150 Years Ago - 1874

While drawing some ice last Thursday, Louis Huff capsized his load and, falling down, he was pinned to the ground under the cooling pressure of five cakes of ice. It is a fortunate thing for Lou that he possesses an elastic constitution, otherwise he would have been gathered unto his forefathers.

The Pleasant Lake Schoolhouse closed on Tuesday of last week. The trustee, Mr. Harris, says that the times are so hard and money so scarce, the residents of the District complained of the expense and he concluded to close up the school. (Editor’s comment on this reads as follows: “That the cause of education should be suspended by reason of such paltry excuse is an abominable shame. True, the times are hard, but where is the farmer in this state who cannot afford to pay two or three dollars toward the education of his children? Such bare-faced egotism and ignorance is too placable to be permitted to pass without full publicity and censure. Men who cannot appreciate the value of education do not belong in the 19th century, but remain a dark blot in the estimation of their fellow citizens.”)

Last Monday, Callicoon Depot was ablaze. The double track hands were paid off. Drunkenness and carousing were leading features of the day.

A “Law and Order” Temperance Truth and Justice Society has been established in Cochecton. The association was organized during the latter part of 1873 when Mr. John J. Banagan was installed president, Edmund Dutcher, secretary, and E.T. Calkins, treasurer.

Erastus B. Kniffin of Bethel and Elvira L. Davis of Fallsburg were married February 9th at Woodbourne by Rev. W.S. Brown.

140 Years Ago - 1884

Arthur Inderlied of North Branch will return to Kansas this week. He is in the stock business on the western plains and no doubt will acquire a handsome fortune in a few years.

Some thieves entered the Erie Depot at Pond Eddy last Friday night and carried off an express package  containing about three hundred dollars. The lads have not been captured.

The local telegraph line recently completed through Jeffersonville is about one-half mile in length having an office at Krenrich’s Store, one at Lewis Faubel’s, one at the Record office and one at Bietz’s. We learn that some of the downtown folks talk of extending the line down to Valentine Schmidt’s.

130 Years Ago - 1894

CALLICOON DEPOT — The Erie has offered (1/2) of their force of trackmen out to watch banks and dangerous points during the warm weather and while the frost is going out of the ground. The extra precaution was prompted by the recent wreck at Stockport.

Miss Amelia Sprague of Bethel was taken to the Thrall Hospital in Middletown last week where an operation was successfully performed to remove a portion of the heel bone of her left foot.

The dancing lessons of F.A. Welch have come to an abrupt end in this place. Advices have been received from other places to look out for him and the professor has been notified that he wasn’t wanted.

On April 1, the Hortonville paper mill of H. Gardner & Co. will shut down indefinitely. This step is made necessary by the fact that there is little demand for the paper.

Jacob Huth, who has been in Scranton for several years past, returned to his farm, formerly the old Chute place, near Jeff this week. His family will also arrive here in a few days. Farming is more agreeable to his health than working in a factory.

Liberty people are now talking telephone and it is said that sufficient stock has been subscribed to ensure the building of a line.

John Ross’ house caught fire Tuesday from a burning barrel used for smoking hams, alongside the house, and but for the quick action and presence of mind of Mrs. Ross, the building would have been completely consumed.

KENOZA LAKE — There is mourning all along the stage route between here and Narrowsburg because Oscar is leaving the road. John Abplanalp of Fosterdale, who has bought the route of Mr. Kohler, may give as good satisfaction, but he certainly cannot do any better. I understand Mr. Abplanalp will move into part of Mr. Benedict’s house.

Wirt Moulthrop of Kenoza Lake, who has been quite ill from pleurisy, is convalescing. Work on the new store, which is nearly completed, has had to be suspended until his recovery.

120 Years Ago - 1904

For the second time in two years, Cochecton was visited by a flood Saturday that caused considerable destruction to that little village. The iron bridge across the Delaware River to Damascus, Pa., was again destroyed and the bridge at Milanville, five miles down the river, was also partly destroyed.

The German Methodist Church of Jeff will disorganize. The church building and parsonage will be turned over to the German conference who, it is understood, will convert the building into a summer home for ministers and sisters of the mission connected with the church. The fall of the church is but a result of the decreasing desire for the German preaching with the passing generations of the mother tongue and the increasing predominance of the English language.

