Makowsky Friends

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Memory Lane



Time to return to Summer days gone by. Memorial weekend was the first tease each year of the summer to come.
Lots of great summers spanning many years soon followed.
What were your favorite 2 summers and why ? Tough question ?

posted by Rob @ 8:23 PM  

77 Comments:

  • At 5/28/2008 8:39 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    Each year following Memorial weekend our family was consumed by the upcoming summer. Everything we did in the weeks in between could not have gone slower. Except for school finals , I did nothing else but prepare in anticipation of heading upstate.

     

  • At 5/29/2008 10:41 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    I love that collage you made. Thoughts and images of Makowsky's still give me goosebumps. Will get back to you on the favorites, a lot to sort through.

     

  • At 5/29/2008 4:27 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    The summer of 1962 comes to mind immediately. Jo-Ann Sylvan was my girlfriend, Bobby Hutt & Alan Bell were our counselors and we had 20 Senior Boys in our group. We played softball all day long against each other and only stopped to eat lunch and have a general swim. Arts & Crafts? You got to be kidding.....Did we ever have friends like the ones we had when we were 12? I'll get back to on my next favorite summer later, although right now 1969 sticks out because it was my last full summer on the colony.

     

  • At 5/29/2008 10:42 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    One summer does not stick out in my mind. I loved every one.

    Mitch, I LOVED the arts and crafts!Who can forget the leather sewing projects, the boxes made out of craft sticks and the copper enamel projects. I wonder how many ashtrays I made with those little tiles.

    I can remember Melinda (or was it Roberta) handing out supplies and basketballs from behind a half door in the camp house. I can remember the sound of basketballs always bouncing and the smell of paint.

    I also remember the bathrooms in the camp house; they were not very clean! YIKES, I wish that I could wipe that memory out!

     

  • At 5/30/2008 4:32 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    I have to say that all the summers were great. The half door had a sign over it "Supply Dump". The bathrooms were unique. One had a pink toilet and both had a smell that was worse than a backed up cesspool! One usually preferred to take a trip to the casino or one's own can to take care of things. At least you were guaranteed toilet paper!

    The Arts and Crafts area was comprised of the old fashioned school desks with the ink wells in them. Then there was the famous fan that turned at about 5 RPM and gave a great breeze!

    Dodge ball on rainy days. The sound of that pink ball hitting the wall was classic!

    Who could forget making the bathroom tile projects? I think I made one each year I was in camp along with the key chain lanyards.

    I'll never forget the names all over the walls and the hoops painted with the teams of the 1970 color war teams. Crimson Red Stars and Silver Deities. I think Crimson won that year!

    Who can forget the Knock Hockey games with sticks that were made from old wooden hangars? When a bungalow was cleaned out, I'm sure that any left over toys and games as well as a&c stuff was "donated" to the camp. I think Rob had said that for floats, he actually had to yank nails out of walls and raided the chicken coop (the original box store) for anything he could use. I guess we were ahead of our time and recycled!!!!

    I can close my eyes, and remember every inch of that place. Mike told me has a few open units if anyone is interested.

    Attention. Attention please..The movie for tonight is 'The Out of Towners' Starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. As usual, Woody Woodpecker and Chilly Willy will be shown for the kids.......

    I love taking these mental journeys!!!!!!

     

  • At 5/30/2008 4:41 PM , Blogger steve kiv said...

    That's pretty easy for me.

    Every summer was great, from when I was a camper to when I was a counselor to coming up on weekends later on with my father, until the present day.

    However, 1964 had the best group I was ever in. Most of the guys didn't want to go to camp but Hy and Bobby Hutt told us we would be CITs. (Big Deal)So we went to camp, played softball everyday with complete teams.

    1965 was the only year I was a counselor. I had the 5-6 year old boys (who were actually only 4-5). Jackie Silverman was my co-counselor. The first thing we did was to teach the kids how to get dressed themselves and tie their own shoelaces so we wouldn't have to.

    It was a summer to live, love and laugh and we did it all.

    I close my eyes and I'm still there!

     

  • At 5/30/2008 10:15 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    This is truly a tough question. All of us seem to be in agreement that each summer was great.

    For me the years 66- 71 were probably the best. Maybe it was the hormones kicking in...combined with a dose of the 60s.

    I waited for years and endless innings as a spectator to play in the Men's softball games. At first I was a pinch runner (now I need one, LOL) then finally I got my call (from the bench)to play (I think it was Dave Baskin, "put me in coach , I'm ready to play") from there it was softball heaven with all the weekend warriors.

    1969 was truly the summer of love (Like the song 'Summer of 69' "those were the best days of my life") I had my baseball glove , tennis racket , rolling papers and trojans..what else could I want ?

    BTW - what year was the tennis court built ? Darn fences were too close !!!!

     

  • At 5/31/2008 8:29 AM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Yes, the supply dump...

    I forgot to mention the lanyards. I have impressed a few, a VERY few, over the years with my recollection of the box and butterfly stitches. I also learned, the other day, that I can still do the FOOTSIE, now called SKIP IT, even in 4-inch heels! Does anyone remember the FOOTSIE? It was a yellow ring that went around your ankle and there was a red, bell-shape attached to it, by a cord. I DO have some skills thanks to those good old days... Yes, indeed...

     

  • At 5/31/2008 9:42 AM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Rob, by looking closer at your photos, I noticed WAPR on the wall in one photo. Do you remember what those letters stood for? Alan Paul Reiss would have just loved to have had a radio station with those call letters. He imagined it, all of the time. I am not sure if Alan ever became a DJ. Does anyone know? I just adored Alan. He was a wonderful man a great friend to me. I still miss him.

     

  • At 5/31/2008 10:17 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    Shari , I was alan's counselors for 2 summers. He was unique , intelligent and well liked. He is missed by many.

