tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post7957472564785690398..comments2024-03-28T14:55:27.949+02:00Comments on My Right Word: Unity House: A Bit of Personal HistoryYMedadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333122797414935958noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-75897383852242680222023-06-28T03:47:13.986+03:002023-06-28T03:47:13.986+03:00I was athletic director from 1978-1981.
We all kne...I was athletic director from 1978-1981.<br />We all knew thwarted end was coming but a great experience.<br />I loved Saul Gold hr was a great man.<br />Bill BerkowitzBill berkowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170831507685150664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-2687370458176874162023-05-10T15:54:46.896+03:002023-05-10T15:54:46.896+03:00Very interesting posts about Unity House.
I worked...Very interesting posts about Unity House.<br />I worked there on the lake as a lifeguard in the summers of 1962 and 1963. J.J. Crown was the waterfron director.<br />In the middle of the '63 summer, I moved from the waterfront to the dining room and became a busboy, and later a waiter.<br />From "63 through '66, I worked each summer at Unity House.<br />Tips were great. They paid for my spending money for an entire year of college.<br />As someone wrote, there was a high-level basketball game every Wednesday night. It was entertainment for the guests. I was on the team. Most of the players played varsity basketball for their universities. Ike announced the games. The Unity House orchestra played at halftime of the games. <br />In the theatre, there were movies twice a week and shows on Saturday night (singer, dancer, comedian). <br />The male workers lived in a long building known as the "bowling alley."<br />The women workers, also college students, live in a separate building.<br />Great friendships were made among the staff, most of which were studying for college degrees and graduate degrees.<br />Saul Gold was the manager. His two children, Norman and Marcia, were close friends of mine and I wish I could contact them.<br />Untiy House was a remarkable place and experience. <br />Many fond memories of that place and the people I worked with there.Joe Simonettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02014885140431457860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-36115504898283933442022-08-22T17:10:54.805+03:002022-08-22T17:10:54.805+03:00I am interested. I am working on the site for the ...I am interested. I am working on the site for the new owners of the Amphitheater and any photos would be appreciated. I am trying to put together a photo display of the history. Greatgo@gmail.com us my emailAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-73577846082650063412021-08-13T05:37:18.813+03:002021-08-13T05:37:18.813+03:00I hung out at the lake a lo my with my friends and...I hung out at the lake a lo my with my friends and was there in 68. Would love to connect. Email me at wchabon@ aol.com<br />Have pictures to share<br />WSWendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16699404249686346675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-57659961115032032512021-07-23T20:19:18.366+03:002021-07-23T20:19:18.366+03:00My name is Melina Figueroa and I live in Mexico Ci...My name is Melina Figueroa and I live in Mexico City. I am working on a project related to the murals painted by Diego Rivera entitled Portrait of America which were in exhibition at Unity House at Forest Park Penn. These 13 murals were destroyed during the 1969 fire of Unity House. I am trying to reach out to some one who might have COLOR pictures of the murals that I might use for my project. I would greatly appreciate any help regarding this matter.<br />I can be reached at melina.fisa@gmail.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137436582495711200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-715539815886103032021-07-10T16:10:17.393+03:002021-07-10T16:10:17.393+03:00I went to Unity House for two weeks one summer in ...I went to Unity House for two weeks one summer in 68 and had the most amazing time--I was 16 and had my first kiss :):) I just happened to find some old pictures of Roy, Richie the waiter and a few others.<br />Roy the lifeguard was just a sweetheart-please email me if you see this.My best buddy Harriet had her first kiss the same day; Richie G-<br />the memories of our youth are so precious.<br />I have been reading these posts and articles of what happened to this amazing place. It is so sad.