Hugh Townsend moved last week from the George Taylor place to Barbara Stewart’s farm near Kenoza Lake. Mr. Townsend had a wood bee Thursday afternoon and a dance in the evening. Both were well attended by the young and old.

We understand E. Linder of New York, who is stopping with his son-in-law, George Dauch, has leased the Heller place in Callicoon and will run it as a summer boarding house.

Jeffersonville will be well supplied with meat this summer. There are no less than six butchers in the field, as thus far known.

Peter Weber and Peter Wagner took advantage of the O&W excursion this week to visit relatives in the city.

The Dr. Gray medicine show closed a week’s engagement at the Eagle Hall on Saturday night. The gold watch prize in the voting contest for the most popular lady went to Miss Kate Scheidell, and in the baby contest, a photograph album was won by Jimmie, the little son of Ed A. Brand.

110 Years Ago - 1914

While Wm. Hofer was working about a car in Val Scheidell’s garage yesterday, a mysterious spark ignited the oil and gasoline on and under the engine and flames shot to the ceiling. Fred Schadt, who was also in the garage, sent in the fire alarm. It was unnecessary, as the oil and gasoline were washed down the sewer with water.

St. George’s R.C. Church Society is planning to build a new church edifice this spring. It will be located in front of the present building.

Wm. Brown, one of Jeffersonville’s intelligent and worthy young men, has received an appointment to the railway mail service and is waiting orders to report for duty on the Eastern division of the service.

Wm. Allgeier Jr., a  young man formerly of this place, has established himself in the butter and egg business. He opens his business on St. Nicholas Ave., New York, this week.

John Beck arrived here from Brooklyn last night and is busy cleaning up after the fire in his old store building last week.

John Ludwig, who suffered an epileptic stroke several weeks ago, died at his home last Friday. He worked some years in Jeff and then went to Callicoon Center where for many years he was a teamster for the tannery there.

Gasoline is going to be higher this year than last, so it is said. During the winter the prices dropped from 19 to 15 cents a gallon.

The Jeffersonville Creamery is now receiving over 50 cans of milk a day.

100 Years Ago - 1924

The Callicoon House, owned and conducted for many years by the late August Hartung, has been sold to three prominent Callicoon citizens — John H. Hess, John Lowe and Charles F. Bergner. It is rumored that Mr. Bergner will run the hotel after it has been remodeled and put into first class shape.

Miss Sarah Donovan, who has for many years made her home with her cousins, the Fitzgeralds of Youngsville, has become the heir to a life interest in $10,000 by the will of her sister, Margaret Cowell of Albany, who died there last month.

Edward Stalker of Bethel, for the past fourteen years with the Scranton Electrical Co., has been promoted to the position of construction manager of the West Virginia Water and Electric Co.

The new building on the Eagle Hotel lot, undergoing completion by William Kohler, will have a stucco finish on the outside, now being applied by Joergle and Buddenhagen.

Miss Beatrice Hartmann and Aloysius Long were married at St. Joseph’s College, Callicoon, on March 23, by Rev. Fr. Raphael Adams. They were attended by Miss Pauline Hartmann and William Long. They have purchased the Hubbert farm where they will engage chiefly in the raising of chickens.

90 Years Ago - 1934

Alvin (Bucky) Stephenson, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Stephenson of Jeffersonville, and Miss Anna McNally of the Bronx, were married in the city recently. He intends to take charge of a gas station in Rock Hill soon.

Philip F. Mauer, North Branch farmer and formerly, for many years, Justice of the Peace in the Town of Callicoon, was taken to the Middletown Hospital for treatment of an injury he received a year ago while sawing wood.

Swiss Hill Notes: We are all anxiously awaiting the beautiful spring and hope it will bring us a decent road to get down to Jeffersonville on. The people on the Schweierberg have suffered untold torments for a long time now, on account of the abominable roads leading into town and wondering when something will be done about it. The bad section is within the village corporation.

Jacob Kantrowitz, whose three-story boarding house (the former Elmer Miller Place in Kenoza Lake), burned down last September, will rebuild a 3-story structure, larger than the one before. Wm. P. Theiss of Kenoza Lake and Vinal Philips of Jeffersonville have the contract.

Sunday was a beautiful day in Callicoon Center, but out of the clear sky of the afternoon came a shower of useful gifts to Miss June Katherine Krantz, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Krantz. Mrs. Harold Krantz planned it all and the guests, about 40 of them, met at her home to surprise the parents when they arrived.

