Spiritualistic Christening

Detroit Free Press, March 28, 1898

Rev. Nellie S. Baade was a different kind of preacher. As a longstanding member of the First Spiritual Philosophical Society of Detroit, along with her husband Charles, a prominent businessman, she believed in ghosts and reincarnation along with some of the more standard tenants of religion. In this case baptism or a spiritualistic christening. Though instead of dousing the children in water she presented them with bouquets of nosegay.

Her and husband Charles are buried at Woodmere Cemetery.

Evansville Press, August 5, 1907 (enlarge)

St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 10, 1897 (enlarge)

Ernest Vegesack: Expert Occultist

Detroit Free Press, December 26, 1897

When the time finally comes for me to write a book it will be under the nom de plume of Ernest Vegesack (pronounced veggie-sack) because Ernie Meatsack sounds profane and unseemly for such an upstanding voice as my own.

Vegesack was an expert occultist, gave correct life readings according to the art of palmistry, did horoscopes, advice on everyday affairs and phrenology.

He held court at both 200 Woodward Avenue and 158 Lafayette Avenue.

Detroit Free Press, February 11, 1898