There's a wonderful channel called "The Blue Envelope" and the vlogger does ExJW topics, oftentimes from a very interesting and unusual perspective. A real treasure - he's a nerd's nerd!
Anyway this ones subject is the Western New York connection with JWs. One thing that tickled me was this Town Lili Dale, which is the HQ of the National spiritualist Association. I think the organization/faith began during the '2nd Awakening' (the era when the Bible students also began)around 1870, mostly as a result of the fame of the three Fox Sisters. Everyone who lives in the town is a spirit medium now and they have their yearly conference there, too.
The local JWs refuse to preach there!!! They are not permitted to even enter the town!
NB I notice it's termed "spirit-UAL-ist" not "Spiritist" as the witnesses term it. Anyone know why witnesses call it "spiritism" like that? It always irritated and puzzled me when I was in.
Anyway do sub to this channel and have a look, you won't be disappointed!