120 Years Ago - 1900

Wendelin J. Schmidt died April 2 at the residence of C. Von Weisenfluh in Youngsville, aged 74 years. He was born in Baden, Germany, and came to Youngs­ville, in 1848, living there ever since.

Ann Sophie, daughter of George D. Taylor of Briscoe, died of pleurisy and pneumonia, March 31, aged 42 years. She was born on the homestead where she died.

John W. Whittaker, a large farmer of the Town of Fallsburg school district, died March 29, of typhoid fever. He was a brother of photographer R.B. Whittaker, of Liberty, and was one of the best citizens of the town.

Lewis Bussey, aged 81 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Melissa Knapp, near Livingston Manor, March 25, of paralysis. He was born in the Town of Andes.

A.C. Bird, father of Erie Agent F.E. Bird of Callicoon Depot, one of the oldest in time of service of the Erie Railroad, died at his home at Hale's Eddy, and continued in the same position until 2 years ago when he was succeeded by one of his sons.

Will Huff has gone to Liberty to work for B.W. Wolff, the soda water manufacturer. He will drive a team.

Will Lawrence of Jeffersonville has sold to the Lake Huntington Telephone Company, recently incorporated, the part of his line which runs from Fosterdale to Lake Huntington to Cochecton.

110 Years Ago - 1910

Miss Annie Huff of New York is visiting a the Huff homestead.

Miss Mary Wilfert has gone to Claryville to teach for ten weeks.

Miss Clara Dorrer is assisting Mrs. Goubelman in the early millinery season.

Mrs. L.E. Grishaber is nursing in the family of Theodore Bolois at Youngsville.

Wm. Bollenbach has had his old family horse put to death last week on account of its old age. He raised it from a colt.

Mrs. H.H. Glassel has been very ill the past week, suffering from gallstones, but is now recovering. Her daughter, Miss Florence, is expected home from Newark this week.

Henry Reyman of East Hill, formerly hostler at the Mansion House, expects to leave next Monday for Milwaukee where he will take a job.

There will be English preaching services both morning and evening at the Presbyterian Church next Sunday.

Hankins - Tegeler and Moore are the busiest firm in town. They take every contract there is to be let. Their latest contract is to paint the village of Kellams, Pa... Bill Graby is driving a new high stepper which he purchased near Monticello. Bill is a great hand for fine horses and generally has about the best to be found... Jacob Hartz is the first one around here to plant a garden.

North Branch has started a fire company, R.C. Gabel is chief, Herman Goodman, foreman and A.H. Schonger is secretary-treasurer. There are 35 members.

Long Eddy - The Adelphi Band, consisting of 21 pieces, came out dressed in their new suits and Easter bonnets Wednesday night, making a fine appearance. They gave one of their popular hops in Kellam's Hall, proceeds amounting to nearly $60. Edward Quick, 17-year-old son of Wiliam Quick of Long Eddy on Friday, April 1, hit a dynamite cap with a match and as a result one eye was blown out and the other partially destroyed while his body was filled with minute particles of copper. He, with two other boys, found the cap alongside the railroad tracks. It was one of the heavy dynamite caps used for signal purposes. Dr. Frisbie attended him and he was removed to Middletown where it is hoped the sight of one eye can be saved.

Callicoon - “Down on the Farm...” a rural comedy drama will be given in Harmonie Hall Saturday evening, April 16, by Callicoon Center talent for the benefit of the Callicoon Center Band. Prices 25 and 15 cents. A fine orchestra will be in attendance.

Thursday morning Otto Berg­ner started a bonfire in the rear of his house. The wind came up immediately afterward and the fire threatened the buildings. No. 3, with its new monorail hose cart, responded to a still alarm, and soon had the fire subdued.

Mileses - Mr. and Mrs. George Baer returned on Monday from their wedding tour, and in the evening were treated by the boys to an old-fashioned skimmelton.

