The witch board history exhibit aims to shed light on the controversial and fascinating history of witch boards, also known as Ouija boards. These boards have long been associated with spiritualism, the occult, and even the supernatural. This exhibit showcases a diverse collection of witch boards from different eras, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of these mysterious objects throughout history. The main idea behind this exhibit is to educate and inform the public about the origins, uses, and cultural significance of witch boards. While some may view these boards as mere toys or games, they have a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. Visitors to the exhibit will have the chance to learn about the early spiritualist movement and its connection to the popularity and commercialization of witch boards.
“Reiche, the biggest coffin maker in town, is making these on the side,” explains Robert Murch, the world’s foremost talking-board historian, and it’s these prototypes that became the Ouija board. “But it’s Kennard, when he leaves Chestertown for Baltimore in 1890, where he continues in the fertilizer game, and starts a real-estate business, who begins pitching what he says is his talking-board invention to potential investors.”
The story of the Ouija board, however, is more than a tale of snake oil salesmen duping the Victorian masses or, subsequently, a game of harmless fun at a million junior-high sleepovers. By comparison, Monopoly an early version was invented in 1903 wasn t popular until the Great Depression, when it fulfilled a kind of fantasy escapism.
Visitors to the exhibit will have the chance to learn about the early spiritualist movement and its connection to the popularity and commercialization of witch boards. One notable aspect of this exhibit is the exploration of the various beliefs and practices surrounding witch boards. While some cultures and religious groups consider them to be a tool for communication with the spirit world, others view them with fear and suspicion.
Not Dead Yet
Charles Kennard always had his eye out for a chance to make a buck, but he was not the greatest, nor the luckiest, businessman. It appears that he wasn’t the most honest guy, either. The second child of a successful Delaware merchant, Kennard moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the late 1880s after developing “secret” bone-mix recipes for fertilizer. (In fairness, everyone in the fertilizer business claimed a “secret” recipe.) Following initial success, his Chestertown plant went to auction due to a combination of drought, competition, and debt. But all was not lost. A Prussian immigrant named E.C. Reiche kept an office next to Kennard’s on the first floor of the four-story, wood-frame hotel in Chestertown’s tiny business district. A furniture maker turned coffin maker turned undertaker—not an atypical career progression for the day—Reiche was also an inveterate tinkerer and Kennard had another plan.
Back story: Two generations earlier, a pair of girls in upstate New York named the Fox sisters, claiming to be mediums able to interpret mysterious “knocks” from the other side, had launched a spiritualist movement that continued to hold sway across the country. In fact, in the aftermath of the Civil War, with so many husbands, fathers, and sons lost in the conflict’s bloody battles, spiritualism—the belief the dead can speak to the living—had only gained steam with people desperate for a connection to departed loved ones and greater meaning for their own lives.
It’s in this context in 1886, during the period Kennard and Reiche shared a hallway, that newspaper reports began appearing about a “talking board” phenomenon sweeping Ohio, including an Associated Press story that ran in the local Kent County News. It’s also about this time, according a later Baltimore American story, that Kennard and Reiche—most likely inspired by the AP account—began collaborating and making at least a dozen of their own “talking” boards.
“Reiche, the biggest coffin maker in town, is making these on the side,” explains Robert Murch, the world’s foremost talking-board historian, and it’s these prototypes that became the Ouija board. “But it’s Kennard, when he leaves Chestertown for Baltimore in 1890, where he continues in the fertilizer game, and starts a real-estate business, who begins pitching what he says is his talking-board invention to potential investors.”
After numerous rejections, Elijah Bond, a local attorney who claimed his sister-in-law was a strong medium, finally took an interest. Soon enough, the Kennard Novelty Company, which incorporated the day before Halloween 125 years ago, began manufacturing Ouija boards much as they appear today. Bond was right about his sister-in-law, too: Helen Peters proved convincing enough with Kennard’s new talking board to win over a skeptical U.S. patent office. She not only gets credit for earning the stamp of legitimacy from the federal government, certifying the board delivered as promised, but also for “receiving” the O-U-I-J-A name from the board itself, which told her the strange word meant “good luck.”
(In truth, the name “Ouija” was written on the necklace locket that Peters was wearing at the time.)
The exhibit provides a neutral and objective perspective, allowing visitors to form their own opinions based on the historical context provided. In addition to showcasing the boards themselves, the exhibit also delves into the stories and experiences of individuals who have used witch boards. Through personal accounts and case studies, visitors will gain insight into the beliefs and psychological effects that these boards can have on people. The exhibit emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and personal responsibility when engaging with such tools. By presenting the diverse history and cultural interpretations of witch boards, this exhibit encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of these enigmatic objects. Visitors will leave with a newfound awareness of the complex intersection of belief, spirituality, and popular culture. The witch board history exhibit serves as a reminder that there is always more to discover and learn about the world we live in..
Reviews for "Haunting Artifacts: Discover the Witch Board's Rich History"
- Jane Doe - rating: 1 star
I was highly disappointed with the Witch Board History Exhibit. It felt like a cheap and poorly put-together display. The information provided was very limited and lacked any depth or context. The artifacts on display were underwhelming and didn't showcase the rich history of witch boards as I had hoped. I expected a more engaging and informative experience, but sadly, this exhibit fell short.
- John Smith - rating: 2 stars
The Witch Board History Exhibit left much to be desired. The layout of the exhibit was confusing, and it was hard to follow the chronological order of the displayed artifacts. The information provided was somewhat interesting, but it failed to grasp my attention. The lighting inside the exhibit was dim and made it difficult to see the details of the boards. Overall, I found the exhibit to be lackluster and not worth the admission price.
- Sarah Johnson - rating: 2 stars
As a history enthusiast, I was excited to visit the Witch Board History Exhibit, but it turned out to be a letdown. The exhibit lacked proper organization and failed to present a cohesive narrative. The information plaques were poorly written and did not adequately explain the significance of the displayed items. Additionally, there were notable gaps in the timeline, leaving me feeling incomplete and unsatisfied. I expected a more comprehensive exploration of the subject, but unfortunately, this exhibit fell short of my expectations.