Chautauqua Auditorium Gets
Early Christmas Gift!
Waxahachie's historic all-wood Chautauqua Auditorium will be receiving a Fire Suppression System! On Nov. 29, Waxahachie's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) committee voted unanimously to approve funding to install a fire suppression system in this unique and treasured building, located in Getzendaner Memorial Park in Waxahachie.
Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction was chosen for the project since they specialize in historic building restoration. They have participated in dozens of Texas Historic Courthouse restorations and hundreds of other historically significant projects. Architexas, one of Texas' premier preservation-based architecture firms, will oversee the $226,800 project with attention to historic and aesthetic details. The project will be a Dry Pipe Sprinkler System. The Waxahachie City Council will consider final approval at their regular meeting on Dec.4th.
The Chautauqua Auditorium was built in 1902 for the thriving Waxahachie Chautauqua which drew thousands of attendees from Texas and surrounding states. This Waxahachie building is the only known surviving structure in Texas built for the original Chautauqua movement.
We thank the TIRZ committee and the City of Waxahachie leaders for their vision and foresight in taking this important step to preserve this valuable resource, so that future generations of local people and visitors alike can celebrate Waxahachie’s Chautauqua heritage.
Waxahachie Chautauqua Represented at
Annual Chautauqua Trail ConferenceIn October, Maureen Moore and Kirk Hunter represented the Waxahachie Chautauqua at the annual Chautauqua Trail Conference.
It was hosted by the Muskoka Chautauqua in Muskoka, Ontario. Delegates were officially greeted by the Town Crier and local officials and welcomed to the glorious fall colors of the Muskoka Lakes region. Delegates were from across the US and represented Chautauqua at Chautauqua, NY; Lakeside, OH; Ocean Park, ME, Monteagle, TN, Bay View, MI; Mt. Gretna, PA; Waxahachie, TX and Muskoka, ON.
The Chautauqua movement has a long history in Muskoka. At the turn of the 20th century, Muskoka was known as Canada’s Literary Summer Capital. In the years 1916 and 1917 conferences were held to provide study, sport and spiritual uplift. Tobin Island, post World War I, was the location of the first permanent Canadian Chautauqua Institution.
The Chautauqua Trail Conference provided an opportunity to visit with long-term friends and to meet new ones who each have a strong affinity for the Chautauqua Ideal. It also encouraged the sharing of ideas and a view into the workings of another wonderful organization.
One day of the 3-day meeting was held on Wasan Island, situated on Lake Rosseau in the heart of the Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, Canada and accessible only by boat. This provided a very unique inspiring experience and an opportunity to focus on common issues affecting each of our Chautauqua organizations.
The Chautauqua Trail is an organization of Chautauqua communities in North America. Anyone may attend these annual meetings held annually at various Chautauquas across America - usually in July. For more information about the Chautauqua Trail and becoming an individual member, visit www.ChautauquaTrail.org.
WATCH FOR JANUARY ANNOUNCEMENT
OF 2018 THEME & SPEAKER
FOR WAXAHACHIE CHAUTAUQUA !
