Ellenville in Ulster County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Borscht Belt - Ellenville

Photographed by Jerry Klinger, 2025

1. Borscht Belt - Ellenville Marker

Inscription.

Borscht Belt - Ellenville. . , An eastern gateway to the Borscht Belt, Ellenville has attracted visitors since the 19th century. In 1901, the Slutsky family opened the Nevele and Fallsview hotels. Both offered a picturesque valley setting, waterfall, and extensive amenities. The Nevele’s distinctive 10-story tower, skating rink and bas-relief sculpture represent the modernist architecture movement of the mid-20th century. , At its peak in the 1950s, Ellenville had 20 bungalow colonies and 29 hotels such as Jans, Kleinman’s, Sun Ray, Zisselman’s, Arrowhead Lodge, Breeze Lawn Hotel, Echo Hotel, and Melbourne Hotel. It was also home to Mount Cathalia, a Chinese American ski resort. , , In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson, the only sitting president to visit the Catskills, dedicated a hospital in Ellenville with Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Both stayed at The Nevele. , Stand-up comedy originated in the Borscht Belt. Comedians such as Lenny Bruce, Red Buttons, Rodney Dangerfield, Phyllis Diller, Gilbert Gottfried, Susie Essman, Shecky Greene, Mal Z. Lawrence, Bill Maher, Jackie Mason, Marilyn Michaels and countless others performed here. , Side 2, From the 1920s through the early 1970s, the Borscht Belt was the preeminent summer resort destination for hundreds of thousands of predominantly East Coast American Jews. The exclusion of the Jewish community from existing establishments in the 1920s drove Jewish entrepreneurs to create over 500 resorts, 50,000 bungalows, and 1,000 rooming houses in Sullivan County and parts of Ulster County. The Borscht Belt provided a sense of community for working and vacationing Jews. The era exerted a strong influence on American culture, particularly in the realm of entertainment, music, and sports. Some of the most well-known and influential people of the 20th century worked and vacationed in the areas. Beginning around 1960, the Borscht Belt began a gradual demise due to many factors, including the growth of suburbia, inexpensive airfare, and generational changes.

An eastern gateway to the Borscht Belt, Ellenville has attracted visitors since the 19th century. In 1901, the Slutsky family opened the Nevele and Fallsview hotels. Both offered a picturesque valley setting, waterfall, and extensive amenities. The Nevele’s distinctive 10-story tower, skating rink and bas-relief sculpture represent the modernist architecture movement of the mid-20th century.

At its peak in the 1950s, Ellenville had 20 bungalow colonies and 29 hotels such as Jans, Kleinman’s, Sun Ray, Zisselman’s, Arrowhead Lodge, Breeze Lawn Hotel, Echo Hotel, and Melbourne Hotel. It was also home to Mount Cathalia, a Chinese American ski resort.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson, the only sitting president to visit the Catskills, dedicated a hospital in Ellenville with Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Both stayed at The Nevele.

Stand-up comedy originated in the Borscht Belt. Comedians such as Lenny Bruce, Red Buttons, Rodney Dangerfield, Phyllis Diller, Gilbert Gottfried, Susie Essman, Shecky Greene, Mal Z. Lawrence, Bill Maher, Jackie Mason, Marilyn Michaels and countless others performed here.

Side 2

From the 1920s through the early 1970s, the Borscht Belt was the preeminent summer resort destination for hundreds of thousands of predominantly East Coast American Jews. The

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exclusion of the Jewish community from existing establishments in the 1920s drove Jewish entrepreneurs to create over 500 resorts, 50,000 bungalows, and 1,000 rooming houses in Sullivan County and parts of Ulster County. The Borscht Belt provided a sense of community for working and vacationing Jews. The era exerted a strong influence on American culture, particularly in the realm of entertainment, music, and sports. Some of the most well-known and influential people of the 20th century worked and vacationed in the areas. Beginning around 1960, the Borscht Belt began a gradual demise due to many factors, including the growth of suburbia, inexpensive airfare, and generational changes.

Erected 2025 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project, Sullivan County Historian.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project, and the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. series lists.

Location. 41° 43.087′ N, 74° 23.858′ W. Marker is in Ellenville, New York, in Ulster County. It is at the intersection of

Photographed by Marisa Scheinfeld, May 24, 2025

2. Borscht Belt - Ellenville Marker

Center Street and Childs Street, on the left when traveling east on Center Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ellenville NY 12428, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Hudson Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Glassworks Site (approx. half a mile away); Fantinekill Massacre Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Frank B. Hoornbeek (approx. one mile away); DeWitt House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Delaware and Hudson Canal (approx. 2.2 miles away); Abram Bevier (approx. 2.3 miles away); Napanoch Station (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellenville.

More about this marker. The marker is on the grounds of the Ellenville Public Library.

Also see . . .
1. Borscht Belt - Ellenville. From comments by Marisa Scheinfeld: "In the Catskills, people gathered, ate, and laughed a lot. But the laughter wasn’t just entertainment; it was cathartic, therapeutic, and it was connection. Comedians in the Borscht Belt didn’t fly in from Hollywood, many came in through the kitchen. Comedy wasn’t imported - it grew naturally. These weren’t polished acts. They were fast-talking, raw, brutally honest and self-deprecating jokes about relationships, overbearing mothers, the weather, food, and everyday observations. A waiter named might crack a joke between courses, before

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being hired as a tummler who could entertain a room with comic accents and high energy. He later took that charm to Broadway, and eventually to the big screen in Disney films like The Love Bug and The Little Mermaid. That was Buddy Hackett—whose daughter, Lisa, is here with us today." (Submitted on May 27, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)

2. New Catskill Historical Trail Rekindles Glory Days Of The Borscht Belt.

A sense of belonging

During the first half of the 20th century, rampant anti-antisemitism in the hospitality industry limited access of Jewish people to many vacation spots.

The Catskills was a place where working, middle and upper-middle-class Jews could escape the heat of steamy tenements (before air conditioning) and enjoy nature and the fresh air.

Not only did they find acceptance here but also a true sense of community with people who shared a common culture. Yiddish was often spoken and 95 percent of the hotel kitchens were kosher.

(Submitted on May 27, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 375 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.