Epworth Profiled in Statewide Magazine
Ohio Magazine writer Vince Guerrieri visited Epworth Park, “The Green Spot” , in Bethesda earlier this year scouting out places most of the state’s residents have never heard of.
Guerrier wrote, “located in Bethesda, Epworth Park is one of Ohio’s last Chautauqua communities. It’s a peaceful retreat that dates back to 1870 and today still has over 60 historic cottages.”
The writer also points out some of the famous orators who spoke at the Epworth Chautauqua up until the Great Depression included evangelist Billy Sunday, William McKinley before he was elected president, and the two-time opponent of McKinley’s, William Jennings Bryan.
Today, the cottage owners have established the Epworth Park Foundation, to ensure the future for the historic camp ground/ Chautauqua site.
Epworth is on the national Chautauqua Trail, while a National Register for Historic Places nomination is pending before the Ohio State Historic Preservation Review Board and the Department of the Interior/ National Park Service in Washington, DC.
The foundation stages a two-day festival celebrating the history and tradition of the site every July. This year’s event took place last Saturday and Sunday.
Read the magazine’s full feature online.
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