Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts facts for kids
Lake Pleasant is a small village located in Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. It is famous for being an early and important place for American Spiritualism. Many people believe it is the oldest Spiritualist community that has continued to exist in the United States.
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History of Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant started in 1870 as a "campmeeting grounds." This meant it was a place where people could set up tents for summer gatherings. By 1872, it became very popular with people who followed Spiritualism. Spiritualism is a belief system where people think they can communicate with spirits of those who have passed away.
Growth of the Community
In 1874, a group called the New England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association (NESCA) was formed. They officially became a group in 1879. The village quickly grew, adding 90 small cottages. About 50 acres (200,000 square meters) around the lake were divided into many more camping spots.
At its busiest time, around 1900, Lake Pleasant had 196 homes and cottages. In August, the number of people living there could grow to 2,000! Lake Pleasant was one of many Spiritualist camps in the Northeast during this period. Other similar camps included Onset Bay and Lily Dale.
Life at the Camp
Life at Lake Pleasant was very active and fun. People would wake up early, light fires, and prepare breakfast. They would visit each other and enjoy the community. There were many things to do, like boating on the lake and fishing.
An important part of the day was when thousands of people would gather to listen to speakers. These talks were about Spiritualism and other interesting ideas. Evenings were filled with lectures, dances, parties, and special lights. People could also find bookstalls, buy pictures, and read different kinds of literature. Mediums, who are people believed to communicate with spirits, would offer their services for healing or messages.
Challenges and Decline
Lake Pleasant faced difficulties starting in 1907. A big fire destroyed 130 homes, which was a huge loss for the community. Later, the lake itself became a public water supply. This meant that people could no longer use it for swimming, boating, or other fun activities.
As property values went down, many buildings were bought by the water department and torn down. From 1913 to 1976, two different Spiritualist groups lived in Lake Pleasant. They each had their own temples and followers. One was the original NESCA, and the other was The National Spiritual Alliance. The NESCA temple burned down in 1955, and NESCA itself stopped operating in 1976.
Images for kids
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Railroad Station
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The Lake Pleasant Hotel
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Picnic Grove
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Birch Lane