    While were on the subject :

    We've lost some significant and very dear people in just the last two yrs on or about the same time we began Blogging and getting back in touch. We should 'give a yell'.

    For most of us , it was the last time we saw them. We shared with them the energy that had brought us together after so many years, it was wonderful and has altered many others lives , once again.

     

  • At 6/01/2008 5:53 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Rob, thanks for your comments. All of that is true about Alan. I smile when ever he comes to my mind. I have had and always will have a soft spot for those, like Alan, who would be considered to be unique. "Typical" is just not that much fun. ;-)

    May all of those we lost rest in peace.

     

  • At 6/02/2008 11:06 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    WAPR was Paul's dream. I was a radio addict (did it for a living once) but Paul was the King. I think he kept a diary of every WABC Music Survey in a composition book and memorized them. He would write those call letters all over the place and say that one day he would own a radio station. He was also attached to a Zenith transistor radio. I had him for a counselor and he always had it with him. We all know that he never saw his dream of owning a radio station. He was a good dude.

    I forgot about those pot holders. You made them with the loop yarn on those metal square looms. They hung off of the match box holder by the stove in our kitchen/living/room/den as we called it.

    I'm thinking pool today. Maybe I'll charge an ice cream (lol) too!

     

  • At 6/02/2008 4:50 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Since this blog thread is called "Memory Lane", here are a few...

    Dr. Toco's "Cherry Medicine"

    "Hi Solomon"

    "Attention, Attention please, Marilyn Baskin, you have a phone call at the grocery store"

    I'll have the "Judy" special at the luncheonette ( hamburger, french fries & a coke)

    Anyone interested in "snipe hunting" please meet Joel Bofshever at the white rock!

    "Good morning all campers and all counselors, all campers and all counselors, it's time to get up and out of bed and ready for Day Camp. Lets go all you sleepy heads, kick off those covers now, c'mon Jackie, lets go!

    on another note...

    I also remember that the casino had a Wurlitzer Jukebox that was never used. I think they played 78's so they were of no use in the luncheonette. Didn't Milton sell it? We probably could have converted them to play 45's. Boy, would I like to have that in my house today!!

     

  • At 6/02/2008 9:25 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    I think Steve took those 78s years ago. Problem is Victrola phonograph needles are hard to come by these days and the records are useless.

    Remember that big cushy easy chair from the casino? If only it could talk...lol

    It always amazes me how some of the lucheonette people lived in those 2 stageside rooms the entire summer. They were more like sharecroppers than operators. Looking back at it you must admit this was a tough job. So many people and 'kids' to please each summer, especially with what they had to work with.

    Wow , I'm in the mood for greasy french fries smothered in ketchup and salt. Cherry lime rickey too, please

     

  • At 6/02/2008 10:47 PM , Blogger steve kiv said...

    You're right.
    I think that there were originally TWO of the old Wurlitzers and they played 78s. I've had a jukebox in my home for over 30 years and I never even thought to buy one from Milton because I didn,t think you could convert them to 45s. I later found out you could but by then they were gone. I think Milton sold them for $75.00
    AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!

     

  • At 6/03/2008 7:29 AM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Ok, Now we can all eat our hearts out.

    Try this...


    http://www.garage-a-records.com/

     

  • At 6/03/2008 7:32 AM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Or this!


    http://www.bmigaming.com/games-jukebox-wurlitzer.htm

     

  • At 6/03/2008 10:21 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    There was a Wurlitzer 78 juke box right as you came in the casino entrance on the left side. I only knew of one in there. The late Marc Stern, who had a TV-Radio repair biz, wanted to buy it from Milton but he did not want to sell it. Said it would be worth a lot of money some day. Back then, it could not be converted to play 45's and I'm sure today, no one would want to. Victorola needles are easily obtained. For old jukes, tubes are harder to come by but not impossible. As kids, I would always get the title strips from the arcade guy. I remember his name too. Richard "Zeke" Wenzel. He actually gave me a promo45 once and it had his stamp on it. I'm pretty sure I still have that Orpheus 45 in my massive collection. I still have some of those strips today. Alan was also begging the guy for them too.

    I remember the stage rooms that folks lived in. Talk about high class living! There were summers that those rooms were used as make-out places. I would always say that I'm going to get a "fly" burger at the luncheonette. There were so many flies in there that one could inhale them! The roast pork sandwhich on garlic bread was another fave. I also remember the women asking for the No-Cal sodas that were made with syrup from the globe shaped containers. Malteds!

    There was a few summers when Shelly (Joyce's ex husband)ran the luncheonette and would sell bottles of beer for a buck.

    Did the a/c ever work in the luncheonette? I think it did once. Just once. I never saw the pitachio green walls anywhere else except the luncheonette!

    Where are we going for the movie tonight? Kingston? New Paltz, Ellenville? What a bargain that was.

    Dr. Tocco. I went to that guy once for a wicked case of Poison Ivy. He was the local yokel doc. The Marcus Welby of Accord. There was a Dr. Cooke in Accord too that we also went to. We would wind up getting some nostrum at the Rexall in Accord that he would write a script for.

    As Edith Bunker always sang 'Those Were The Days'!!!!

     

  • At 6/03/2008 10:37 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    Ok, I'll try not to get mushy.

    Best summers, funny, I've been thinking about it for days. I can't tell you which summers I am even thinking about, they all run together. It's the experiences, like the summer Lori and I got really close, smoking Tarrytons in the Lunchonette bathroom. Me and Steph at the pool for hours talking and laughing and competing over our tans. Color wars as camper and counselor. Tuesday night bus rides, Friday night movies, kissing games in the rumpus room, my Midgies (1969 or 70). I can't remember my high school teachers, but I can remember most of my Midgies, Adam, Michael, Jodi, Meri, Ira, and many more. Babysitting with Nona, Steph, Ellen..we loved our little ones. Ok, Nona, remember the blind dog who ate cottage cheese :)
    Bungalows 41, 42, and 43 like one big family. In and out, no knocking, three mothers with soooo many kids. Watermelon and Corn parties with butter on a brush, rope burns, softball game. And most of all my mother. I can still see her walking across the lawn, barefoot in a bathing suit, tan, beautiful, younger than I thought at the time. And I am sure you will all agree, she had a great laugh. I don't really see her anywhere else as clearly. OK, I got mushy.

