The purpose of the meetings was discussion of Spiritualist subjects and conditions of the Country concerning Free Thinker Ideals. Sitting benches with backs were arranged in rows and usually the senior most respected person acted as moderator. Meetings were held at 9:30am and 4:30pm. Many lively discussions occurred. In 1897 a nightly “Thought Exchange” meeting was held at 6:30pm and continued for many years.

Benjamin Bartlet, a wealthy Spiritualist from Cambridge Springs Pa. had a building constructed in 1914 at his expense and it was dedicated to his mother. This dedication plaque can still be seen on the inside wall of the Forest Temple Building. The Cummings Farm property was located along the East side of Lily Dale property. The Pig Barns can be seen in many of the older photographs of the Forest Temple Meetings.

Lily Dale purchased the Cummings property in 1923 and the Pig Barns were removed for obvious reasons. Imagine the aroma during the heat of the Summer Camp Meetings. At this time I am not sure when the outside Message Services began or when messages started at the meetings so I will not guess.

The Forest Temple Park area is another one of Lily Dale’s oldest and most revered gathering places to this day.

[circa 1870 photograph shows the brothers and William Fay in front of the "spirit cabinet"]

Ira Erastus Davenport  September 17, 1839 -July 8, 1911

William Henry Davenport  February 1, 1841-July 1, 1877

The Davenport Brothers, were American Magicians in the late 19th Century, sons of a Buffalo New York Policeman. The brothers presented illusions claimed to be supernatural.

The Davenports began in 1854, less than a decade after Spiritualism had taken off in America. After stories of the Fox Sisters, the Davenports started reporting similar occurrences. Their father took up managing his sons and the group was joined by William Fay, a Buffalo resident with an interest in conjuring. Their shows were introduced by a former “Restoration Movement Minister, Dr.J B. Ferguson, a follower of Spiritualism, who assured the audience that the brothers worked by spirit power rather than deceptive trickery. Ferguson was apparently sincere that the Davenports possessed spiritual powers.

The Davenports’ most famous effect was the box illusion. The brothers were tied inside a box which contained Musicial Instruments. Once the box was closed, the instruments would sound. Upon opening the box, the brothers were tied in the positions in which they had started the illusion. Those who witnessed the effect were made to believe supernatural forces had caused the trick to work.

The Davenports toured the United States for 10 years and then traveled to England where spiritualism was beginning to become popular. Their “spirit cabinet” was investigated by the Ghost Club, who were challenging their claim of being able to contact the dead.The result of the Ghost Club’s investigation was never made public. In 1868 the team was joined by Harry Kellar. Kellar and Fay eventually would leave the group to pursue their own career as a magician team.

Magicians including John Henry Anderson and Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin worked to expose the Davenport Brothers, writing exposés and performing duplicate effects. A pair of amateur magicians followed the brothers around Britain, tying the Davenports into their box with a knot that could not be easily removed and thus exposed the trick to audiences who demanded their money back. The impresario P.T. Barnum included an exposé of the Davenports in his 1865 book The Humbugs of the World.

A second scrapbook recently donated by Richard Davenport shed more light on the “Davenport” travels that include: England, Spain, Portugal,France, Italy, India, Egypt and Australia. On the way to Australia stops were made for demonstrations at Cuba, Puerto Rico the West Indies Islands, Venezuela and other South American Countries.

The second scrapbook also reveals in Ira’s own handwriting the famous people they met and were introduced to. Take note that Ira and William both were introduced to John Wilkes Booth and Abraham Lincoln in the month of April 1864—a year before the President was assassinated.

William died in Australia 1877 and Ira died at Mayville New York-his home, not long after a meeting with the Magician Harry Houdini. The Davenports should be remembered as the most well- known [sometimes notorious] and most traveled “Medium or Showman” of the 19^th Century.

Scrapbook #2 donated by Richard Davenport–both scrapbooks can be viewed at the Lily Dale Historical Museum during Camp Season or off season by appointment.

Annual Meeting of Directors:

A resolution was passed taxing Horses, Cows and Pigs $5.00 per annum: Cats and Dogs $1.00 each and Chickens $.10 cents each. This tax will be collected the first of May each year.

