My sister just found these photos in an old album … one shows the main building of our family’s hotel in the Catskills, the other my grandparents behind the front desk.
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Eileen has started a PODCAST! Check it out HERE
Eileen’s new essay collection, Maybe It’s Me, appeared on January 25, 2022. Publisher’s Weekly and LitHub heralded the launch as one of their most anticipated books of the month; the book received rave reviews from PW, Kirkus, and the Forward.
Eileen will be talking about the book with Cheryl Pearl Sucher, via McNally Jackson Bookstore, on, January 27, at 7 PM.
Eileen will be reading in NYC on July 25, 2022, at 8p, as part of the Scribblers on the Roof series at Ansche Chesed, 251 W 100th St … and yes, the event takes place on the roof! She will be appearing with her friend and former colleague, the brilliant Yiddish scholar Anita Norich.
Eileen also will be reading (and selling copies of her books) August 13, at the Watertown Arts Market in Arsenal Park in her new hometown, Watertown, MA. The art fair takes place between noon and 5 PM … Eileen’s (brief) reading will begin at 1 PM, after which she will emcee the readings by her fellow Watertown writers.
Eileen is excited to be appearing at the RANCHO MIRAGE LITERARY FESTIVAL (CA) February 2023, where she will be interviewed by Patt Morrison of the Los Angeles Times. Details at http://www.rmwritersfest.org/writers/
First chapter of “Tbe Only Woman in the Eoom” noted that your parents owned a hotel in the Catskills. I used your book as one of many, for a course I taught several years ago on “Women and Science.” They had asked for a course on women IN science, but that would have missed a very large fraction of the story, of course.
The situation you describe in the book is only slightly improved since your undergrad days, as you know.
Back in the day, as chair of Ohio State’s physics department, I managed to hire the first two women on OSU’s faculty. Both gained tenure and went on to some fame in physics. But it was another 17 years before a third woman joined uhe department…
Anyway, I started re-reading your book today, and noted your family’s Catskill connection, looked it up, and, although I didn’t stay at Pollock’s, I had spent time durin several summers in my high school days in the Catskills (at Hy-Sa-na Lodge,” and felt a touch of nostalgia.
I know you managed to recover from your own unhappy experiences in that lonely “room,” but I still think physic is much poorer because of all the talent and energy we still miss because of our excusionary mindset.
Be well, and thanks for writing that fine expose!
Sincerely,
Les Blatt.
Professor and dean emeritus of phyzics and education.
Clark University, Worcester, Massachutts
Thanks, Les! Your response to my book is much appreciated, as is your work on behalf of women in physics.
Eileen
PS I knew Hy-Sa-Na Lodge well!
Those were the days! A week in the Catskills was an interesting diversion, even at a small place like Hy-Sa-Na. Back in 1972, my wife and I (she had never had the Catskill experience at all in her younger days) suggested that we meet my parents there for nostalgia’s sake. The parents had been kid-sitting with our three sons while we were attending a Gordon Conference, so we had three generations there. My dad met us as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, and he said, “It’s full of old people!” (He was in his early 70’s at the time,) The kids wanted to try the mountainside pool (brrr!!!), and the few other guests who were there all commented how nice it was — “We should bring OUR grandchildren next time!” But it was clearly the twilight of that cultural era.
Anyway, the hurdles for more women in physics (and more people of color, and most other still-not-included people still largely remain. My kind of small attempt is replicated on a fairly wide scale, but physics seems to be one of the most resistant fields. I find that most depressing. Your book is on the leading edge of informing the wider community of this situation; a number of other good books have been coming out recently. But it will be a long haul, sad to say.
Thanks for taking the time to read my comment, and continued success in your writing, which I, now, have to catch up on myself!!
Les
I barely remember the hotel – as I have evaluated staying there with family at least once circa 1967 what was the location exactly
I plan to take a ride to the Catskills and would like to visit the site
Paul–
The hotel was located on Swan Lake Road (Rte 55), between Walnut Mountain Road and the Ferndale-Loomis Road. There’s an Orthodox Jewish girls’ camp on the site now, Camp Gila. Pretty depressing, but I hope you enjoy your visit!
Eileen
I was a saxophonist in the 4 piece band at Pollacks. Wonderful experience. Was there for 2 years because we had a good sound and could read music the acts brought with them. Not a pretty place but clean and great food. Band ate meals with the guests in the main dining room. Waiters were all medical students and were well mannered.
Town of Loch Sheldrake very close and about one mile from
Brown’s Hotel. Wonderful memories.
Thanks for the kind words, Fred. Glad to hear my grandparents allowed the band to eat in the main dining room!