Longtime Religious Retreat Center on Skaneateles Lake Under New Ownership

SKANEATELES LAKE, N.Y. -- The former Stella Maris Retreat and Renewal Center on Skaneateles Lake will now help people one book at a time.

The property used to hold many religious retreats and conferences. Wednesday, Peter and Elsa Soderberg purchased the roughly 6 acre property. They plan on keeping it open to the public, by giving a portion of it to the Skaneateles Library Association.

Skaneateles has one of two privately funded libraries in the state. That has presented challenges as the group looks to grow.

The Soderbergs believe an expanded library would benefit the Skaneateles community.

"We'd like to be sure that we do our share in helping people retool for the world of tomorrow. Having traveled on business around the world for 35 years I'm just amazed at how fast youth and adults are moving towards self-improvement," said Peter Soderberg, who purchased the Stella Maris Retreat.

The Sisters of St. Francis owned Stella Maris since 1952, but after lower demand, the building and its contents were sold.