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Down the Decades

April 4, 2023 Edition

Compiled by Lee Hermann, Muse, & Ruth Huggler
Posted 4/4/23

110 Years Ago - 1913

A fire-charred and completely gutted frame is all that remains of the large garage and machine shop owned by Martin Hermann of South Main St., Callicoon. Five automobiles, …

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Down the Decades

April 4, 2023 Edition

Posted

110 Years Ago - 1913

A fire-charred and completely gutted frame is all that remains of the large garage and machine shop owned by Martin Hermann of South Main St., Callicoon. Five automobiles, three lumber wagons, auto supplies and accessories, tires, etc., were totally wrecked and destroyed in the fire which occurred at 2:15 o’clock Tuesday morning. The blaze was discovered by Mrs. Blackwell who resides opposite the doomed garage. The loss is estimated to be about $7,000.

The heavy rain Wednesday night caused the bank along the road at Hortonville opposite George Rosenberger’s to slide into the road, making a mud puddle two feet deep and fifteen feet along the road.

Thomas Haldick and the Dominie expected to start on the road with a moving picture machine about April 1. Mr. Haldick has disposed of his mail route to Harvey Hughs, also one horse and wagon which he sold to William D. Adams of Kellams, Pa. The Rev. Mr. Hoyt preached his farewell sermon in the M.E. Church here Sunday evening.  — Long Eddy Corresp.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schmeling Jr. of Mileses, March 15, a son; and a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. George Baer of Mileses on March 17.

Sunday evening, as Philip Knack of Hortonville was backing his horse from the shed at Buddenhagen’s Hotel, the horse became frightened and ran away. The wagon struck one of Mitchell and Brown’s autos and tore off a headlight and the horse turned and jumped into the creek opposite Robisch’s Hotel. Nearby assistance prevented the horse from drowning and the only damage was a smashed wagon.

Bernard’s Moving Pictures opened last night for a week’s stay in the Harmonie Hall and their pictures are the brightest ever exhibited here.

Harry Steffens of New York and Miss Mabel Wagner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wagner, North Branch, were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s parents on Sunday. Rev. John E. Straub officiated. Mr. Steffens, now a successful butcher in New York, was formerly a clerk in the store of B.E. Dycker Co.

George B. Gerhardt of Callicoon and Miss Mamie L. Bury of Fremont Center were united in marriage March 12 in Binghamton. He is a clerk at the Delaware House, Callicoon.

100 Years Ago - 1923

Troopers J.A. Murphy and H.J. Mitter, attached to Troop C at Sidney, arrived in Livingston Manor early on Wednesday evening with a full fledged liquor still, a sample of some corn mash, about a gallon of alleged whiskey and two prisoners. The haul was made at the home of Horace Winner near DeBruce on a search warrant said to have been issued by County Judge George H. Smith. The prisoners were Detlef Nann and Fern Winner. The latter, a son of Horace Winner, was recently released from the county jail on a suspended sentence of a plea of guilty on a charge of burglary. Nann, who admits he is the manufacturer and owner of the still, lived in the DeBruce and Willowemoc neighborhood for the past several years.

Benjamin Franklin Eldred, 84, died March 22, 1923, at the home of his son, Justin, at West Damascus, Pa. He was a native of Eldred, came of a family of settlers in that section of Sullivan County. He came to Damascus Township some 60 years ago and lived here as a farmer.

Lookout, Pa. — Born to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hawley on March 23, 1923, a son; Mr. and Mrs. George Minckler are rejoicing over the arrival of a daughter.

Born March 21 to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Buddenhagen, a son.

The fire alarm aroused the village shortly after 10 o’clock Sunday morning. Sparks from the chimney had again ignited the shingles on the roof of the Franklin Inn of Callicoon. Mrs. Anderson has material coming for a steel roof.

Web Orth, local Overland dealer, loaded his second car of Overlands Monday. He has delivered a sedan to R.J. Bennett and touring cars to Ray Metzger, John Menges, Ernest Miller and William Wilkie.

At Starck’s Bazaar Cash and Carry Grocery Department: Bring along a $2 bill and while the present stock lasts take the following combination with you — 1 large can Campbell Pork and Beans, 1 pkg. only spaghetti, macaroni or vermicelli (your choice), 1 pound raisins, 1 can sardines in pure olive oil; 1 pkg. only corn flakes, rolled oats or head rice (your choice); 4-10¢ pkg. either garden or flower seeds; 1 can tomatoes; 1 can corn; 1 can peaches; 1/2 lb. tea (your choice Oolong, Gunpowder, Japan or mixed); 1 can peas; 1 large bottle ketchup; and 1 pound coffee. This is a money saving combination over $3. — ADV.

