As legend has it , Joe & Sylvia met Dave and Marilyn at a Brooklyn party. They raved over this paradise like Bungalow colony they were going to. PS, One winter day in 1960 the Shillings and Streeters schlepped us all up to the Colony to see things. (My father had a Desoto) We walked around in snow boots. It was great, nirvana of the Catskills. The rest is history.
I to remember schlepping up during the winter knee high in snow looking at this little white shack of a bungalow.As I recall, my parents went on a cruise and meet Milton and Fredia there.My father was talking to him about this small bungalow colony called Modena Gardens which we were going to for so many years.As the cruise came to an end, the contract was signed and the rest was history. We then became responsible for so many families to jump aboard to Makowsky's..The Schliefers, Steckers, Fleises, Schulmans, Edelsteins, Rappaports,Millers and so many more.So Milton if your listening,I guess your lucky that Sam Brown did'nt start his own bungalow colony calling it Brown'S... Sorry, that's a Hotel ..Thanks to all our parents who gave us the opportunity to have such great memories, they do live on and on..
Leave it to Rob our very own Blogmaster to keep the brain matter going....
In the late fifties my dad and Sol Tepper worked for the same firm. I think it was the Grayson Company. Anyway, Sol & Yetta had found a place in the Catskills that they fell in love with. They convinced my parents to spend a summer with them at this place that became "our little slice of heaven"
We went Makowsky's after our previous bungalow colony in Accord (Bob-Ed's) became part of Camp Weelock in 1968. The folks took us up to see Milton and Freida in the winter of 69. I remember two feet of snow on the ground as Freida showed us the around. I recall vividly as Freida showed us the Camphouse with all the graffiti(back then it was called writing on the walls) on the walls which was a snap-shot of camp history. The second place we saw was the luncheonette. I remember saying to my Mom and Dad that I could not wait to play pin-ball here in the summer. It did not take too long for my folks to put down the deposit for bungalow #4. The rest was history. Along with us came the Kay's,Stern's, Thenen's and the Catapano's who were all Bob-Ed's folks. We cleaned out our bungalow in Accord and trucked it over to Makowsky's to be ready by June. The only other alternative was to go to Majestic. Remember Majestic? We played their camp all the time. The folks did not like Majestic as all the bungalows were on top of each other and liked Makowsky's as it was spread out and had plenty of room to run around. Bob-Ed's was good. Makowsky's was great!
I'm not sure, seems like we were just always there. I will ask Dave about that. Seeing a new name on the blog I wonder if people who are just sitting at their computers, the Google Makowsky's and find this montage of memories. Thanks Rob, this was a winner..........
Jodi is right on the money. I found the blog a few months ago. I wanted to see if Makowsky's has a web-site so I can show my kids where I spent the best parts of my young life. I do admit that this is truly a nifty slice of history. It is nice to see that there are so many of us that share the same sentiments about a place that was really a slice of heaven for us city folk. Nice job and a thanks to Rob! Chrysler should bring back the DeSoto. They had big Hemi engines and neat push button transmissions with two- tone paint jobs. I'd love one in my garage!
Welcome folks. Glad to see that our unique 'Band of Brothers & Sisters' are growing.
Thank for the compliments, but I must defer to the special cooperative efforts of those who have helped me keep the fire burning. You know who you are. Anyway , credit for this posting must go to Larry & Leslie whose brains cells are still working well (LOL)
As always we want your feedback, special photos, memories, etc. and to hear from you.
Let's give a yell.
BTW , the Desoto did have auto-transmission buttons (top left of dashboard)Good thing it had a huge trunk , especially in the summer. More like the Beverly Hillbillies, "we loaded up the car and we moved to Makowsky's " (sing it slow, it works...MA..KOW..SKYS..
Thanks Rob, Leslie and I love seeing all the new postings of how people got to Makowsky's.Leslie's journey to Makowsky's was through Ellen Schwartz Shilling.After some weekend visits she was hooked and wanted to be a part of the Makowsky family.
Mitch, wow, totally forgot that story, but you are correct it was through Yetta & Sol - I too, like Jodi just remember always being there ---- after all I was only 2 yrs old, which is why so many of you remember my "bottle" so well... :-)
I'm not to sure about this but I know I had cousins who were at Makowksy's before my family went there. They were Celene and Monte Mandel and they had two sons. Anyway my parents and June and Bernie Posner decided to come up in 1960. How weird is it that the Shillings lived right around the corner and have been friends ever since?
Shari: I know you, your sister, brother, Mom and Dad. I had the bungalow on the Hill across from you. I was next door to the Fleiss family, across from Jan & Alan Reiss. My family is very close to the Kay's (Robin, Jody and Darell) Maybe you were next door to the Stern's? We always called your Dad Dr. Bob. You guys were from Bristol CT? Hopefully my photo-microchip memory has not failed me. If I am wrong, let me know. I do hope you and the family are well!
