of another area of the United States that encountered this restlessness. Seven new religions, sects and utopian communes were established along this narrow band across New York State. The haunting questions are: “Why here? What was there about this region that caused this intensity of emotion to occur here?”
6x9 full color softcover
ISBN: 1-891046-13-6
