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Catskill Mountain Collectibles And Memorabilia: The Borscht Belt Experience
Information
Welcome to the "Kochalain", share stories, photos, memorabilia...meet some old and new friends.
Members: 16
Latest Activity: Apr 11
Back In The Catskills With Moderator C. Dianne Zweig
Remembering The Catskills
New York's Catskill Mountains were home to hundredths of bungalow colonies (cottage summer vacation communities), summer camps and small hotels. Also referred to as "The Borscht Belt" or "The Mountains" this popular vacation area attracted families who left the heat of the city for some fresh air and relaxation in "The Country". The Catskill's were a haven for Jewish families who had experienced exclusion and discrimination in other places.
According toThe Catskill Institute by the 1950s over a million people spent their summers in New York's Catskill Mountain region. The Catskill Institute (affiliated with Brown University) states that bungalows, summer camps and small hotels, "shaped American Jewish culture, enabling Jews to become more American while at the same time introducing the American public to immigrant Jewish culture".
Survivors re-Establishing Life In America
Some bungalow colonies such as "The Four Season's Lodge" (featured in a recent documentary directed by Andrew Jacobs were vacation spots where once orphaned Holocaust survivors re-established life in America, marrying and developing life long social relationships with other survivors.
Baby Boomers And The Catskills
Like many baby boomers, I fondly remember The Catskills. My grandparents along with my parents and later my siblings stayed in bungalows and hotels in such towns as Monticello, South Fallsburg, Loch Sheldrake, Kiamesha Lake etc. I can taste the rye bread and ice cold apple juice as I am writing this introduction. My sister met her husband in the Catskills when both were working at one of the hotels and most of my childhood memories center on "The Catskills".
Collectibles, Souvenirs, Memorabilia
I still have mom's Mah Jongg set and plenty of decks of pinocle cards, relics from the "card rooms" that were staples in every colony. My drawers are filled with little plastic souvenir photo viewers (you remember these "scopes" ....tiny negatives would be illuminated in a viewer imprinted with the name of the hotel on the outside).
Our photo albums are filled with pictures of our summer vacations in "The Mountains". The photo icon above is my mom (on the left) with her neighbor circa 1950s. Before I was born, my grandparents also spent summers in The Castskill, hiring a "hack" (private car) to shlepp them to "The Country". These cars were nothing fancy.....drivers would stuff people and suitcases in every inch of space in the car and make their way up to "The Mountains". The trip took forever! These old photos of the limos leaving for the Catskills are priceless.
I hope that you will post your stories, memories, photos, videos, resources etc in this forum. Let's return to the Catskills and have some fun! What are you waiting for...tell your friends and family about this group. It's never too late to bring back The Catskills.
Discussion Forum
RECAP: KUTSHERS TRIBECA “APPETITE CITY” EVENT AT TENEMENT MUSEUM 1 Reply
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk. Last reply by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Jan 31.
Reflections on the Delmar Hotel and the Demise of the Catskills 1 Reply
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk. Last reply by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Jan 31.
Welcome Back To The Catskills
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Jul 10, 2011.
Raleigh Hotel Vintage Images And Postcards 6 Replies
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk. Last reply by LN Gail Jun 29, 2011.
Borscht Belt Bungalows
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 28, 2011.
Grossingers Hotel Vintage Postcards, Photos And Images 1 Reply
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk. Last reply by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 28, 2011.
Laurels Hotel And Country Club Vintage Postcards, Photos And Images
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 28, 2011.
Remembering the Catskills: Wonderful Borscht Belt Mmemories By Staci Sturrock
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 21, 2011.
Glen Briar Motel anyone? Ellenville Wawarsing
Started by House of Charm Antiques Southinc Apr 21, 2011.
Limo's To The Mountains
Started by Robert E. Baker Apr 21, 2011.
Stevensville Lake Hotel, Swan Lake Vintage Postcards and Images
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 20, 2011.
Head-Liners & One-Liners Songs and Stories from the Catskill Mountain Borscht Belt
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 20, 2011.
ST Regis Hotel & Ellis Island.
Started by Robert E. Baker Apr 20, 2011.
Vanishing Catskills Website: Photographs, Commentary, History of Abandoned Bungalows, Hotels, Camps etc In The Catskill Mountains
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 20, 2011.
Memories Of The Catskills FOOD Part 2 of 4 1 Reply
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk. Last reply by Jayne Crayton Apr 20, 2011.
Borscht Belt/Catskills 1 Reply
Started by Robert E. Baker. Last reply by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 20, 2011.
Books On Catskill Mountain Hotels, Life, Culture
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 19, 2011.
Four Seasons Lodge Documentary: Survival Was Just The Beginning 1 Reply
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk. Last reply by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 19, 2011.
Memories Of The Catskills Part 1 of 4
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 19, 2011.
Video Rich History of One Catskill Hotel (Kutshers) You Tube
Started by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk Apr 19, 2011.
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on January 31, 2012 at 6:27pm
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 28, 2011 at 10:06pm
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Grossinger Terrace RFoom, courtesy of http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/abandoned-catskills-hotels
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 28, 2011 at 9:59pm
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 28, 2011 at 9:40pm
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 21, 2011 at 6:43pm
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Grossingers Hotel 1950sPhoto of postcard courtesy of
http://www.pbpulse.com/bars-and-clubs/2010/08/27/wonderful-borscht-...
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 21, 2011 at 6:22pm
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http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/weekend-in-the-Catskills-quotborscht...
Also see Catskill Institute: http://catskills.brown.edu/
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 21, 2011 at 6:13pm
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Vintage 1950s Photo souvenir viewer found at http://www.etsy.com/listing/33780510/vintage-1950s-blue-photo-slide...
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Comment by C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk on April 21, 2011 at 6:02pm
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Comment by Dempsey's CollectAbles on April 21, 2011 at 3:45pm -
Since I have appreciated old photographs for Many Many Years, I had to collect what I liked. Here is one old photo, that actually taught me something about the Catskills that I never knew.
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN CAULIFLOWER - Big Old Wooden Crates Full.
Enjoy!
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Comment by Dempsey's CollectAbles on April 21, 2011 at 3:35pm
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From this place, one could see the Elevated Railroad notch in the background. It was a Wonderful Place. I remember going as a kid. And watching it's down fall. We tried to help bring it back, but it was too much cost. So now it falls back into the earth.
Great fold out brochure and certificate from the Whitestone Inn
Between Saugerties and Cairo, Rt. 32 Catskill.
If interested, I have a few extra sets that I would sell. $8.00 inclds pstg in US. contact me through here, the Best Antique History Minded Folk Meeting Place on the internet.
Let's keep preserving yesterday, today, for tomorrow....
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