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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Air quality monitor installed in Ashland ... Aging Happens: Say what? Hearing loss could lead to behavior change? ... I-5 open again after wreck south of Ashland ... Air quality monitor installed in Ashland ... Aging Happens: Say what? Hearing loss could lead to behavior change? ... I-5 open again after wreck south of Ashland ... AS IT WAS As It Was: Crushed granite muffles Chautauqua echo Comment By Maryann Mason Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Maryann Mason Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jul. 13, 2016 at 5:52 PM By Maryann Mason Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jul. 13, 2016 at 5:52 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Mary Ann Harris repels an Indian attack • As It Was: Tales say Jacksonville ghost screams on windy nights... • As It Was: WCTU 'Broom Brigade' battled 'demon alcohol' • As It Was: 'Grace's Visit to the Rogue River Valley' was a hit in 1915... • Digs will uncover history of Indian war on coast • As It Was: Pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker Applegate » Social News In 1893 Ashland joined the cultural Chautauqua movement that began as a camp for training Sunday school teachers on the shores of New York’s Lake Chautauqua. Ashland’s beehive-shaped structure held 1,000 people, but sometimes had to turn away hundreds from the crowded lectures. When William Jennings Bryan came to Ashland, the silver-tongued orator had to speak outside to accommodate everyone who came to hear him. Ashland’s summer Chautauquas included group prayers, classes on many topics, concerts and lectures. Ashland’s Chautauqua building had a major flaw — a thundering echo that drowned out speakers for spectators seated in the center of the building. In 1925 the City Council took action. Suspecting that a depression in the center of the building was catching sound waves and deflecting them to the roof, the Council filled the depression with crushed granite. After a few loads were dumped and spread out, the sound from the speaker’s platform had improved impressively. A few more loads of granite and the echo disappeared altogether. Today the Chautauqua site has been replaced by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Source: “Echo Removed From Building Says Council.” Ashland Daily Tidings, May 14, 1925. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org . By Maryann Mason Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Maryann Mason Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jul. 13, 2016 at 5:52 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501