John Burroughs Woodchuck Lodge

Located in Roxbury, NY, Woodchuck Lodge was the summer home of America’s most prominent and adored naturalist-essayist- John Burroughs. In the early 1860s, the Woodchuck Lodge was built on the homestead land by Burroughs’ older brother named Curtis. This land was the place where John Burroughs was born and raised. In the present days, it is known as John Burroughs Woodchuck Lodge and operated by Woodchuck Lodge Inc. it is listed as National Historic Landmark and dedicated to preserving the historic Lodge and to promoting the ideas and legacy of John Burroughs. With mission to encourage people to live, work and prosper in harmony with nature, John Burroughs Woodchuck Lodge has become tourism attraction with variety activities and events that bring visitors closer to the John Burroughs's life and work

John Burroughs was born April 3, 1837 on the family’s homestead in Roxbury, Delaware County, NY. He is the celebrated naturalist, and the author of 27 books of nature and philosophical essays. After a long journey of career path, John Burroughs’s heart always remained in the Catskills, no other place could compare. Therefore, in 1910, Burroughs and his family returned to family farm in Roxbury. The little house stood on this area was built by his brother Curtis and became the summer home of the Burroughs. Because of the furry rodents that proliferated there, the little house was named Woodchuck Lodge by John Burroughs. Besides, to enjoy happy time, John built a porch for rocking, sleeping and listening to the Victrola on soft summer nights. That was a chain of happy days for him to writing his brilliant books during summer days

On March 29, 1921, John Burroughs died on a train after a winter in California. “How far are we from home” is the last words of John Burroughs. His last words showed that How meaningful of home to him. He was buried in the land which is currently known as John Burroughs Memorial Field. This is a state historic site which is just up the road from Woodchuck Lodge and within a mile of the homestead where he was born and raised to be the most prominent and adored naturalist-essayist of America

 Located on 1633 Burroughs Memorial Road, Roxbury, Woodchuck Lodge is known as National Historic Landmark. The rustic farmhouse belonged to Burroughs family since its construction. However, after the death of John Burroughs in 1921, from 1922 to 1947, Henry and Clara Ford became the owner of this farmhouse, the Ford family was known as close friend of Burroughs. After the death of Henry Ford, the Woodchuck Lodge was sold back to the Burroughs family.

In the 1970s, a great-grandnephew of John Burroughs names John E. Lutz has purchased this place from E. Wilson Burroughs. In 1973, the Woodchuck Lodge, Inc was established by John E. Lutz and his wife Una to preserving and promoting the John Burroughs’s legacy. With the mission to develop the educational programs, raise funding, and oversee historic preservation work on the house, John E. Lutz served as president of this organization until 2000

"John Burroughs". WoodchuckLodge. Retrieved Mar 17, 2015 from http://woodchucklodge.org/john-burroughs/ "About Us" WoodchuckLodge. Retrieved Mar 17,2015 from http://woodchucklodge.org/about-us/