A LITTLE HISTORY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE RETZER FAMILY AND CHESTNUT LODGE

 

Sam and Elizabeth Retzer, whose parents all came to the USA from Germany in the 1800's, lived in Brooklyn and spent summers at Oquaga Lake, NY, living in their summer home, The Lenape.  In the 1920's, they sold their express business in Manhattan and Long Island and purchased the Brown Cottage, Green Bungalow, Scutt Cottage, and the large Curtis Cottage with the vision of a vacation resort with approx. 1,000 ft. of western lake frontage.

They removed the Curtis cottage, built the hotel on its site, and repurposed the existing cottages and outbuildings and built more on the shores of  beautiful Oquaga Lake joining three other hotels already there on the opposite sides of the lake.

Building began in 1925. The hotel opened as Monoquaga Hotel in the spring of 1928.

The 60 room hotel with a cocktail lounge and cafe, ballroom, expansive kitchen, large main lobby and sun porch, barroom and deck was completely built of the now extinct American Chestnut.

In the mid-forties, the name was changed to Chestnut Lodge when

the management transferred by inheritance to Austin Retzer, my dad, who revitalized the property with many amenities and an outdoor activity program for active adults. There was tennis, golf, badminton, water-skiing, horseshoes, boating and more.

Under Austin's management, the hotel became a popular, fun, activity-filled resort for young adults and couples, many coming from New York City and Canada.

In the 1980’s, the Retzers sold the hotel to Bill and David Maines

who changed the name to Chestnut Inn Bed and Breakfast

UPDATE: The hotel was sold to a corporation about 2021.  It is currently run as a summer resort, European rather than American plan, with beautiful amenities but none of the planned activities from the Retzer years.  It is still a wonderful place to vacation or go out to an evening of dinner and relaxing at beautiful Oquaga Lake.

 

4 generations of Retzers lived at, owned/managed/worked at the hotel:

 

Samuel and Elizabeth Retzer, Founders, Owners/Managers 1925 - 1935

William Michael (their son) and Mildred Engels Retzer, Owners/Managers 1935 - 1945

 William Raymond, Austin Samuel, and Gordon Michael Retzer, Assisting their folks

Austin Samuel Retzer (grandson) and Katherine Richards Retzer, Owners/Managers 1947 - 1980

Raymond Richard Retzer and Sister Gail Retzer Stentz and her daughter, Kat, Assisting their folks

 

We loved Oquaga Lake and hosted many at our hotel.

We remember our summer homes on the property where we grew up :

The Lenape (Sam & Eliz. and Will), The Alps (Will & Mildred, the 3 boys), and

Chestnut (Austin & Kate), The Cottage (Sister Gail & Brother Ray and Nanny)

Other Outbuildings:   Rumpus House and Soda Fountain,  Bird Cage,  Boys & Girls Dorms,

Musicians' Cottage, the Laundry, Ice House, Garages, and Rental Cottages.

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Other Retzer Family Members, Progeny of Sam and Elizabeth

great grandchildren:

Lesley Elizabeth Retzer and April Retzer Linscott;

great, great grandchildren:

Raymond Richard Retzer, Jr, Clarke Austin Retzer,

Katherine Elizabeth Haack and Corbin Meacham;

great, great, great grandchildren:

Emma Nicole Retzer and Raymond Richard Retzer III

Charlotte Grace Retzer, Austin Clarke Retzer, and Finn Christopher Retzer

 

In Memory of My Parents:

Austin Samuel Retzer 1916 - 2009  and

Katherine Lewis Richards Retzer  1919 - 2008

Picture taken at Disney World 1999 - Occasion: their 60th Anniversary