Reminiscing

A childhood friend sent me a message on Facebook yesterday asking about an old resort our families used to go to in the 1970s in the Catskills.  It was the Colonial Manor in Greenville, NY.

This postcard shows the main house in 1960

Unlike the ubiquitous resorts found in the Borscht Belt of Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties, this one was located in Greene County, closer to Albany.  While there were a few resorts in this area, they were much smaller and quieter than the more pretentious sort found farther to the south.  No famous comedians, no salsa lessons.  We did have silly game nights after dinner.  One of the more memorable ones was playing chess with figures that were almost as big as me.  I remember enjoying the pool and playing with the other children while the adults did who-knows-what.  The highlight for me was going to one of the local dude ranches to go horseback riding.  As I was so tiny, I got stuck sitting in the saddle with the trail leader while my much older brother got to enjoy his own horse to ride.

It was a much simpler time back then.  You only had to drive a couple of hours north to find some peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

Due to the decline of the Catskills as a resort area, the Manor shut its doors in the 1980s.  Since then, it has been a series of religious retreats.  When I last checked, the main house was still there but painted blue.  The old rooms are still used as well.  I will never go back as I do not want those memories to be altered in any way.  Sometimes, though, I wish I could go back to the simplicity of that period.

Then again, it would suck without the internet...