100 Years Ago - 1920

The Mulligan-Hurchison bill now before the State Legislature, provides that each district shall receive an additional amount of $250 over the amount that a district now receives from the state for school state aid. The bill also provides that the minimum salary any teacher shall receive shall be $1,000.

Issue was joined at Hortonville yesterday in an action brought by Charles Fischer of Callicoon against Theodore Bauernfeind of Beechwoods to recover for a barrel and a half of cider. The case will come before Justice Franz Hilberling and a jury at Hortonville next Monday with Attorney J.F. Gardner for the plaintiff and G.T. Cross for the defendant.

Children like the home paper.

Fred Schmidt has sold the homestead in Delaware, consisting of the main building and three-quarters of an acre of land, to Alfred Lindke of Lyndhurst, N.J., for $2,000. The place has been occupied by Robert Mann during the past year. He expects to get another place for boarding purposes.

Wm. Beiling yesterday sold his farm of 52 acres, midway between Jeffersonville and Youngsville, to George and Charles M. Peterson, father and son, of Haupauge, L.I.

Edward F. Kohler yesterday sold his garage business and property in Delaware to Elmer VanKeuren of Mongaup Valley, who is a brother of Dr. Howard C. Van Keuren of Jeffersonville. Howard M. Smith has sold his feed business on Center Street to G. C. Segar.

Stephen G. Hoffman and Miss Elizabeth R. Knell were married six years ago, March 29, and celebrated their anniversary at the Mansion House, with a few friends Monday night. The invited guests were Dr. and Mrs. J.C. VanKeuren, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schadt, Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Manny, Mr. and Mrs. V.R. Scheidell, Mrs. Louise P. Ranft, Elmer VanKeuren, George W. Seibert, Edward Reischmann, Miss Lil S. Durr, Louise A. Winand and Miss Nettie F. Fromm.

Franklin N. Neuberger will conduct a service in the M.E. Church next Sunday morning.

Eugene J. Sheridan, the mail carrier on the rural route from Livingston Manor over this way, has just received a nice little tip of $50 from the successful efforts to serve the patrons on the route despite the snowdrifts this winter. Miss Mary Barrell of Sand Pond is the donor. Gene covered the route oute every day except two, when he was unable to cover it at all. This was an exceptionally hard winter for travel.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Welch of Kenoza Lake Dell House announce the marriage of their daughter, Rose, to Arthur J. Osterhout, of Kenoza Lake.

The 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Theobold Sander, formerly of Youngsville, was celebrated March 17, at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Helen Wahl, of Fremont.

90 Years Ago - 1930

The taking of the Federal Census began yesterday. The enumerators for the township of Callicoon are Mrs. Lawrence Hauschild of Jeffersonville, Andrew Schoonmaker of Youngs­ville and Orville Lentz of Callicoon Center, covering the three election districts.

In Delaware, Mrs. Charles M. Peterson will cover Jeffersonville with John W. Garry and Edith Neumann attending the balance of the town.

Clean-up and paint-up time is here again.

Conrad Metzger this week resumed work at the bank after a year leave of absence on the account of illness.

George J. Merkenschlager and Harland B. Calkins, two Lake Huntington men, were among the 427 graduates of the New York State Police College Monday night. They became full-fledged policemen.

Special County Judge Bernard Weiss of Monticello will be the speaker at the next PTA meeting of Tuesday night.

The trout season in Sullivan County will open on Saturday, April 5, and continue until the last day in August. The limit is not more than 25, or 10 pounds of trout in any one day, with a minimum length of six inches.

Wm. Hess and Louise Erdman are doing a plaster job on the Siegel house in Swan Lake.

Mrs. Lena Buddenhagen of Callicoon, a former teacher here, has contracted to teach fourth and fifth grades in the Callicoon school next year.

Miss Sara Elizabeth Donaldson of Bethel and William Henry Norton of White Sulphur Springs were married at Monticello on March 27 by Rev. Emmett Sloar.