<br />I can be reached at wmrobins1951@gmail.com<br />Wendy SAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14941576356553437585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-26381739880846990592021-05-31T18:54:03.700+03:002021-05-31T18:54:03.700+03:00I was a teenager from Brooklyn and my two Aunts ha...I was a teenager from Brooklyn and my two Aunts had promised to take us to the Unity House. It was 1976, I had the greatest time with my big Italian family. The laughter and the memories were the best I ever had. I only wish I had more time to spend there. I met an amazing man named Ed Rossani who worked there. We spent time together and he gave me the most amazing kiss I've ever had in my life. I never forgot him and I only wish I had taken his number when he left it in a matchbook on the bar the day I left. I don't know where to find him or if he is still working or even alive, but I want to thank him for the most beautiful memory by the lake. He even talked Italian and he and my mother with the Italian comments back and forth. Thank you Ed! I only hope this gets to you someday. Thank you Unity House for being a big part of my young years. We went back with more family in 1979; but Ed no longer worked there. Again, another fabulous vacation! I miss going there to this day. There is something about those resorts that are missed by many of us. Again, Ed if you ever read this, or someone knows him please let him know. LMF7160@aol.comLinda Maniscalconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-83590561684909070142021-03-18T07:00:58.783+02:002021-03-18T07:00:58.783+02:00Unity House has been sold in 2020 for $2.1 million...Unity House has been sold in 2020 for $2.1 million<br />This info can be verified in state filings<br />My question is: Casino, Housing, Hotel all possible. Info should be coming soon of intended use.<br />Anything is possible. Cost would probably be 100 million but that's not unreasonable depending what its going to be<br />Main building and theatre are Brick and steel probably easiest to restore. Other buildings probably be bulldozed <br />Sad to see this demise. On the other hand whatever form Unity House now takes it will always be Unity House to tens of thousands of people that visited there over the years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-34400330251421041732021-03-15T05:53:27.037+02:002021-03-15T05:53:27.037+02:00I came across this site by accident and it quickly...I came across this site by accident and it quickly brought back memories<br />Dining room occupancy was 1200 people a week during the summer. I was a waiter back in the 70's and it was superb<br />I remember working hard but enjoying it. The I.L.G.W.U. ran the hotel with the true care about its members. There was shows, movies, parties from the union locals as well as hay rides for the kids<br />The prices for union members was cheap! considering three meals a day entertainment. parties and beautiful surroundings<br />The lake was the best i've ever seen. It was clean full of fish and the guests had boats and swimming at their disposal<br />I also remember the social hall by the lake where dancing lessons and bingo was heard<br />There was also a Pine grove theatre by the lake but I don't remember what they used it for<br />The Salary was small but the tips made up for it, By the end of the summer I was tired but richer<br />Great memories ,,,,,,,,Thanks for reminding me of a great experience<br /><br />Jerry Gruber<br />3/14/21<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-51152849441544089372021-03-14T08:59:23.998+02:002021-03-14T08:59:23.998+02:00Recently was near there so I decided to visit for ...Recently was near there so I decided to visit for memories. <br />Place looks nothing Like it use too. I was sorry I went everything is decaying and run down. How sad it was truly like a nightmare I still can't believe what it looked like compared to the good old days when I was there. <br />The GroundsKeeper said that the State employed him so I guess they own the property now???<br /><br />In any case I want to remember it for the Summer get-way-way that it was.....SPECTACULAR<br /><br /><br />Henry WAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-71510540064769704682021-03-14T07:40:18.692+02:002021-03-14T07:40:18.692+02:00What a Great Place I worked in the theatre with Bi...What a Great Place I worked in the theatre with Bill Marlatt(a master creator)<br />Shows Tues, Sat, Movies Monday and Friday Wednesday a basketball game on the shuffleboard court and Sunday Square dancing with Piote Pete<br />The lake was terrific. Ike weissberger, social director kept everybody occupied. The meals were better than on a cruise ship. I remember people ordering three different main courses and nobody said a word, Nobody left the Unity House without gaining 10 pounds<br />During the years we saw many famous politicians and Union leaders<br />after the fire the main building was rebuilt at a cost of $5 million dollars<br />modern and sleek with a dining room , bar ,snack bar etc. While it was better it just wasn't like the old Dining Room<br />The lake was a fantasy in itself. Boating Swimming Canoeing Paddle Boats a Diving Board and great Life Guards keeping everyone safe<br />Towards the end they built a 9 hole golf course and added other new things<br />How sad the last few years were as the Union members decreased as did the Unity House Occupancy till finally they closed.