This “tax” seemed common across the Country as a means of making extra money at the end of the late Victorian 1800’s. In some places this was referred to as a “pocket tax”. [I leave the word to be interpreted by the reader]

The Sunflower April 25, 1903 [A Lily Dale newspaper printed here on South Street] Stated: One of the reforms inaugurated by the new management is to take away all the little sheds & shanties that have been used for storage purposes, on the East part of the grounds and prepare the ground for a row of nice Cottages on that Street. This is quite a venture and it is hoped-for it will make a decided improvement. Also: J.F. Witheral has been taking out a number of stumps near the Turner Barn at the head of South Street which is a decided improvement and J.H Champlin [contractor of the Auditorium] has arranged to build him a new Barn on the hill just across the Railroad Track. [Frisbee Road]

Abby Louise Pettingill was elected President of the Board and had controlling interest in the Assembly by 1903. The East end of every Street was being used for sheds, the raising of Livestock and generally a place for the “save it” items. East Street must have been quite an Eyesore and Abby Louise had a vision of beauty and order. This was a major change and I’m sure much tact, diplomacy and negotiations had to be used for the completion of this project. Abby would finally make a through Street for the Eastern end of the grounds without the “junk” and the adverse odors.

Mike Randall & Bridget Blythe Field Trip: Lily Dale   A walk around Lily Dale with Ron Nagy Assembly Historian, then we explore the Museum!! Watch and enjoy the fun……

“The Cassadagan” was a monthly magazine printed from Meadville, Pa. and was devoted to the interest of Spiritualism in America. A special section called Lily Dale Happenings stated in the March 1900 edition: We were reminded of the old superstition of the unfortunate 13, by the accident on the Lake on the 13^th of February. The icemen were scraping snow and water from the ice when it broke and a beautiful span of horses went down to their death. They could have been rescued but for a heavy iron scraper that held them down.

How often we view similar conditions in the lives of human beings, harnessed to clops and drags, fettered by ball and chain, to unfortunate conditions, and at last destroy. Many a lunatic and suicide are examples of this fact.

The previous two paragraphs are where written history ends and the beginning of the Cemetery starts. The written statement in “The Cassadagan” is straight fact. Maybe, or most likely in my opinion all series of events surrounding the drowning were omitted or possibly taken for granted. What is done with a double horse drowning? What was the mindset of the “Victorian” workmen?

When history stops, lore & legend must be considered. For over 100 years from generation to generation our fathers, grand and great grand fathers have told the story of the Pet Cemetery. The first story is the horse or both horses are buried at the far end of the Leolyn Woods-this was the beginning of The Pet Cemetery. The second story is the last workhorse that was used by the Assembly maintenance “Boys” was retired and became like a pet for the children who lived on the grounds.

When that horse passed away, out of respect it was buried in the far end of the woods. This grave was marked with stones. The horse had a name-or was called by various people several names. The sign placed at the grave recently so lovingly displayed gives the name as Hoppi[sic]. I found an old maintenance photo with the name Lakewood Prince printed on it. No story or remembered legend contains the same lore. What we do know is a Horse was buried in the Cemetery a long time ago.

As Spiritualists we love all life-especially our beloved pets-our loyal furry best friends. Whether they be cats, dogs, birds or horses etc. we honor and cherish their lives and Spirit existence. May God Bless and watch over their place of final resting and peace. Lily Dale has made a place for our pet friends-and Bless those people who take care of the area and partake in the yearly Blessing Ceremony.

Spirit often speaks inside my brain, but that was just the second time I had heard a “direct voice.” I walked on up to Connie’s cottage and asked her if I could place a set of doors behind it, promising that I wouldn’t leave them there more than one year. She lent me her van, and we picked them up.

Later that night I thought about the idea of a cottage at Lily Dale and me. I recalled a “seed thought” that I may have planted 10 years before as I walked down Buffalo Street with Neal. He saw a for-sale sign, went inside, talked a while, then came out and said he had bought the house on his Master Card. Although I had since consciously forgotten the event, I now remembered that I had said, “When I can buy a cottage here, with cash, I will.”

The day after Connie had stored the doors for me, I brought the subject up with Charlie. He, logically and by appearances rightly, told me why we should just rent at Lily Dale for the summer and the reasons why my money should stay with the Vanguard account. I let the idea go for the moment.

Later that summer we were interviewing medium Ray Torrey for our book Guided by Spirit: A Journey into the Mind of the Medium. He was so interesting, but as he talked for the second hour I excused myself and took a shortcut from his place to ours. As I cut between the houses I saw a man hanging a for-sale sign on his place. When I asked about it, he said he was showing it to the two people beside him, British mediums. I asked if I could look too.