80 Years Ago - 1944

The Rumor, Jeffersonville High School paper, was awarded second prize in the school news magazine class of high school publications by the annual competition held by Columbia University in New York City last week.

Bill Reynolds of Kenoza Lake writes home of a surprise visit in Italy with John Waldron of Fosterdale. They laughed and joked about the crazy things they did back home and both look forward to the time when they will be back home again.

Ernest Fimpel Sr., who first came to Jeffersonville in 1884, and made his permanent home here the past 15 years, died at his home Tuesday night of a heart condition.

Philip Schaefer is giving up the milk route from Beechwoods to Callicoon after 22 years of service to the public, due to no help. It will be taken over by George Neumann of Callicoon Center who will continue his present route over the hill to   Callicoon.

Capt. Frank Schafer, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Schafer of Lake Huntington, was killed Sunday afternoon at Del Rio, Texas, air field while on a test flight with a corporal. They were up 500 feet when both engines failed and they crashed to earth, killing both men.

Mrs. Frances Gettel of Callicoon announces the marriage of her daughter, Virginia, to William Possinger of Stroudsburg, Pa., on March 19. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Reed Grininger at Narrowsburg.

70 Years Ago - 1954

Jane Bauer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bauer, formerly of East Hill, was among the four seniors from Syracuse University to win $500 for the school on the College Quiz Bowl program last Saturday. She is a graduate of the Youngsville Central School,  Class of 1951.

Mr. and Mrs. Urban Meader of Jersey City, N.J., announce the engagement of their daughter, Gladys, to Libby Manzolillo, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Manzolillo of Jeffersonville.

A shower was given for the former Miss Joan Peterson last Saturday night at the home of Mrs. M. Stratton. She became the bride of William F. Engelbosch of Babylon, L.I.

60 Years Ago - 1964

Father Cassian J. Kirk, OFM, son of Mrs. Laura Kirk, recently received an appointment from the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor in Rome, assigning him as Commissariat of the Holy Family with headquarters in Chicago. He will begin his new assignment immediately.

Miss Karen Marie Steffens became the bride of Wendell Armbrust on Palm Sunday. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Steffens of Callicoon RD and the groom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Willis Armbrust of Callicoon.

The Coleman Funeral Home on West End Ave., Jeffersonville, has been sold to Howard Stewart of Callicoon. Mr. Stewart now owns and operates funeral homes in Callicoon, Roscoe and Kohlertown. Mr. Stewart stated that he would continue to run the ambulance service previously begun and operated by Tom Coleman.

Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Frey of Youngsville announce the engagement of their daughter, Joyce, to Floyd Emery of Livingston Manor. The bride-to-be is a senior at JYCS and Mr. Emery is a teacher at the Minisink Valley Central School.

An examination for Postmaster at North Branch for a salary of $5,085 a year will be open for acceptance of applications until April 7, 1964, the commission announced.

50 Years Ago - 1974

Liberty School Board Vice President C. Richard Steenrod was instantly killed Sunday night when he mistakenly turned onto the westbound lane of the Quickway at Parksville and smashed dead center into the right front of a car driven by Mrs. Jessie Hawley of Swan Lake. She and her brother, Gerard Valentine, 17, were killed and five Hawley children were critically injured.

Members of the “My Place” bowling team won the 31st Annual Championship Tournament of the Middletown Women’s Bowling Association just completed at the Kiamesha Lanes, receiving $100 and a trophy and were honored at the banquet Tuesday night at Bernie’s Holiday Restaurant in Rock Hill. On the team are Dotty Esselman, Sue Lowe, Joyce Manzolillo, Linda Kurtz and Wanda Winglovitz.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Ried of Hortonville announce the engagement of their daughter, Donna, to Thomas Berrett of Buffalo.

40 Years Ago - 1984

Jeanne Landon of Forestburgh has been appointed Postmaster of the Grahamsville post office. Frances Maliga had been serving as officer-in-charge.

The 17th Annual Upper Delaware Canoe Regatta will be held this summer despite rumors circulating that the successful event might be canceled. The event is sponsored by the Callicoon Fire Department. It is scheduled for July 29 and features canoe races on the Delaware, a barbecue and numerous games.

On March 27, 1809, by an act of Legislature, a large portion of land was separated from the Territory of Lumberland and designated the Town of Bethel. Now, in 1984, Bethel hopes to add a chapter of their own to the town’s wholesome history with a gala year of celebrating the 175th birthday.

