A New Chautauqua

Published on by Isabella Alden

Isabella Alden had strong ties to Chautauqua Institution in New York. She and her husband Ross were early contributors to the assembly’s success. For years Isabella served as president of the Chautauqua Missionary Society and was superintendent of the Primary Department of the Sunday-school.

Profile photo of Isabella Alden at about age 35. Her hair is parted in the middle and pulled back to a large braided bun at the back of her head. She wears no jewelry. She is dressed in a garment with a high neckline, with a ruffle at the base of the collar. A lace jabot peaks out above the high collar and spills down the front of her bodice.
Isabella Alden, in an undated photo.

Several years later, in 1885, the Aldens were instrumental in opening a new Chautauqua in Florida. You can read more about that here.  

So it’s no surprise that Isabella was among the first to get involved when a new Chautauqua assembly was organized in Ohio.

News clipping: FROM LAKESIDE. An Inter-State Sunday School encampment is now being held at Lakeside. This place is on the peninsula twelve miles south of Put-in-Bay and about the same distance from Sandusky. This is the second meeting of the kind that has been held here. The other one held last year was a success. There were present able teachers and lecturers. The present meeting has been a success so far.
Excerpt from The Tiffin (Ohio) Tribune, August 1, 1878.

Much like the original New York Chautauqua, the Lakeside Chautauqua (established on the shore of Lake Erie) began as a camp meeting in 1873 with a series of revival meetings.

Photo of a promontory point of land on the shore of the lake. a short pier extends from the land out onto the water. Beside the pier is a white building with a tower. To the right along the shore line is a grove of mature trees and a park.
View of the Tower and Park 1909. Caption: This 1909 photo shows the Lakeside tower and dock where steam boats delivered passengers every summer. The dock tower is similar to the one at the original New York Chautauqua.

The early meetings were so successful, attendance grew by leaps and bounds the following years.

Old sepia photo about 1910 of an open park area with children playing and standing in groups. Behind them is an elevated band stand. Behind the band stand and to the left is a grove of mature trees. People sit in groups in the shade or walk under the trees.
An early band stand in the park at Lakeside Chautauqua (courtesy Lakeside Heritage Society)

In 1877 Lakeside officially joined the Chautauqua movement and held its first Sunday-school training session.

Old photo about 1899 of a family posing on the steps of their cottage. The porch has numerous flowering vines that weave in and out of gingerbread trims. On the steps stand two women and a little boy in a sailor suit. Behind them, two men stand and one man sits; each wears a full suit and hat.
Family on a Lakeside cottage porch 1909 (courtesy Lakeside Heritage Society)

The following year, Isabella visited Lakeside Chautauqua to conduct training sessions for children’s Sunday-school teachers.

A normal class meets every day for which good instructors are provided, also an exegetical conference to which is given an exegesis of passages of Scripture difficult to interpret. This is conducted by Dr. Vall, of New York. There is also a children's class meeting every day. One of the instructors is Mrs. Alden, better known as "Pansy." A music class under the direction of Prof. N. Coe Stewart, of Cleveland, also meets daily.
An excerpt from The Tiffin Tribune, August 1, 1878.

Lewis Miller (one of the founders of the original New York Chautauqua) and “Chalk Talk” artist Frank Beard also participated in the Lakeside summer program of 1878.

At 2 P.M. we had chalk-talks by Frank Beard, Esq., of New York. His lecture was very entertaining. It is wonderful how quickly and accurately he does his caricaturing.
Excerpt from an article in The Tiffin Tribune, August 1, 1878.

Frances Willard, President of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, was also a featured speaker that summer.

Frances Willard in an undated photo
At 3 P.M. Miss Frances E. Willard, of Chicago, delivered an address on "Our danger and deliverance." It was a priviledge [sic] to listen to her. She is a great temperence [sic] worker. God speed all such.
Excerpt from an article in The Tiffin Tribute, August 1, 1878.

Add to this the daily lectures and Bible studies conducted by leading theologians and academics of the day, and the new Lakeside Chautauqua was off to a brilliant start!

Lakeside Chautauqua is still a operating today and offers a thriving summer program. You can learn more about Lakeside Chautauqua by visiting their website here.

And the Lakeside Heritage Society has many charming historical photographs of Lakeside Chautauqua, which you can view here.

Have you ever visited a Chautauqua?

There are 18 Chautauquas still operating today in the U.S. and Canada. Click here to find one near you.

4 thoughts on “A New Chautauqua”

  1. Unfortunately, the Chautauqua in New York soon became secularized and completely abandoned its Christian origin. When radio and junior colleges became more common, public lectures and things like Chautauqua became less important, and were mostly made into summer camps and vacation spots

    Reply

    1. I would have loved to spend a summer at the original Chautauqua! Isabella described the classes and lectures so beautifully, I can’t help but think how much people today would benefit from such a place. Thanks for commenting, Barbara. —Jenny

      Reply

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