The South Haven Jewish Resort Oral History Project is a dedicated initiative aimed at preserving the vibrant history of the Jewish resorts in South Haven, Michigan. Known for its picturesque beaches and welcoming atmosphere, South Haven became a cherished vacation destination for Jewish families from the early 20th century through the mid-1970s. This project captured and documented the personal stories, experiences, and memories of those who worked at or owned Jewish resorts in South Haven.
The interviews with former employees, resort owners, and their children, weaved together a narrative highlighting the cultural, social, and economic impact of the Jewish resorts on the local community. These oral histories offer an invaluable insight into the traditions, challenges, and joys that characterized life at the resorts. The oral histories were conducted by the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and used to create a video for a temporary exhibit that was featured at the Museum in the mid-1990s.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum's South Haven Jewish Resort Oral History Project is made available through the Western Michigan University's Presidential Innovation Professorship program sponsored project "Capturing Kalamazoo - Creating a Community-Driven Archives Initiative with the Society for History and Racial Equity (SHARE)". The project aims to capture, preserve and uplift underrepresented voices in our community, and we thank the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for contributing their collections to the initiative.
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Interview with Sheila Fidelman, Part 1 of 3
Sheila Fidelman
Part 1 of a 3 part interview with Sheila Fidelman recorded on August 10, 1995 in South Haven, Michigan. Originally recorded by Monadnock Media for a Kalamazoo Valley Museum exhibit on Jewish resorts in South Haven. Sheila Fidelman, last owner of Fidelman's Resort, established in 1911, recounts her memories of the resort, including:
- after graduating high school, working for her father's restaurant;
- vacationing in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she met her husband, Irving Fidelman;
- returning with Irving to South Haven, Michigan;
- her first impressions of seeing the Fidelman's Resort;
- adjusting to a rural environment as a city girl;
- initiation to resort life and work;
- Saturday nights out at South Haven's City Grocery; and
- finding her footing at the resort through her love of people and her love of entertaining, which she shared with Irving, who was also a singer and entertainer.
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Interview with Sheila Fidelman, Part 3 of 3
Sheila Fidelman
Part 3 of a 3 part interview with Sheila Fidelman (1924-2008) recorded on August 10, 1995 in South Haven, Michigan. Originally recorded by Monadnock Media for a Kalamazoo Valley Museum exhibit on Jewish resorts in South Haven. Sheila Fidelman, last owner of Fidelman's Resort, established in 1911, recounts her memories of the resort, including:
- resort guests, who were like family;
- entertainment and activities for guests;
- evening dances, floor shows, storytelling, and midnight snacks;
- dress dinners with quality musicians;
- the extensive buffets, salad bars, and pastries;
- interior design of the guest rooms and Mai Kai Lounge;
- financial strains on an independent resort;
- loss of a building to a devastating fire on Christmas Day, 1981;
- selling the resort.