It looked slightly better inside than out. I had sat on our rental porch looking at the falling down shack-like room on the back of this place across the street for two summers. But it didn’t have a kitchen or bath, and both porches and the back room needed to be replaced.

Thinking about the possible message, “doors for my cottage,” I asked the owner if I could go in again and just sit in meditation. I thought maybe that voice would come to me. I was still neutral about purchasing anything, but I was open to guidance. So I sat in the living room that was bare except for 3 rocking chairs, a desk and a lamp. After sitting awhile in one rocking chair I opened my eyes and was surprised to see the other two chairs were rocking! I looked for an open window or other cause. There was none I could see. I closed my eyes, opened them again, and they were still rocking. So I asked, “How come?” and I heard just three words in my head (not the direct voice). Carter, Jimmy, Georgia. My logical mind thought, “I wanted a message; what does former President Jimmy Carter from Georgia have to do with Lily Dale and this cottage?” The rockers stopped rocking. When the owner returned I told him about the event. He said, “My Dad Jimmy died in that rocker, and this one came with the house. It belonged to the medium Georgia Carter who lived here for years”.

Phenomena are fairly common at Lily Dale, so I didn’t necessarily think I had my guidance about buying a cottage. But when I told Charlie, who loves the unexplainable, he said he wanted to look at it, and we bought it.

The following spring, after a new back room, 2 baths and kitchen were added, we walked over to Connie’s and got the two French doors. We discovered they fit perfectly, without planing or changing a hinge, into the space between the living room and kitchen. And this cottage dated from the early 1880s, when doors weren’t as standardized as they are today. They did need coats of white paint, instead of gold! Several years later we learned that Marion Skidmore had lived in our cottage. After a few years she had built the large house that is now home to the NSAC headquarters (the place that had put the doors out for trash pick-up). I now think that Marion ordered me with direct voice to restore the doors to their original home from where she had moved them. I would bet she is pleased that I listened.

Guest Submission by:

Penelope Emmons, author of Guided by Spirit: A Journey into the Mind of the Medium and Science and Spirit.

http://www.scienceandnewage.com/

The Religious Society of “Free Thinkers,” originally based in Laona, New York, came to the shores of Cassadaga Lake in 1871 to hold picnics in a place called Alden’s Grove.  Alden’s Grove has now been renamed Leolyn Woods, a protected woodland on the grounds of the Lily Dale Assembly.

Through a progression of events, which only God and Spirit could provide, summer meetings, and eventually an entire camp season, were held on the shores of the lake.  Finally, in 1879, “The Cassadaga Lake Free Association” negotiated a purchase of land on the lake, preparations began, and the first official season at the new site ran for a few weeks in 1880.  By 1893 a hotel, auditorium, library, school, post office, and assembly hall were in place along with over 200 cottages; 40 families resided on the grounds year round.  During that time of growth, such notables as Susan B. Anthony began to make regular visits to the grounds.  Anthony came to Lily Dale to speak when difficulties arose with her appearance at Chautauqua, and she was so pleased she returned time and again.

A century has come and gone, and there have been some changes in the village.  The name was changed to “City of Light Assembly,” and then, in 1906, to the Lily Dale Assembly.  Fire destroyed buildings; people rebuilt them.  The remarkable days of physical mediumship have gently moved into the Past, and mental mediumship has taken predominance.  The activities have grown, the program has grown, and Lily Dale has remained a quietly unique retreat from the day-to-day blasts of the world.

To walk the streets of Lily Dale in the quiet of fall and winter is to walk in peaceful silence.  There are few people out and about; many homes are closed for the winter and there are about 100 year round residents.  There are two Churches on the grounds, an Auditorium, Assembly hall, the Marian Skidmore Library with a Spiritualist Museum sitting at the end of Library Street.  A pavilion rests on the edge of the lake, a quiet spot anytime of the year, Squirrels are in obvious presence, and those with strong memories of the active times of summer have no hesitation in challenging for a peanut, which folks familiar with the customs of the place have nestled in their pockets as part of the rite of passage.  People are not as commonly found as squirrels during this resting season, but behind the scenes, things are beginning to gear up.

By April when hopefully the last blast of winter sweeps off the lake, people begin moving around.  Projects on the grounds begin in earnest.  Yards are cleared, last year’s stubborn leaves are finally cleared completely, and the program for the summer makes its first public appearance.  The ground crew swings into the repairs held off by winter… residents pick up the slack, and all eyes are set on the opening of camp, the Friday before the 4th of July.