Mrs. Elizabeth Beadle, a native of North Branch and for many years a resident of Youngsville, died at her home there April 1 at the age of 91. She was the daughter of Joseph Smith and Lydia Conley. Her first husband was Abram Palmatier and her second was Peter W. Beadle.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Under a flood of water due to heavy rainfalls, a 25-foot section of the Cochecton Center Lake dam broke through on Saturday night. A dam was originally built on this spot many years ago for water power by Steven Bros. who named the place Stevensburgh. In 1949, the tannery was started and a larger dam was built. This one was rebuilt 20 or 30 years ago.

Lowlands and cellars were flooded throughout the area by the steady rains and melting snow as the Callicoon Creek and its tributaries flowed over. The “island” was inundated and the Delaware section was a sea. Oil burners and coal stokers were knocked out. On Mill Street, the water was four feet in some places. The Bollenback barn was badly undermined and barely managed not to go downstream. Charlie Wilfert, on the island, who keeps the weather markings for the government, says that the water was two feet higher than in October 1903, when he recorded the highest water up to that time.

For the second time within a year, the bridge crossing the Mongaup River on Route 17B in Mongaup Valley went down Saturday night when the flood washed out one of the abutments. It was a temporary wooden one, built a year ago to replace the iron bridge that was crushed down when a heavy steam shovel tried to cross it. Plans are being made for a new bridge.

Jesse Abel, who has been attending college in New York, has come home for the benefit of his health.

Melvin Bauernfeind, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bauernfeind of Beechwoods, and Miss Alice Marold of Honesdale were married at Honesdale, March 30.

Mr. and Mrs. Emil Peters of Livingston Manor have an­nounced the engagement of their daughter, Lillian, to Ronald Ebert of that village.

Taking the 1940 census was begun Tuesday. In this area, the enumerators are Norbert Mullally, Caspar Girard and Arthur Cherry.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Supervisor Francis A. Hanofee of Liberty moved to table a resolution to purchase the Loomis property for $160,000 at a meeting Monday night of the Board of Supervisors. He couldn't muster the 10 votes he needed to purchase the sanitarium for use as a county infirmary. The motion was adopted unanimously. The fight was one between Liberty and Monticello.

Mrs. Gertrude Kohler has been elected president of the H. Russell Kenyon Post VFW Auxiliary.

The Jeff Lions defeated Hancock in the Delaware Valley League playoffs last night at Hancock, by a score of 58-57.

Roy Crandall is building a Shell station at the upper end of Main Street in Jeff.

Mrs. Ella Smith and Mrs. John Joyner of White Sulphur Springs and Mrs. Kate Homer of Youngs­ville, were guests of Mrs. William Lieb Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Earle Sander (Althea VanLoan) of Youngsville are the proud parents of a baby boy, weighing 10 lbs., 12 oz., born March 26, at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital. This is their first baby.

Mrs. Herbert Harder of Youngs­ville is having the interior of her home remodeled. Wm. Wagner is doing the work.

Mrs. Regina Weinger has been elected president of the Youngs­ville PTA with Rose Shimm as vice president. Ida Weiss is secretary and John Egan is treasurer.

The new addition to the White Sulphur Springs School building is fast nearing completion.

Members of the Livingston Manor Rod and Gun Club are anticipating the trout fishing season which starts April 1st.

Bids for the new Delaware Valley Central School will be opened April 14. Estimated cost is $697,000.

60 Years Ago - 1960

In may have been a few days late, and March may have been one of the worst on record, wtih enough sub-zero days to warm the cockles of a fuel dealer's heart, but late or not, spring is here and most welcome.

Trout season is just around the corner. This Friday, April 1, (April Fool's Day too!) is the opening day for state's trout water. Rain or snow, sunshine or ice, there will be thousands of winter-weary fishermen on deck to christen the 1960 opener. The season will continue for a full six months through September 30.

Clarence Kurtz, a lifelong resident of Jeffersonville, died Wed­nesday, at his home. He was 69.