90 Years Ago - 1933

The most destructive ice storm that has visited Monticello and other sections of Sullivan in 28 years spread a mantle of thick ice over the region last Monday and Tuesday, crippling electrical and telephone service, breaking down hundreds of trees, damaging orchards, blocking highways and making travel for pedestrians and cars dangerous. By noon Tuesday fully two-thirds of Sullivan County was without electric or telephone service. The Associated Gas and Electric Company estimated its damage at $10,000 or more. The New York Telephone Company representatives said that company damage could not be even closely stated now but that it would be up in the thousands of dollars.

Two Woodbourne men are being held in Newburgh under $20,000 bail each for passing counterfeit $5 bills in Sullivan County. They are Ben Kolinsky, 23, and his brother-in-law, Sam Mitnick, 24. Sheriff Walter Flynn and Sergeant T.J. Mangan received complaints from Chris Mosher, blacksmith, Stewart Kinne, garage proprietor of Woodbourne, and Grover Hornbeck, gas station owner of Eureka, that they had received counterfeit $5 bills. Investigation started immediately. Three men were sentenced to prison a few weeks ago, for passing counterfeit bills.

The Associated Press has reported that 3,662 banks are still closed; 15,666 are open and some are still restricted.

The Callicoon High School Orchestra, under the direction of Miss Telleta Bourne, is planning a concert March 31. This orchestra is one of the largest orchestras in the state from a high school the size of Callicoon High School, which has a total high school registration of 122 pupils. Forty-seven pupils participate in the orchestra playing string, woodwinds and brass instruments.

This afternoon work was started in grading the Callicoon baseball field by H. Orville Warner and a force of men and machines. Mr. Warner, who is a sub-contractor on the Callicoon viaduct job, will fill in part of the field toward Callicoon and grade the whole field to a level. When completed the local diamond will be second to none in the county.

Mr. and Mrs. John Deck of Long Eddy are the proud parents of a 9 1/2 pound baby, born in the Hancock Hospital, March 20. Mrs. Deck was the former Lena Nearing.

Appointment of a health nurse, under provisions of the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration, has been approved for Sullivan County. The county has been without a public health nurse since the county nurse and the nurse employed by the Public Health Association were dropped a year ago as an economy measure. 

80 Years Ago - 1943

Mrs. Barbara Hook, one of the oldest residents of Sullivan County, died at the home of Miss K. Fath, Acidalia, March 19, at the advanced age of 98 years and 8 months. She was the widow of Wm. Specht and Phillip Hook. Mrs. Hook was born in Germany and came to America at the age of 20. She had always made her home in Acidalia.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Turner of Callicoon are the parents of a girl, Donna Lee, born March 20. She weighed 8 lb. 15 oz. and was born at the Callicoon Hospital.

Herman Buddenhagen writes from the South Pacific that he contacted “Doc” Ed Rumble and they had a nice visit. They hope to get together another time soon.

Mr. and Mrs. William Glaab of Narrowsburg are rejoicing over a telegram they received Saturday morning saying that their son, 1st Sgt. Wm. F. Glaab Jr., is alive and is a prisoner of war of the Japanese government in the Philippines. Sgt. Glaab was reported missing in action last June at the time Fort Mills and Corrigedor Island was taken by Japan. He is 38 years old, attended the local school and helped build the Boy Scout Camps here. Sgt. Glaab last wrote to his folks in November 1941, and had not been heard from until last June when it was reported that he was missing in action and it was not known if he had been killed or was a prisoner of war.

Miss Ruth Behling of Narrowsburg was married to Sgt. Robert L. Brock of Honesdale on March 21 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg. The bride is employed by the post office in Narrowsburg and the bridegroom is stationed in South Dakota.

Congratulations to the Herbert Hughs and Bert Medlar families who are rejoicing over the arrival of daughters at the Callicoon Hospital on Wednesday and Thursday. — Rock Valley Corresp.

70 Years Ago - 1953

Nelson S. Maurer, Industrial Arts teacher at the Roscoe Central School, was one of eight teachers in New York State selected by the Bureau of Industrial Arts Education and approved by the Board of Regents to draft a new course of study. The group met in Syracuse for three days last week.

