Lily Dale Museum

Maintenance found this in a 3rd story Leolyn Hotel wall...can anyone identify this? NOTICE: This is about 8 lbs (metal) and 9 in long. The round knob is wood. I'm leaning towards some kind of floor door locking device or the dumb waiter...

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 manufactured the first lapel pins bearing the Sunflower emblem. 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

SOMETHING JUST FOR A LITTLE FUN... Chicken Surgeon Lily Dale News The SunflowerOctober 15, 1901 Lily Dale is supposed to be continually developing some wonder and the latest marvel is a chicken surgeon. The honor of the greatest operation in henological surgery goes to Senor Green, whose name will be changed to Dr. Green. Doctor Green has been employed at Shady Side all summer and recently a hen showed signs of general physical break-up. A clairvoyant examination develo...ped the fact that she had swallowed some bunch grass or some other equally disagreeable line of food and it had balled up in her crop. Nothing daunted the doctor; he examined the patient, tied her legs so she could not kick and assisted by Mr. Arent, made an incision in the neck, opened the crop and found a large bunch in there. He first thought he discovered a new-fashion tumor, but investigation with a spoon showed that it was only digestible food. This was removed and the crop thoroughly washed out, a few stitches taken and the hen sat at liberty. When asked what the hen said about it, he said chick auk, auk and then it walked away apparently none the worse for the operation. It continued to lay and is now developing strong symptoms of wanting to set. Dr. Green can be engaged for either minor or major surgical operations in henology at Lily Dale, New York. See more

The Sunflower-February 15, 1902 Last week we had the heaviest snowstorm of the season, eighteen inches of snow on a level, having fallen in twenty-four hours. It has been necessary to shovel off roofs and verandas, and if the thaw or rain should come on, many who have made no arrangements to have their cottages cared for, will have broken and damaged roofs and verandas. The snow was shoveled off from the roof of the Auditorium where it lay thirty-seven inches on the level. Th...e old saying water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink, could with a little modification be applied to this section of the country. It would be snow, snow everywhere and a little left to eat and burn. For the past two weeks we have been experiencing the worst storm known in this section of the county for years. Trains have blockaded, no freight trains at all until within a couple of days, coal stocks are low and with many it has been a question of keeping the fires going. Potatoes, kerosene, butter and a number of articles are strangers to our stores. The prospects are the worst of it is over, but two hours of wind would blockade this road again. It took an entire afternoon for three engines and a crew of fifty men to get a train from the north end of the depot to the south end of the icehouse, a distance of about three blocks. See more

The Lily Dale Museum will be closed until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic........History questions can be answered by e-mail... [email protected] or calling my cell phone [716-969-4825] and leaving a message.

Out with the old- Happy New Year.

Maplewood Hotel The story of the Maplewood Hotel is an interesting one, in that it was originally the chosen site for the Horse Barn. From the old records: This Barn was boarded up and down, was added on to and built on and became what was called the Grand Hotel. Today after much remodeling, it is now called the Maplewood Hotel.... The Grand Hotel was formally opened for business on August 7, 1880, with C. B. Turner in charge. During inclement weather the Grand Hotel also served as the meeting place for the summer program. In 1883, what was then the second story of the hotel was added to, completed and furnished by private subscription. In 1886, it was decided necessary to enlarge and improve the Grand Hotel and work began as soon as practicable. The noteworthy and most interesting detail about the Maplewood Hotel is the fact that each story of the Hotel has been added to from underneath, instead of from the top. Thus the Maplewood Hotel is called a hung building in the construction world. Each edition would raise the lowest floor to a point that the new edition would raise the lowest floor to a point that the new addition would always be on the bottom. From the beginning until World War II, the Hotel had its own dinning room and seated 250 people. After the tragic fire at the Leolyn Hotel on May 21, 1983, the dining area was converted into guest rooms. In 1967 the Maplewood was renovated and white metal siding put on. During this time the second floor balcony was removed. When the new roof was put on in 1901 the dormers to the original floor were removed. The Hotel was renamed the Maplewood in 1903 because of the abundance of Maple Trees in the area. The Maplewood Hotel has been remodeled and improved many times since it first opened as the Grand Hotel. Many notables the world over have been guests at this place for people to seek rest and relax in a spiritual atmosphere. They may walk from the centrally located Hotel to the various classes and activities which are available during the Summer Season.

