140 Years Ago - 1885

John Edwards of East Hill has sold his farm to William Miller of New York. Consideration $1800. Mr. Edwards will go to Tioga Co., Pa.

Mrs. Anna S. Miller has sold her farm to John Baum of Beechwoods for a consideration of $1,500.

130 Years Ago - 1895

The little village of Callicoon was thronged by voters Tuesday night. The ice crusher question seems to have been in a great degree responsible for the large attendance at the polls in this town, and it is needless to say that the crusher received a crushing defeat.

Monticello people are complaining about the price of coal being too high at that place – $6 a ton.

Landlord Ludwig of the Mansion House – but don’t say I told you – has a plan for the construction of water works of his own by which he will not have to ask the consent of the town board or anyone else. The idea – and a very bright one, too – is to erect a large reservoir on top of his kitchen to receive all the rain water from the roof of the main building. From the reservoir pipes can be led to every room in the house.

The railroad bridge near Orin Sprague’s on the O&W between Livingston Manor and Rockland was discovered to be on fire one day last week. The neighbors put out the fire and flagged the trains. The bridge was slightly damaged and No. 2 was delayed half an hour.

It is believed that tuberculosis has broken out in a herd of cows near Mountaindale. Two of the animals are dead and two others are nearly so. While others show symptoms similar to those that died. The local veterinarian surgeons are not familiar enough with the disease to diagnose it as tuberculosis, but believe it to be that.

120 Years Ago - 1905

A daughter was born to Balser Fisher and wife of Kenoza Lake last week. A daughter was also born to Adam Ellmauer and wife of East Hill on February 23.

Peter Mootz received the contract for the Jeffersonville-Kenoza Lake-Callicoon Depot mail route for the new term at $495 a year.

Complaint has been made again about a man near Youngsville starving his cattle, and he will probably be hauled up before the authorities for cruelty to animals.

The people along the Delaware River between Narrowsburg and Hancock, it is said, have great fears for the ice break up this spring. Cochecton is in a bad way again this year. The river is jammed full of huge blocks of ice, frozen solidly together, all the way from Narrowsburg to Cochecton, and it will take an immense amount of water to start the jam.

Mrs. Mary Fritz last week sold her farm of forty acres on East Hill to Joseph Grafmuller, a New York chef, for $1050.

That wide awake and influential newspaper The Wayne Independent of Honesdale, is making a strong fight for the abolition of toll bridges over the Delaware and agitates the movement in its every issue.

We have a new industry – an ironing board factory. Carl Kohl, who came home recently from Norwich, and Louis Erdman are the manufacturers, with quarters in the furniture store of the former’s father.

110 Years Ago - 1915

H.E. Babcock, assistant state director of farm bureaus, has been invited to Liberty next week to explain the workings of the organization. Mr. Babcock has been secured with the idea of forming a unit in Sullivan County.

Wm. Bollenbach, musician in the Twenty-ninth Regiment Band, will leave for Culebra Panama, with his regiment, where they will be stationed for an indefinite time.

Chester Yager, one of the leading and most active automobile dealers in this section, will establish automobile showrooms in Jeffersonville, this spring.

The Callicoon Independent Electric Co., which proposed to erect its plant at the site of the Cook creamery near Hortonville, has obtained consent from the Callicoon and Delaware town boards to string its wire and operate in these towns. The new company expects in time to furnish light and power to Callicoon, Hortonville, North Branch, Callicoon Center, Kenoza Lake, Jeffersonville and the immediate territory.

The Liberty Register learns on good authority that a certain organization, consisting of affiliated charitable institutions is endeavoring to establish a large tuberculosis sanitarium in the vicinity of Liberty.

Changes in the election law to meet current requirements are proposed on a bill introduced in the legislature this week. Under this measure, primary districts are made identical with election districts, and the same officers are to conduct both elections. School houses are to be used as polling places.

100 Years Ago - 1925

A son, Donald, was born February 2 to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hess of Hortonville.

The people of Narrowsburg have petitioned for the establishment of a water district there, and contemplates the installation of a water system to cost about $50,000.

On account of the installation of through wires, the New York Telephone Co. announces that after March 1 long distance calls will be handled from Jeffersonville without waiting for connections. Long distance calls are to be made exactly as local calls, the subscriber giving the number to central and holding the line until connected.

