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Lithia Springs
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Douthit's Lithia
Springs Chautauqua
The
Lithia Springs Chautauqua was the first in Shelby County and the first
of its kind in many ways. It was reportedly the only chautauqua
ever owned by the Unitarian church.
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The chautauqua was a primarily Methodist movement in the early years,
before it evolved into more secular and
entertaining diversions. The name comes from Chautauqua, N. Y. where
the Mother Chautauqua
remains active.
The term chautauqua became generic term
for open-air lectures, music and theatre. Speaker bureaus
competed to supply chautauqa performers and
platform managers.
Many chautauqas were independent. That is, they were not
sanctioned nor supported in any way by the chautauqua
institution.
Lithia Springs was one of only a handful of
Chautaquas in Illinois to be an alliance member. On November 28,
1899, the International Chautauqua
Alliance was formed in St. Louis. The bylaws state the object was
"mutual benefit of its members in promoting the interest of popular
education as embodied in the Chautauqua movement."
Membership required annual meetings of at least ten
days; "have met its obligations in full" to all talent; and must pledge
itself to observing the Sabbath day."
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Jasper L. Douthit served as the first Secretary of the International
Chautauqua Alliance. At the time, Illinois members consisted of
Aurora,
Clinton, Dixon, Ottawa, Petersburg, Piaza, Pontiac, Rockford—and Lithia Springs.
During the early years, chautauqua events took place under large tents.
Permanent structures resembling tents became the norm. Examples
can be found elsewhere in Shelby
County and Christian
County and across North America. Such buildings cropped up in Waterloo,
Iowa; Rockford,
Illinois; and Devil's
Lake, North Dakota. The round design was reminiscent of the chautauquan
tent.
But Jasper Douthit honored his role model,
Abraham Lincoln, by constructing log buildings at Lithia Springs.
Residential cabins, the library and the chapel were all made of logs.
These buildings were among the hallmark of the
Member chautauqas. Typically there would be a main meeting hall,
a dining facility, a library, a few dorms or cabins, and restrooms with
bathing facilities.
A platform manager served as master of
ceremonies. Since the manager was often employed by a bureau as
well, he also traveled. That left the task of acquiring talent
was left up to the chautauqua owner. Sometimes performers failed
to appear due to unconfirmed engagements or a missed train, But
those issues were the responsibiity of the owner, not the manager.
The Lithia Springs Chautauqua, near the tiny village of Middlesworth,
was once a summer city of tents. Today Middlesworth is so small
it
does not even have its own zip code.
During the heyday of the Lithia Springs
Chautauqua, the
Middlesworth post office was a hubbub of activity tended to by the
Douthit family. Train service ceased decades ago after thirty
years of
ribbon workers, suffragists and social purity speakers arrived by rail
from across the country.
The acres where all those chautauquans spent
their summers are now divided among several types off landuse.
The entrance remains but is unmarked. Just like those suffragists,
reformers and entertainers who crossed the little stream to enter the
chautauqua proper, hikers today cross a wooden footbridge.
Native plants thrive in the sun-dappled
undergrowth. Overhead an array of birds serenade anyone dares
enters. |
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Those lithia springs still exist. Two concrete
structures resembling cisterns are unable to hold back the mineral
springs. They continue to bubble to the surface of their own
accord. |
Acres of prairie retain the appearance of anticipating the chautauquans
will return any day now and rebuild their temporary tent cities. (Click here see larger
view.)
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