Anyone have a quarter? I'll toss in one and we'll get six songs! The Seeburg juke-box is quiet, the pinball machines are jingling, the balls on the pool table are clanking. Actually, I'm dreaming about the good old days. Today the juke-box plays CD's that do not go snap-crackle-pop, the pinball machines are digital. The pool table is still the same. I guess some things never change. Last night TMC played 'The Bridge Over The River Kwai' and I knew every line. I can hear Milton on the PA saying "The movie for tonight is 'Bridge Over The River Kwai'. 'Kwai' played every year on the Makowsky's Friday Night Movie. I saw that flick every summer we were there! Unfortunately, there were no 'Chilly Willy' or 'Woody Woodpecker' cartoons.....
Wow, Storch! YOU are right on the money!! We lived in Bristol for a few years; my dad had a practice there. My whole family is well. My mom and dad are in Boca Raton, Fla. My brother and his family are near by; he has a two year old son. He is a real estate appraiser. My sister and I are in CT. She has two children(16 and 18)and she owns her own real estate appraisal company. I am a teacher and I have one daughter(3)and two step sons(11 and 14).
How is Robin Kay and her family? I would love to get in touch with her!
You have got to give me some more clues. I am not picturing who you are because we were in so many bungalows. We were in the one next to the Fleiss family, also.
My parents think that your mom's name might be Audrey. Are they correct?
I just talked to my parents. They found an add in the paper, visited a few places and fell in love with Makowskys. When they visited, they spoke with Pauline. She said,"When you come back, you will see the sun." My parents came back to stay for the summer. On the day they came up, it was raining. When my dad saw Pauline, he said,"Where's the sun?" At THAT moment, Milton walked out of the house and Pauline said, "There he is!" :-)
Storch is your name Larry? If I am correct, your hair got more blond as the summer went on and you always had a killer tan.
OK, I checked with my dad. My mom and dad and some friends the Wexlers (cousins of the Blechers) took a ride upstate to look for colonies. Started in Monticello, hated it. Went to Kutcher's (too expensive) then somehow, they found Makowsky's. The minute the started driving around they saw a bungalow that had a sign on it. "The Baskin's". My Mom knew that this was the place. That was bungalow 40 and they took it that day.
I was 15 months old that first summer and Shari is a real Makowsky's baby. She was conceived that first summer, and was 2 months old that 2nd summer. We really did grow up there.
Shari; You are correct! I used to have blond hair. My hair today is gray and I still have all of it! I still get the tan even if I stay in the shade. At least some things have not changed.
Shari; Robin Kay is a psychologist living in Los Angeles. Her sister Jodi is in PA not far from her Dad and her Brother Darell. Mom's name is Audrey, Dad, Howard. They still live in New City which is where we moved to after we escaped from Brooklyn. My Sister, Laurie is up there and I wound up on Long Island. I have two girls, ages 7 and 2 and my business is on LI too. It seems like it is 1972 all over again!
Jodi; Yes, Murray is still Murray. A tad mellower these days but still the same. He is like an Uncle to me. Our families still get together every now and then. I always loved the name Midgies. My Sister was a Midgie too when Janet ran the camp. I remember my counselors like Jeff Keller and Phil Stecker, Donnie Keller and many others. Jeff and Phil stand out as they let us listen to George Carlin tapes which was a scream when you are 10 years old! They were also a good bunch of guys that made the summer fun. Jodi is married with a few kids and lives in PA.
I don't know how much of the blog you read, but we had a reunion in July of 2006. Saw all the people you mentioned except Phil, but his sister was there. Please sent my best to Jodi and the rest. (ooh a poem :))
I must say that story about Pauline is priceless. When I think of Pauline all that comes to mind was that "burgandy golf cart." When we were up at the colony for that reunion weekend, Mike Markowitz unlocked the door to the Rumpus Room and you wouldn't believe it... but right there in the center of the room was that famous golf cart. Mike said he wanted to restore it. I'm sure he will.
Other artifacts in the Rumpus Room: Freida's 1967 Yellow Cutlass, the psychotic swallow's that dodged at your head and maybe Milton's 1957 Plymouth Plaza without the muffler that he kept his tools in. If the green Chevy truck that Solomon drove around in is down there I would not be surprised! The Smithsonian would love to see what is in the chicken coop and the Rumpus Room! I know that I would!
Pardon my poor punctuation on my last post. My Rangers are losing and it is wreaking havoc upon me. My Sunday night hockey team is playing better than the Rangers and we are amateurs! Another tidbit... Milton bought the white golf cart after Pauline's maroon one stopped working. She could not use the white one as she could not work the pedals. The maroon one worked by hand controls of which she needed. The white one became Milton and Freida's get around car. I think it replaced the blue Plymouth for tool schlepping too.
Many will recall that much of what was stored in the rumpus room was used for the camp carnival , recycled and repainted for the color war parade . Most of the time we used the same old rusty nails and chicken wire for all of these.
OK ,I will finally admit, come clean and reveal that I DID raid Miltons chicken coop for supplies on many an occasion , armed with a good claw hammer and flashlight. Hey, what was a guy supposed to do back then ? Home Depot was about 20 yrs away...HA
Sorta reminds me of the seek and gathering mission James Garner did in 'The Great Escape'.
