Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood

In DeFuniak Springs, Florida, the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood is an historic site. This building, which is now a chamber of commerce for the county, was built during the Chautauqua educational movement. It is now the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. Visitors to the Hall can tour the buildings and learn about the history of the area. The Hall was first built in 1905, and it contains a rich collection of antique furniture.


Construction began in the early 2000s, and the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood had the capacity to seat 4,000 people. The structure was destroyed during Hurricane Eloise in 1975, but the building still stands today. City staff met with citizen Dr. Mendy Henderson, architect Victor Bowman, and members of the community to discuss the project and apply for the Phase III grant. After the meeting, the construction crew began installing flooring, doors, and fire suppression.


The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood's re-submission to the Florida Division of Historical Resources is now in progress, and City Council will be considering an amended grant agreement. A portion of the $60,000 will go toward the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood' s exterior. The remaining funding will be placed in a line item for Facility Maintenance Chautauqua. The rest of the money will go towards a security/SCADA system and the interior renovation of the first floor.


Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood

The original plan to restore the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was amended and approved by the City Council on May 29, 2020. The new plan focuses on the first floor. Work is already underway to install fire suppression in the second floor, and sidewalks and handicapped parking spaces are being poured. The doors and flooring are scheduled to be installed next week. After the meeting, the City Council will consider the revised agreement and decide whether to pursue the project.


The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was an historic structure and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It served as a main gathering place for community meetings and was home to the Florida Chautauqua Assemblies. The first two assembly meetings were held in the building, and a tornado ripped through the facility during Hurricane Eloise destroying the auditorium. Only the grand entrance remained standing.


The resubmitted plan with the edits made by the councilman was approved by the City council on May 29, 2020. At the same time, the City has instructed staff to apply for a Phase III grant. At the same time, it has scheduled two meetings with architect/contractor Victor Bowman and citizen Dr. Mendy Henderson. The project will remain closed until June 2018. It will remain open for special events and will be resubmitted to the National Register.

Following a City Council meeting on May 22, the project was approved and will begin soon. Its first floor will be the focus of the project. The project is expected to take about three months to complete. The City will have to complete the construction and furnish the building with new floors, walls, and furniture. Eventually, the second floor will be ready for use. The final phase of the construction will involve a new lobby and a stage.


The hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Its auditorium was once a 4,000-seat facility. However, in 1975, the building was destroyed by a tornado. The remaining structure was rebuilt, but the original remodeled building was not. The entire project is scheduled for June 30, 2020. The next meeting will include a review of the amended agreement with the Florida Division of Historical Resources.


The project was resubmitted with the councilman's edits and approved by the City Council on May 29. The Chautauqua hall of brotherhood has been a symbol of good ideas for the community since it opened in 1920. Currently, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its newest location is the historic DeFuniak Springs City Hall of Brotherhood.