Author: Ron Nagy
- Written by: Ron Nagy
- Category: History Topics
- Published: August 27, 2010
Lily Dale – A Truly Extraordinary Experience
August 27th, 2010 
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By Dave Zuchowski
With a few minutes to go before my scheduled meeting with Lily Dale historian, Ron Nagy, I parked my car in a space between the gated-enclave’s museum and its Healing Temple, where daily services are held. Curious about the temple, I walked in on a packed session in which healers were gently placing their hands on volunteer’s shoulders to “channel their healing energies.”
Unable to linger for a longer look, I headed over to the museum, housed in what was once an 1890 schoolhouse where Nagy can usually be found from 11 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.
“In 1879, a group of people interested in Spiritualism bought about 20 acres overlooking Cassadaga Lake in Southwestern New York,” said Nagy, sitting among the museum’s collection of photos and memorabilia from its earliest days. “They cleared the land and marked off property into lots and streets.”
- Written by: Ron Nagy
- Category: History Topics
- Published: August 26, 2010
Laona, New York, 1843, a small village outside of Fredonia. Animal Magnetism or also called Mesmerism—today we would call that hypnotism. Mesmerism was a new method of healing. A Dr. Moran from Vermont came to Laona to demonstrate Mesmerism…Dr. Moran healed a William Johnson who later was able to heal Jeremiah Carter, who also was able to go into a trance condition, identify objects [psychometry] and perform healing.
Weekly demonstrations were given…crowds came from all over Chautauqua County and beyond. Laona became one of the “stops” for what was then called “Iterant speakers “[traveling lectures]…Andrew Jackson Davis, Mary Davis, Dr. James Peebles, Elizabeth Lowe, William Denton, Warren Chase, and John Murray Spear were some of the most out standing and well known speakers who appeared there.
- Written by: Ron Nagy
- Category: History Topics
- Published: March 17, 2010
The Symbol of Spiritualism-The Sunflower
It is unknown as to who first suggested the sunflower as a suitable emblem of Modern Spiritualism. However we do know that for centuries long before the Christian era, the sunflower was regarded as the emblem of Truth and Constancy. Since the days of mythological fables, the sunflower has been a favorite emblem of Constancy.
From the Sunflower, the bright color “yellow” also became among the ancients, the symbol of Truth and Constancy. For this very reason, it was adopted by the Women Reformers of the 1800’s. The adoption of the Sunflower has been the emblem of Spiritualism at least since 1892.
The Spiritualists at the Cassadaga Lake Free Association [Lily Dale] adopted the Sunflower as it’s seal as shown in it’s Constitution and by-laws developed in 1892 and adopted in 1893. In 1900 William Bach continued the manufacture of the lapel pins at his offices in Lily Dale, NY bearing the Sunflower emblem. [believed to be originally manufactured in Boston Ma.]
In 1928 the Sunflower was adopted as the official badge of International Spiritualism at the conference for the International Federation of Spiritualism.
“As the Sunflower turns it’s face to the light of the sun-so let Spiritualism turn the face of humanity to the Light of Truth”
- Written by: Ron Nagy
- Category: History Topics
- Published: March 11, 2010
Fox Cottage Burns: by Arthur Myers
September 21, 1955
Four o’clock in the morning, September 21, 1955, I sit here in my home staring dejectedly into emptiness. I have just witnessed the end of a cottage. An era has ended, and historical relic important to the whole world has been consumed by outlaw yellow flames. An international shrine leveled in a few short minutes to the category of memory. The Fox Cottage is no more.
In the still of a clear cold night the ravages of fire reduced romance, history, tradition and pride into glowing ashes and scattered dust, we can but weep. At half past three this morning a motorist on the main highway, a mile from Lily Dale saw the glow of fire in the sky. Quickly he drove to the Dale, up and down the quiet streets, tooting the horn of his car. Lily Dale is a quiet place and at that time the motorist had difficulty rousing the residents. Quickly the fire alarm sounded and our fire dept, along with the fire department of Cassadaga, fought valiantly to save the cottage, but to no avail for the fire had too strong a hold. Only blackened portions of the front and side walls remain and a wealth of precious relics and mementos are lost forever.