As much junk that was around, Milton (may he rest in peace) knew every nut, bolt, washer, screw and where it was. I remember that he kept the nickels and dimes from the old Bendix washing machines in socks that he kept inside coffee cans in the garage next to the Superette. I remember how the counselors had to do a scavenger hunt of their own to find stuff for the carnival. Even the garbage dump was raided for supplies. I bet the fortune wheel from color war 1971 is still down there. There has to be a lot of artifacts stashed in the coop as well as attics and store rooms on that property. I was in the chicken coop a few times to do bad things and it was a Smithsonian of sorts. As they say "An old farmer never throws anything away" Rob; If you have any reunion books left over I would love to get one. I would love to attend the next reunion when it happens. Keep em' coming! A great line from 'The Great Escape' I found a steel rod with hinges on it that we can use. Where did you get it Hilts?" Perhaps Hilts "found" it in the chicken coop? Great movie from 1963 and shown at Makowsky's Friday Night Theater.
Storch, if you go to you tube and put in Makowskys you will see some video from our reunion. Some people you will recognize and some you won't. But the colony is still pretty much as you remember it. In a world full of changes so fast we can hardly keep up, one thing never seems to change. It's worth the time to see it, especially the ones on the colony.
As most of you know, Sol Tepper and my dad are cousins. One day my parents are taking me for a ride up to the "country" in the middle of the winter. I had no clue what this trip was all about. All I knew was that this ride was taking forever. When we pulled up to the colony, I didn't see 1 person (duh)until we got to Paulines cottage. She had a little swinging door for her dog to go in and out of the house. I was fascinated. (Hey, I think I was 7.) After taking the tour, my parents told me of their plan. I was not a happy little fat kid. No way were they going to take me away from my block and my 50 closests friend for 2 months. After all, the whole time there, I didn't see 1 kid. What was I going to do all day. When they told me about the day camp I freaked. I told them that I saw desks in the camphouse. To me, that meant school. They told me that I didn't have to go to camp if I didn't want to. Whew! We had the last bungalow at the end of Hogans Alley. Oh, that "camp" thing. I think I lasted less than a week.
My dad and I were talking about this, and he told me Milton owed him some money. What he really meant was that directly or indirectly he and my mom brought a lot of people up to Makowskys. Glad there really is something to that 6 degrees of separation. Now I wish my dad knew someone else who owed him money :)
Funny stories Jodi and Jackie (and the rest of course). I don't remember how we got to Makowsky's, think an add. Maybe Lori or Michael knows???? It's been a long time and I always enjoy reading the posts, especially when new names come on. It's a good way to exercise the mind (memory). Also, trying to get back on the blog is a good exercise. I can't believe it worked this time!!!
So glad to see you on the blog again. I knew you were reading, but like the rest of us experimenting w/ email addresses, new passwords and such just to get back on. I also had quite a time and nearly pulled out the rest of what's left on my ???? better left unsaid.
BTW, I still check back on utube to see Tarrisa's dancing. You seem to have quite a following. Great stuff!
Mindala, so happy to see you. I was just talking to Lori about you. Didn't you know the Levine's. I remember Sharon stayed with you for a while. Or did you meet them in Makowsky's?. Hey I didn't know that Tarissa had a cult following.
Thanks for the warm welcome. Glad to be back. I really don't remember how we got to the colony. Did Lori know? I think that Sharon Levine was my babysitter but I don't remember her staying with us. I was only 4 years old when we started going up there but I do remember Sonny Levine from that time. I don't know why, but way back then, he left an impression on me. I know that our parents were friends but I can't remember anything more than that. It's interesting reading all the different ways we all started coming. It really is 6 degrees of separation. Like it was meant to be.
What a blast from the past. In the 60's my family went for 8 summers to Makowskys. We were the Brotmans. My parents are Judy and Gene, my brother Randy and my twin sister Lori, spent many wonderful times there. I remember our best friend, Melinda Keller. Love to here from others that might remeber those summers.
