How to Post

I am hearing that some of you would really like to post Comments to this site but aren't completely sure how to go about it. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it and I am sure everyone would enjoy reading your thoughts and recollections as much as they did on the original Mountaindale Living History site. Thanks to all of you, we now have visitors from all around the world again! Here's how you Post. If you wish to comment on a particular story, scroll down to the word "Comments" at the bottom of each entry. When you click it, a 'Post a Comment' box opens. Log in and then type your Comments inside the box. Then, all you have to do is click the Post a Comment button & we do the rest. If you'd like to create an entirely new story, please email it to me at news@mountaindaleproject.org and then I will post all suitable material along with any additional photos you care to submit. And that's all there is to it! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

O&W Unstoppable Moment

In 2000, Bert Basner posted a great O&W story about when his dad, Harry Basner of Majestic Road in Mountaindale, was the creamery manager and an O&W 'Unstoppable Moment' was anticipated.
It was about the year 1926, on a Saturday in the summer time as two passenger trains of the O & W were going north through Mountaindale when the dispatcher got an urgent call. The message said that on a northbound freight train heading towards South Fallsburg, two coal hopper cars loaded with coal had broken loose from their coupling and were rolling backward on the north bound track. It was imperative that they be diverted from the northbound track. A quick check of the area showed that there was a short spur running to the Woodridge creamery. They called the creamery manager, Harry Basner, and told him to evacuate the building as the two freight cars would be shunted to the tracks of his building. A switchman rushed down and diverted the northbound tracks to the creamery siding. Many of the residents went to sit on the grass opposite the creamery. I think these were the Sussmans, Monroe Davis, the Langers, the Gordans, the Beckers, and lots of us kids. The two runaway cars roared down the tracks, hit the switched rails at high speed and turned over. We kids got our pails and began to load free coal.

Half & Half Cookies

Phil Padrid remembers the black & white cookies that were just like the ones on Seinfeld once upon a time. Not a story so much as a memory of the black and white, also known as half and half, cookies. They were sold in the bakery in town. We had a summer house in Community Park on the main road between Mountaindale and Woodridge. I remember vividly being so excited about going "into town to play pinball and get a half and half cookie. I also remember the pizza at crossways, so I guess my memories are all food based. Anyone else remember these things?

G&S & Crystal Bungalows

Gina Groia remembers G & S and Crystal Bungalows and all the favorite kids' hang outs of yesteryear.

There were two bungalow i was lucky to be a part of. Crystal and G & S..........first Crystal, i remember that creepy gut that no one ever know who lived outside the bungalow colony. We used to walk down the road & only go so far and turn around, remember the little grocery store by the pool, recently went by how sad & run down, but the phone booth is still there....lol Remember when Uncle Billy would get all the kids together & march thru the cemetery. Also at G & S, Paula I lived in Monroe projects too......and have lots of memories of the bungalow colony. Remember Sarah....who could forget the fun. the pool, casino, movie nite, Sat nite for the "grown-ups" the kids tried to sneek in, bingo nite. How about going to Sol's in Woodridge for ice cream, or Poppins in South Fallsburg for breakfast. And who can forget "The Falls" by Crossroads....thanks for the memories

Rosenblums in Spring Glen

Jerry Jacobs came to re-visit his childhood in 2005. From my Main Street office, I often see visitors slowly cruising, trying to find a bit of their sweet past & we frequently chat about the "good old days" they remember.

yes i too remember rosenblums in spring glen. my family had a bungalow there from 1963-66. i have many fond memories. just yesterday i headed up to utica to drop my son off at camp. on the way home i saw a sign, ellenville, so i got off and 30 min later i'm in spring glen looking for something i have not seen in 40 years, or since i was 6. but when i passed the homowack hotel i knew i was close. i turned around pulled in to a colony and started placing all the buildings/people in my mind. when i was 80% sure this was the place i turned the car around to go home this woman seemed to appear out of thin air (sounds like bull, right?) i stop the car and tell her what i'm looking for, she asks my name pauses then smiles and says "you're home." remembers me and my family asks who i remember. we start going over who's alive and who's not. she tells me she's the only one left from that era. they went co-op in the 70s. she's putting me on a list to buy one. running out of room now. if you want please comment with thoughts, answers etc. it was great being in the place i spent my childhood. the place looks the same.

Adelmans Grocery

Here is a short re-post from Sybil Adelman In the early 50's, I spent a summer in Mountaindale with my parents, who rented and ran a grocery store for the summer months. There was someone I remember being identified as "the hermit" across the street. I wonder if anyone remembers the store or the Adelmans.

Main Street Mountaindale Businesses

Frances Black was Tillie Trustman's Grandaughter and her vivid recollections of the Main Street business district in Mountaindale totally cracks me up every time I read it. Enjoy & see if you remember the same things!

So many people have mentioned the Bakery in Mountaindale. My memory is just a scrumptious as others. My grandmother would make the most wonderful sugar cookies and always have them there when I visited, but she would also give me quarter to go to the bakery. I loved the butter cookies with colored sprinkles. I think I could buy about 4 of them. And it smelled so WONDERFUL. Not such a wonderful smell was Katz's Fish store. I remember very well Benny Katz. He scared me. Maybe because he told me (and my family played right along) that he was going to take me to live with him in New York or maybe because he just smelled like a giant fish of some sort. 1980 Painting by local artist Shelley Blum

Then there was Jake Berkowitz. Anyone remember him. He owned a variety/junk store that had shelves upon shelves stocked with all kind of junk, practically falling off of the shelves. Stuff that hadn't been touched in years. He dressed like a homeless person, but I hear he had lots of money stashed away. Not to insult any living family members, but Jake used to go in the alley by his store and fart. My brothers and I had many laughs over this one and when we went by the store, they would always make farting noises. I had been to Woodstock and was eagerly awaiting the Rockfest to come to the area. My grandmother, Tillie Trustman, owned a fruit and vegetable store in Mountaindale and I planned to live with her and help her in the store for the summer (since I was having difficulty living at home at the time.) The fest was cancelled and I was very dissapointed. Went to work in Manhatten for a temporary agency, instead.

Rashkin's Falls

Neil Primack was another teen I knew in the 60's & 70's & his dad, Abe Primack was a very respected Driver's Ed & Shop teacher. Here's are Neil's recollections of the sweet summer life of Mountaindale.

I grew up in Mountaindale from 1960 to 1977. I have so many stories and memories of exploration, especially with scouting. My fondest memory is scaling the rock cliffs at Rashkins Falls and hanging out on top - long before it was developed by Dave Rashkin. I also have very fond memories of going to Engleman's day camp and making lots of friends at the bungalow colony there. Stickball and movies on the handball court were incredibly fun. The summers were joyful and the blueberry picking was quite fruitful. My dad, Abe Primack was well known as a teacher at Fallsburgh. Thankfully, my entire family is still around and doing pretty well. It's been a few years since I've been back since I recently relocated to Florida. Last time I was there, it was very quite and peaceful. The river along Spring Glen Road is still blasting away and the energy there is still special. My night dreams periodically take me back to Rashkins Falls. I'm convinced it's a power (HU) spot of one sort or another. I'd be receptive to hear from anyone that remembers me.