Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-06-01
History Of Southern
Oregon Chautauqua

name, in New York state. The -Chau-
tauqua headquarters were located in
Akron, Ohio, but on account of the
beauties of Lake Chautauqua they
held their first session there. The
idea of the Chautauqua course was
to give those people who not had the
same chances broad education. All
the best speakers and literary men
Of the times were called to the Chau-
tauqua platform, and immense
crowds thronged to the event, which
took place in the middle of the sum-
mer.
Later, the heads of the Chautau-
qua conceived the idea of establish
ing a course which could reach all
persons, and they then set about pre-
pairing the course which was the nu-
cleus of that which the Chautauqua
clubs use now. The histories which
had been written by Lyman Abbott
were prepared for study, and every
one who was leader in his line was
asked to contribute some of his
knowledge to the cause of the Chau-
tauqua. The movement became wide
spread, until at the present time the
Chautauqua headquarters is one of
the busiest of places for the dispens-
ing of Chautauqua literature.
Now to come to the establishing of
our own Southern Oregon Chautau-
qua. 1t was founded in the year
1892, under the leadership of Rev. ].
S. Smith, and was intended to be
held at the camp grounds at Central
Point. The charter members were
900 in number and were from Central
Point, Jacksonville, Klamath Falls
and Ashland, besides other people
from small hamlets. Rev. J. S.
Smith was the first president.
When the time for the assembly
drew nigh, they found that it would
not be possible to accommodate the
crowd at Central Point, and so they
moved it to Ashland, which was the
center of industry at that time. The
first Chautauqua tabernacle, of which
most of the present building is COM
posed, was built in the incredible
time of five days with the help OF
all the loyal citizens as could get on
the job at once. Business men
donned their overalls and turned to
carpentering for the Chautauqua
cause. And. 10 and behold, in five
days the completed beehive.
The grounds for the building were
bought. from Mr.. Roper, from whom
Ropers Bunion got it's name. Bonds
were issued by the Chautauqua peo.
pie to the amount of $4,000 to pur.
chase the land and erect the building
The building was erected during the
midst of the panic of '93. No money
: could be borrowed in the west, but
T. X. Bolton knew of man in the
east who had money he would loar
on the right security, and It was OBJ
T tanned.
The first officers of the Chautau
= qua assembly were: President, ]. S
Smith; vice-president, w. |. Vawter
secretary, Mrs. d. l.. Minkler; treas
urer, Fred Hansen, In 1894 G.. F
Billings was elected to the office oi
. president, and there he has remained
ever since. For almost twenty years
he has uncomplainingly fulfilled the
heavy and non-lucrative duties thrust
: upon the bearer of that office. We
cannot realize the amount of .rea
work that he has had to do for the
benefit of Chautauqua-the sendins
of letters, the engaging of talent, and
all the minor things that simply have
to be attended to before a program
can be turned off successfully.
In the early days of Chautauqua
in Ashland the event was one of the
most-lookedforward-to affairs that
there was IN this section of the coun.
try. At that time there was nothing
of outside interest to awake the sen.
timents and intellect of the people
and the Chautauqua was welcomed as
new system of education The
klamath people would drive over in
their wagons, bringing their bedding
and camp outfits, and establish camp
in the park or up the canyon. Like
wise people from Central Point, Med
ford and other parts of the valley
Now to take up another side OF
Chautauqua benefits. the Chautauqua
Club, organized in 1902 by the ladies.
The first officers of the Chautauqua
Club were: President, Mrs. C. b.
Watson; vice-president. Blanche
Hicks; secretary. Mrs. H. L. Whited;
treasurer. Mrs. f. c. Galley.
The Chautauqua grounds had here
tofore been uncared for and the man
zanita grew in its native .prpfusion,
The ladies of the Chautauqua Club
saw the need of improving the