Visitors begin to arrive early, and it is not uncommon for them to wander the grounds, enjoying the serenity of it all.  The Fairies return from Florida-a warmer climate for their delicate forms. The residents who have left for the winter begin to return, and houses left dark all winter show their lights once again.

Every year, the Assembly will have over 100 workshops during the season, which extends until Labor Day.  Always rooted in the religion upon which the camp was founded, the Assembly calls upon those with expertise in the areas of the scientific, philosophic and religious aspects of human development…reaching the potential, recognizing each person’ divinity.

In addition to the workshops, there is a regular schedule of events daily.  Outdoor services are the mainstay of the days’ activities.  The Inspiration Stump, a clearing in the Leolyn Woods which is found by wandering down a forest path through a protected woodland, past the pet cemetery, and toward the light that flickers through the branches ahead, is the site of two services daily.  Mediums registered to work privately on the grounds, visiting mediums, and student mediums gather at the Stump at 1:00 and at 5:30 pm daily to provide a message service to the visitors who sit on the benches in the clearing.  At 4:00 a similar service is held at the Forest Temple, on the other end of the grounds. The Healing Temple is open twice daily for healing and meditation.  Healers stand ready to serve God, Spirit, and Man as the soothing music drifts out the door and through the quiet streets. Our Museum is open daily from 11am-4pm a must stop for any serious investigation.

The platform in the Auditorium could tell its own stories.  Over the years, notable names attached to the evolution of Spiritualism have spoken and/or given messages from the stage. At 2:30 every afternoon a lecturer and a clairvoyant take their places for the service, and when the bell tolls, the paths to the auditorium fill with people making their way for that experience.

The days and evenings are also full. A walk in the night, a stop for a special coffee and enriching conversation either there or the Maplewood porch. Thought Exchanges, book reviews, concerts, dances, evening message services, bands in the park, and gatherings also at the cafeteria where talking often takes precedence over eating.  It’s a busy and exciting time.

The Maplewood Hotel porch, right in the heart of Lily Dale, is a favorite gathering place for late night chats.  The other hotel, the Leolyn, sits just outside the gates, and it is there also that fine music is presented in the Garden Room or the floating dock–solitary times can find late night quiet on the very edge of the lake.

The Religion of Spiritualism is alive and well in Lily Dale.  For 133 years the Camp has opened, and for 133 years the people have come from all over North America and the World.  The largest camp in the world of its kind, Lily Dale has become the gathering place and destination of seekers of knowledge and Spiritualism; the plans are; that mentality will continue. There are always things to be done, avenues to be explored, and people looking for answers.  Lily Dale’s role in the search is its purpose for being-answers. Residents along with spiritual counselors and mediums can assist you on your spiritual journey.

The Lily Dale Assembly is governed by its by-laws; it is led by a group of seven volunteers who are elected by its membership at a meeting held every August to discuss the year past and the year upcoming, to address problems, and to present dreams. Lily Dale’s roots are set firmly in the past, it stands firmly on the Spiritualist philosophies, and it keeps its eye on positive future growth…Lily Dale is a place for each individual to discover himself and to join with others who are on the same path.

As the season closes, and fall approaches, quiet will return to the streets.  Houses will become dark, fewer and fewer visitors will wander the paths, and another period of rest will fall…but be assured, behind the scenes, it is not so quiet…there are people making plans for the coming years activities–for there is always next year, there are always new seekers, and there will always be Lily Dale.

So for this season I say well-done volunteers and thank you for your patience and perseverance. Thank you to all our many guests and visitors and I hope to see all of you this coming year…. Many Blessings to each and every one of you. MJL/RN

OS-KE-NON-TON’s childhood and boyhood days were spent on the reservation among his people. He became an expert with the canoe and learned the habits of the wild creatures in the forest. He acquired a subtle art in catching the inhabitants of the pools, lakes and rivers. He learned the signs of the weather and could read the mystery of the forest and he dreamed the dreams of his ancestors.

His aid was sought by the white man, the hunter and the pleasure seekers. He soon became known as a skillful guide and his services were in demand. Then came the desire for knowledge, and following the desire he went to the schools in Toronto, Canada.

