The Victorian Chautauqua Is Back
Many festivals in 2020 were forced to cancel due to the coronavirus pandemic. But just a year later, the historic town of Mountain Lake Park is back on track to present The Victorian Chautauqua on July 10th and 11th, 2021. The weekend event will feature a full program of guest lectures, historical portrayals, historic home tours, music, food, artisans, and fun for the whole family. All activities will comply with any CDC guidelines in place at that time.
Mountain Lake Park was the first Chautauqua community in Maryland and the nation's second. Fashioned after New York's famed Chautauqua summer resort, Mountain Lake Park’s founders had a clear vision for their proposed community in 1881. As a soon-to-be popular railroad destination, the rural location became a nationally recognized escape from the city heat and a place to enjoy spiritual renewal and cultural enrichment. With plenty of outdoor recreational activities to boot, summer residents enjoyed a respite filled with cool, fresh mountain air.
The Victorian Chautauqua carries forward this summer tradition by presenting two days of enlightening programming indicative of the founding years at the turn of the last century.
"We're very excited about this year's event," said Don Sincell, who is also mayor of the largest municipality in Garrett County. "We want to celebrate our town's history and share how special it is."
Sincell is also part of the planning committee for the Victorian Chautauqua. His town hosted a similar event in 2019, joining forces with Maryland Humanities and Garrett Lakes Arts Festival. The town's historical significance seemed fitting for Maryland Humanities’ 25th anniversary of Chautauqua presentations in the state. Sincell and others who helped make the event possible chose to make the Chautauqua in Mountain Lake Park an annual event after enjoying successful attendance. The timing couldn't have been better since Maryland Humanities announced it would discontinue future Chautauqua state presentations, marking 2019 as their final year. Sincell and his fellow committee members will now be carrying the torch.
"We don't see the pandemic keeping us from holding a safe event," said Sincell. "Everything is planned for outdoors under tents, and we can arrange the seating to keep people properly distanced during performances."
In severe weather, the historic Assembly Hall next door provides an indoor space for safe social distancing.
Mountain Lake Park's appeal is unique as a home to over 60 original structures built between 1882 and the early 1900s. Many Victorian-style cottages were built as summer residences for families who made the town a seasonal getaway. Most of the original homes have been updated over the decades to accommodate year-round living. Outdoor guided house tours will be part of the Victorian Chautauqua this year, sharing historical stories from over 100 years earlier.
For Chautauqua lovers, the programming will be rich with content and showcasing powerful women like The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Margaret Brent, and suffragist Alice Paul. Portrayals of Mark Twain and President Grover Cleveland will honor two gentlemen who both visited Mountain Lake Park in their lifetimes. Cleveland celebrated his honeymoon in 1886 with his new bride, Frances, in the nearby town of Deer Park. The historic cottage still bears his name. Also, lectures on the B&O Railroad, the Civil War, and the original Tennis Club in Mountain Lake Park will satisfy any history buff.
The 2021 schedule includes presentations and activities for children and families as well. Puppets & Play, Strange Instruments, singalongs, and fire dancing will reach younger audiences beyond previous Chautauquas.
Up to a dozen Model Ts will be displayed, and famed tintype photographer Rob Gibson will capture subjects in a forgotten medium. Attendees can ride the vintage-style town trolley or stroll the historic streets lined with towering oaks. Skilled artisans, specialty foods, and a curated antique market will allow guests to browse historical treasures.
A variety of musical performances will include jazz guitar, hammered dulcimer, a Renaissance ensemble, and a traditional hymn sing. Buffalo Run, known for its original songs depicting rural life, will close the weekend.
With the completion of a new park situated near the main entrance to Mountain Lake Park, the festivities will have an expanded footprint in 2021. Organizers plan to erect three large tents to accommodate all the presentations and activities. The new park will have ample space for vendors and seating for a pop-up food court. Visitors will be steps away from the original ticket office built in 1882, which now houses the Mountain Lake Park Historical Association Museum.
Following the weekend event will be the first Victorian Chautauqua Writers Workshops. From July 12 through July 16, four specialized instructors will offer writing memoirs, story writing, play-writing, and writing classes for youngsters between grades 3 and 8. The final day will culminate in a presentation from all the workshop participants and is open to the public.
More details about the Victorian Chautauqua and Mountain Lake Park can be found online. The home page has a link to a five-part video series about the town's history.
Mountain Maryland Gateway partly funds the Victorian Chautauqua To The West, Maryland Heritage Area and Maryland Heritage Area Authority, The Town of Mountain Lake Park, and Aaron's.