Prospects for the completion of Lake Jefferson in this village by the Clarke Water and Power Co. are getting brighter and brighter, and it is confidently expected that work on the dam will be resumed at an early date.

 Yes, we felt the earthquake here at about 9:20 last Saturday night, but it was not reported in the city. Houses here were shaken very perceptibly and various surmises as to the cause were made at the time.

Wm. Deckelman, Val Scheidell and W.J. Grishaber went to New York early this morning to appear in court there as witnesses in a suit brought by Morris Perlstein against Jacob Maslow to recover $25,000 damages alleged to have been sustained in the deal in which Maslow sold Perlstein the Falls Mill House a few years ago. Both litigants are now residents of the city.

90 Years Ago - 1935

A daughter, Marlene Joyce, was born March 2 at the Callicoon Hospital to Walter and Helen Krum Scardefield of Jeffersonville.

A son was born March 6 to Anthony C. and Leona Reichmann Buddenhagen of Hortonville.

The people of Cochecton now feel that the danger of being flooded by the waters of the Delaware River is past for this winter, as the warm weather is rapidly reducing the ice, which was only eight inches in thickness since the last freeze up. There was a time earlier in the winter though when the residents of the lowlands there made preparations to move out when the ice started to dam up below Cochecton, but then passed on.

Andrew Glassel of Beechwoods, who has spent the past five winters in Jeffersonville, where his daughter, Miss Eleanor, teaches school, reached his 90th anniversary on Monday, March 4.

A section of the New York milk control law bought outside the state at prices lower than those quoted within the state was declared invalid on March 4, by the United States Supreme Court. The act prohibited the licensing of New York distributors unless they agree not to purchase low cost milk outside the state.

Max Ordrenzen and Martin Albert of this village, who last September bought a Ford for fifty dollars and drove to California, taking in the Chicago Fair on the way, returned home last Saturday.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Questionnaires on the matter of religious training in the public schools have been sent by the Protestant pastors in the Jeff school district to parents of Protestant children attending the central school. Thus far the majority of replies indicate parents approve of the idea.

Harry P. Mathern has bought the Edward W. Kohler garage building and lot which adjoins the Mathern Truck body plant in the town of Delaware and will use it for his expanding business.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brownstein, who came here from the city twenty-one years ago, bought the property on the corner of Beechwoods Road, known as Delaware Inn, have sold the inn and residence connected with it to James Manzolillo, who about three years ago bought the Henry Theysohn farm in Beechwoods.

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Thomaides, who bought the William Gaebel farm between Jeff and Callicoon Center, received an invitation to attend a ceremony at Mitchell Field, L.I., for the presentation of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the three oak leaf clusters awarded to their son, Lt. Alex Thomaides.

A malady called “black tongue” has taken the lives of a number of dogs in this community. It is said to be curable if treated in time with vitamins.

John W. Murray, who came here from Pearl River about 41 years ago and bought the Bennett Drug store in the Jeffersonville House block and, in 1926, bought a part of the vacant Eagle Hotel lot, of the late W.J. Grishaber and put up a two-story stucco building on it, has sold the building to Theodore Rittershausen, druggist, who bought the Murray Pharmacy stock and business.

70 Years Ago - 1955

In the action of Val Ernst of Youngsville against Rueben Cohen of Jeffersonville for the recovery of labor and material costs, the jury awarded the plaintiff the full amount of his claim, with interest and cost of the action.

Livingston Manor — The annual ball of the Ten-Pin Makers, a get together for employees and other friends of Sherwood’s mill, was held last week at the Arlington Hotel. This year it marked the 50th anniversary of Burr Sherwood’s entry into business.

The residents of Shandelee, lacking a village fire company, have petitioned the town board of Callicoon for fire protection coverage. Immediate action is now being taken by the board for an extended district to include the Shandelee area.

Fred Zieres of the Tegeler Real Estate and Insurance agency, has announced the sale of the residential property, located in Roscoe, owned by Harold and Mary Deighton of Callicoon, to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Colvin. Mr. Colvin is an engineer employed by the City of New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Donofrio (Carol Wadsworth) of Albany are the parents of a girl, Jean, born February 25. Mrs. Donofrio is a daughter of Mrs. Harold Stecker of Kohlertown.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Monticello, March 23 - With a minimum of problems, more than 23,000 telephone customers in Sullivan County, Ellenville and Kerhonkson were given automatic dialing at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

The successful launch, flight and re-entry of the Gemini spacecraft on Tuesday of this week is something of which all of us as Americans can be justly proud.