Both trucks and all of the equipment of the Callicoon Fire Department may soon be housed in one building if the purchase of the William Meyer garage by the Fire District is approved by the qualified voters of the district. A contract was signed early this week by the Fire Commissioners and Mr. Meyer for the purchase of the garage at $12,000. The building was built in 1947 and is located near the Olympia Hotel.

Delaware Valley Central School faculty member Jack Spring is resigning here to study medicine. . . Robert Sturdevant, industrial arts instructor who has been teaching in the absence of Richard Muller, who was absent on military leave, has resigned his position and will become industrial arts instructor in Livingston Manor. During Mr. Sturdevant’s administration, the shop was transferred from the Engert building to the new school. Ceramics became a part of the industrial arts program and considerable interest has been created in this department, especially among the adult groups.

J. Maxwell Knapp has been appointed to fill the office of County Clerk, following the death of Emil Motl. He will run for election this November on the Republican ticket. Arthur N. Meyers of Narrowsburg has been named Deputy County Clerk.

60 Years Ago - 1963

Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Steffens of North Branch celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last Saturday at the undercroft of the Grace Lutheran Church.

The ice moved out of the Delaware River Monday night. In the Ice Capades of the Delaware Youth Center, the big winner was Vinton Meddaugh of White Lake. Andy Ziegler and Jim Wood were runners-up. In Narrowsburg, the ice moved out at 8:12 Tuesday morning. Winner there was Albert Meyer Jr.

Hi-News did it again, being named first in competition at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Mrs. Margaret Hillriegel of Callicoon has been appointed to serve on the state Junior Activity Committee of the New York Holstein-Friesian Association, Inc.

The Hoos Truck Company of Livingston Manor will celebrate his 40th anniversary on May 18 with a celebration at the Chan-Al Hotel in Shandelee.

David Muirhead, 83, of Liberty died Monday after a long illness. A bookkeeper, Mr. Muirhead was instrumental in forming Granges throughout Sullivan County. He was a county delegate to the State Grange in 1913.

50 Years Ago - 1973

Two Middletown brothers were killed Saturday near Kellam’s Bridge when their borrowed car left Route 97 and careened over a 40-foot embankment, landing 50 feet from the Erie Railroad tracks. Michael Turk, 22, and Bruce Turk, 18, were found about 6 p.m. Saturday by the owner of the car, Ray Rake of Hankins. The boys are the grandsons of Mrs. Morris Turk, formerly of Acidalia, now living in Middletown, and the sons of Willard and Anna Verderber Turk.

The Delaware River claimed its first victim in the Skinner’s Falls area Sunday when William J. Kennedy, 49, of Brooklyn, was found in 12 feet of water at 10:20. Failing in three attempts to save his uncle, Gerard Donahue, 18, was rescued by several fishermen fishing in a powered boat, about 20 feet from shore.

Mrs. Richard Vogler was guest of honor at a stork shower given her Tuesday evening by Mrs. Alan Brockner of North Branch and Mrs. Warren Doetsch.

John McDonald, Fred Schweighofer and William Ludwig will operate a food store in the former A&P building, Callicoon. Mr. Ludwig will manage the store.

Members of the music department of Jeff-Youngsville Central School have been selected to represent the area in the U.S.A. Youth Concert Band that will tour Europe and participate in the International Music Festival in Milan, Italy. They are selling placemats to raise money.

40 Years Ago - 1983

Helen Hery was sworn in as the new postmaster at Smallwood on March 17.

Last Sunday, Kathy Buddenhagen, daughter of Shirley and David Buddenhagen of Hortonville, led the Hortonville Presbyterian Church in a service centered around Central America. A native breakfast of fresh fruit, various corn breads, tortilla and refried beans was served. Kathy will be joining the Peace Corps June 1 in Toga, Africa.

Florence Bauer of Hankins has retired from the cafeteria of the Delaware Valley Central School after 31 years of service, the past 11 years as cafeteria manager.

Pauline Albrecht has been named Monticello Elks Mother of the Year. Her son, Fred, was earlier this year declared Monticello Elk of the Year. The double family recognition is a first for any lodge in the United States in the same year.

Gary Newton as Professor Harold Hill and Sharon Gibson as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, had top billing in the Livingston Manor Central School presentation of “The Music Man” last week. Newton began his acting career with the Forestburgh Playhouse when he was 12, has earned statewide recognition in both the band and chorus and was a member of the USA Band in Hawaii in 1980. He was a co-director of the play.