    I never knew what people meant by "Minds eye" but sometimes I can see it all without closing my eyes, like it is burned into my memories. For the thousand things I have forgotten in my life, Makowsky's memories are still the brightest.

     

  • At 6/03/2008 3:01 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    Jodi: I got a kick out of the Tareyton story! I stole one from my Aunt once and I threw up from it! They were vile! Needless to say, Mom's Marlboro's were a better steal!

    I have to toss the Summer of 72 in there. Jeff Keller and Phil Stecker were the counselors. On a rainy day, they took us to an empty bungalow and played George Carlin for us. I never laughed so hard in my life from 'Class Clown' and became an instant fan of George's. Imagine a room full of 10 year olds howling at hearing his oratory of classic "words" like you never heard them before. The funny thing was that it was done in such secret like we were commiting the gravest sin. Jeff and Phil told us that we had to keep it quiet so Norman (Koch, may he RIP) would not find out!

    The Rumpus room was always being used for make-outs. I found a bungalow behind the Bofshevers on the side road to be a better place. It was never rented and well, better than the Rumpus. King Arthur's Court was good too.

     

  • At 6/04/2008 7:50 AM , Blogger Bob Hutt said...

    Every summer with my boys was the BEST summer. Softball and swimming all day.

    Fishing with Stevie K, my brother Gary, and Boff. Listening to 45's on a rainy day with the guys. By the way I gave my entire collection to the person who loved them the most - Stevie.

    On weekends playing softball with our father's. And waiting for that fat change up from Al Markowitz with 2 strikes, LOL.

    Going on Vernon's yellow school bus on Tuesday's to Ellenville with my best gal Phyllis for a movie and a pizza.

    On Friday nite Milton's old movies against the wall of the casino.

    Playing pinball with Stevie and Gary.

    Toasting marshmallows by the campfire down by the lake. Tossing Bobby Kaplan into the lake. LOL

    Losing to Phyllis in Color War every year. Stevie and me raiding Milton's chicken coop for supplies for our floats.

    And most of all, a special thank you to our parents for having the wisdom and love to take us to Camelot (Makowsky's) every summer. If not for them we wouldn't have these wonderful memories and friendships that we have enjoyed for a half a century.

    As my late mother Bea would say...

    "That's a long time." It sure is Mom. Thank you.

     

  • At 6/04/2008 8:02 AM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Bob, your words and memories are beautiful and from the heart. I really enjoyed reading them. I felt like I was right there again. Thank you. The same goes for everyone who has contributed comments this time. It is really cool to hear how many things we remember that are the same and how many different things we remember. Storch, I completely forgot about the pot holders! Thanks to all for putting a Makowskys smile on my face.

     

  • At 6/04/2008 8:42 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    Tuesday nights to Ellenville were just perfect.Getting off the colony for a night, being footloose and fancy free for a few hours were great.

    I recall Jackie telling Ellen on the bus ride if I got fresh to let him know. He'd kick my ass.

    Well...Hey Jack , it's 33 yrs of marriage and 3 kids later...still wanna kick my ass? LOL

    I recently did a google for vernon vandermark , could'nt find a thing. He was the tuesday night angel of mercy.. behind the wheel of a bus.

     

  • At 6/04/2008 8:53 PM , Blogger steve kiv said...

    One year there was a rumor that Vernon died, but we could still get the bus to Ellenville.

    When the bus got to Makowskys, the driver was........you guessed it....Vernon himself. No one wanted to get on the bus because we thought he was a ghost!

     

  • At 6/04/2008 9:42 PM , Blogger Ira L said...

    Judy & Steve.... Words cannot express my feelings!

    Storch... (you wrote)
    There was a few summers when Shelly (Joyce's ex husband)ran the luncheonette and would sell bottles of beer for a buck.
    My father passed away, this makes it sound like they were divorced which is not the case!
    also... (you wrote)
    I'll never forget the names all over the walls and the hoops painted with the teams of the 1970 color war teams. Crimson Red Stars and Silver Deities. I think Crimson won that year!
    Now I'm unsure if the crimson red stars was a name used more than once ( I think that might be the case) but the year I remember was the year the Crimson Red Stars Beat my Blue Cometeers... RATS!

    Blue Cometeers will win...
    We'll set you in a spin...
    in sports events, in swimming & in games....
    We'll get the highest score, the Red team will applaud, that is the only way to get Blue fame...
    The Blue team's gonna fight, We'll fight with all our might...
    to bring the village closer to us all...
    We will be way ahead & we will beat the Red...
    Blue Cometeers are sure to never fall.... We'll WIN! OH how I wish we had won :O(. If I remember correctly It was Shari who helped me remember the words to our fight song.... As Billy Joel Say's " Oh How I loved these days"

     

  • At 6/05/2008 7:35 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Ira, was that me (Shari Stein) or Shari B.? Say hi to your mom from me and my family.

     

  • At 6/06/2008 9:24 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    Ira! Wow! Last time I saw you you had to be about 10 years old! Your Dad had a carpet and tile store across the street from my Grandparents on Ave. V in Brooklyn. Dad put in most of the floors in my folks old house and that was the last time I saw you. You guys also had the bungalow next to me for a few years too. I think it was 29 as we were 28.

    Mitch; finally saw the clips of the reunion on You Tube. I hope I'm in great spirits at 91 like the late Mrs. M was (may she RIP)!

