The Bay View Association of the United Methodist Church, known as Bay View, is an example of two uniquely American community forms: the Methodist camp meeting and the independent Chautauqua. Designed for the first purpose in 1876 as the county's only romantically-planned campground, and adapted for the second from 1885 to 1915, Bay View has remained in continuous operation since its foundation.
Description
Bay View is incorporated as a domestic nonprofit organization under Act 39 of the Public Acts of 1899, being MCL 455.51. Act 39 of the Public Acts of 1899 establishes Bay View as a body politic and corporate. The association was originally formed as part of the Methodist Camp Meeting movement and adopted a Chautauqua program in 1886.
The association's grounds contain approximately 440 cottages and 30 community-owned buildings. There are two hotels on premises: Stafford's Bay View Inn (1886), and The Terrace Inn and 1911 Restaurant. Other facilities include a post office, beach with a swim area, children's pool and a sail house. The community is located on about , dropping in a series of terraces from a to the shore of Little Traverse Bay. Residents lease the land under the cottages from the Association, which charges annual Chautauqua fees and taxes.
Bay View is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Bear Creek Township, Emmet County on Little Traverse Bay and abuts the east side of the city of Petoskey along U.S. Highway 31. The ZIP code is 49770 and the FIPS place code is 06260. The association is bounded by Little Traverse Bay on the north, Division Road on the east, Petoskey city limits on the west, and on the south by the south line of Township 35 North. The Bay View census-designated place (CDP) includes the association grounds and additional areas east of Division Road. As of the 2010 census the population of the CDP was 133, due to the inclusion of an area outside of the association grounds in the CDP.
Architecture Nearly all the structures in the community were built in the 1875–1900 time period. Most buildings are Eastlake and Stick style, with some Queen Anne and Shingle style architecture. Cottages are set on along gently curving streets running along the natural terraces. In the center of the community is The Campus (originally Tabernacle Park). Many of the larger communal structures are located here, including the original 1877 preaching stand, as well an 1880 book store and multiple educational buildings constructed around 1890. In 1879, an artesian well water system was installed, providing spring water. However, the pipes were laid very shallowly, and had to be drained in the winter months to prevent freezing. Now, the community is closed from November through April, during which time the residences on the association grounds must be vacated. John M. Hall Auditorium, replaced the 1881 Chapel and the 1887 New Tabernacle/Old Auditorium.Fennimore, Keith J. The Heritage of Bay View 1875-1975, Wm B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1975. p. 83
History
Bay View was founded in 1875 by Michigan Methodists as a camp meeting "for scientific and intellectual culture, and for the promotion of religion and morality." Bay View's origins can be traced to the camp meeting movement which saw the development of similar resorts such as Wesleyan Grove on Martha's Vineyard, Ocean Grove, New Jersey, or Lakeside, Ohio.
The group considered multiple locations, and eventually struck a deal with the citizens of Petoskey and the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, where the Petoskey citizenry would pay to extend the railroad line from their town to Bay View, the railroad would purchase the site, and the Methodists would agree to improve the location and hold camp meetings there for fifteen years. In 1876, the first group of Methodists travelled to the site, cleared an area of underbrush, and built a preaching stand and an audience area under the trees. Dr. Seth Reed chose the name of Bay View. He was secretary of the Bay View Association for 14 years. Dr. Reed platted the grounds and named the streets, some of which were named after early settlers. On August 2, 1876, the first meeting was held at the site. Dr. Pilcher suggested the name Bay View,Pilcher, Elijah Pilcher Memoirs, Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, 1885, sited in Doerr, Mary Jane. Bay View, An American Idea, Allegan Forest, Michigan: The Priscilla Press, 2010. p. 29 and selected the site of the Speaker's Stand.Pilcher, Elijah Pilcher Memoirs, Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, 1885, p. 557, sited in Doerr, Mary Jane. Bay View, An American Idea, Allegan Forest, Michigan: The Priscilla Press, 2010, p. 23Shier, Rev. Dr. William H., "Bay View History" (10th Anniversary), in Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, 1925. Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan, p.7 He wrote articles of incorporation, stating the assembly was "organized for intellectual and scientific culture, and for the promotion of the cause of religion and morality."Wheeler, Clark S. Bay View, Michigan, Petoskey, Mich.: C.E. Garvin Co., 1950. p. 88 Shelter at the time was only in tents. Construction of cottages began almost immediately, and by 1881 there were about 150 at the site. By this time, the original religious-oriented camp meeting program had languished and the association hired John M. Hall to organize Bay View's interdenominational Assembly program:Bay View Magazine. May 1911; "The Rise of Bay View", a promotional article by John M. Hall titled, unnumberedKennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, 1925. Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan. p. 22 a "Christian Institution of the broadest catholicity."Souvenir 25th Anniversary, Bay View Summer Resort 1900, Grand Rapids Engraving Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA p. 3Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, 1925. Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan. p.13 Departments included Bible, Missionary, Social, Health, Industrial, Country Life: American and International.Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan, 1925. p. 32
Under the leadership of John M. Hall, Bay View adopted a Chautauqua program which included a series of educational lectures, classes, entertainment, political speeches, and music, began in 1886, and the community developed around these activities. These programs, along with programs for children and a variety of classes, took place in July and August of each year. The program was immensely successful, as a result, number of cottages in the community soared, with 200 in 1887, 400 in 1895, and 500 in 1901. Many of these newcomers were from other, non-Methodist denominations, and many stayed all summer rather than for only a few weeks of the year. Hall writes of the transformation of Bay View from its camp meeting roots to a Chautauqua: "founded by Methodists, it is now by its organic law interdenominational in management and life. People of every denomination are there in large numbers and so beautiful is the hospitality of ideas that another's specific church affiliations never occurs to one."The Bay View Magazine, 1909 page 563 https://www.gwood.us/media/1332/bay-view-magazine-may-1909a.pdf In 1887, the Bay View Summer University opened. The University was associated with Albion College in 1919 until 1969.
