NORA SMITH
Staff Writer
In the past year, the Alumni Association of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle has been hard at work in preparation for its annual Silent Auction and Sale, set to take place from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at Alumni Hall.
With a variety of items like antiques, jewelry and Chautauqua memorabilia, the AACLSC has been organizing items and pricing them ahead of the community’s opportunity to browse.
Carol Benroth, Caroline Young and Carol Collins, the three co-chairs of the annual Silent Auction and Sale, have been running the show.
“It’s fun to deal with the people who come in and get fascinated by the things that they see,” Benroth, co-chair and recording secretary of the AACLSC, said. “People come in and say, ‘I remember when my mother had that,’ or ‘I remember my grandmother had that.’”
In addition to its usual trove of treasures and hidden gems, this year’s auction includes a meaningful collection of needlepoints donated by a beloved community member’s family.
Stephen “Steve” Piper died in October 2025. Having “spent 80 amazing summers at Chautauqua Institution,” according to his obituary, Piper was known by many for his role as CLSC’s “messenger” at the Golden Gate on Recognition Day for more than 25 years. Outside of his role, Piper often sat in the Amphitheater during lectures working on needlepoint illustrations.
Now, this work will be featured in the auction, items many members of the community have likely seen him working on.
“We feel honored to be able to showcase that,” Benroth said. “Anytime somebody puts that kind of work into something, it’s certainly valuable, but it’s the emotional attachment.”
Not only do the donated items hold emotional sentiment for the community, but the proceeds support AACLSC’s desire to connect the local community with Chautauquans and further their education. Proceeds go toward scholarships for local teachers and librarians, providing them with a membership in CLSC for four years including participation in a literary arts class for a week and a gate pass.
Pat McDonald, president of the AACLSC, said that this event and opportunity wouldn’t be possible without the number of active volunteers inspired by their love for books and reading.
“My mom was a member of the CLSC, and I grew up in Chautauqua,” McDonald said. “It’s always been the books. It’s always been the authors; you get to meet authors. The whole thing is so cool.”
Having set a record in donations last year, Benroth and McDonald said the AACLSC isn’t necessarily focused on topping it because that would ruin the fun and true purpose in the event. Instead, they are prioritizing what has always been the goal: making enough to cover scholarships for the local community.
Every year at the AACLSC gala celebration, a previous recipient of the scholarship comes back to speak about the impact of the award.
“We have saved all these things they have said about how it changed their life, changed their life with their family, changed how they taught,” McDonald said. “That is what is so rewarding for us, is to see that it made an impact.”
