The original Chautauqua, derived from a Seneca Indian word meaning "the fish leaps," was located in western New York. It was originally planned as a summer school for Sunday School teachers but quickly grew to encompass an entire popular educational movement.

Due to the popularity of the original Chautauqua, other Chautauqua’s, called Independent Chautauqua’s, began to spring up across the country. They attempted to copy the original as closely as possible both in program and location. They were generally located on a lake, either man-made or natural, near a shady grove of trees. There were approximately 200 of these small assemblies by 1890 and 1,000 by 1912. Eventually, communities, which could not financially support a permanent Chautauqua, were able to enjoy the benefits of the Chautauqua movement through traveling tent Chautauqua’s. All Chautauqua’s provided a variety of entertainment including famous lectures, musical and dramatic groups. novelty acts such as magicians and cartoonists, as well as classes in a variety of subjects.

The Lithia Springs Chautauqua, established in 1891, it was a member of the Mother Chautauqua and John Heyl Vincent, one of the founders of the Mother Chautauqua, visited Douthit's Lithia Springs Chautauqua several times. Douthit even served as Treasurer of the International Chautauqua Alliance.

Rev. Jasper Lewis Douthit, was the son of early Shelby County settlers. His father, Andrew Ervin, his grandfather, John D., and his great-grandfather, Evan Douthit, all immigrated to Shelby County from Grainger County in Eastern Tennessee about 1830. His mother's family, the Jordans, arrived in Shelby County about the same time. Douthit's father and grandfather were farmers and cattle dealers who drove herds of cattle across the Grand Prairie to Chicago. His father was also, 3t different times, a sheriff of Shelby County, a tax collector, a postmaster, a school board member, and a grocery store owner and clerk.

Douthit attended the new Shelby Methodist Academy. After graduation he attended Wabash College in Indiana for a short time and then married Miss Emily Lovell of Boston, Massachusetts, with whom he had corresponded while at college.

Douthit was a religious person all his life and was finally ordained a Unitarian minister in 1862. He chose Unitarianism because; of all the religious sects he had been associated with (Methodists and "hard-shell" Calvinistic Baptists), only Unitarianism allowed him "perfect freedom of speech to preach the gospel as God gave me to see it. without dictation of Pope, Synod or Conference."

Douthitinherited the grounds upon which Lithia Springs was established after the death of his father in 1889, and the first Chautauqua was held in 1891. The name Lithia Springs refers to the mineral content of the spring water, which included bicarbonates of sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron; chlorides of sodium and potassium; oxide of aluminum and silica, and a very small amount of lithium.Life at Lithia Springs Chautauqua, long known for its scenic charm, was by all accounts very pleasant. The setting has been described as "Beautiful shading trees, mineral cool springs, pleasant valley and surrounding hills dressed in living green. The whole surroundings form a desirable place for camping and Chautauqua gatherings." By 1902, buildings at Lithia Springs included the Tabernacle (auditorium), which seated 2,000 people; the Library Chapel, which seated 200 people; 6log cabins; 11 cottages; 2 eight-room lodging houses; a dining hall and restaurant; a grocery and post office; and 2 bath houses. Season admission tickets were $2.00 and $1.00 for adults and children, respectively. Daily admissions were, $.25 and $.15.

Aside from the famous lecturers present at the Lithia Springs, various recreational activities were, available at the Chautauqua including an outdoor gymnasium (playground) for children, which contained rope swings, teeter-totters, and slides. A baseball field, tennis courts, and basketball courts also were available. Other recreational activities included nature study excursions and lectures as well as classes in music and swimming. Many other classes were offered at the Chautauqua including physical education, which was then referred to as physical culture, elocution, Bible study, literature, history, health and hygiene, cooking, and nursing.

The speakers were the main attraction at Lithia Springs, the most famous of which was William Jennings Bryan, who spoke there at least four times. He was present at the first Chautauqua in 1891, again in 1899 and 1919, and also for the last Chautauqua in 1921. At the turn of the century he was the undisputed leader of the Democratic party and had been nominated for the office of presidency three times losing twice to William McKinley and once to William H. Taft. Other famous orators included Booker T. Washington, "the Laughing Philosopher," Lou Beauchamp, Mrs. Leonara "Mother" Lake, General and Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth, John G. Wooley, and Billy Sunday, all of whom were vehement prohibitionists as was Rev. Douthit.

The last Chautauqua was held at Lithia Springs in 1921. The decline of Lithia Springs was caused by many factors, but perhaps the most important was the formation of a rival Chautauqua in nearby Shelbyville. A group of businessmen wrongly concluded that the large crowds, which gathered annually at Lithia Springs, indicated that the Chautauqua was a successful moneymaking venture. In fact, nothing could have been farther from the truth. Rev. Douthit was heavily dependant on the American Unitarian Association as well as other missionary and evangelical groups and private donations. In addition to Rev. Douthit's financial burdens, his wife, Emily died of a stroke in 1905 during the August Assembly. Her funeral was held at the Tabernacle. Jasper Douthit died many years later at the age of 93. He was buried beside his wife at Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, Illinois. His tombstone consists of a large granitic native stone with a bronze plaque engraved only with his name and the dates of his life (1837 -1927). The use of native rock as a grave marker in lieu of a more traditional engraved stone marker is in keeping with Douthit's nontraditional outlook on life. He was an abolitionist in an area where it was unpopular to stand for the freedom of slaves; he was a prohibitionist when that was an unpopular idea; and lastly, he was a Unitarian minister at a time when the majority of the people in the Midwest belonged to the traditional denomination of Calvin and Wesley. He was certainly a man ahead of his times.

Today the visitor can walk through this tranquil valley and find the traces of the old Chautauqua. The buildings no longer remain, but many of the foundations are still present and provide the visitor just enough insight to imagine the valley as it was in the 1890's. Picnic tables and grills have been placed under the same large sycamores that once were witnesses to the thousands of people who came to worship and to bask in the beauty of the park. After a picnic lunch, take a stroll back into the woods to see the springs, which still flow. But while walking through these peaceful surroundings, don't be surprised if you hear one of Billy Sunday's "hell and damnation" sermons still echoing through the valley. The area is managed by the U S Army Corps of Engineers as a historic site of local and regional significance. The area is open to the public free of charge. For further information phone the lake Shelbyville Management Office at (217) 774-3951.

Additional Links

Jasper Douthit Project

Shelby County Trails