<br />So many good people worked there not really for the money but for the experience it was like a vacation more than a job<br />Thanks to everybody that posted on this forum for reminding me of the great years at the Unity House<br /><br />J.M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-75635082379618361542020-08-07T09:26:52.124+03:002020-08-07T09:26:52.124+03:00My parents brought us to Unity House a number of t...My parents brought us to Unity House a number of times when we were young. We went back a number of times as I grew up in the '40s and early "50s. My parents alternated between there and nearby Taminent. Unity House was a Labor Movement Resort... In the front lobby, was Diego Rivera's huge mural depicting the labor movement and labor radicalism. I remember staying in a small cabin in the woods not far from the pool and lake. It had it's own fireplace ( somewhere there is a photo of my mom reading "King Arthur" to us in front of the fire.) I remember having a crush on the lifeguard (when I was 7 or 8 ) and walking around the woods collecting ferns and flowers to deliver to his cabin. There was a camp set up for the kids so the only time we really spent with our parents was at dinner. I do remember my dad lifting me up to sit on a metal statue of a fawn in the woods. It was still there about 40 years later when I brought my husband there to see where I had grown up. The resort was closed, but the statue was still there along with about a dozen other statues of deer. As I started to tell my husband how amazing it was to see all of those statues in a closed resort, all but that one little fawn stampeded out of sight. It was truly amazing. Unity House was a real escape from the big city (Philly in our case) and a true vacation for all of us and a wonderful memory to reflect upon. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049009387777845527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-737999738612847142020-08-03T08:10:42.768+03:002020-08-03T08:10:42.768+03:00Worked the switchboard one summer in the mid eight...Worked the switchboard one summer in the mid eighties...amazing place so much fun. Mr Bolger was the manager at that time. Amazing meals from the chef. Loved the lake and the Coco Loco Lounge. Remember Mr. Kulick leading Bocce Ball in the lobby on rainy days.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06367760053982443155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-79263426695864539992020-01-30T01:29:28.982+02:002020-01-30T01:29:28.982+02:00Worked for Mr Kurt the summers of 1977-1979.....sa...Worked for Mr Kurt the summers of 1977-1979.....saved enough money so that I didn't have to work during college. Worked for tips.....Salary was three meals a day and a place to stay ( lovely non-air-conditioned dorms with shared showers. .....) ....had a blast with the guys in the kitchen, if you knew how to treat them right, you wouldn't have to stand in those long lines.Still keep in touch with one girl that I worked with...looking to hear from anyone else?Julsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-21429604874667466432019-09-08T00:35:20.743+03:002019-09-08T00:35:20.743+03:00To Fran,
I was the lifeguard in '68 who went o...To Fran,<br />I was the lifeguard in '68 who went out with the girl from Bloomsburg her name was Ruth. There were other girls; lee & Suzie, who worked in the office as well. Do remember any of the lifeguards: Mike, Roy and Ivan?Ronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-66797530435888429902019-06-04T04:06:31.543+03:002019-06-04T04:06:31.543+03:00Just stumbled upon this. I too worked as a waiter ...Just stumbled upon this. I too worked as a waiter in the summer of 83. You can reach me at 443-691-5966Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01007973734217885025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-33135770615507440812019-03-21T20:39:58.040+02:002019-03-21T20:39:58.040+02:00The Diega Murals were not on a upper level and we ...The Diega Murals were not on a upper level and we saw them all the time in the main lobby off the dining room. That fire picture is from the 30's not the later one, no one was around when the administration building burned down in the winter. I spent 13 years, all summer from 1937 to 1948 and worked there in 1955. My dad was manager of Knit Goods Union Local 190 in Phila., Joseph Schwartz.<br />I dream of Unity and it my favorite place in the world and had best best childhood ever.