Harold Stephenson, a Jeffersonville native, died on the farm where he was born last Saturday, March 26, at the age of 64.

Saturday, March 26, was a great day for the J-Y debators and one that will go into record as the most fruitful for Mr. Strawbridge and his fighting teams.

Last Friday Joseph Clifford cut his foot with an axe while cutting trees in the course of his work for the New York State Electric Company.

50 years ago - 1970

Miss Jane Poley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Early Poley, North Branch became the bride of Daniel Buddenhagen, son of Mrs. Herbert Buddenhagen, Horton­ville, at a double ring ceremony performed March 21, 1970, at the North Branch Methodist Church. Rev. Newton B. Ford officiated.

An unexpected snowstorm made Easter seem more like mid-January than March 29 when a total of 15-inches of snow blanketed Sullivan County.

Miss Diane Korth, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Floyd Korth, Cllicoon Center, was guest of honor at a bridal shower Saturday evening at St. Paul's Reformed Church Hall. Hostesses were Miss JoAnne Lindsley, Mrs. Kathy Fuller, Miss Linda Korth and Miss Janet Korth, Miss Korth will become the bride of Leslie Bogert of Youngsville in May.

Army Specialist Four Edward R Ryan, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ryan of Hankins, was assigned as a radio relay and carrier attendant with the 1st Signal Brigade in Vietnam, March 5.

A $3-million weight watchers facility employing up to 300 in the winter months and more in summer became a reality Monday in transfer of title of Esther Manor in Maplewod to Weight Watchers Resorts and Spas, Inc.

L/Cpl. Richard Widmann re­ported to Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 1, after an extended leave at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Widmann. Richardhas just returned from a 10-month tour of duty in Vietnam.

At the Liberty Hospital, it was a boy March 25 for Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Tyler for Liberty; a boy, March 27, to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Novak of Parksville.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kratz of Beechwoods had their infant son, Eric Lienau, baptized at the Grace Lutheran Church in North Branch Easter Sunday. Miss Carol Kratz and Emil Lienau are the godparents.

40 Years Ago - 1980

The National Park Service (NPS) has finally acquired full title to the historic Roebling Bridge, which spans the Upper Delaware be­tween Lackawaxen, Pa., and Minisink Ford, and will reopen it to interstate traffic as soon as it can be rehabilitated.

New York's Attorney General Robert Abrams visited Monticello last Thursday to innaugurate his new offices at 230 Broadway. Ann Withey of Fallsburg will personally meet with persons who register consumer complains concerning mail-order merchandise, faulty warranty and similar problems.

North Wing Airlines, based at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, has made a bid to take over scheduled service at the Sullivan County International Airport.

Barry Katz, a student at Monticello High School, win a $50 U.S. Savings Bond from the New York Industrial Arts Association Convention at the Hotel Granit recently for his model covered bridge which he designed and constructed from a single block of wood. A ninth grander, he is the son of Ben and Ina Katz.

Ernest and Ethel Lyons of Wurtsboro will celebrate their 68th wedding anniverary on April 27th.

Joe Brown, an 18-year-old, is the envy of many local bowlers. He bowled a perfect 300 game at the Kiamesha Lanes in the Monday Night League... The next night he had a 766 series in practice and the week before he bowled a 286 in the Wednesday Night Classic, which was his previous high. He is the first 300 bowler in the history of Kiamesha Lanes.

At the recent New York State Indoor Track Championships, members of the Monticello team captured two gold medals and a silver with another team member, Sharon Wiley, finishing a strong fourth with her best effort ever in the high jump (five feet three inches). Tracey Armstead took a gold in the 55 meet dash and a silver in a long jump of 18 feet one and a half inches. Adam Bradley took a gold medal in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet two and a quarter inches... Beaumont School in Liberty had two runners in the Special Olympics Shopathon 18.8 mile race held in Albany two weeks ago. Robert Tripoli, 18, and Justin Conn, 16, were coached by Mike Ronaldson, who is a Special Olympics basketball coach, and trains with the boys. He would like to start a marathon race here in Sullivan County.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Mae and Thaddeus Nidds of Loch Sheldrake presented memorabilia of the Vietnam War to Howie Goldsmith, president of the Sullivan County Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. The Nidds, formerly of Long Island, whose son, Daniel, was declared missing on April 21, 1967, in Vietnam, and is still unaccounted for, have become a recognizable part of the National League of Families on behalf of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action America service personnel. Some 2,300 Americans who served in Vietnam are still unaccounted for. The league has grown to just as many families.

