Maple Springs is a hamlet in Chautauqua County NY. Today it is best known for Midway Park, an amusement park with a rich history in the Chautauqua and Jamestown, NY area. Midway was given its name for being “midway” in between Jamestown, NY and Westfield, NY. It was also located across the Lake From Chautauqua, a bustling center for the “Chautauqua Movement.

Maple Springs was a busy hamlet with a Railroad stop in the past. Being midway between the two towns it served as a popular rest stop. Many tourists also crossed the lake to visit Chautauqua and attend the lectures and classes given in the summer season. Their trip across the lake was provided by one of the many steam ships that sailed Chautauqua Lake.

The Whiteside Hotel was one of the popular bed and breakfast stops for the travelers. The porches were a popular resting place on a hot day while waiting for transportation or to continue on to their next vacation stop.

Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY.

photo credit: colecamp

As those who attend the programs at the Chautauqua Institution know, the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua NY was the “Mother Chautauqua”.

Many Chautauqua’s started in the United States and Canada in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. But with the introduction of radio and televsion the popularity of the chautauqua programs declined.

There are only a few Chautauqua’s that still offer a program and one of the more well known of these is located in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Fla.

Below is an excerpt from Our Florida Travel on the “Florida Chautauqua, written by Diana Strittmatter.

Often referred to as an “Independent Daughter” of the movement, the Florida Chautauqua began on February 10, 1885 in DeFuniak Springs located in Walton County. The format of the group emphasized religious training and educational activities in areas of philosophy, theology, music and art. Entertainment was also established in the form of concerts and lectures geared to be educational in nature. History tells us that by 1886 visitors to the Assembly attended lectures on Julius Caesar, Cicero’s writings, Rome and Hannibal, Marius and Sulla as well as diverse topics on health, astronomy, and even love and marriage.

Several speakers took turns in giving lectures at the Florida Chautauqua but one of the first speakers was Wallace Bruce, a man who would play a key role in the direction of the Chautauqua Assembly. In 1888, Wallace Bruce was elected President of the Florida Chautauqua Association and he built his first home on Lake DeFuniak. It was through his efforts that the Hall of Brotherhood building was constructed.

To read the rest of the article click here: Florida’s Historic Chautauqua.

Being a fan of the Chautauqua Institution I enjoy learning about the other Chautauqua’s that flourished in the United States.

photo courtesy of florida chautauqua.com

Thanks Diana for a great article.