James H. Scott probably didn't anticipate what he was getting into in 1869 when he bought a 98-acre farm near what was then called Sand Pond, near Deposit. Six generations and plenty of expansions later, the Scott farm became what we know today as Scott's Oquaga Lake House.
When James Scott purchased the farm, it already had a house on it, the first house built on the lake. Mr. Scott had two spare rooms which he let out to boarders. A demand for rooms caused him to make two additions to the original farmhouse, eventually increasing the capacity to 50 guests.
The expansion of the Scott property continued in 1875 when Scott bought 17 acres of lake-front property. Another important purchase a few years later was the Jonas Rivenburgh farm, where Rivenburgh had kept boarders until 1892. During this time, Elwin Scott, James' son, opened picnic grounds near the south shore of Sand Pond. He used boats and a four-seated wagon to transport his guests, as there was not yet a road around the lake.
The name of the lake is from the American Indian "Oghwagha." It isn't exactly known when the name was changed from Sand Pond to Oquaga Lake, but most believe it was shortly after 1885.
The Deposit Courier reported in July 1899 that "the time is not far away when our lovely Oquaga Lake will be of far greater importance to Deposit than it now is. It is one of the most perfect spots for a summer resort that the sun ever shone upon."
The Scotts had added more sections to the farmhouse and opened an impressive casino in 1898. The site was well on its way to becoming a vacation resort.
Other hotels began being built on the lake, including the Retlaw (Walter spelled backward), which later became the Hanson's Hotel of Hospitality. The Monoquaga Cottage was built on the west shore, and in 1928 was demolished and rebuilt into today's Chestnut Inn.
Cottages on the lake began to appear, with 13 in 1903 and more than 100 by the early 1950s.
In 1903, electricity made its appearance on the lake. Scott's and many of the cottage owners contracted for this modern convenience. Running water at Scott's had been added by means of a windmill and tank system.
Just before the 1905 season, Elwin Scott built a new casino. Unlike the older one, this one had a large stage, dressing rooms, space for billiards, an ice cream parlor and a large dance floor.
Elwin Scott sold what was still called the Oquaga Lake Farm to Raymond J. Scott, who changed the name to the Oquaga Lake House.
Christmas night 1921 is probably one the Scott family would rather forget about. A fire was discovered in the kitchen. Attempts were made to put it out with pails of water, but failed. The Scotts were not home at the time, having left for Binghamton around 5 p.m. They were contacted and rushed back to find the house had burned to the ground.
Raymond Scott vowed to rebuild, as the casino and some of the other buildings still stood. By the following July, a great modern building replaced the old house.
A nine-hole golf course was opened in late May 1928, constructed by Ernest Zentgraf, a New York City millionaire. Zentgraf had said four years earlier that if Calvin Coolidge was elected as president, he would build the course himself. It took three years and $65,000 to complete.
Despite the Great Depression, people still came for vacations at Scott's. In August 1930, Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees entertained there, a big name for its time. Scott's showboat made its first appearance on the lake in June 1932, entertaining a large crowd with an open-air concert.
During World War II, Scott's remained open, but it was faced with many problems. Lack of trained help and shortages and rationing of food and gasoline made things difficult at the resort.
Ray and Doris Scott make the sixth generation operating Scott's, having done so since 1958. The resort now encompasses nearly 1,100 acres. The Scotts' two daughters and their families all work in different capacities at the resort, which offers an escape from a fast-paced world and a return to a simpler time with indoor and outdoor activities and entertainment.
On Monday: A scrapbook look at August 1948.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com.
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