The Sullivan County Association for Retarded Children (ARC) has received a check for  $350,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the group was also presented with a check for $50,000 from the Rural Development Loan Fund, a division of the NYS Job Development Authority. The ARC is now in the process of relocating from its home base in South Fallsburg to its newly acquired 100,000 square foot building on East Broadway in Monticello.

Joseph Kraack became the fourth Boy Scout in the last year from Troop 943 in Lake Huntington to attain the rank of Eagle Scout in a ceremony Saturday evening at the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church. He joins Bruce Gettel, Shawn Fuchs and Steven Palmer in this achievement.

30 Years Ago - 1994

In its ongoing attempt to recover taxes lost on bankrupt resorts, the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting on April 5 to allow a potential buyer to acquire the former Stevensville Hotel in Swan Lake. The meeting will take place a few days before the property is to be sold at auction. The 395-room resort has been closed for the past four years.

Members of the Cooke/Rutherford PTA recently presented a banner to the Monticello Central School District as Monticello celebrates 100 years of education. As part of its continuing effort, the PTA also offered a check in the amount of $2,500 for the purchase of trade books for the classrooms.

Eleven visiting Japanese students and their host families were guests at a farewell banquet held at the BOCES Educational Center in Liberty, culminating a 9-day stay in the United States. The visitors extended an invitation for Sullivan County students to visit them in Toyama in late August.

The 40th annual Sullivan County All-County Concert was held at the Livingston Manor School on March 19. Participants from various schools in the county banded together to present a very entertaining program.

Organizers of the first “Founder’s Day” celebration, to be held July 16 in the hamlet of Cochecton Center, are appealing to current and former residents, Cochecton Center Schoolhouse alumni and history buffs to contribute their memories, photographs and documents for display at the celebration. Founder’s Day will offer a glimpse of life as it was in the 1840s era when Cochecton Center, then known as Stevensburg, was settled around the Knapp and Gildersleeve territory tannery operations. The highlight of the day will be the re-dedication of the United Methodist Church building as the newly incorporated Cochecton Center Community Center. The church celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1992. The house of worship has retained its original charm including a pump organ, tin walls and ceiling, kerosene lamps hoisted gracefully throughout the wooden pews and two woodstoves to stave off the continued lack of electricity.

20 Years Ago - 2004

Sullivan’s, once the king of department stores in the area, may not sit empty and idle much longer. Jay Backer of Brooklyn said he closed the deal on Sullivan’s this past Friday for an undisclosed price. Three months earlier, he obtained the old supermarket next door – Great American. He intends to turn the two buildings into the Liberty Mall.

Construction continues to move at a rapid pace on the three floors of treatment facilities at Crystal Run Healthcare in Rock Hill. According to Dr. Hal Teitelbaum, managing partner for the company, the projected opening date is June 28.

Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Greene and Sullivan counties will both be hosting a 6-part school for forest landowners to enable them to improve forest management for timber, longterm ownership, wildlife, agro-forestry and protecting the environment.

Rebecca Schlau, daughter of Richard and Denise Schlau of Bethel, and Gadi Bourla, both of Yorktown Heights, have announced their engagement. He is the son of Yosef and Clementine Bourla of Israel. A November 28 wedding is planned.

Debbie Klein and John Dertinger Jr. were married February 16, 2004 at the town courthouse in Roscoe with Frank Gibson officiating.

10 Years Ago - 2014

The fifth grade students in Karen Stewart’s class had a special visitor just recently. Kindergarten teacher Kimberly Lucak’s husband, Tech Sergeant Lucak, stopped by for a visit. He works at Stewart Airport, as well as the Air National Guard, as a firefighter. He came by to discuss his newest deployment to Kuwait, and the students in Mrs. Stewart’s class vowed to write to him and his troop. 

Dominican College at Orangeburg was proud to inaugurate a campus chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in Education, this spring semester. Joyce Hoag of Livingston Manor was inducted into the newly established chapter.

Marina Lopez-Braddock was crowned Miss Teen New York at the Villa Roma in Callicoon October 2013. She received $500 “strictly toward college,” her crown and sash, and the opportunity to compete in Miss Teen International pageant in Florida in July with about 60 other Miss Teens from all over the world. A senior at Tri Valley High School, her future plans include going to Mount St. Mary’s College in Newburgh to study Creative Writing.