    Another Friday is here. The movie will be shown outside. Bring the blankets!!! My guess is that it will be 'Bridges of Toko-Ri' or, 'Stalag 17' Both were great and were shown on the famous wide screen "wall"! I feel like watching some William Holden so those popped in to my mind (lol)

    Vernon VanDeMark (that was his name and you can bet on the fact that I'm right with a good ROI!) still lives and drives busses in Accord so I'm told. They take him out of the closet, wind him up and put him in that 1963 Chevy bus! Actually, when he retired, we used Arthur Mulligan who was either out of Stone Ridge or Tillson or Rosendale. Here too, another safe bet that I'm right. (I have a photographic memory except on days when I'm out of film!)

    I also remember going bowling in New Paltz. They had a bus and a driver who looked like he was going to expire at any time!

    Ellenville is a dump. Looks like Flatbush was transplanted there. Downtown Kingston is also getting ratty too. New Paltz will always be a charmer. Only one problem...Chez Joey is no longer. Oh those Godfather sandwhiches he made there!!!!!!!!!!

    For the movie trivia buffs: The worst movie that we ever saw in New Paltz was 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' with David Bowie.

    See you on the "back porch"!

     

  • At 6/06/2008 9:40 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    The worst movie I can recall was Green Mansions. I'd rather watch Milton's rainy day cartoons in the Casino than that.

    I think Milton had a copy of the original 'Steamboat Willie' , AKA Mickey Mouse as we know him . Those 16mm films were the 'bomb' , so was the projector.

    Hy ozer , if you're seeing this it's time to take a bow. The most cultural,disciplined and group happening were the Shows . I don't think any of us made it to the Real Broadway stage but I guess you could call our productions 'off Broadway'.. Hy was a great Director/producer and is one of the most talented men I know. Bravo

    My big break came in Guys n Dolls when my role was 'Big Julie' from Chicago. My famous (and only) line was " I come here to shoot crap, Let's shoot crap! After that pinnacle performance that I could never repeat, I retired from the stage....leaving the TONY behind
    HA HA

     

  • At 6/09/2008 12:05 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    On these 100 degree days, the water coming down off the rocks in the Accord Swimming Hole is about 50 degrees. I feel like taking a ride down Tow Path Road and stopping for a dip! IT IS HOT HERE!!!!!!!

    Imagine playing on the ball field in this heat? The sweat running down your face would attract the gnats like honey attracts flies! At least the punchball field had the crabapple trees for shade! Actually, it would be an all day swim until we turned in to prunes. Bring on that T shaped pool!

    Stay cool!

     

  • At 6/09/2008 12:17 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Yes Storch it is one of the H,H,&H days....

    If you have never done this, copy & paste this address in your browser...pull it back to 100 yards and click on aerial view...you will then see what you are wishing for today!

    http://maps.live.com/?v=2&sp=adr.Rock%20Hill%20Rd%2c%20High%20Falls%2c%20NY%2012440

     

  • At 6/09/2008 1:10 PM , Blogger Jodi said...

    Swimming all day. Maybe a brief stop for ice cream. Hurry before the dixies melt. I love that pool. I started swimming in it when I was 2. Gary Hutt gave me my first swimming lessons. The biggest accomplishment was passing the deep water test, remember treading water...swimming the length of the pool.

     

  • At 6/09/2008 7:31 PM , Blogger jackie said...

    I must love all of you guys. You have no idea what I'm going through just to get on this thing. Kup, enough with you and Jo-Ann. Boy, look what she missed out on.(Hey, it's me!) Kiv, thanks for being the good cop. If it wasn't for you, I might have been on Americas......'nuff said. Shari in 4 inch heels...I'll be right back.... Hutt, I'm glad you still call us your "boys". Did you ever think that you would be stuck with us for the rest of your life? Rob,33 years. See! You listened to me. 33 years, 3 great kids.Please, don't thank me. (Ellen, I'll still kick his ass if he steps out of line.) Jodi, please keep being Jodi. I haven't been on the blog lately, but you seem to be the glue. Maybe it's just the time of the year, so let's "Strike up the Band". Hy, if you're reading this, who loves you more than your "campers and conselors?" This is all about you.

     

  • At 6/09/2008 9:50 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    Did someone say Hot today? Wanna trade?

    How did we ever survive those hot summer days with no A/C , just some old tired fan , unlocked doors and windows?

    Then again, there were some cold mornings we had those smelly heaters crankin along with the stove.


    Either way , it was the best.

    We saw the ole swimmin hole during the reunion weekend , still looked great

     

  • At 6/10/2008 9:09 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    Funny you should mention the Old Swimming Hole. I was thinking about going this weekend. The bad thing is I don't think I would be able to go down the slide. Hard to believe my ass ever fit on that little slide.

    I remember going one Friday evening with Marsha Harris, Joyce, maybe a few others. They wanted to wash their hair in the clean water, they were such earth children.

    That was some cold water. Can you believe we actually walked there. And our walks to Allegerville. Can you imagine walking two miles to get some penny candy and a Nehi.
    That was the coolest store. My favorite was the Red Hot Jaw Breakers...This blog makes me smile

    LOVE YOU JACKIE, YOU MAKE ME SMILE TOO :)

     

  • At 6/10/2008 10:18 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    Here is the hike to the "hole" We would go to the back of Lee-Ri. There was a path that would take you to the Swimming Hole. You would know that you were on track when you would pass the deer bones, the downed utility poles and then you would climb over a waist high rock wall. After that wall, there was a steep incline and then you would be on the north side of the "hole". It was amazing that we never got ticks or poison ivy/oak/sumac from that trek. On the return, the folks at Lee-Ri would see us emerge from the woods and look at us like we were nuts.

    I'd kill to be there now!

     

  • At 6/10/2008 3:35 PM , Blogger Jodi said...

    Maybe you didn't get Poison Ivy, but talk to Steve Streeter about that. He got it bad.

