The Wareham Historical Society will host a presentation chronicling the rise and fall of Spiritualism in Onset at a presentation by historian Michael J. Maddigan on Monday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Methodist Meeting House, 495 Main St. 

In 1877, Spiritualists who believed in communication with the dead held a camp meeting in Onset which soon blossomed into one of America’s leading centers of Spiritualism. 

The camp was plagued by scandals exposing some mediums as frauds and an influx of non-Spiritualist tourists, and the camp collapsed after twenty years.

Maddigan is the author of “Spiritualist Onset: Talking with the Dead by the Sea,” as well as many other books on local history. To learn more about Maddigan and his work, go to recollectingnemasket.com.

Admission will be free for members and cost $2 for non-members. Refreshments will be served after the program.

For more information call 508-295-8578, go to www.warehamhistoricalsociety.com, or visit “The Wareham Historical Society” on Facebook.