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 of 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. The haunting question is: "Why here? What was there about this region that caused this intensity of emotion to occur here?"

     Seven new religions, sects and utopian communes were established along this narrow band across New York State:


    • Thomas Lake Harris and the Brotherhood
       of the New Life at Brocton, near Dunkirk
    • William Miller and the Millerites who predicted the end of the world
    • Joseph Smith and the founding of Mormonism at Palmyra
    • The Fox sisters and their experiences with Spiritualism at Hydesville,
      near Newark
    • Jemima Wilkinson and her Society of Universal Friends at Jerusalem, near
       Keuka Lake
    • John Humphrey Noyes and the Oneida Community
    • Mother Ann Lee and the Shakers at Watervliet, near Albany.

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