It’s simple groom as butler of one of the most prestigious establishments in New York, the destiny of Oscar Tschirky has everything of the American dream. This Loclois, who left to settle in the United States with his parents in 1883, is at the heart of the new temporary exhibition of the Underground Mills of Col-des-Roches which opens this Sunday. The institution, in collaboration with the Library of the City of Le Locle, retraces the career of this man who, over the years, has become one of the figures of the American hotel industry.
Hired at the age of 16 at the Hoffmann House as a waiter, Oscar Tschirky quickly stood out and a few years later took on the position of room manager at the prestigious Dolmenico restaurant, before joining the brand new Waldorf. It was in this establishment, which would become the Waldorf-Astoria, that he spent most of his career as a butler. For 50 years, he frequented the greatest American personalities and became a benchmark in the hotel and catering industry.
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Almost forgotten in our region, Oscar Tchirky owes this renewed interest to Fabio Bestazzoni. By chance on an old article referring to the original Loclois, the head of the Library of the City of Le Locle launched several years ago several searches on the illustrious butler. Over the course of trips to the United States in the personal archives of Oscar Tchirky, kept at the Cornell University Library, and in the fund of the Library of Le Locle, the curator of the exhibition has collected a vast panel of press articles , photographs and engravings. Traces of the past to which Fabio Bestazzoni has added period objects, unearthed on the internet, including a table service and menus from the Waldorf-Astoria.
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Treasures to discover from this Sunday at the underground mills of Col-des-Roches and until November 27. The opening takes place this Saturday at 6 p.m. /rgi
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