After his schooling he went back to his people and one day he had been leisurely paddling the wide river and had drawn his canoe to shore and made his camp. He sat watching the evening light play over the water and fade over the hills. As he sat there in the stillness, his mind lapsed back to the early days to the traditions of his people, and his voice sounded out “The Appeal To The Great Spirit.” A party of men heard this, and the singer was sought after because of the beauty of his voice.

OS-KE-NON-TON then went to New York City where he developed a technique of song and refinement of tone. Before long Chief OS-KE-NON-TON was recording on the Columbia label, hosting a weekly radio program and appeared on the cover of many magazines.

He was soon known as the Native American version of Enrico Caruso. His family still displays a photo which reads “To my friend OS-KE-NON-TON, Enrico Caruso 1915”. OS-KE-NON-TON crossed the Atlantic thirty-five times and appeared throughout Europe in concerts and performed for the Crowned Heads. In 1927 he sang to an Audience of 45,000 people at the Hollywood Bowl, California.

During the 1930’s and 40’s and until his transition in 1955 OS-KE-NON-TON appeared on the Lily Dale platform and held Healing Sessions at the Assembly Hall and held Healing Circles in his Wigwam. Chief OS-KE-NON-TON was one of the most colorful and respected individuals Lily Dale has been able to claim as a resident.

Statistics and books have been written about the subject. There were disturbances from some unknown cause long before the Fox Family moved into this house. Miss Pulver, who had been the maid for a family that lived there as early as the winter of 1843, stated that there was peculiar happenings regarding an old peddler who used to call there constantly and that he very strangely disappeared, and no one seemed to know where.

The Fox Family moved into the house in December of 1847 and early in February there were raps and noises from no apparent cause. These raps finally became so constant that they were annoying. On the memorable date of March 31, 1848 the nightly occurrences began again. Katie Fox snapped her fingers and called out “Here Mr. Split-foot do as I do.” Immediately there were distinct raps corresponding to the number of noise that she had made. They all stood astounded, when Katie made a number of motions in the air without sound, this was again answered by corresponding number of raps from the invisible force. Then came the words from Katie which have since meant so much to the world and which ushered in a new understanding of an old truth. “Look mother it can see as well as hear.” What a world of meaning in those few words for it proved to man that immortality of his own soul; that life after death was an assured fact and that they could come back and communicate with those on the Earth Plane.

Mrs. Fox then asked several questions which were answered correctly by raps and when they asked if it was a man, the rapped answer was “NO.” Upon asking if it was a spirit, a prompt “YES” was the response. The neighbors were then called in and through a series of raps corresponding in number to the letters of the alphabet they gained this information—the spirit of a pack peddler named Charles Rosna claimed to be the cause of the manifestations. He stated in his message that he had been murdered in the house and his body buried in the cellar. They started digging at once but an inflow of water stopped them. In the summer when the ground was dry they succeeded in digging up some quick lime, human hair and bones that a Doctor said were portions of a human skull. In the year 1904 the East Wall of the house caved in and showed that there was a double wall. Between them the skeleton of a man and a tin peddlers pack was found. This seemed to substantiate the story that had been told.

The phenomena caused wide spread interest and people from miles around came to hear the raps. The family was much annoyed by the undesired notoriety but could do nothing to prevent it. About this time the ministers took a hand and started to persecute them and trying to prove it a hoax. It was to no avail however, and the Fox Family decided to move to Rochester to get away from it. They did not succeed in getting away, either from the notoriety or the raps, and it was decided that the two girls were the mediums through which the manifestations were made possible. In Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York, they gave their first public meeting for the cause of Modern Spiritualism. This meeting was held on the evening of November 14, 1849. The results were not as satisfactory as they had wished but never less there was plenty of evidence that they were caused by some unknown force other than that of a human agency, and it is certain that these knocks from the other side of life opened wider, the doorway of communication between the two worlds. Records tell us that immediately séances started all over the Country and numerous mediums began to develop into the mightiest and most certain truth the World has ever known—MODERM SPIRITUALISM.

There are many books of reference regarding the Fox Sisters some contemporary although the most prominent data is taken from “Hydesville in History” by M. E. Caldwallader. There are many stories of the so-called exposure of the Fox Sisters and it is a deplorable fact the sisters, through constant nervous strain brought about by lack of direction in the use of their mediumship and by constant wrangling among themselves, were led to do and say many things which were indiscrete to say the least, but never less there was plenty of proof that their mediumship was genuine and true to them is rightfully given the credit of announcing the advent of Modern Spiritualism to the World.