Instructors and students of the Hospitality Division of Sullivan County Community College received second and third place ribbons and a first prize in baking for an outstanding table at a recent competition.

Gladys and Charles Christ of Monticello were guests of honor at a dinner in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary at the House of Lyons in Monticello.

Glenn and Bonnie Vandenberg of Claryville became parents of a second daughter, Amy Elain, on February 19. Archie and Louise Dean of Neversink and Donald and Maryon Vandenberg of Liberty are the proud grandparents... Ronald and Bambi Meadow of Liberty are the proud parents of a girl, Ashley Elizabeth, born February 19. Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Meadow are the paternal grandparents.

Gary Nichols of The Nichols Company has returned to his native Sullivan County after a two-month tour in Florida and Nashville. Music Machine Magazine recently named The Nichols Company Band the number one country band in the Hudson Valley region and area music critic Stephen Israel awarded Gary an “In Tune” award for his current cassette album.

20 Years Ago - 2000

Firemen and auxiliary members from throughout the Hudson Valley descended on Sullivan County's capital Sunday to hear plans about the upcoming Hudson Valley Firemen's Parade and Convention to be held in the village on June 14-17. “We already have 100 fire departments, 53 bands, and 176 pieces of fire-fighting apparatus coming,” parade co-chair Carl Houman said. The 111-year-old Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association is headed this year by Gerald Day of Delmar.

A result of last year's vote to merge the former Delaware Valley, Jeffersonville-Youngsville and Narrowsburg school districts into Sullivan West, the libraries that served those school districts may join together as well. A vote will be held tomorrow on a proposition to merge the three affected libraries which would have three branches, each current library building becoming a branch.

On Sunday, the Apple Pond Farming Center will host its third annual Babies in the Barn, a fundraiser for public radio station WJFF. The farm, on Hahn Rd. in Callicoon Center, is owned by Sonja Hedlund and Dick Riseling.

The Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be having a dinner/dance at the Eldred Preserve to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the corps' founding.

10 Years Ago - 2010

Hurleyville Firefighter Lee Feldman saved two people from a horrific car crash that happened in his front yard. Feldman thought he was having a regular Saturday night at home when he heard an “indescribable… incredible noise” outside his home. A car had crashed into a cluster of trees near the street and had caught fire. Feldman threw on his gear and went out to help as his wife called 9-1-1. Feldman pulled one victim from the blazing car and let him know there was another person in the vehicle. The other victim soon showed up fearing police involvement. One of the victims feld on foot as police arrived. He was later caught, hospitalized and released. The Fallsburg Police nor Feldman could not determine who was the driver.

In a solemn ceremony, 33 dedicated volunteer firefighters, representing 21 fire departments across the county, were honored by the Sullivan County Volunteer Association as more than 125 people gathered to give final tribute to members of the firematic community that were laid to rest in 2009. Nearly 80 firemen turned out in full dress uniform to honor their brethren, lining the front walkway of the Government Center Building created a “Sea of Blue” as families of the deceased were escorted underneath a huge American flag and then into the building's rotunda.

Andy Karadontes, who is also known as “The Jeffersonville Jet,” won the open plus classic Winter National Dirt Track Championship held at the new facility outside turns 1 and 2 of the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Fl. On opening day for the 2010 racing season at Oakland Valley Speedway in Cuddlebackville, Karadontes swept the open expert class, 450 Expert class and the Sportsman class. Those victories brought the number of career money class wins to 497.