The Spiritualism ofJonathan Koons

Guest: Sharon Hatfield, Author of “Enchanted Ground: The Spirit Room of Jonathan Koons” Today the idea of communicating with spirits of the dead in a darkened room through mysterious gusts of wind and knocking noises, is spooky. But during the mid-1800s in America, communicating with the dead wasn’t considered scary or sinister at all. The spirits were playful and kind and – most importantly – offered proof of an afterlife. By 1850, thousands of mediums were hosting séances across the country and a religious movement known as Spiritualism was attracting millions of followers. Among the most famous and charismatic figures in the Spiritualist movement was a fiddle-playing Ohio farmer named Jonathan Koons. His story is the subject of a new book by journalist Sharon Hatfield called, “Enchanted Ground.”