Chautauqua ?

[mikeothmer]

Chautauqua is not a common word in my vocabulary but has become an important word lately. Chautauqua's were held across the country beginning around 1875. They were events put together by Church and Political leaders for entertainment and enlightenment. The events lasted from a day to ten days. Those coming for the event paid to attend and for meals and a place to camp. They became yearly events and were well attended. I'm from Nebraska and there were 4-5 held within an hours drive from here every year up until about 1935 . Finding information on them has been difficult at best but I think my efforts will pay in Silver !

 

[mudpuppy]

Isn't it amazing what people did before they had a TV? Can you imagine taking your family camping for a week of Revival now-a-days? Good Work, and keep us posted!
Mud

 

[BarberBill]

I'd think those locations would be super. Especially if you're the first to detect them.
BB

 

[Hank68]

I learn somthing new everyday, I never heard of that word until now. Hank

 

[osgood]

Not that you could probably ever detect there, there is a town near Jamestown NY actually called Chautauqua, NY founded historically just as you said. It is a cultural center community what with Opera Events, amphitheater concert events, ballet, and much more. Portions of it are off limits to cars, with cobblestone streets etc, and most of the properties in private hands for generations, meticulously maintained. You can actually rent cottages , rooms , etc for events during the summer. It is a refreshing spot. I guess Im after those camp meeting spots, probably similar to chautauquas, Ive seen historical signs in towns referring to the tent gathering sites where traveling preachers would amass crowds on a Sunday for revivals etc, usually a field or flat open grove, etc. I know where one is but it is now, near as I can tell overgrown, posted, and owned by one of the big RR's. I wouldnt go in there without permission. CO

 

[mikeothmer]

Not that you could probably ever detect there, there is a town near Jamestown NY actually called Chautauqua, NY founded historically just as you said. It is a cultural center community what with Opera Events, amphitheater concert events, ballet, and much more. Portions of it are off limits to cars, with cobblestone streets etc, and most of the properties in private hands for generations, meticulously maintained. You can actually rent cottages , rooms , etc for events during the summer. It is a refreshing spot. I guess I'm after those camp meeting spots, probably similar to Chautauqua's, Ive seen historical signs in towns referring to the tent gathering sites where traveling preachers would amass crowds on a Sunday for revivals etc, usually a field or flat open grove, etc. I know where one is but it is now, near as I can tell overgrown, posted, and owned by one of the big RR's. I wouldn't go in there without permission. CO

This is exactly where these stemmed from in I believe 1872. The one in Lincoln was known as the largest gathering of people in North America I have read stories about crowds of 5000-16000 people. In one of the parks I've been researching they built houses ,hotels,auditoriums,post office, grocery stores, swimming pools and other things right in the area. With Trolley car service to the main city.

 

[JimmyCT]

Great word of the day!

Here in CT I found some good information. They even had one in the next town over from me. I have already been told I can metal detect but NO digging of any kind lol well, there goes that idea. There is one more that was held several miles South of me. I have to research more on this one as to its exact location. Maybe they will let me dig here lol

Chautauqua is not a common word in my vocabulary but has become an important word lately. Chautauqua's were held across the country beginning around 1875. They were events put together by Church and Political leaders for entertainment and enlightenment. The events lasted from a day to ten days. Those coming for the event paid to attend and for meals and a place to camp. They became yearly events and were well attended. I'm from Nebraska and there were 4-5 held within an hours drive from here every year up until about 1935 . Finding information on them has been difficult at best but I think my efforts will pay in Silver !

 

[mikeothmer]

Great word of the day!

NO digging of any kind What about a coin Probe? I've started popping coins and it works good to about 4 inches and fair to 6 inches but I give up after that. If popping coins was my only option I would hunt the property a pop the coins i could get. Just a Thought ! Practice at the park on less desirable targets.

 

[TerraDigger]

A chautauqua can be a bonanza. Lots of thrashing and rolling on the ground of being posessed by the Holy Spirit. Perfect for coin loss. Wish you the best of luck

 

[oldcoon]

They used to hold a camp meeting out the road from here on the banks of the creek. Back in the early 1900s it was a big deal. They used to say it was a stop on the 'sawdust trail.' Old Neal Miller's wife used to keep store out there and really raked it in. The boys used to gather 'round the store hoping to get a glimpse of Mrs Miller's ankle or calf. The camp meeting really packed 'em in there and they even built a foot bridge over the creek so folks from the other side could get there without going several miles out of their way. Now my family was always close to the family that owned the land there and years back I was given carte blanche to hunt the property. I was mostly using my Metrotech then and I might have had my Fisher 1260X out there a few times. Finds were made, some real good, some not so real good. The stuff was there and I dug a lot of it. A location such as that should never be passed up. Can I get an Amen?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

we have a town called "Pacific Grove" near me, here in CA, that was founded in the 1870s originally as one such of those Chautauqua sites. Like a church owned retreat or summer camp type grounds. This one grew into a modern city, so there's really nothing that isn't pretty much paved over (like any regular city) nowadays. A lot of the old cabins for rental got turned in to year round homes, and the town just grew out of it.

I have scuttled under the old Chautauqua hall building (as there is a crawl-space underneath), and found an IH, some early wheaties, a chinece cache coin, etc... But not much, as it appears the floor was solid, with no gaps for things to have fallen through.

 

[JimmyCT]

They already told me no digging of any kind. The guy in charge told me if I want to dig.... "go home and dig in your own backyard"

Great word of the day!

NO digging of any kind What about a coin Probe? I've started popping coins and it works good to about 4 inches and fair to 6 inches but I give up after that. If popping coins was my only option I would hunt the property a pop the coins i could get. Just a Thought ! Practice at the park on less desirable targets.

 

[Mtnmn]

My grandfather was born on the shores of Lake Chautauqua (N.Y) in 1869, suspect it looked a lot different back then.

 

[pulltabMiner]

We have a Chautauqua street here. I wonder if it's named after the event. Maybe I can locate the spot!