This is wonderful. My wife Susan and I were having dinner with my cousins Sandy and Joyce in Del Ray and we were talking about all of the Makowskyites who have such memories of our place. As the third eldest member of our family, my Mother Laura the senior Makowsky, it make us feel sooooooo great when we read how you all feel. I know as a child helping to hammer nails into building being built we never thought how it would have effected so many lives. I know my Grandmother Pauline loved her land and in her later years when she would rake leaves from her burgundy colored golf cart she would sing songs happily. I remember her chopping trees down while Uncle Milton cleared land to put in more bungalows. I still remember my mother telling me stores that I read in the blog about places like the swimming hole or hiking down behind the camp house than up the side of Mohonk twisting through the lemon squeeze in order to sneak and swim in the cold waters of Lake Mohonk or hiking on the back rut filled roads into the woods to Accord. She and her friends hiked and swam just like we all have. Not to many years ago my sons called me from the swimming hole while I was here in Florida, telling me my grandchildren were sliding on the smooth rocks into that icy cold water. just like I had with my friends. Keep up the blogs i can see you all smiling with the love. BOFF
I remember: -the arrow shaped pool -the old rusted and crumbling 3 wheel cart in the woods -watching Audrey hepburn in Wait Until Dark on the stores outside wall -playing pinball while The Archies sang Sugar,Sugar on the juke box -winning a board game during a bingo game -getting a ride on the owner's son's motorcycle -hiking through the woods to the "junkyard/firing range with the old toasters hanging from the trees -fishing the odd frog out of the pool
Hello my name is al Shein.I also have many good memories of Makowskys.we stayed at makowskys for about four summers starting about 1958, I was seven. WE stayed in a bunglow that Alan took over, he also had a horse there I was told.That cabin was so run down he burned it to the ground.I rember Pauline and her little dog that had his own door.I REMBER Milton, Freeda,Alan and the man that used to pick up the trash to be burned in the stone fireplace I thought. If anyone would like to contact me my e mail is gto720@aol.com
my family spent several seasons at mahkowsky's in the early to mid fifties i remeber the lake, lovers rock and me dad playing softball on the weekend-leaving sunday eve and retirnng on fri eve- my mother, brother and me stayed all summer- went to day camp lived in the main house one summer and a bungalow severla others - remeber the Lapin family and neil bader charlie glassman born 1946
my family spent several seasons at mahkowsky's in the early to mid fifties i remeber the lake, lovers rock and me dad playing softball on the weekend-leaving sunday eve and retirnng on fri eve- my mother, brother and me stayed all summer- went to day camp lived in the main house one summer and a bungalow severla others - remeber the Lapin family and neil bader charlie glassman born 1946
my family spent several seasons at mahkowsky's in the early to mid fifties i remeber the lake, lovers rock and me dad playing softball on the weekend-leaving sunday eve and retirnng on fri eve- my mother, brother and me stayed all summer- went to day camp lived in the main house one summer and a bungalow severla others - remeber the Lapin family and neil bader charlie glassman born 1946
i remeber soending several summers here with my family in the mid fifties- my dad came on fri eve and left on sun eve my mom , brother and i stayed for the entire summer- we had a bungalow and also lived in the main house- watched movies on the lawn once a week- i remember the casino, lovers rock and the lake stocked with sunnies- i remeber the lapin family, neil badr, and phylis bell whose dad owned a cab- some of my best summers and fondest memories charlie glassman born 1946
First, Caren posted quite a few years ago that her family is the Brotmans. That was my mother's maiden name. Pauline Brotman, one of 6 siblings (all gone now sad to say) who wound up in Brownsville Brooklyn in the 1930's (from Philadelphia). That's where my parents met. My last name is Koorse. Our connection to Makowsky's came about in the 1960's. My parents' lifelong friends from Brooklyn were the Kotins, Yada and "Koty." They had two lovely daughters Sherry and Marti. We'd spend a few days in the summer visiting the Kotins. The Kotins brought their dog along for the summer, a wild little Boston bulldog (I think). I have fond memories of Makowsky's, including the pool (I'd pull out the leopard frogs in the morning and re-locate them to the pond. One memory I have is this kid who I think was the owner's son jumping from a little cliff over the pond into the water. I thought that was pretty cool though never tried it myself.
52 Comments:
At 1/09/2008 9:14 PM ,
Rob said...
As legend has it , Joe & Sylvia met Dave and Marilyn at a Brooklyn party. They raved over this paradise like Bungalow colony they were going to. PS, One winter day in 1960 the Shillings and Streeters schlepped us all up to the Colony to see things. (My father had a Desoto)
We walked around in snow boots. It was great, nirvana of the Catskills.
The rest is history.
It changed our lives forever.......
At 1/10/2008 9:29 AM ,
LARRY said...
I to remember schlepping up during the winter knee high in snow looking at this little white shack of a bungalow.As I recall, my parents went on a cruise and meet Milton and Fredia there.My father was talking to him about this small bungalow colony called Modena Gardens which we were going to for so many years.As the cruise came to an end, the contract was signed and the rest was history. We then became responsible for so many families to jump aboard to Makowsky's..The Schliefers, Steckers, Fleises, Schulmans, Edelsteins, Rappaports,Millers and so many more.So Milton if your listening,I guess your lucky that Sam Brown did'nt start his own bungalow colony calling it Brown'S... Sorry, that's a Hotel ..Thanks to all our parents who gave us the opportunity to have such great memories, they do live on and on..
At 1/10/2008 11:10 PM ,
Mitch said...
Leave it to Rob our very own Blogmaster to keep the brain matter going....
In the late fifties my dad and Sol Tepper worked for the same firm. I think it was the Grayson Company. Anyway, Sol & Yetta had found a place in the Catskills that they fell in love with. They convinced my parents to spend a summer with them at this place that became "our little slice of heaven"
Who da thunk it?
How fortunate we all are that this happened...
At 1/11/2008 3:27 PM ,
Storch said...
We went Makowsky's after our previous bungalow colony in Accord (Bob-Ed's) became part of Camp Weelock in 1968. The folks took us up to see Milton and Freida in the winter of 69. I remember two feet of snow on the ground as Freida showed us the around. I recall vividly as Freida showed us the Camphouse with all the graffiti(back then it was called writing on the walls) on the walls which was a snap-shot of camp history. The second place we saw was the luncheonette. I remember saying to my Mom and Dad that I could not wait to play pin-ball here in the summer. It did not take too long for my folks to put down the deposit for bungalow #4. The rest was history. Along with us came the Kay's,Stern's, Thenen's and the Catapano's who were all Bob-Ed's folks. We cleaned out our bungalow in Accord and trucked it over to Makowsky's to be ready by June. The only other alternative was to go to Majestic. Remember Majestic? We played their camp all the time. The folks did not like Majestic as all the bungalows were on top of each other and liked Makowsky's as it was spread out and had plenty of room to run around. Bob-Ed's was good. Makowsky's was great!
