2010 Season

starts June 21 - September 6th

Special Events 2010 Season

"This Week in Ocean Park" flyer

Click to View 2010 Daily Calendar

2010 Season Highlights

Spiritual

Cultural Educational Recreational Programs for Children and Youth

Educational Bureau



Business Supporters
Other Chautauquas


OPA Items for Sale

Copyright

Meet Me in Ocean Park

~ Temple Square ~

The Temple at Temple Square

The Temple and Bell Tower
Assembly activities center on Temple Square, a plot of land on which The Temple, Porter Hall, Jordan Hall and the Bell Tower all stand. These structures all face south along Temple Avenue. The buildings date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. All four structures are remarkably unchanged (with the exception being accommodations for accessibility). All are functional and used extensively. They all share the same grove of cathedral pines whose history far precedes them. Temple Square is in the geographic center of Ocean Park. The Temple was named to the National Register of Historic Places, the nation's official list of historic places important to our history and worthy of preservation, on April 28, 1975 and, on March 2, 1982. The other buildings were added to form a historic district called the "Ocean Park Historic Buildings".

When The Temple and the Bell Tower were built in 1881-1882, approximately 24 lots were set aside and known as Temple Square. No tenting was allowed within this area, which was to hold the Assembly Buildings, although from the early beginnings other space was needed for meetings besides the Temple and various tents served these functions.

The Temple
built in 1881, is a wooden, octagonal building, 80 feet in diameter, and seats at least 800 people. It is Ocean Park's oldest historical treasure. Sunday morning worship services are held here at 10:00 am throughout the season. It is also the site of most cultural events. The Temple is open weekday mornings for meditation and observation. A special flyer is available in the Temple giving some of the history of this unique structure.Bell Tower

The Bell Tower
was built in 1882 and consists of a wooden structure, square in plan with hip roof and ornate decoration on each side below the roof evoking a clock face. Access to the deck is by wooden steps from the west. The deck is fitted with wooden railings. The bell tower is lighted at night year-round as a beacon of welcome.

 

Porter HallPorter Memorial Hall
was dedicated on August 4, 1902. It was built to replace o ne of the meeting tents, known as "The Tabernacle". Porter Hall is a handsome temple-form building in the neo-Greek revival style, with facade colonnade, gable roof, and match-board siding. The columns are fluted Corinthian and support a pediment that contains the words "Hall in the Grove". A central entrance of double paneled doors is flanked on either side by a 1/1 window with louvered shutters. The sides of the hall are five bays long, with fenestration as on the facade. An internal brick chimney straddles the roof ridge in the rear. For about 50 years Porter Hall was the Ocean Park home of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. Today this building is used for Morning Watch services, and for many smaller meetings and discussion sessions. Porter Hall also houses the Ocean Park History Room, which is open to visitors every Sunday morning after the service in the Temple.

 

Jordan HallB. C. Jordan Memorial Hall
was dedicated on July 19, 1915. This imposing building is of frame construction with two stories, hip roof, and clapboard siding. The five-bayed facade features a four-column colonnade in the Ionic order, behind which is a three-bay recess with double-doored entrance flanked by 6/6 windows. The sides of the hall are seven bays wide. All first story fenestration as on the facade, is 6/6 with pediments, except as noted below. Pediments likewise crown the hall's doorways. A secondary entrance faces the west. While the facade contains only one story, the sides and rear are two stories high. Second-floor fenestration consists of small rectangular casements, except at the rear where all bays are 6/6. Tall rectangular windows comprise the extreme bays on the facade and sides of the hall. Today, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School are held in this building. It is also used for meetings and dramatic presentations.

Pergola 2007

Temple Garden and Pergola
The land across the street from the Temple is preserved to give the entire area its park-like effect which is enhanced by the the Temple Garden and Pergola. This garden arbor features a meditative pathway leading to the Pergola. Originally built in 1921 and rebuilt in 2007, the Pergola is a place for restful contemplation.

 

 

~ Private Events ~

Many of these wonderful venues above can be rented from May to October for both large and small events such as family reunions, weddings, small receptions, bar and bat mitzvahs, or memorial services, as well as for retreats, meetings and small conferences. Please note: there is no alcohol permitted in or on OPA property.

Wedding Policy and Rental Application OR General Building Rental Application

 

~ Town Square & Furber Park ~

 

Memorial LibraryThe Memorial Library
is located at Furber Park across from the Ocean Park Variety store and Soda Fountain. Penny Gagnon manages the library. She has Master’s Degree in Education and is a Literacy specialist. She is also a trained Reading Recovery teacher. Current children's and adult books, as well as daily newspapers, are available throughout the summer.

The library is open to the public on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 12:00 - 9:00 pm, and Saturdays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (closed Wednesdays and Sundays.) Library memberships for families are: $15/season; $10/month; $5/week. Library memberships for OPA members are free. 934-1853.

Jakeman HallJakeman Hall
spans the block between Temple Avenue and Colby Avenue. The Ocean Park Visitors Center, offices of the Ocean Park Association, the Jakeman Hall meeting room, and the office of Ocean Park Realty are located here and entered from Temple Avenue. The Ocean Park Post Office is entered from Colby Avenue. Jakeman Hall is heated for year-round use. Small community gatherings are often held there in the off-season.

Agnes L. Park Recreation HallThe Agnes L. Park Recreation Building
commonly called the "Rec Hall" or the Youth Center) is located at 26 Colby Avenue between West Grand and Clover, facing the tennis courts. The Rec Hall features: a basketball court, volley ball, 2 professional size pool tables, 2 bumper pool tables, Fooz Ball, tabletop pool, 2 Ping-Pong tables, over 50 board games, a craft corner, music, videos and snack-bar.

Tennis and Shuffleboard Courts
These are two of the busiest and most popular informal meeting places in Ocean Park. The clay tennis courts are maintained in superb playing condition and visitors are welcome. If you have a competitive spirit and good eye-hand coordination, try your hand at shuffleboard on the lighted courts, or perhaps you'd rather cheer on your favorite player.

 

 

 

Updated: July 6, 2010