Between the pines...

Bronze Plaque designating Chautauqua Hall as a state historic resource.

By Susan Goldbeck

‘Feeling a bit blue this past month thinking how much fun I had over the years

at the Feast of Lanterns which is no more. I never really thought about how the

Chinese must feel about it until I asked Jimmy, a friend of the family, to make me

Chinese food at his restaurant for my annual soiree on the night of the pageant

and the fireworks. My family and friends would grab our beach chairs after a nice

dinner and go watch the show. “No, he said. I am not supporting that racist

event.” He said a lot more, but you get the idea.

A few years later representatives of the Chinese community, not all of them,

came to the City representatives and explained how offensive they felt the Feast

of Lanterns was and asked that it be discontinued. It was. Nothing really has

taken its place. My suggestion here is not a Chinese festival mind you, but a week

in in August to celebrate as a community.

Let’s bring back a week of Chautauqua as we did for many years in Pacific

Grove at the turn of the last century. Who knew that our town was actually the

Western United States headquarters of the movement which started in upstate

New York and spread all across the country?

A Chautauqua is a celebration of American cultures. In our case it could be at

least in part, dedicated to both the Native Americans who occupied this land

before the Methodists came to town, and of course the Chinese who were key in

our development and indeed were responsible for bringing international fishing

to the Monterrey area. Fish, mussels, squid and other sea- based products was

also one of the staples of the Pagrovian diet at that time. It still is.

Each of these communities could have a day to celebrate their culture,

including their music, food, dance and art. Our young people can be encouraged

to participate and come up with events that serve their particular part of our

community.

We could have a day of speakers as they did at P.G. Chautauqua’s of old. Folks

sat outside on benches to listen to them in Jewell Park or in Chautauqua Hall

which is named after the week- long celebrations we had here. A Chautauqua

banner hands in our City Council chambers to this day.

One person I talked to suggested that a talent show on the night of the

fireworks would be a really fun substitute for the pageant. The winners could be

decided by applause.

Of courses, many of the weeks of Chautauqua held in the early days of Pacific

Grove, had a decidedly religious tone. No surprise there; after all we were

founded as a religious retreat. Perhaps the churches could participate in some

way. One gal suggested performances of choir music throughout the week at the

various churches would be nice.

Another suggestion I heard was an art show or a number of them all over town.

This could include quilting as the Feast of Lanterns did for many years. There

could be a film festival at the new P.G. Cinema or even outside in Jewell Park or

both. Reviving the street dance is a good idea too. There are so many possibilities

with a Chautauqua. In its early days here the only limit to the Chautauqua week

was that the offerings must be “moral.” I guess that means that the only naked

ladies we can have today are in our summer gardens!

The bottom line here is that reincarnating a week- long Chautauqua would

mean we could have a summer week of learning and entertainment for all ages

and cultures but one that hopefully would not step on anyone’s toes. I think we

should have it in August rather than July when the weather is more dependable

and warm nights are more likely. Chautauqua events were typically held

outdoors.

The representatives of the Chinese community that I talked to were interested

in this idea. The Chinese Moon Gate project set to be installed in the El Marie

Dyke open space next to Chautauqua Hall, reportedly has privately raised the

funds to build it and it should be up in the next year or so after going through the

planning process. The City Council has already approved the use of the space.

Our Heritage Society is raising funds for the rehabilitation of Chautauqua

Hall and the work should be done when its namesake, is celebrated in say 2027.

My thought is if we get started now, we can celebrate both in our first

Chautauqua here in a very long time.

So how do we get started on this idea? It will take a number of representatives

from the business community including The Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce,

Kiwanis, as well as folks from the various cultural communities’ that want to work

on this. I would also like to see the ladies, who worked so hard on the board of

the Feast of Lanterns for so many years, take the laboring oar to bring a

Chautauqua to our town. And of course a representative from the art community

here would be an important addition.

A Chautauqua would be good for our town in that it will bring folks here to

celebrate with us, and, it can just be a very interesting and fun week. I see the

first step as at the City’s Recreation Board to run the idea by them. It is my

intention to put it on their next agenda.

If you have ideas, let me know and come to the Recreation Board meeting when

it plays on their dance card in the next month or so. Stay tuned.