“Borscht Belt Artifacts: Relics of the Catskill Resort Age” will be shown by local author, musician, and historian Alex Prizgintas at the Ethelbert B. Crawford Library in Monticello, NY, on Thursday, May 21st at 6:00 PM. “The history of the Borscht Belt, particularly how it was a melting pot for so many cultures when it came to cuisine, entertainment, music, and so many other aspects of American history,” says Prizgintas. “What is even more tragic is how this history has vanished so quickly, which is why I have dedicated myself to collecting relics from the old hotels, resorts, and bungalow colonies.” Since Prizgintas began collecting items from the Borscht Belt ten years ago, awareness of this crucial aspect of our local past has rapidly expanded with the opening of the Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, the ongoing Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project, and a number of films as well as books that have been published. “Seeing this history finally receiving the recognition it deserves is incredibly rewarding, and I am honored to be a part of this new chapter for the memories of the Borscht Belt.”

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