    Remember those trips to to Mohonk. When we were young, the hotel was restricted, if I remember. We had to hide our Jewish stars. I never went from behind the camphouse, that must have been a guy thing. We did the trail trips. One time we lost my dad. He was supposed to take the trail from the hotel to the tower while we did the Lemon Squeeze (if it was a squeeze then, it would be a miracle now :) When we got to the tower, he wasn't there. I thought he fell off. No cell phones, no NOTHING. As usual, my dad did not ask direction and started walking back to the main gate. There was a little lunchonette on the trail and we found him there. I swear, I don't know where some of this comes from. Most days it's hard to remember lunch.

     

  • At 6/10/2008 4:17 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    I can remember Steven Streeter's poison ivy. Man, he had it bad! I think that he had it more than one summer, if my memory serves me.

    Did they really not allow Jewish people in the hotel? That is so hard to comprehend.

     

  • At 6/11/2008 12:15 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    I remember Steven and Glenn Catapano having PI so bad that their eyes were swollen shut from it.

    I do not recall us Juden being verboten from the Mohonk. My Uncles played golf on the course several times. Perhaps the Mountain House was verboten. I'll have to investigate that further. Considering the area was Borscht Town (I'd rather have Schav (lol),it would not surprise me if the Mohonk was a closed place.

    There was one time when we hiked up there off of Clove Valley Road in 71 and we got thrown out of the lobby becuase we were playing pool (they had neat tables) and kids were not allowed. So we were expurgated to the main gate. It would be a nice day to scan the view from the fire tower. On a clear day you can see several states. I wish I can be at the pool, book in hand getting some sun and then a fly burger for lunch. It must be really nice there today. Clear skies, sun, no humidity, fresh air and quiet. To quote the Master Card ad "Priceless!"

     

  • At 6/11/2008 12:23 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    Jodi: The old Maltz' store on Tow Path Road (the red building) burned down 20 years ago. The yokel who owned it, Frank Purcell, re-built a new store across the road. I do not know if it is still there today. Then again, where can the townies get their Genny Beer, fireballs and Nehi (I always liked the White Rock clear Birch Beer). The only claim to fame that town has is the kid who hosted American Idol with Seacrest for one season. Oh; the famous Alligerville FD Spaghetti fund raiser too!

     

  • At 6/11/2008 2:38 PM , Blogger Jodi said...

    I'm pretty sure I am right about the hotel being restricted, this would have been in the mid sixties. I could be losing my mind, if someone else remembers, speak out.

     

  • At 6/11/2008 3:34 PM , Blogger BOFF said...

    Mohonk; let me tell you about that place, they used to advertise CHURCH ON PREMISES. we all knew what that meant. no to get to the hotel back in the 50- 60 you would leave your car at the bottom of the hill and would be driven up in a horse drawn carriage, no vehicles allowed on the grounds except for emergency and delivery vehicles. we also hiked up and sneaked into the lake.
    My Parents Laura and Ralph also made the same trip up the side of the mountain back in the 40ds.

     

  • At 6/11/2008 4:26 PM , Blogger BOFF said...

    orry for the three posts, it should have just been one. but I also have to explain MY name is Boff I am Robert Bofshever. my brother Joel is also called Bof with one F. Both of my sons Gary and Harley and their three sons and daughters are also called Boff. so I will do my post as Boff with two Fs.

     

  • At 6/11/2008 9:35 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Hi Robert! I used to babysit for your boys. (Thanks for the experience; I am now a teacher.)
    -Very nice kids! How are they doing? I remember how the story about Harley Davidson Bofshever. You wanted a motorcylce and you found out you were going to be a father instead. I am sure that your son brought you far more joy. I hope that you DID get your motorcycle, though.

     

  • At 6/12/2008 11:23 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    I did some research on Mohonk through a few calls to people I know up there. It is quite true that we were verboten. It seems that the original Smiley Brothers catered to the theologian crowd in the early days and that "type" of crowd continued all the way to the 60's. From what I was told, it is still a bit, as we say, not a "kosher' resort. Hey; we had Makowsky's and I would not trade that for anything!

     

  • At 6/12/2008 11:49 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    The Mohonk was nice, but nothing beat those hotels in the Catskills.

    Hey, Rob, remember the Raleigh. It was the Baskins, Kupfers and Shillings and all you could eat.

    Anyone read Mitch Albom's book "One More Day" If We had to go back, I think we would still all be together.

     

  • At 6/13/2008 3:34 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    Tamarack, Homowack, Raleigh, Pines, Grossingers, Chaits, Browns, Concord, Nevele. All gone except the Nevele. Eat like you have two stomachs! My Greatgrandparents owned the Liberty House which, in the early 1900's, was one of the largest hotels in the region. My greatgrandmother was buddy-buddy of Jenny Grossinger. When one hotel had room, they would send patrons to each others places. The Liberty House burned down in the very early 30's and Grossingers thrived. At least Makowsky's still goes on!

    All these old hotels are now rubble or owned by the Satmars or Lubavitch from Williamsburg, Boro Park, Crown Heights, Monsey or Monroe. The same holds true for many of the bungalow colonies in Monticello and surrounds.

    Nice day to be in High Falls, eh?

     

  • At 6/13/2008 3:35 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    Maybe for nostalgia, we should make up t-shirts with the Makowsky's Cottage Colony sign or something with the camp for old times sake. I know I would buy a few!

     

  • At 6/13/2008 9:58 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    Larry made all the reunion go'ers a great T-shirt that has a reproduction the original emblem from years gone by . In fact one of the images on this posting is from the from.
    I wear it often.

    Maybe he can make more ??

     

  • At 6/14/2008 9:58 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    For those still having difficulty getting into the Blog , try this link
    (cut & paste into your browser URL bar)

    https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&continue
    =https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Floginz%3Fd%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.blogger.com
    %252Fhome%26a%3DADD_SERVICE_FLAG&passive=true&alinsu=0&aplinsu=0&alwf=true&hl=en&skipvpage
    =true&rm=false&showra=1&fpui=2&naui=8

     

  • At 6/15/2008 10:40 AM , Blogger Shari S said...

