DeFuniak Springs, FL
DeFuniak Springs, located in the Florida Panhandle, is a town with a distinctive past and a rich cultural heritage. Unlike most towns founded on commerce or agriculture, DeFuniak Springs was established as a planned resort and educational hub, built around its centerpiece: the nearly perfectly circular, spring-fed Lake DeFuniak. This unique origin story was driven by the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad in the late 19th century, which sought to create a final-destination resort to attract visitors. The town was named for Frederick R. DeFuniak, a railroad vice-president, and quickly gained national attention for its partnership with the Chautauqua Movement.
The Chautauqua era
From 1885 until the 1920s, DeFuniak Springs was the winter home of the Florida Chautauqua Assembly, a popular educational movement that attracted thousands of visitors each year. The town became a hub of intellectual and cultural life, featuring lectures by notable figures, musical performances, and courses on a wide range of subjects.. A massive, 4,000-seat Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was built in 1909 to accommodate the crowds. The success of the Chautauqua movement led to the development of several educational institutions, including Florida Normal College, which would eventually become part of Florida State University. The influx of visitors and prominent figures from across the country also prompted the construction of the beautiful Victorian homes that still grace the streets around Lake DeFuniak, giving the historic district its unique character.
Decline, revival, and preservation
The Chautauqua movement's golden age ended in the 1920s, and the Great Depression further dampened the town's prominence. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood suffered a major setback in 1975 when Hurricane Eloise destroyed its large auditorium. However, the town's commitment to its history persevered. The historic district, with its Victorian homes and the iconic lake, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The community has successfully revived the spirit of the original assemblies, and the Florida Chautauqua Assembly and Florida Chautauqua Theater continue to host cultural and educational events today. A stroll around the lake offers a walk through history, with notable landmarks like the Walton-DeFuniak Library, Florida's oldest operating library, and the Walton County Heritage Museum housed in the historic train depot. Today, DeFuniak Springs balances its rich past with a friendly, small-town atmosphere, drawing visitors who appreciate its historic charm and vibrant community.
Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood
The restoration of the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood in DeFuniak Springs has been a multi-phase effort spanning several years. As of October 2025, the project has proceeded to Phase III, which focuses on completing the second floor, with some components of the first floor having been completed in earlier phases.
Here is a breakdown of the current status:
Funding and phases: The restoration project is being conducted in phases and primarily funded by grants from the Florida Division of Historical Resources, supplemented by matching funds and donations from the City of DeFuniak Springs.
Phase I (2016–2018): Included architectural services, foundational repairs, and the installation of initial infrastructure like plumbing, electrical systems, and fire suppression.
Phase II (2019–2021): Focused on completing the first floor to a rentable standard, including the installation of a new wood floor, doors, and a catering kitchen. It also addressed the exterior staircases.
Phase III (2022 and beyond): Secured grant funding for the second floor, which includes installing a new ceiling, restoring the original floor, and adding ADA-compliant bathrooms and a kitchen. As of August 2025, project proposals for this phase, including for painting and trim, were under review by the city.
Recent and upcoming work
Second floor progress: As of August 2025, the city was moving forward with restoration of the second floor.
Community workshops: The city is using the restored first floor of the Hall of Brotherhood for public events. An October 2025 workshop to discuss design standards for historic districts is scheduled to be held at the hall.
The Walton-DeFuniak Library
The Walton-DeFuniak Library is a historical landmark with deep significance to both the city of DeFuniak Springs and the state of Florida. Established in 1886 by the Ladies' Aid Society, which later became the Ladies' Library Association, it is considered the oldest continuously operating library in Florida. Its history is intertwined with the Florida Chautauqua Assembly, an educational movement that chose DeFuniak Springs as its winter home. The founding of the library was a direct result of the Chautauqua movement's emphasis on lifelong learning, and its existence played a crucial role in establishing DeFuniak Springs as a center for cultural and intellectual pursuits.
The library is significant not only for its longevity but also for its unique collections and artifacts. A stroll through the historic building reveals thousands of volumes, including rare books from the 1800s and a first-edition, autographed copy of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Visitors can also see a unique collection of antique weapons and armor willed to the library in 1984 after being in the possession of the city and Palmer College for decades. The library's original building is still in use, and its location on Circle Drive, facing the iconic Lake DeFuniak, makes it a contributing property to the DeFuniak Springs Historic District.
Beyond its historical and architectural value, the Walton-DeFuniak Library serves as a living legacy of community collaboration and resilience. The Ladies' Library Association sustained the library for decades, raising funds through suppers and other events until the city took over financial responsibility in the 1960s. Today, the library remains a vibrant community hub, serving as both a resource for modern readers and a keeper of the town's rich history. It is a testament to the enduring power of community effort and the importance of preserving the past for future generations.
The Chautauqua movement was the central catalyst for the founding of the Walton-DeFuniak Library and played a vital role in shaping its early development. By selecting DeFuniak Springs as its winter home in the mid-1880s, the educational movement directly inspired local residents to establish a resource to support the community's new focus on lifelong learning.
Here are the key roles the Chautauqua movement played:
Inspired the founding: The arrival of the Florida Chautauqua Assembly in 1885 prompted a group of local women to recognize the need for library resources to serve both the growing town and the thousands of annual Chautauqua visitors. In response, they formed the Ladies' Aid Society in 1886, which evolved into the Ladies' Library Association.
Encouraged cultural and intellectual growth: The Chautauqua movement's mission centered on providing educational, cultural, and spiritual enrichment. By establishing a permanent library, the Ladies' Library Association helped to anchor this mission in DeFuniak Springs. The library quickly became a space for intellectual exchange, housing books and other materials that supported the educational goals of the Chautauqua participants and the community.
Motivated community action: The Chautauqua movement relied on grassroots, community-driven support. The Ladies' Library Association embodied this spirit, raising funds through community events like suppers and ice cream socials to build and sustain the library. This collective effort was essential for the library's survival in its early years, well before the city provided municipal funding.
Solidified the town's identity: The library and the Chautauqua assembly together cemented DeFuniak Springs' reputation as an educational and cultural hub, particularly throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The library became a prominent landmark on the Chautauqua grounds, reinforcing the town's identity as a place dedicated to learning and intellectual pursuit.