At 1/11/2008 3:52 PM ,
Jodi said...
I'm not sure, seems like we were just always there. I will ask Dave about that. Seeing a new name on the blog I wonder if people who are just sitting at their computers, the Google Makowsky's and find this montage of memories. Thanks Rob, this was a winner..........
At 1/11/2008 4:20 PM ,
Storch said...
Jodi is right on the money. I found the blog a few months ago. I wanted to see if Makowsky's has a web-site so I can show my kids where I spent the best parts of my young life. I do admit that this is truly a nifty slice of history. It is nice to see that there are so many of us that share the same sentiments about a place that was really a slice of heaven for us city folk. Nice job and a thanks to Rob! Chrysler should bring back the DeSoto. They had big Hemi engines and neat push button transmissions with two- tone paint jobs. I'd love one in my garage!
At 1/11/2008 8:09 PM ,
Shari S said...
Storch,
Welcome! I found the blog the same way.
When were you at Makowskys?
At 1/11/2008 9:46 PM ,
Rob said...
Welcome folks. Glad to see that our unique 'Band of Brothers & Sisters' are growing.
Thank for the compliments, but I must defer to the special cooperative efforts of those who have helped me keep the fire burning. You know who you are. Anyway , credit for this posting must go to Larry & Leslie whose brains cells are still working well (LOL)
As always we want your feedback, special photos, memories, etc. and to hear from you.
Let's give a yell.
BTW , the Desoto did have auto-transmission buttons (top left of dashboard)Good thing it had a huge trunk , especially in the summer. More like the Beverly Hillbillies, "we loaded up the car and we moved to Makowsky's " (sing it slow, it works...MA..KOW..SKYS..
At 1/12/2008 8:50 AM ,
LARRY said...
Thanks Rob, Leslie and I love seeing all the new postings of how people got to Makowsky's.Leslie's journey to Makowsky's was through Ellen Schwartz Shilling.After some weekend visits she was hooked and wanted to be a part of the Makowsky family.
At 1/13/2008 1:15 PM ,
nona said...
Mitch, wow, totally forgot that story, but you are correct it was through Yetta & Sol - I too, like Jodi just remember always being there ---- after all I was only 2 yrs old, which is why so many of you remember my "bottle" so well... :-)
At 1/13/2008 3:50 PM ,
steve kiv said...
I'm not to sure about this but I know I had cousins who were at Makowksy's before my family went there. They were Celene and Monte Mandel and they had two sons. Anyway my parents and June and Bernie Posner decided to come up in 1960. How weird is it that the
Shillings lived right around the corner and have been friends ever since?
At 1/13/2008 4:43 PM ,
Storch said...
Shari: I know you, your sister, brother, Mom and Dad. I had the bungalow on the Hill across from you. I was next door to the Fleiss family, across from Jan & Alan Reiss. My family is very close to the Kay's (Robin, Jody and Darell) Maybe you were next door to the Stern's? We always called your Dad Dr. Bob. You guys were from Bristol CT? Hopefully my photo-microchip memory has not failed me. If I am wrong, let me know. I do hope you and the family are well!
At 1/13/2008 4:57 PM ,
Storch said...
Anyone have a quarter? I'll toss in one and we'll get six songs! The Seeburg juke-box is quiet, the pinball machines are jingling, the balls on the pool table are clanking. Actually, I'm dreaming about the good old days. Today the juke-box plays CD's that do not go snap-crackle-pop, the pinball machines are digital. The pool table is still the same. I guess some things never change. Last night TMC played 'The Bridge Over The River Kwai' and I knew every line. I can hear Milton on the PA saying "The movie for tonight is 'Bridge Over The River Kwai'. 'Kwai' played every year on the Makowsky's Friday Night Movie. I saw that flick every summer we were there! Unfortunately, there were no 'Chilly Willy' or 'Woody Woodpecker' cartoons.....
At 1/13/2008 6:21 PM ,
Shari S said...
Wow, Storch! YOU are right on the money!! We lived in Bristol for a few years; my dad had a practice there. My whole family is well. My mom and dad are in Boca Raton, Fla. My brother and his family are near by; he has a two year old son. He is a real estate appraiser. My sister and I are in CT. She has two children(16 and 18)and she owns her own real estate appraisal company. I am a teacher and I have one daughter(3)and two step sons(11 and 14).
How is Robin Kay and her family? I would love to get in touch with her!
You have got to give me some more clues. I am not picturing who you are because we were in so many bungalows. We were in the one next to the Fleiss family, also.
My parents think that your mom's name might be Audrey. Are they correct?
At 1/13/2008 6:42 PM ,
Shari S said...