Harold G. Roeder Jr. of Hortonville presented a graduate recital on Friday, March 19, 1965, in the music auditorium of Ithaca College School of Music. The recital, which was presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music, consisted of selections by Franz Liszt.

James H. Miller, 76, a retired photoengraver, died Wednesday, March 17, at his home in Callicoon Center.

This week marks not only the changeover to the dial system but retirement for three local operators who have more than 85 years of service between them. They are Mrs. Gertrude “Gert” Gettle of Callicoon, who was the chief operator at Callicoon, and Mrs. Emma Lutz and Mrs. Mildred Fisher, both of Hortonville.

 Pea Brook – Peggy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Zurn Jr., had the misfortune to dislocate her elbow joint Monday evening while playing. She was taken to Dr. Rumble who put her arm back in place.

The annual sugar party at the August Andersen farm was well attended. People came from all over.

Attachés of the County Highway Department are running survey lines and doing other field work on the proposed Wolf Lake site for a county airport, according to County Highway Superintendent Jack McGough.

50 years ago - 1975

Mabel and Harold Steffens of North Branch celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on March 23. They are the parents of two daughters, Harriet (Mrs. Howard) Stewart of Callicoon, and Vera Dyer of Pompton Lakes, N.J., who were present to help them celebrate, together with three grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Hilda Lindsley of White Sulphur Springs, Hilda Krantz of the Beechwoods, and Ronnie Winklestern of Kenoza Lake were honored for their 50 years of membership in the Order of the Eastern Star at a regular meeting of Lincoln Chapter, Jeffersonville, on March 13.

Officers of the newly formed Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce are: Stuart S. Brown, steering committee chairman; Robert Ernst, president; Lawrence Smith, treasurer; Selma Ettenberg, vice-president; Barnett Siowitz, secretary; and Richard Yaun, second vice-president.

Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Knack of Callicoon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 22 with a dinner at The Outsider in Hankins. Open house was held at the Knack home on Sunday.

The local insurance firm of Mike Preis, Inc., Narrowsburg, marked its 50th year on March 12 as a representative of the Travelers Insurance Company. The firm originated in 1924 as a partnership between Ludwig G. Gebhart and Norman G. Persbacker. Mr. Preis purchased an interest in the firm in 1952 and the name of the insurance agency was changed to Mike Preis, Inc., in 1962.

Marshall Machinery, Honesdale, Pa., has been selected by the Allis-Chalmers Company - Central Parts Operation, to receive a plaque for Outstanding Industrial Tractor Service Parts Activity during 1974.

Camp DeBruce, the environmental education camp near Livingston Manor, is opening its program for the first time to girls as well as boys, ages 11-13, who will be able to attend and experience the excitement of a week-long program dedicated to learning about the environment.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Students in grade K through 6 of the Delaware Valley Central School participated in a balloon (300) release as part of the national Weekly Reader “Balloon Writing Pals Contest.” A prize of $500 is offered to the school that receives a response for a balloon traveling the farthest distance and 100 free books to runner-up schools.

The New York State Forest Rangers are celebrating 100 years of service. In the Sullivan and part of Orange County region, there are five rangers, working literally around-the-clock. Although they are working an eight-hour shift, they are on call 24-hours a day.

Jody Zalkin of the Liberty Central School has been named a New York winner in the 1985 national Journalism Contest for an essay she wrote entitled “A Boy Named Brian.” In her letter of commendation, Jody was told, “Your entry, ‘A Boy Named Brian,’ in not only well written but also exemplifies the many emotional experiences that a person with a disability confronts throughout their daily lives.” The composition will be forwarded to Washington, D.C., where it will be judged in the National Journalism Competition within the next two months.

The former Hamilton Avenue Hospital has been turned into an alcohol and drug recovery center. Beth Lang, executive director for the Sullivan County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, will oversee the day-to-day operation of the center.

A shamrock-shaped cake was made by Carol Herbert of Pleasant Valley and served at the Billy Moran Scholarship Dinner at the Callicoon Community Center Saturday night. Funds raised at the event will provide for a $1,000 scholarship to be given to a graduating senior at the Delaware Valley Central School.