    I know that this is long, but it really relates to some of the comments. I thought that this would be of interest and would also spark further comments:

    Borscht Belt is an informal term for the summer resorts of the Catskill Mountains in Sullivan and Ulster Counties in upstate New York which were a popular holiday spot for New York Jews. (Borscht is a soup popular with people of Eastern European origin.) The term Borscht Belt can also refer to the Catskill region itself.

    Borscht Belt hotels, bungalow colonies, summer camps, and kuchaleyns (a Yiddish name for self-catered boarding houses) were frequented by middle and upper class Jewish New Yorkers, particularly in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Because of this, this area was also nicknamed the Jewish Alps and Solomon County (a modification of Sullivan County), by many people who visited there. Well-known resorts of the area included Brickman's, Brown's, The Concord, Grossinger's, Granit, Kutsher's Hotel and Country Club, the Nevele, Friar Tuck Inn, The Pines, Raleigh and the Windsor.

    The tradition of Borscht Belt entertainment started in the early 20th century with the indoor and outdoor theaters constructed on a 40 acre (16 hectare) tract in Hunter, New York, by Yiddish theater star Boris Thomashefsky.

    Comedians who got their start or regularly performed in Borscht Belt resorts include: Joey Adams, Woody Allen, Morey Amsterdam, Milton Berle, Shelley Berman, Al Bernie, Mel Brooks, Lenny Bruce, George Burns, Red Buttons, Sid Caesar, Jack Carter, Myron Cohen, Bill Dana, Rodney Dangerfield, Phyllis Diller, Totie Fields, Betty Garrett, George Gobel, Shecky Greene, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Katz, Danny Kaye, Alan King, Robert Klein, Jack E. Leonard, Pesach Burstein, Mal Z. Lawrence, Jerry Lewis, Jackie Mason, Lou Menchell, Jan Murray, Carl Reiner, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Freddie Roman, Allan Sherman, Jackie Vernon, Jackie Wakefield, Jonathan Winters, and Henny Youngman.

    With changes in demographic and travel patterns, caused partially by the widespread adoption of air conditioning that made the cities less unpleasant in the summer, the area has declined as a major vacation destination. Perhaps the single biggest factor was the decline of discrimination or "restriction" in the hotel and travel industry by the 1960s as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which made discrimination on the basis of race and religion flat out illegal in the tourism industry as well as in other arenas. Prior to that time, many upscale resorts and hotels, implicitly or otherwise, did not welcome Jews. Also, the end of rail service to the area added to the decline of the area. The replacement of old travel routes such as old New York State Route 17 (superseded by an express highway of the same name, now in the midst of an upgrade to Interstate 86), had left the area with a veritable museum of abandoned or decaying travel-related businesses from the Borscht Belt's heyday.The post WWII decline of the area also coincides with the increase of air travel. When families could go to more far off destinations such as The Caribbean, Hawaii, and Europe for the same amount that they could go to the Catskills, new venues began to win out.

    Today the region is a summer home for many Orthodox Jewish families, primarily from the New York metropolitan area. It has many summer homes and bungalow colonies (including many of the historic colonies), as well as year-round dwellers. It even has its own year-round branch of the Orthodox Jewish volunteer emergency medical service Hatzolah. A few resorts remain in the region, though not many associated with the Borscht Belt Prime (Kutsher's Hotel, Villa Roma, Friar Tuck, to name a few).

    In July 2006, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts opened on the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Bethel. The New York Philharmonic played to thousands there on July 2, 2006 for the first-ever concert at the Center. Other concerts during the Center's inaugural season included a two-day jazz festival featuring Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Chris Botti and Dianne Reeves; Counting Crows and the Goo Goo Dolls, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, who had last played in Bethel at the original 1969 Woodstock Festival and later covered Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock" to commemorate the historic three-day concert that drew 500,000 to Yasgur's Farm.

    Plans are now in place by those who purchased former Borscht Belt resorts, Concord Resort Hotel and Grossinger's for example, to work with Native Americans in an attempt to bring gambling to the region. Because the Borscht Belt prime has long passed and many of the resorts are abandoned, developers feel that this is a way to revitalize the region to the popularity it once had by attracting guests to world class casinos and resorts such as the ones in New Jersey and Connecticut.

    Comedic legacy
    "Borscht Belt humor" refers to the rapid-fire, often self-deprecating style common to many of these performers and writers. Typical themes include:

    Bad luck: "When I was a kid, I was breast-fed by my father." (Dangerfield)
    Puns: "Sire, the peasants are revolting!" "You said it. They stink on ice." (Harvey Korman as Count de Money (Monet) and Mel Brooks as King Louis XVI, in History of the World Part I)
    Physical complaints and ailments (often relating to bowels and cramping): "My doctor said I was in terrible shape. I told him, 'I want a second opinion.' He said, 'All right, you're ugly too!'" "I told my doctor, 'This morning when I got up and saw myself in the mirror, I looked awful! What's wrong with me?' He replied, 'I don't know, but your eyesight is perfect!'" (Dangerfield)
    Aggravating relatives and nagging wives: "My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met." (Dangerfield). "Take my wife - please!" (Henny Youngman); "My wife drowned in the pool because she was wearing so much jewelry." (Rickles); "My wife ain't too bright. One day our car got stolen. I said to her, 'Did you get a look at the guy?' She said, 'No, but I got the license number.' " (Dangerfield)
    Some but not all of the modern "Borscht Belt" comedians, such as Don Rickles, referred openly to Jews and anti-Semitism; others, such as Rodney Dangerfield, simply borrowed from the general style.

    Popular culture
    These resorts have been the setting for movies such as Dirty Dancing, Sweet Lorraine and A Walk on the Moon.

