CHAUTAUQUA - Where the Present Meets the Past

This story was written by Nina Truex and originally published in Big Bear Magazine, 1995. We’ve changed only dates, to update the story. BBM

What does the name “Chautauqua” bring to mind - a local school, a lake or county in western New York, a nineteenth century educational center? It is all these, and more. The word is an English variant of early French explorers' translation of a Seneca Indian word of many meanings. On 1804 maps it was spelled Chautaughque and in 1859 shortened to Chautauqua.
The venerable Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 at Chautauqua Lake, New York, by Methodist clergyman John H. Vincent, and philanthropist Lewis Miller, as a summer outdoor education center for Sunday school teachers. Its success quickly expanded into an annual educational and cultural assembly for the masses and eventually spread worldwide. “The whole of life is a school...education, once the peculiar privilege of the few, must...become the valued possession of the many,” wrote Dr. Vincent. The Institution became known for its unique and diverse programs on literature, music, fine arts, and recreation, in addition to religion.
From its origins at the lovely lakeside setting, traveling tent show “Chautauquas” of stimulating lectures, concerts, and recitals were welcomed in rural communities throughout the United States, to educate and entertain the common people. Big Bear's own Chautauqua High School, so named by former teacher, Bill Wright, honors this concept of continuing education, states current principal, Steve Schour.
In the spirit of this tradition, History Alive-Chautauqua! came to Big Bear Lake in the summer of 2000, as part of California's Sesquicentennial celebration. Former Big Bear City Mayor Rita Lack was instrumental in initiating the program due to her love of history and personal experiences attending the Institution in New York.
The Friends of the Big Bear Valley Library continue to sponsor this annual event, according to spokesperson Ellen Nichols. Past programs featured portrayals of Dame Shirley, California Gold Rush Wife; Pio Pico, Early California Governor; Jose Jesus, California Indian; John Sutter of Sutter's Mill. Last year, Wyatt Earp was portrayed by his real-life descendant, Wyatt Earp! The Sixth annual Chautauqua Program, once again features the present-day Wyatt Earp, but this time he'll portray the original Earp's friend, legendary dentist-¬turned-gunman, Doc Holliday.
Now a National Historic Landmark, the 131 year old Chautauqua Institution is a thriving summer community where visitors young and old still come to experience relaxation, intellectual growth, and spiritual renewal. President Theodore Roosevelt perhaps best summed it up when he stated “Chautauqua is typically American in that it is typical of America at its best.”
For further information on the Chautauqua Institution, log-on to www.chautauqua-inst.org/
© 2005 Big Bear Magazine