Hope RidgeFarm 218 Aquetong Road NewHope Pa owned by the Fetzers

218 Aquetong Road New Hope, PA Fetzers place. Hope Ridge Farm.

Our family, the Lotz's of Philadelphia, bought the farm from the Fetzer's in the mid 1960s and operated it as The Inn at Hope Ridge Farm. The enterprise involved three generations of the Lotz family. The core of the inn was a 1740 stone farmhouse, expanded in the 1860s and again in the 1960s. It was set on the corner of a 126-acre working farm at the corner of Aquetong and Sugan Rds about a mile south of New Hope. I worked and lived at the farm during my college years, 1965 - 1969.

I missed including my contact information above. Sorry. Couldn't edit.

I spent summers here when I was a very little girl
My back was broken during one summer there
Where I recuperated
I remember ernst , maria peter albe and Ursula fetzer when we were growing up. My parents were Helene and David bellows and we stayed in the main house

The street number is wrong, but Fetzer's is still there on Aquetong Road, almost unchanged, it seems, from what I remember from maybe 60 years ago -- the farmhouse, the barn, even the pool house. The pond has been allowed to drain. There's a sign on the driveway that says "private property, no trespassing," and then another sign with a speed limit -- suggesting some commercial use; we didn't go past the drive. How did we find it, despite the incorrect street number? Amazingly, my older brother remembered where it was, 65 years later, just past a dogleg in Aquetong Rd, above route 232, a bit above above the intersection with Sugan Rd. He also remembered all the routes and paths we took to walk to New Hope and the routes our father took from Philadelphia to drive us to the farm.

Hey Ed. Thanks for your comment! Regarding the number your correct it is actually 2050 Aquetong Road. When that picture was taken, and up to the early 90’s it was 218. The fire department mandated a change to a 4 digit number. I have owned the property since the 2000 and previously was a tennent since the mid 80’s. The property had a very colorful history after the Fetzers sold it to the Lotz’s in ‘66. The barn was converted into a event/conference space. Then in ‘73 it became January’s. Essentially a speak easy disco that was in existence for a year and a half before the owners were given a cease and desist. A wonderful restaurant existed in the main house as well. We currently own a landscape operation which does run from the back portion of the property.
I avidly collect local ephemera and things from the gone by New Hope days which mostly live in the barn.
I would love to hear any stories you might have of the Fetzer days. And your most welcome here any time you would like!! Thanks, Hugh Rexarmstrong@Hotmail.com

I should add that at first we stayed in the main house, later in the spring house, and finally I stayed
with the family over near the barn. My parent were Joe and Lily Flaster, and other family members also stayed from time to time.

My original comment seems to have vanished: I stayed there from 1947 until 1956 for most of the summer, finally staying with the family and milking, gathering eggs (and ticks!), swimming in the pond where I nearly drowned, and enjoying farm life for real!

I recenlty found an obit for Albe Fetzer. Does anyone have links to the obituaries for Ernst or Doris? They were such an important part of my childhood, and I haven't been able to find anything beyond a reference to Mr. Fetzer's participation in a bio-dynamic farming association. Thanks!

Is this picture printed backwards?

My father, James H Welsh, was born and lived there from 1917 to ~1930. I believe my grandfather owned the property during that period. I don't know too much about it but believe it was lost to the family after he died rather tragically as I understood it. My father passed over 20 years ago so I don't have much history but I am very interested to know if anyone has any information. I have some very old photos but not much information.

I am compiling a collection of pictures and ephemera from the Fetzer/Lotz/Hope Ridge Farm era. I would love to connect with anyone who may have old photos etc they might be willing to share, as I would love to share back what I have amassed in the last 20 years of owning this wonderful spot in Bucks County. My email is Rexarmstrong@hotmail.com Thanks so much for sharing any of your experiences at Hope Ridge!!