<br />Judy Schwartz Filipkowski<br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454887023579908416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-57114139169326080332019-01-22T19:07:53.771+02:002019-01-22T19:07:53.771+02:00I worked as a cashier in the main building at Unit...I worked as a cashier in the main building at Unity House in the summer of 1968. I remember the mural showing the history of the laboir movement. Wait staff lived in a dormitory building. Office staff lived in small cottages. Wages were terrible . We got one day off per week. I recall classes given to guests on all sorts of.cultural topics. I enjoyed the one on opera music.Stellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03207809278691250854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-8151956401590696252018-12-29T01:35:15.026+02:002018-12-29T01:35:15.026+02:00Worked as a waiter there in summer of 83 for Mr. K...Worked as a waiter there in summer of 83 for Mr. Kurt, the maitre 'd. Interested in hearing from anyone else whonworked there at that time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01007973734217885025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-89533866946472538112018-08-02T06:06:29.882+03:002018-08-02T06:06:29.882+03:00Loved that place and still don't understand th...Loved that place and still don't understand the lead paint thing. All buildings were painted with lead paint and are still being used.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975624387231772761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-91719962894652561182018-08-02T06:03:06.652+03:002018-08-02T06:03:06.652+03:00I worked at the day camp during that time and ther...I worked at the day camp during that time and there was no Bill Friedman. I renember a counsellor named Bob. Head counsellors were Riva Sklarin and her husband.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975624387231772761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-56062859972450599722018-08-02T05:37:17.640+03:002018-08-02T05:37:17.640+03:00Loved that place!!Loved that place!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975624387231772761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-27952035275374777152018-08-02T05:32:54.991+03:002018-08-02T05:32:54.991+03:00I understand that it cannot be restored because of...I understand that it cannot be restored because of all the lead paint. This doesn't make much sense since so many places were painted with lead paint and still exist. I've had no luck finding out who owns the property now. It is guarded by people on ATVs who are possibly armed. The only thing you can take is pictures.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975624387231772761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-40377892889253594132018-04-06T22:39:27.458+03:002018-04-06T22:39:27.458+03:00My dad, Fred Siems, worked for the ILG as a young...My dad, Fred Siems, worked for the ILG as a young man until retirement. Duing his career he went from Regional Manager In Fall River, Ma to Central States Regional Director to Exceutive Vice President. Obvuisly we spent many vacations at Unity House. My first year in college I worked in the Day Camp 1959 and then in the dinning room until 1963, When I married I introduced my husband to Unity House and he learned to love it as much as I. Our sons also spent many a vacation there and worked as waiters in the late 1980's. Took a ride down memory lane several years ago and was heart broken to see what has happened. It will always have a place in my heart.<br />Barbara-ann McKinneyBarbara-ann McKinneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18000838447766232609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7014209.post-78099701185046613942016-05-19T23:10:24.297+03:002016-05-19T23:10:24.297+03:00I worked in the office during the summer of 1968; ...I worked in the office during the summer of 1968; Saul Gold was the manager and Faye and Jack Golden were the office managers. I was 19 years old and took long walks with Faye every morning down the road from the resort. I was a Univ of Pittsburgh student looking for summer employment and arrived at the resort in early April. There were no guests there yet, but the Goldens took me in anyway and trained me to work in the office. They were so very nice. I always wondered what happened to them. I did not go back for a second summer since I lived far away in the Pittsburgh, Pa area. I made a lot of friends among the kids who also worked in the Unity House office. Sadly, I did not keep up with those friends as I returned to college life and dont know where they are today. I can remember that one girl was from Blomsburg Pa. I am sure I knew the lifeguard in1968 since that is when I was there, but I do not recall any name at this point.Frannoreply@blogger.com