    Characters inspired by Borscht Belt comics include Billy Crystal's Mr. Saturday Night and Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.

    While not a part of the true Borscht Belt legacy, the best known entertainment event to take place in the region was the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which took place on the land of Jewish farmer Max Yasgur in Bethel, New York.

    In the film Wet Hot American Summer, the character Alan Shemper, played by Michael Showalter, is a parody of Borscht Belt comedy.

     

  • At 6/15/2008 2:12 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Very interesting Shari.

    I do know however that the comments about "Dirty Dancing" and "A Walk on the Moon" are incorrect. "Sweet Lorraine" was indeed filmed at the old Heiden Hotel in South Fallsburgh.

    "A Walk on the Moon" was filmed in Canada and "Dirty Dancing" was filmed in Virginia at the Mountain Lake Hotel. If you cut & paste the web address below you will see 2 pictures ( the gazeebo & hotel ) on their homepage.

    http://www.mountainlakehotel.com/

     

  • At 6/15/2008 2:28 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Hi Mitch,

    I am glad that you found this interesting.

    I think that the comments about the resort being the setting are referring to the "type" of setting rather than the actual hotel being the setting. At least, that was my take on it. Maybe I am not reading it right, though.

    I have not seen Sweet Lorraine. Is it worth seeing? Thanks to you guys, I JUST rented A Walk on the Moon and LOVED it.

     

  • At 6/15/2008 9:32 PM , Blogger Ira L said...

    Will do Shari... I'm pretty sure it was Jodi's sister if memory serves me correctly.

     

  • At 6/15/2008 10:15 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Shari

    Maybe I read it wrong....but you know what I meant.

    Check out Sweet Lorraine, not as good as the other two but a worthwhile rental.

     

  • At 6/15/2008 10:48 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    Mitch is our resident IMDB expert.

    Try it
    http://www.imdb.com/

    If he told me there were eight dwarfs , not seven , I'd believe him.

     

  • At 6/16/2008 5:56 AM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Rob, I can see that Mitch knows his stuff. I love the movies, but I have not seen too many. I am learning a lot here. Thanks!

     

  • At 6/16/2008 3:02 PM , Blogger Jodi said...

    Shari, If Mitch doesn't know the answer, he will find it.

    To me "A Walk on the Moon" was the closest to what it was like, but on my next colony I want Vigo to be my blouse man.

     

  • At 6/16/2008 8:59 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Jodi, he WAS hot!

     

  • At 6/17/2008 6:33 AM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Thanks for the kudos....

    But actually I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express the other night!

     

  • At 6/17/2008 9:51 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    The least comfortable I want to be is a Holiday Inn!

    There was a movie called 'The Stuff' that was fimed in Accord and Kingston. Typical B type horror flick. If you rent it, you can spot Barley's and a few other famous buildings in beautiful, Downtown Accord as well as Kingston.

    Shari; nice post on the Borscht Belt.

    Today would be a great day to sit at the pool and get some rays. Another 10 days and we would all be Makowsky's bound!

     

  • At 6/17/2008 11:40 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    We always went a week early. Never stayed to the end of school until High School. Just think of how much smarter I would be :)

    Mom, Slim, Shari, Biers and Me. Very early Saturday morning, stop at a diner and then on to New Paltz. First stop....Badami's. Did anyone ever taste tomatoes that were better. My mom would buy a whole basket. I don't believe there was a Shop Rite...how did we eat. I think my mother brought lots of meat from home in coolers.

     

  • At 6/17/2008 7:48 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    Man, would I love to be watching the weeping willows sway right now. When I check in with you guys, I can almost smell that fresh, clean air. Thanks...

     

  • At 6/18/2008 6:56 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    Shari,

    I have very good friends who live in Cross River. They have a weeping willow that cascades so beautifully over their pond in their backyard. Everytime I visit them we always go sit under that tree. It always makes me think of Makowsky's.

     

  • At 6/19/2008 12:02 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    The Willow Circle! Neat stretch of bungalows near the ball field.

     

  • At 6/19/2008 12:07 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    It was Davenport's in Stone Ridge for the corn and Osterhoudt's off 209 in Accord for the tomatoes! No salmonella, e-coli or other ingredients added!

     

  • At 6/23/2008 9:58 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    Hello my friends,

    Im Memory of George Carlin, I would like to see the "7 words you can't say on TV". Lots of laughter, the best medicine there is. :)

     

  • At 6/23/2008 11:41 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    I cried when I heard about George Carlin. All I can say is thanks to Jeffy Keller and Phil Stecker for playing the "shit" bit in the empty bungalow back in 71. George gave me many a laugh from that point on. To me; George was the greatest along side Rodney and Flip. When I go home, I'm going to put on 'Class Clown' and 'Occupation Foole' for a good laugh. He was a true comedic legend and we can always listen to an album (remember those?) or many of the great HBO specials he made.

    RIP George!

     

  • At 6/23/2008 5:29 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    This comment has been removed by the author.

     

  • At 6/23/2008 5:31 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    This comment has been removed by the author.

     

  • At 6/23/2008 5:31 PM , Blogger Mitch said...

    In memory of George Carlin...

