The Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake.
Postcard provided
Alex Prizgintas will be featured by the Pine Bush Area Public Library on Wednesday, May 29th at 6:00 PM with his program “Borscht Belt Artifacts: Relics from the Catskill Resort Age.” Seating is limited, please call 845-744-4625 ext. 2 to reserve your place. An advisory board member of the new Borscht Belt Museum of Ellenville, he did not live during the age of the grand hotels and bungalow colonies but is nonetheless fascinated by what artifacts remain. “Beyond their revolutionary architecture and nexus of cultures, I was always drawn to how the Borscht Belt intersected with many of my other historical interests—principally railroads,” says Prizgintas. “With thousands of items from each of an estimated 926 hotels and bungalow colonies, this program covers a broad history of the Borscht Belt extending back to the earliest records of summer agricultural colonies in the late 1830s. From here, I showcase five unique items from my personal collection that all have a special place amidst the hearts and hands that shaped this region of New York.” As a staple of all these lectures, this event will feature displays of historical artifacts allowing the audience to visibly and tangibly view the region’s past.