I just talked to my parents. They found an add in the paper, visited a few places and fell in love with Makowskys. When they visited, they spoke with Pauline. She said,"When you come back, you will see the sun." My parents came back to stay for the summer. On the day they came up, it was raining. When my dad saw Pauline, he said,"Where's the sun?" At THAT moment, Milton walked out of the house and Pauline said, "There he is!" :-)
Storch is your name Larry? If I am correct, your hair got more blond as the summer went on and you always had a killer tan.
At 1/14/2008 10:16 AM ,
Jodi said...
OK, I checked with my dad. My mom and dad and some friends the Wexlers (cousins of the Blechers) took a ride upstate to look for colonies. Started in Monticello, hated it. Went to Kutcher's (too expensive) then somehow, they found Makowsky's. The minute the started driving around they saw a bungalow that had a sign on it.
"The Baskin's". My Mom knew that this was the place. That was bungalow 40 and they took it that day.
I was 15 months old that first summer and Shari is a real Makowsky's baby. She was conceived that first summer, and was 2 months old that 2nd summer. We really did grow up there.
At 1/14/2008 10:39 AM ,
Storch said...
Shari; You are correct! I used to have blond hair. My hair today is gray and I still have all of it! I still get the tan even if I stay in the shade. At least some things have not changed.
At 1/14/2008 10:51 AM ,
Storch said...
Shari; Robin Kay is a psychologist living in Los Angeles. Her sister Jodi is in PA not far from her Dad and her Brother Darell. Mom's name is Audrey, Dad, Howard. They still live in New City which is where we moved to after we escaped from Brooklyn. My Sister, Laurie is up there and I wound up on Long Island. I have two girls, ages 7 and 2 and my business is on LI too. It seems like it is 1972 all over again!
At 1/14/2008 11:33 AM ,
Jodi said...
Wow, Jodi Kay was in my Midgie group. And Murray, what a character he was. I bet he still is.
At 1/14/2008 12:03 PM ,
Storch said...
Jodi; Yes, Murray is still Murray. A tad mellower these days but still the same. He is like an Uncle to me. Our families still get together every now and then. I always loved the name Midgies. My Sister was a Midgie too when Janet ran the camp. I remember my counselors like Jeff Keller and Phil Stecker, Donnie Keller and many others. Jeff and Phil stand out as they let us listen to George Carlin tapes which was a scream when you are 10 years old! They were also a good bunch of guys that made the summer fun. Jodi is married with a few kids and lives in PA.
At 1/14/2008 1:49 PM ,
Jodi said...
I don't know how much of the blog you read, but we had a reunion in July of 2006. Saw all the people you mentioned except Phil, but his sister was there. Please sent my best to Jodi and the rest. (ooh a poem :))
At 1/14/2008 5:09 PM ,
Mitch said...
Shari,
I must say that story about Pauline is priceless. When I think of Pauline all that comes to mind was that "burgandy golf cart." When we were up at the colony for that reunion weekend, Mike Markowitz unlocked the door to the Rumpus Room and you wouldn't believe it... but right there in the center of the room was that famous golf cart. Mike said he wanted to restore it. I'm sure he will.
At 1/14/2008 5:58 PM ,
Shari S said...
Mitch,
I had heard that story a few times over the years, but I had forgotten it. It made me smile to hear it again. I am glad that you also enjoyed it.
At 1/14/2008 7:20 PM ,
Storch said...
Other artifacts in the Rumpus Room: Freida's 1967 Yellow Cutlass, the psychotic swallow's that dodged at your head and maybe Milton's 1957 Plymouth Plaza without the muffler that he kept his tools in. If the green Chevy truck that Solomon drove around in is down there I would not be surprised! The Smithsonian would love to see what is in the chicken coop and the Rumpus Room! I know that I would!
At 1/14/2008 8:30 PM ,
Storch said...
Pardon my poor punctuation on my last post. My Rangers are losing and it is wreaking havoc upon me. My Sunday night hockey team is playing better than the Rangers and we are amateurs! Another tidbit... Milton bought the white golf cart after Pauline's maroon one stopped working. She could not use the white one as she could not work the pedals. The maroon one worked by hand controls of which she needed. The white one became Milton and Freida's get around car. I think it replaced the blue Plymouth for tool schlepping too.
At 1/14/2008 9:02 PM ,
Rob said...
Many will recall that much of what was stored in the rumpus room was used for the camp carnival , recycled and repainted for the color war parade . Most of the time we used the same old rusty nails and chicken wire for all of these.
OK ,I will finally admit, come clean and reveal that I DID raid Miltons chicken coop for supplies on many an occasion , armed with a good claw hammer and flashlight. Hey, what was a guy supposed to do back then ? Home Depot was about 20 yrs away...HA
Sorta reminds me of the seek and gathering mission James Garner did in 'The Great Escape'.
More like the Little Rascals !!!!
At 1/15/2008 1:32 PM ,
Storch said...
