MOUNTAINDALE—A new initiative is emerging, seeking to honor and preserve a bygone era that holds a significant place in American Jewish history. The Borscht Belt, Historical Marker Project is a collaborative effort of locals, artists, and historians to identify and commemorate the locations that once played host to the celebrated Borscht Belt era. 

After the successful installation of the first marker at the Ethelbert B. Crawford Library in Monticello, an upcoming event on August 13 at 1:30 p.m. will honor the legacy of Mountaindale and will be placed across from the Mountaindale Post Office on Post Road.

This new marker in Mountaindale will pay tribute to the numerous hotels and bungalows that once thrived in Fallsburg, including iconic establishments such as the Pines Hotel, The Raleigh, Brown’s Hotel, and many more. 

Unlike the familiar standard blue and yellow markers typically seen throughout the state, these specially designed markers boast a unique combination of images and text. 

Leading The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project is Marisa Scheinfeld, an author and photographer who hails from the area. Scheinfeld’s acclaimed book, “The Borscht Belt: Revisiting the Remains of America’s Jewish Vacationland,” serves as a poignant homage to the cherished era. With her striking images of decaying ruins and flourishing vegetation, Scheinfeld artfully captures `the essence of abandonment and absence, offering a visual journey through time.

Scheinfeld says about her work, “I consider this series both a celebration and elegy to the era and felt an innate drive to preserve, in photographs, the things I do not want forgotten.”

Assisting Scheinfeld in the marker project are collaborators Isaac Jeffreys, the project’s Visual Coordinator, whose vivid imagery reimagines the glories of the past, and Borscht Belt historian Louis Inghilterra, who serves as the Research Coordinator. 

Their combined efforts and expertise bolster the mission to designate locations of historical significance throughout the Sullivan and Ulster County landscape.

After the dedication of the Mountindale marker, Scheinfeld and Jeffreys will be opening an exhibition of their work called Day and Night: Return to the Borscht Belt, which is part of a compendium series of programming to coincide with historical marker dedications put on by the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project. 

Scheinfeld focuses on photography primarily during the day, documenting the former sites of the Borscht Belt, while Jeffreys conducts his photography work during the nighttime hours.

“These images serve as a homage to a prosperous and vibrant era. If people see them as somber, I will hope that one could shift their perspective and find the beauty in the melancholia,” said Jeffreys.

The Borscht Belt, Historical Marker Project, is more than just a quest for markers. It encompasses a diverse range of initiatives, from a self-guided audio-driving tour app to engaging public programs, including film screenings, literary events, and musical performances. 

By weaving these elements together, the project seeks to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience for visitors, fostering a deeper understanding of the Borscht Belt’s legacy and aims to keep its memory alive for future generations.