Skaneateles Community facts for kids

The Skaneateles Community was a special kind of social experiment that started in 1843. It was created by a group called the Society for Universal Inquiry and Reform. This community was built on a 350-acre farm near Mottville, in Skaneateles, Upstate New York. The people who lived there hoped to create a perfect society, based on ideas about everyone working together and sharing. It was one of several communities like this that appeared before the Civil War.

The community lasted for three years. John A. Collins, who was famous for wanting to end slavery, became the leader. About 100 people lived there, sharing their homes and working together. They worked on the farm, in a sawmill, and in a print shop. Even though the community was doing well financially, disagreements among members and Collins's changing leadership led to its end.

By 1846, John A. Collins had changed his mind about some of his earlier beliefs. He started believing in God again and joined the Whig political party. He even became the editor of a newspaper in Ohio. He later wrote about why he started the community and why it failed. He believed it failed because of human nature, saying:

"... We established a community upon the no-government, or non-resistance principle ; upon the largest liberty ; upon the broadest principles of democratic equality. With a faithful and honest trial of nearly three years, we were compelled to renounce the principles we entertained, both in relation to governments and religion and society, as false in theory and pernicious in their practical tendencies.

"They might, so far as governments are concerned, do very well if men were angels, and angels gods ; but human nature is too low, too selfish, and too ignorant for relations so exalted. ...":

Collins felt that while the ideas were good, people were not perfect enough for such a system to work. He thought people were too focused on themselves and not wise enough for such a free and equal society.

What Happened to the Skaneateles Community?

The place where the Skaneateles Community once stood was later renamed Community Place. Today, the original community house is used for weddings and events. It is now known as the Carriage Barn at Frog Pond.