As much junk that was around, Milton (may he rest in peace) knew every nut, bolt, washer, screw and where it was. I remember that he kept the nickels and dimes from the old Bendix washing machines in socks that he kept inside coffee cans in the garage next to the Superette. I remember how the counselors had to do a scavenger hunt of their own to find stuff for the carnival. Even the garbage dump was raided for supplies. I bet the fortune wheel from color war 1971 is still down there. There has to be a lot of artifacts stashed in the coop as well as attics and store rooms on that property. I was in the chicken coop a few times to do bad things and it was a Smithsonian of sorts. As they say "An old farmer never throws anything away" Rob; If you have any reunion books left over I would love to get one. I would love to attend the next reunion when it happens. Keep em' coming! A great line from 'The Great Escape' I found a steel rod with hinges on it that we can use. Where did you get it Hilts?" Perhaps Hilts "found" it in the chicken coop? Great movie from 1963 and shown at Makowsky's Friday Night Theater.
At 1/15/2008 2:52 PM ,
Mitch said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 1/15/2008 3:17 PM ,
Jodi said...
Storch, if you go to you tube and put in Makowskys you will see some video from our reunion. Some people you will recognize and some you won't. But the colony is still pretty much as you remember it. In a world full of changes so fast we can hardly keep up, one thing never seems to change. It's worth the time to see it, especially the ones on the colony.
ENJOY!
At 1/16/2008 8:22 PM ,
Rob said...
The reunion photos might still be on Snapfish
I still have most of them on disc & hard drive , Definitely check out 'You Tube' though.
Also , the archives on this Blog are approaching 2 yrs , Amazing 'stuff' to see.
Who knows ? maybe the next reunion will be sooner than you think
At 1/22/2008 4:45 AM ,
jackie said...
As most of you know, Sol Tepper and my dad are cousins. One day my parents are taking me for a ride up to the "country" in the middle of the winter. I had no clue what this trip was all about. All I knew was that this ride was taking forever. When we pulled up to the colony, I didn't see 1 person (duh)until we got to Paulines cottage. She had a little swinging door for her dog to go in and out of the house. I was fascinated. (Hey, I think I was 7.) After taking the tour, my parents told me of their plan. I was not a happy little fat kid. No way were they going to take me away from my block and my 50 closests friend for 2 months. After all, the whole time there, I didn't see 1 kid. What was I going to do all day. When they told me about the day camp I freaked. I told them that I saw desks in the camphouse. To me, that meant school. They told me that I didn't have to go to camp if I didn't want to. Whew! We had the last bungalow at the end of Hogans Alley. Oh, that "camp" thing. I think I lasted less than a week.
At 1/22/2008 11:51 AM ,
Jodi said...
My dad and I were talking about this, and he told me Milton owed him some money. What he really meant was that directly or indirectly he and my mom brought a lot of people up to Makowskys. Glad there really is something to that 6 degrees of separation. Now I wish my dad knew someone else who owed him money :)
At 1/24/2008 4:11 AM ,
Mindy said...
Funny stories Jodi and Jackie (and the rest of course). I don't remember how we got to Makowsky's, think an add. Maybe Lori or Michael knows????
It's been a long time and I always enjoy reading the posts, especially when new names come on. It's a good way to exercise the mind (memory).
Also, trying to get back on the blog is a good exercise. I can't believe it worked this time!!!
At 1/24/2008 7:22 AM ,
Mitch said...
Mindy
So glad to see you on the blog again.
I knew you were reading, but like the rest of us experimenting w/ email addresses, new passwords and such just to get back on. I also had quite a time and nearly pulled out the rest of what's left on my ???? better left unsaid.
BTW, I still check back on utube to see Tarrisa's dancing. You seem to have quite a following. Great stuff!
At 1/24/2008 9:05 AM ,
Jodi said...
Mindala, so happy to see you. I was just talking to Lori about you.
Didn't you know the Levine's. I remember Sharon stayed with you for a while. Or did you meet them in Makowsky's?. Hey I didn't know that Tarissa had a cult following.
At 1/24/2008 1:05 PM ,
Mindy said...
Thanks for the warm welcome. Glad to be back. I really don't remember how we got to the colony. Did Lori know? I think that Sharon Levine was my babysitter but I don't remember her staying with us. I was only 4 years old when we started going up there but I do remember Sonny Levine from that time. I don't know why, but way back then, he left an impression on me. I know that our parents were friends but I can't remember anything more than that.
It's interesting reading all the different ways we all started coming. It really is 6 degrees of separation. Like it was meant to be.
At 3/09/2008 2:27 PM ,
Caren said...
What a blast from the past. In the 60's my family went for 8 summers to Makowskys. We were the Brotmans. My parents are Judy and Gene, my brother Randy and my twin sister Lori, spent many wonderful times there. I remember our best friend, Melinda Keller. Love to here from others that might remeber those summers.
At 3/18/2008 10:20 AM ,
BOFF said...
This is wonderful. My wife Susan and I were having dinner with my cousins Sandy and Joyce in Del Ray and we were talking about all of the Makowskyites who have such memories of our place.
As the third eldest member of our family, my Mother Laura the senior Makowsky, it make us feel sooooooo great when we read how you all feel.
I know as a child helping to hammer nails into building being built we never thought how it would have effected so many lives.
I know my Grandmother Pauline loved her land and in her later years when she would rake leaves from her burgundy colored golf cart she would sing songs happily.
I remember her chopping trees down while Uncle Milton cleared land to put in more bungalows.
