Ron Nagy's Blog

“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.

I was walking along the lake at sunset behind the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC) office in Lily Dale, New York, when I heard a clear voice say, “Pick up those doors for your cottage”. I had just noticed some rather garish gold-painted doors put out for the trash. I looked around, but no one was there. When I looked more carefully I saw they were French doors. But I did not have a cottage to put them in. I started to walk on, when distinctly, in a voice like a mother commanding a child, I heard, “Pick up those doors for your cottage.”

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. Read more…

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. Read more…

ANN Bridge DAVIES new book ‘Portraits from Spirit’ is a very interesting and informative account of a psychic child [Ann] growing up in a ghostly invisible paranormal world and developing into being able to draw the spirits and now demonstrate and teach spirit drawing worldwide. Ann; I say this is a great book and proof we survive after death !!