30 Years Ago - 1993

What could top the “Blizzard of ‘93”? A thick crust of ice, from a spring ice storm that covered parts of Sullivan County Wednesday morning with a very picturesque but dangerous coating of ice, causing school opening delays and scattered power outages in the Old Man Winter’s last (hopefully) hurrah of the season. To top it off, fog was everywhere. Said Lynn Blair, a realtor from Mountaindale, “What can you expect? It’s been that kind of a winter. I can’t remember a longer winter.” Forecasters predict temperatures in the 50s to near 60°F. this weekend.

Fire in Divine Corners claimed the lives of John Rovinski and his step-son, Brian MacPherson early Tuesday morning. Four others escaped the blaze that destroyed the home. MacPherson, a student at the Tri-Valley Central School, was disabled and unable to move without the aid of his wheelchair. He was found in his bedroom and Mr. Rovinski was found in the kitchen near the door. Both had succumbed to smoke and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Ross Dimler was recently honored in recognition of his 29 years of teaching by the Board of Education  of the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School.

Aaron Titus, son of Bob and Sharon Titus of Monticello, was recently nominated and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point for the class of 1997.

Amanda and Jackie Ward, daughters of Roland and Sonia Ward of Loch Sheldrake, were honored for their skating achievements by the Sullivan County Chapter of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History at the chapter’s Wednesday meeting. Amanda, a 7th grader at Fallsburg Central School, has been ranked first in the U.S. Figure Skating Novice Division, making her eligible to compete in the Junior World’s competition and potentially in the 1998 Olympics. Jackie, a sophomore, is ranked 10th and will move into senior competition next year.

20 Years Ago - 2003

Every copy of the Friday, March 28, 2003 Weekender Edition of the Sullivan County Democrat had the wrong front page. After a short investigation, the newspaper’s printing staff found out that an employee had clicked on an email containing February 28’s front page instead of March 28’s. A mistake of this nature has never happened in the Democrat’s 112-year history, including the 75 years the Stabberts have published it through their company, Catskill-Delaware Publications, Inc.

Area firefighters had to break through the roof of DeFelippi's Bakery on Broadway in Monticello to fight a fire caused by a gas explosion. The exact cause is unknown and is still under investigation.

After months of speculation, Town of Liberty Supervisor Dick Martinkovic has confirmed that he will not seek re-election come November.

A Callicoon institution is shutting its doors. After 49 years of selling families their first cars and upgrading couples after they have their first baby, C.E. Mills Chevrolet on Route 97 in the hamlet has chosen May 1 as its last day in business.

New York’s VFW Ladies Auxiliary President Kathy Zylko of Jeffersonville, a member of the Clarence Hoyt Auxiliary 9217 in Liberty, was honored by the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. at its 2003 National Mid-Year Conference in Port Canaveral, Florida.

No matter how you lift it, 680 pounds of iron is a heck of a lot of weight. And a 19-year-old Sullivan County student named Jermaine Eddie knows just how heavy that really is, as he took top honors Sunday at the First Annual Special Olympics New York “Powerlifting Invitational” held at Sullivan County Community College. Eddie hoisted a combined total of 680 pounds in the bench press and deadlft competition.

10 Years Ago - 2013

Doreen Foxwell of Rock Hill was in Atlanta recently to receive the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year in Education and Teaching presented by SWIBA (Stiletto Woman in Business Award) for her business, The Children’s School of Yoga. This is her ninth year in business offering children’s yoga programs throughout the Hudson Valley in schools, childcare centers, camps, community centers, after school programs, health and wellness centers, gyms, yoga studio and more. In 2012 Foxwell franchised the business, and it now operates in several states. Foxwell was congratulated by actress Finola Hughes, known for her role on the classic soap “General Hospital.”

Monticello Elks Lodge #1544 has elected a new slate of officers who officially take over on April 1st. The Exalted Ruler is Jim Gerrard, Leading Knight Mike Gagliardi, Loyal Knight Jamie Sniffen, Lecturing Knight Brian Johnson, Esquire Diana Moser, Inner Guard Jim Dunn, Tiler Alice Dominick, Treasurer Sue Mapledoram, Secretary PDDGER Harold Lacey, Jr., Chaplain Bob Linzer, Trustees: Rich Hugel, PSVP Phil Conaty, Esq., Martha Rojas and PER E. Danielle Jose-Decker, Esq. The Lodge has over 300 members. Past District Deputy and Past Exalted Ruler Jim Sheerer handed the gavel of authority to Monticello’s new Exalted Ruler (President) Jim Gerrard at a recent ceremony. Gerrard is a full time Monticello firefighter who is serving as ER for the second time.

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