I still remember my mother telling me stores that I read in the blog about places like the swimming hole or hiking down behind the camp house than up the side of Mohonk twisting through the lemon squeeze in order to sneak and swim in the cold waters of Lake Mohonk or hiking on the back rut filled roads into the woods to Accord.
She and her friends hiked and swam just like we all have.
Not to many years ago my sons called me from the swimming hole while I was here in Florida, telling me my grandchildren were sliding on the smooth rocks into that icy cold water. just like I had with my friends. Keep up the blogs i can see you all smiling with the love. BOFF
At 4/28/2009 12:14 AM ,
off-the-point said...
I remember:
-the arrow shaped pool
-the old rusted and crumbling 3
wheel cart in the woods
-watching Audrey hepburn in Wait
Until Dark on the stores outside
wall
-playing pinball while The Archies
sang Sugar,Sugar on the juke box
-winning a board game during a
bingo game
-getting a ride on the owner's
son's motorcycle
-hiking through the woods to the
"junkyard/firing range with the
old toasters hanging from the
trees
-fishing the odd frog out of the pool
At 6/19/2009 1:21 PM ,
al said...
Hello my name is al Shein.I also have many good memories of Makowskys.we stayed at makowskys for about four summers starting about 1958, I was seven. WE stayed in a bunglow that Alan took over, he also had a horse there I was told.That cabin was so run down he burned it to the ground.I rember Pauline and her little dog that had his own door.I REMBER Milton, Freeda,Alan and the man that used to pick up the trash to be burned in the stone fireplace I thought. If anyone would like to contact me my e mail is gto720@aol.com
At 1/03/2011 4:36 AM ,
Ted Filler said...
1958 & 1959. The best 2 summers of my life
We had the huge house. GREAT MEMORIES
At 10/04/2011 5:24 AM ,
Jockamo said...
Does anyone remember way back when the paddle ball/racquet ball court was on fire ??
J Temple.
At 3/12/2013 5:24 PM ,
Unknown said...
My parents, brothers n sisters went to Majestic, prob early 70s.
L. Clayton
At 3/12/2013 5:28 PM ,
Unknown said...
My parents, brothers n sisters went to Majestic, prob early 70s.
L. Clayton
At 3/12/2013 5:29 PM ,
Unknown said...
My parents, brothers n sisters went to Majestic, prob early 70s.
L. Clayton
At 8/04/2013 8:06 AM ,
Unknown said...
my family spent several seasons at mahkowsky's in the early to mid fifties
i remeber the lake, lovers rock and me dad playing softball on the weekend-leaving sunday eve and retirnng on fri eve- my mother, brother and me stayed all summer- went to day camp lived in the main house one summer and a bungalow severla others - remeber the Lapin family and neil bader
charlie glassman born 1946
At 8/04/2013 8:06 AM ,
Unknown said...
my family spent several seasons at mahkowsky's in the early to mid fifties
i remeber the lake, lovers rock and me dad playing softball on the weekend-leaving sunday eve and retirnng on fri eve- my mother, brother and me stayed all summer- went to day camp lived in the main house one summer and a bungalow severla others - remeber the Lapin family and neil bader
charlie glassman born 1946
At 8/04/2013 8:07 AM ,
Unknown said...
my family spent several seasons at mahkowsky's in the early to mid fifties
i remeber the lake, lovers rock and me dad playing softball on the weekend-leaving sunday eve and retirnng on fri eve- my mother, brother and me stayed all summer- went to day camp lived in the main house one summer and a bungalow severla others - remeber the Lapin family and neil bader
charlie glassman born 1946
At 8/04/2013 8:11 AM ,
Unknown said...
i remeber soending several summers here with my family in the mid fifties- my dad came on fri eve and left on sun eve my mom , brother and i stayed for the entire summer- we had a bungalow and also lived in the main house- watched movies on the lawn once a week- i remember the casino, lovers rock and the lake stocked with sunnies- i remeber the lapin family, neil badr, and phylis bell whose dad owned a cab- some of my best summers and fondest memories
charlie glassman born 1946
At 1/03/2020 8:53 AM ,
Unknown said...
Can someone tell me the exact address of this Mokowsky'? My parents dont remember. Thanks!
At 5/26/2020 9:51 PM ,
Ronda said...
274 rock hill rd High Falls NY, This is Milton & Freida’s granddaughter Ronda (Joyce’s daughter).
At 5/05/2022 12:50 PM ,
Bob said...
First, Caren posted quite a few years ago that her family is the Brotmans. That was my mother's maiden name. Pauline Brotman, one of 6 siblings (all gone now sad to say) who wound up in Brownsville Brooklyn in the 1930's (from Philadelphia). That's where my parents met. My last name is Koorse.
Our connection to Makowsky's came about in the 1960's. My parents' lifelong friends from Brooklyn were the Kotins, Yada and "Koty." They had two lovely daughters Sherry and Marti. We'd spend a few days in the summer visiting the Kotins.
The Kotins brought their dog along for the summer, a wild little Boston bulldog (I think).
I have fond memories of Makowsky's, including the pool (I'd pull out the leopard frogs in the morning and re-locate them to the pond.
One memory I have is this kid who I think was the owner's son jumping from a little cliff over the pond into the water. I thought that was pretty cool though never tried it myself.
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