30 Years Ago - 1995

The communities of Fallsburg and Liberty were in mourning after learning of the deaths of two Fallsburg, 1991 graduates. Elissa Lippen and Matthew Hein died as the result of an early morning fire Saturday in Elissa’s Upper West Side apartment in Manhattan. Ronald “Ron” Francisco, the middle school physical education teacher at Liberty, died after school on Tuesday.

The state DOT has announced plans for a huge rock excavation job just west of Hankins with alternate detours. Protests are being made by the fire companies, ambulance corps and residents in general who see it as a major inconvenience. Input is being sought for a viable solution to the problem.

Twenty-four landscape and water color paintings by Willy Pointer of Callicoon will grace the walls of the Town of Thompson Town Hall. He is the son of Robert and Sandee Pointer, founders of Sullivan County’s Senior Art Program International. He has been painting since childhood.

Al Etkin, director of the Sullivan County Veterans Agency, has been appointed as an accredited representative of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S., it was announced by the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. There are only 13 accredited representatives for the JWV in the United States. He also is a member of the Ruddick Trowbridge Post of the American Legion and the Bailey-Richman Post No. 9588, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Monticello.

Work on the Fern Manor in Kenoza Lake, which was extensively damaged in a fire January 1, is geared for the reopening of the adult residential facility in about six months.

The Third Annual Bald Eagle Family Festival held Saturday at the Eldred Central School, was enhanced by the presence of Bill Streeter of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center and “King Frederick,” a 14-year-old eagle with a wide wing span. Over 400 people attended the event.

Steve Eisenberg of Liberty has been named the new head professional at the Swan Lake Golf and Country Club, formerly a part of the defunct Stevensville Hotel. A 1979 Liberty graduate, he gave up a law career to teach and play golf full time.

20 Years Ago - 2005

Zachary Stuart-Pontier, a native of Narrowsburg, returned to his roots this past weekend to film scenes for his first major film at NYU.

BOCES Superintendent Martin Handler confirmed on Friday that Sullivan County BOCES has approached Sullivan West Supt. Alan Derry with the idea of renting special education classroom space at the Jeffersonville campus.

Eldred Central School District Supt. Ivan Katz announced that an honoring resolution for board member Marsha Hunter Glasser will be posted in the school. Glasser passed away last month after complications from a recent surgery.

Our Place on the Lake owner Tony Ramos has been serving up cold brews since his restaurant, the former Pete’s Pub, unofficially opened for business on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Villa Roma in Callicoon recently opened its off track betting facility. It is the only spot in Sullivan County other than Monticello Raceway to offer simulcasting of horse racing at tracks throughout the country. The Sullivan County Legislature approved resolutions allowing its use.

10 Years Ago - 2015

Gary Schmidt was honored at this year’s Good Scout Breakfast, an annual event that honors local leaders who are friends of scouting and who go above and beyond in their support of the organization. The breakfast, held at the Paul Grossinger Dining Room at SUNY Sullivan, was an opportunity for local leaders to learn more about the benefits of scouting and pledge their financial support to one of our nation’s preeminent leadership development youth program. Master of Ceremonies Mike Sakell kicked off the event, which featured speakers David Horton, Eagle Scout and current SUNY Sullivan student John Vasseur, 2015 Friends of Scouting Chairperson Gillian Kaiser and of course, honoree Gary Schmidt. 

Mysteryland will be arriving in Sullivan County a full month before an expected 30,000 people descend on Bethel Woods. As they did last year, organizers of the three-day electronic music festival are encouraging concertgoers to contribute a little something to the Bethel community before they party into the wee hours of Memorial Day weekend. So on April 18, with the promise of a free ticket as reward, 45 Mysteryland attendees will be invited to revamp the Town of Bethel’s Children’s Community Garden, a Sullivan Renaissance project next to the town pool on Old White Lake Turnpike. Volunteers, accompanied by several Mysteryland staffers, will be shuttled from Grand Central Station to Old White Lake Turnpike and spend the day not only preparing a BBQ but mulching walking paths, weeding the garden and erecting a 10’x10’ shed. The effort parallels similar “10,000 Hours” Community Service Days at other Mysteryland and even non-Mysteryland events since 2011 and represents the second such event locally.