Ron Nagy's Blog

Some people define “ghost” and “spirit” differently.   Find out as our night time walking tour of Lily Dale begins at the  Auditorium.  We will begin with a brief overview of Spiritualism and the unseen realms.  A brief history of how Lily Dale got started, and how it rapidly grew to become the world’s largest center for the religion of Spiritualism get’s us started.  We will walk past many of the old “haunts” of Lily Dale.  At the Healing Temple “spirit lights” have been caught on film as the healers work, channeling spirit help to those in need.  We’ll stop by our historic museum, once a one room schoolhouse.  There are paintings which have been precipitated onto canvas by unseen hands.

As we walk by the entrance gate to the present grounds, you will notice the original site where the first summer meetings took place.  This is now called the Leolyn Hotel, and ghosts of the past still linger there.  It is now again part of present day Lily Dale, but many overlook this special place.  The Leolyn Woods is a rare gem of remaining “old growth” forest in New York State.   Many of its ancient trees were seedlings before the white man walked this land.  The spirits of Native Americans still come to touch some of those who walk through this area.  In the woods is an energy “vortex” called Inspiration Stump.  We’ll linger at this location at the end of our walk, to sense the presence of Spirit.

If rainy, be sure to bring an umbrella.  The rain won’t “dampen our spirits”.  If it is pouring out, our tour will end in Assembly Hall, where the Spirits have helped seekers almost as many years as at the “Stump”.  The tour requires about an hour of walking and some stair climbing.  Those with any handicapped restrictions are welcome to attend as best they can.  We encourage you to have your own transportation.

All of your Spirit Walk hosts are familiar with Lily Dale and its “haunts”.  Each has a special love for “the Dale” and its history.  No two tours are alike.  While there is never a guarantee that you’ll see a ghost or sense a Spirit, you’re sure to gain a better understanding of them and of Lily Dale.

These are not GHOST HUNTS! The purpose is SPIRIT AWARENESS.

The beginning of Lily Dale Assembly seemed a good place to stop writing this book. Another new era was beginning–quite possibly a much more interesting and controversial one. The “Hey Days” of Spiritualism began to subside, mental Mediumship grew stronger, seances were monitored and Mediums began to be officially tested. In 1925 Lily Dale Assembly dissolved the Stock Corporation and became a Membership Corporation. Many well known and flamboyant mediums and speakers continued to serve the Platform in the Auditorium, Inspiration Stump and Forest Temple. There were good times and lean times. There were several exciting “Tipping Points.” Today as in the beginning Lily Dale adheres to the Principles of Spiritualism—the pillar of strength it will survive with. The Author intends to continue the history with a second book tentatively called The Spirits of Lily Dale—Courage and Determination. That book will span 1907 into the 1980’s.A short summary of today’s Lily Dale. Many families reside here year round in the same houses our pioneers lived in. Fitted with modern amenities-quite comfortable. The children go to school several miles away at Cassadaga Valley Central School. The atmosphere is quiet. The pace much slower. The towering trees of the Leolyn Woods are much as they were in 1898-the second oldest natural growth forest in the State of New York.As the pioneers pass on and the years go by other individuals have stepped in to fill the void. Summer Camp now runs from the last Friday in June to the day before Labor Day. Some workshops continue into September. During Camp Season there is a Gate fee for adults. Approx. 40 Registered Mediums have signs on their houses who give private readings for a fee. Outside readings are free at 1:00 and 5:30 at the Inspiration Stump in the Leolyn Woods and 4:00 at the Forest Temple. Church Services are Daily in the Auditorium at 2:30. The Museum-across from the Healing Temple is open 11:00-4:00 daily. Healing services are held in the Healing Temple at various times daily.Examples of some activities and workshops are: meditation, yoga, history tours, astrology, sweat lodge, drumming, healing, spirit walks, mediumship development and Reiki. Many workshops—New Age and Old Age—something for everyone. Usually 100 workshops. The Lily Dale Assembly can be reached at 716-595-8721 or www.lilydaleassembly.com

The Author can be reached at ronnagylilydale@gmail.com or his web site www.ronnagy.net

Lily Dale-Now and Then

Lily Dale is a spiritualist community located in Chautuaqua County, New York about an hours drive from Buffalo, New York. A small village of Victorian and Gingerbread homes nestled on a wooded hillside along Cassadaga Lake; this is the largest center for the Religion of Spiritualism. The community of people are caring and friendly and have a deep commitment to God/Infinite Spirit. Spiritualists believe that life continues after the change called death and this is proven thru mediumship. Spiritualism is not witchcraft as some uninformed people have assumed. Not all Spiritualists are Mediums or Healers. But all residents must be Spiritualists and apply and be approved by a Board of Directors elected by the Assembly members at an annual meeting.

Lily Dale contains almost 165 homes and about 200 year round residents. There are two Victorian hotels, 8 private guest houses, a Post Office, and Fire Department, 2 Spiritualist Churches, an Auditorium that seats 700 and a Cafeteria, public eateries, 2 variety stores, a Book store and various meeting buildings. The summer season of activities attracts about 25,000 visitors who listen to lecturers, attend workshops, public mediumship demonstrations and laying on of hands Spiritual Healing. Lily Dale contains the second oldest natural growth forest in the State of New York, called the Leolyn Woods.

This year was the “Dale’s” 130^th anniversary. Lily Dale has remained almost as pristine as it was in 1879 when it was formed. The original purpose was and still is to promote the understanding of the science, philosophy and religion of Spiritualism. Activities and discussions are promoted concerning, charitable, literary, scientific and civic thoughts. About the time Lily Dale was formed there were almost 400 religious camps of various denominations in the United States. What made Lily Dale unique is the founders had planned streets, lots, and all the amenities for eventual year round living. The reason for the rapid growth of the “Dale” was the closeness of the DAV&P (Dunkirk, Allegany Valley and Pittsburgh) railroad, nicknamed “The Dolly Varden.” The passenger train ran from Dunkirk, New York to Titusville, Pennsylvania where many prominent Spiritualists lived. All you had to do was get off the train at the Lily Dale stop and walk across the bridge to the front gate of Lily Dale.

For the people visiting Lily Dale this was an escape from domestic routine, they could relax without the fear of conflict or violence. They could enjoy responsible leisure and absorb progressive ideas from the many lectures and classes. This was a utopia, a realization on a small scale of the ideals our society was striving for—security, intelligence, humanity and order. No poverty, no drunkenness, no crime and no police— culture, kindness and equality. Lily dale has survived to this day just as our founders visualized because the people can agree to disagree and then compromise.

There are 40 registered Mediums that are tested and approved by the Board of Directors, for a private reading look for signs on the front of the houses. Public message services are held each day during “camp” season in the Leolyn Woods at Inspiration Stump at 1:00 and 5:30, and Forest Temple at 4:00.

The Lily Dale Museum is a treasure of Spiritualist memorabilia, vintage newspapers, period photographs, precipitated spirit paintings, spirit slates and séance trumpets. This is a one of a kind collection; researchers and writers from around the country frequent the archives.

More information can be obtained by calling the Assembly office at 716-595-8721 or visit our web site at www.lilydaleassembly.com.