WHO'S WHO OF SPIRITUALISM TOUR 11-18-2020 Get ready for a historical treat! Join Willa online for a 'virtual' fieldtrip of the Assembly Hall on this 'Wednesdays... with Willa' podcast show. Lily Dale historian Ron Nagy will tour with us and share his knowledge about the people featured in the portraits. Lily Dale Museum http://ronnagy.net/

NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST 10/16/1920 On September 6th a tornado struck Lily Dale blowing down about 40 trees in the Leolyn Woods3 lovely big ones in one pile were pulled up by the roots. A dozen large ones were so twisted together it was difficult to count them separatelyhardly a tree on the old grounds did not have limbs broken off and numbers lay prostrate, one of them falling on Mrs. Jones Cottage the Bide A Wee and destroying the chimney on Mrs. Spencers adjoining Cottage. The streets were a sight to behold between the debris and the torrents of rain falling in the ink like darkness. We should keep the Leolyn Woods and Lily Dale in our prayers for protection. These trees as well as our houses are important to the environment and are part of our long history..

Before this covid-19 started I was researching WW1 and if Lily Dale lost any men or women and when I found nothing and went into the flu etc. I searched a lot of personal correspondence and letters back and forth from members and friends of Lily Dale. The "Spanish flu" did not start getting noticed in this Country until June 1918 when we were already had camp planned or about to start sending out programs-so camp went on as planned with no reported problems. But it got ...really bad other places by September. The second year 1919 we also had camp and the only odd thing I found was our people were writing into the Assembly office and were worried about the cost of postage for all the programs. I had never noticed this mentioned in any documents for other years. I was and still am going through personal correspondence for those years. The government had passed what was called the Sedition Act of 1917, which limited anything said about situations that could be considered as hurting the War cause-the Post Masters were able to read your personal mail at that time in history. I am still working at that for an entry on the museum face-book page. So you can see that there was a lot of dissents back then as now. It can't all be summed up simply but I will get it done eventually? The above is what I sent to someone months ago when I was still researching. I had quite a few queries about the 1918 Pandemic. The only other reference mentioned I found was in Lily Dale, 1919. Mr. Brooks, one of our Board members brought his daughter here from Buffalo to a dance at the Bowling Alley Building. All the kids came down withflu" but recovered nicely. Mr. Brooks took his daughter home to Buffalo where she also recovered. Seems we were bi-passed on that big one... See more

Azur (the helper), as he is often known, has been the principal guide of A. Campbell since his development as a medium until the present day. About six years ago the Campbell Brothers were fortunate enough to receive a portrait of him through their own mediumship. Their work has progressed and has become what is now termed the finest art. It has long been their wish to receive another portrait of him, which Azur promised to give. He directed them to procure a c...Continue reading

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 fir...Continue reading

Almost finished!!

Today I was thinking about Joyce LaJudice our previous historian--my best friend and mentor. Joyce was such an inspiration and good teacher for me. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and hope she approves of the way I present and display the history. I'm sure she would be so pleased how much the museum has been upgraded and fixed up. Right now it's getting some new windows and a real good paint job by Gary! He's painting the trim blue and should be done this week.

Museum getting fresh paint and a new color. Gary hard at work....

Tidbit for virtual Children's Week... The first children's playground circa early 1900's was near the end of 2nd Street where the little park and Champlin memorial fire place is next to the Bargain Shoppe...notice the high wooden fence that separates our property from the Cummings farm. The 77 acre Cummings farm was purchased in 1923, and went all the way to what is now RT 60. I will also add what Bob Ruther wrote about the Champlin fire place. The Old Stone Fireplace By Bob ...Continue reading

Kiantone, New York was becoming one of the earliest seats of Spiritualism. The year that it was organized as a town, and but four years after the Rochester Rappings were developed, a famous spring was revealed, it is said, to Oliver G. Chase and Mr. Brittingham, two prominent and early Spiritualist, not far from the site of this ancient village. This spring was situated about one and one half miles above the residence of A. T. Prendergast on the right bank of the Kiatone ...Continue reading

Lily Dale had an official police force circa 1923 and were sworn in at the Chautauqua County Court House...

Getting ready for some fun at Lily Dale? Don't ask me why their dressed up...maybe for a play or Halloween? Which ones are the girls and which ones are the guys dressed as girls... but sure looks like they are enjoying themselves...OK Pat?

I discovered a photograph of the Allen Campbell precipitated spirit painting before it was damaged and outlined with red along the collar. I left this one out of my "Precipitated Painting" book because it looked too controversial. I'll post both so you can see the difference.

I have always wondered about the assortment of cement yard objects or ornaments in Lily Dale especially on the North side past Library Street. Other people have also asked me about them. I received the following information and photos from John Sipos, Cassadaga Village Historian. The Cassadaga Cement Works was on Lakeview Avenue in the Cassadaga Village. It was owned by Clyde Payne until about 1920, then Robert Page Sr. until he died in about 1980. It is now out of Business. He made the Indian Heads out of concrete which were embedded into chimneys. The house is currently owned by Bob and Karen Connolly, and the cement works building was to the left of the house.