The Bay View Association was listed as a National Historic Landmark district in 1987 as "one of the finest remaining examples of two uniquely American community forms, the Methodist Camp Meeting and the independent Chautauqua."
The Four Pillars of Chautauqua Bay View's continues to the Chautauqua program established by John M. Hall to this day. The four pillars are arts, education, recreation, and religion.
Religion
Sundays find members and visitors participating in Communion, Sunday School and Assembly Worship. Vespers are now concerts beginning and ending with a hymn and closing benediction. Carillon bells call us to Worship and eventide. Youth groups, Bible studies and prayer meetings are offered throughout the summer. Daily Religion and Life lectures offer further study from Sunday's preacher.
History - Founders desired a setting for spiritual refreshment and renewal of soul, mind and body.Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, 1925. Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan. pp. 17,18,34 "We came to worship God, to establish a center of Christian influence,...a place where Christian people could meet, enjoy fellowship...where God shall be honored..."Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, 1925. Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan. p. 13 "Tabernacle Park",Doerr, Mary Jane. Bay View, An American Idea, Allegan Forest, Michigan: The Priscilla Press, 2010. p. 23 in the center of the grounds was "God's first temple", the camp meeting place.Fennimore, Keith J. The Heritage of Bay View 1875-1975, Wm B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1975. p. 197 "Rev. Dr. E.H. Pilcher, president, preached the opening sermon in 1876..., dedicating the grounds to the worship of Almighty God."Shier, Rev. Dr. William H., Bay View History, 10th Anniversary, in Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, 1925. Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan. p. 7 Soon thousands came by rail and boat for all-day Big Sundays filled with worship, singing, and learning.Bay View Magazine, June 1897: "Summer Life in Bay View", unnumbered Local Odawa and Ojibwa attended camp meeting services, where "Chief Petoskey's granddaughter accompanied the singing on the pump organ."Wheeler, Clark S. Bay View, Michigan, Petoskey, Mich.: C.E. Garvin Co., 1950. p. 31Doerr, Mary Jane. Bay View, An American Idea, Allegan Forest, Michigan: The Priscilla Press, 2010. p. 33 By 1885 Ministerial Unions, Preacher's Conferences for lay preachers and teachers were added.Fennimore, Keith J. The Heritage of Bay View 1875-1975, Wm B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1975. p.73 Bay View's 25th anniversary pamphlet highlights that "Though a Methodist Institution, Bay View is not a church or denominational establishment, but a Christian Institution of the broadest catholicity, welcoming to full membership all men and women of any or no denomination who have a desire to be part of such a community as this."Bay View 25th Anniversary, 1900 https://clarkedigitalcollections.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=Clarke1900-01.1.3&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN--------
The first Sunday School Congress, 1877, featured famous preachers and teachers including Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut and Frank Beard, initiator of Chalk Talks.Kennedy, Hugh. Golden Jubilee: Fifty Years of Bay View, Bay View: Bay View Camp Ground Association, Printed by Ralston Printing Co., Detroit, Michigan, 1925. p. 8 Inspirational lessons were taken from the "Course of Sabbath School Normal Lessons," developed at the Chautauqua Sunday School Conference.SS Congress: July 24–31, 1877, unnumbered Horace Hitchcock took over the popular Bay View Sunday school in 1886. Donations from state Sunday Schools provided funds for building of Hitchcock Hall, dedicated in 1889. John H. Vincent sent Chautauqua congratulations.Daily Resorter, July 29, 1889, sited in Doerr, Mary Jane. Bay View, An American Idea, Allegan Forest, Michigan: The Priscilla Press, 2010. p. 34
Music Festival