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Title: Some Account of the Vampires of Onset, Past and Present
Publisher: The New England News Company (Boston)
Printing Year: 1892

Condition/Details: Bound in original wrappers, this antique volume is a scarce collection of articles by several newspaper reporters exposing fakery in the a spiritualist world tied to the town of Onset, Massachusetts. Onset was developed in the 1880s as a summer camp meeting for Spiritualists. Many of the cottages still standing in Onset were built as second homes for individuals from Boston and other northeastern cities who gathered to hear mediums communicate with the dead. While it was run by the Spiritualists, the village was known as Onset Bay Grove.

In its early years, Spiritualism and beauty became synonymous with Onset. It became a well-known vacation spot, an ideal place for families. It was and is still today, a village that puts a great deal of resources into maintaining its aura of spiritualism and its desirability as a vacation place. The first urban renewal effort that was undertaken in Onset was in order to revive their Spiritualism theme and image.

This effort began because the businessmen of Onset believe its image had been tarnished by the publication of this book. According an article by Geraldine Vallier Pearle, "In 1891 a book was published by the New England News Co. of Boston; its title The Vampires of Onset was made up of a series of articles by several newspaper reporters exposing fakery in the Spiritualist world. No incident in the entire booklet took place in Onset. Nevertheless it had an effect on the religion." After the book was published this group of men formed the Onset Bay Grove Camp Meeting Co. Workers and decided to build a wigwam dedicated to the Wampanog Indians to give the area an image of natural, holistic spirituality. It would and did help revitalize Onset's image of spirituality. (last two paragraphs courtesy of hollyhurstcottageinn.com)

The volume shows light external age/wear, and is solidly bound with age-toned pages. Previous owner's name and date (1892) appear at the top of title page. The book measures approximately 6" x 9 1/4" and contains 80 pages. Shipping cost (within the U.S.) for this lot will be: $4.50