The Local Edition

The Borscht Belt legacy reflects a blend of cultures from across New York that came together in the Hudson Valley and Catskills resort regions. While the Borscht Belt is often associated with Jewish culture, Las Villas highlights the Hispanic and Latino presence in Ulster County and the Catskills.

Ish Martinez, a historian of Hispanic resorts in the Hudson Valley and author of Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County, is hosting an event in partnership with the Borscht Belt Museum. The event will take place Sunday, June 14, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Martinez was born in the Bronx and is of Puerto Rican heritage. He grew up in Plattekill, where his parents owned a villa called the Sunny Acres Hotel. Because his family owned the villa, he spent part of his childhood working in the industry and developed deep knowledge of this era.

Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County traces the region’s history from its earliest settlement in 1652 to its rise as a popular vacation destination in the 19th century. The book explores how Plattekill and the Catskill Mountains became a destination for Latinos in the Northeast, with music, food, language and customs shaping the resorts’ culture.

For more information about the June 14 event and to buy tickets, visit the Borscht Belt Museum website.

One of the most glorious depictions of the Catskill landscape is 200 years old this year. Kaaterskill Falls on the Catskill Mountains, Taken Under the Cavern is a painting by Irish-American artist William Guy Wall. As one of the contemporaries of Thomas Cole, Wall was inspired by the romantic landscapes that made Cole so prolific in the early to mid 19th century. Wall studied under Thomas Cole who founded the Hudson River School. Both artists are known for their dramatic scenes of northeast nature on canvas. Their oil paintings brought a sense of grandeur back towards the great outdoors when the industrial revolution was taking shape in the big cities. 

We spoke with Jessie about what the watersheds in the Catskills need to survive and even thrive. We also spoke about the element of play and how anyone can get involved with Trout Unlimiteds conservation efforts.