    Always do whatever's next.
    George Carlin

    At a formal dinner party, the person nearest death should always be seated closest to the bathroom.
    George Carlin

    Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
    George Carlin

    By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.
    George Carlin

    Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.
    George Carlin

    Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
    George Carlin

    Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.
    George Carlin

    Electricity is really just organized lightning.
    George Carlin

    Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
    George Carlin

    Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck.
    George Carlin

    Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
    George Carlin

    "I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
    George Carlin

    I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it.
    George Carlin

    I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away.
    George Carlin

    I think it would be interesting if old people got anti-Alzheimer's disease where they slowly began to recover other people's lost memories.
    George Carlin

    I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven't tried that for a while. Maybe this time it'll work.
    George Carlin

    I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me - they're cramming for their final exam.
    George Carlin

    I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
    George Carlin

    I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.
    George Carlin

    I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it.
    George Carlin

    I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.
    George Carlin

    I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect.
    George Carlin

    If God had intended us not to masturbate he would've made our arms shorter.
    George Carlin

    If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.
    George Carlin

    If we could just find out who's in charge, we could kill him.
    George Carlin

    If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten.
    George Carlin

    In comic strips, the person on the right always speaks first.
    George Carlin

    Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.
    George Carlin

    Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town.
    George Carlin

    May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.
    George Carlin

    Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.
    George Carlin

    Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did.
    George Carlin

    One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like.
    George Carlin

    One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
    George Carlin

    People who say they don't care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don't care what people think.
    George Carlin

    Religion is just mind control.
    George Carlin

    Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that.
    George Carlin

    Standing ovations have become far too commonplace. What we need are ovations where the audience members all punch and kick one another.
    George Carlin

    The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
    George Carlin

    The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.
    George Carlin

    The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept.
    George Carlin

    The status quo sucks.
    George Carlin

    The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.
    George Carlin

    There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
    George Carlin

    There's no present. There's only the immediate future and the recent past.
    George Carlin

    Think off-center.
    George Carlin

    Weather forecast for tonight: dark.
    George Carlin

    Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?
    George Carlin

    What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?
    George Carlin

    When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?
    George Carlin

    When Thomas Edison worked late into the night on the electric light, he had to do it by gas lamp or candle. I'm sure it made the work seem that much more urgent.
    George Carlin

    When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot's hands.
    George Carlin

    When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front row seat.
    George Carlin

    You know an odd feeling? Sitting on the toilet eating a chocolate candy bar.
    George Carlin

    You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.
    George Carlin

     

  • At 6/24/2008 7:48 AM , Blogger Mitch said...

    A friend sent this to me and I thought you would all enjoy these inspirational words from George Carlin. He wrote this after the passing of his wife.

    Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.


    The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

    We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much , and pray too seldom.

    We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

    We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

    We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

    These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

    Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

    Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

    Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

    Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

    Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

    Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

    AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

    Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

    George Carlin

     

  • At 6/24/2008 9:49 AM , Blogger Storch said...

    Thanks for those great words from George. After all, he was thrown out of the Frontier Hotel in Vegas for saying the word shit in a town where the big game is called crap(s)! Al Sleet, your Hippy-Dippy Weather Man with all your weather man...Today's High, when I get off and tonight; Dark and continued dark until morning.

    I played 'Class Clown', 'Occupation Foole' and 'Take Offs and Put Ons' last night and howled just like the first time I heard them.

    When you look up the word funny in the dictionary, it has George's picture next to the word.


    Thanks again to Jeffy and Phil for turning me on to many years of great laughs!

     

  • At 6/26/2008 9:41 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    You think tomorrow night is the first Friday Night Movie, wonder what they are showing. After the movie, maybe a Frappe with wet walnuts and a rusty seltzer.

     

  • At 6/26/2008 10:23 PM , Blogger Rob said...

    I guess you can say we had a Iron Rich water supply. But then again , we swam in filtered chemically treated lake water. Good thing the pool was painted blue. Good thing I used a nose clip (remember those?) and swam with my mouth closed. LOL

    Those night swims on hot nights were great, I seem to recall many skinny dippers : kids & sometimes parents.

    We rapidly approach July 4th the 1st significant summer weekend. Fireworks on the shuffleboard courts, an extra few days with our Dads , and just some good ole upstate All American activities.

    AAAHH , communal resort life in the Catskills.'The Summers of our life'

     

  • At 6/27/2008 8:19 AM , Blogger Jodi said...

    The 4th always meant two things, Judy's birthday and sparklers. I believe our fireworks display were a few bottle rockets supplied by Alan Markowitz and those wonderful sparklers. And of course those obnoxious firecrackers. Little Bit used to hide in the laundry basket in the shower. That is all clear as a bell, and this morning I couldn't remember where I put my keys, I guess a lot has changed :)

     

  • At 6/27/2008 4:58 PM , Blogger Storch said...

    I always joke about the "fly' burgers. Jodi got a howl out of me with the rusty seltzer! I always recalled the kitchen, bathroom and shower faucets belching out water that was so orange that you thought you hit a geyser of orange Nehi! Talk about having an oxidant rich diet. No one used Brita or bottled water. Right out of the tap!

    I once saw the pool being filled on a Memorial Day weekend circa 1974. The water so was turbid it made the lake look blue! My mother would say to me "stay away from that cholera water"

    Do they call it Friday Night Movies or Friday Night DVD's these days? Either way, the skeeters are out, it will be HHH and fun!

    One 4th weekend 1972, Murray made a small, but effective IED. Tiny but loud. Very loud. He buried it in the field between the Hill and the chicken coop and set it off. This was the 4th weekend too, mind you. It went off with such a bang, louder than any M-80 that Milton and Solomon( may they RIP) came running as they thought the boiler room on the Hill exploded. Basically, all Milt found was a smoldering hole. The Bendix washers were fine as well as the boiler. It was a good laugh except Milt was pissed! Pissed enough to make an announcement about it.

    Alan Markowitz and Jerry Zimmerman always had some good fireworks. The shuffleboard court was the launch pad for most of the works. The smell of the cordite!

     

  • At 6/27/2008 8:39 PM , Blogger Shari S said...

    I never knew anything about commercial, fireworks shows until I was older. The shuffleboard court was all I ever new when I was young. (I think that I started going to Makowskys at 1 year old, until about 14 years old, or so.) Although commercial fireworks shows are beautiful, they cannot beat the fireworks on the shuffleboard court at Makowskys. As a child, that was just the best. I can remember Alan's smile as he put on a show for all of kids. I think that he had as much fun as we did!

     

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