140 Years Ago - 1883

The annual Beechwoods picnic and festival will be held on Thursday, August 16, 1883, in Weber’s Grove. The Jeffersonville band has been engaged to furnish the music and abundant refreshments of all kinds will be on the grounds. A general invitation is extended to all.

During the thunderstorm Sunday afternoon last, the upper leather tannery of Jorn Goeble, located about one and one-half miles east of Jeffersonville, was struck by lightning, but not badly damaged. The bolt struck the chimney and ran down the stove pipe. (Note: This tannery stood on the property owned by Frank Pesci.)

The contract for rebuilding the old bridge in Jeffersonville was let on Saturday to the lowest bidder who was Oliver Hofer. The price paid is $290.

Our middle church sexton has a style of ringing the bells at sunset on Saturday evening and again at sunrise on Sabbath morning. This is a very pretty custom, and we hope it will be continued, for the sound brings good thoughts into the minds of the people whenever it is heard.

The second annual picnic of the Jeffersonville Cornet Band will be held in (their) Columbia Park near Jeffersonville on Monday, August 6.

130 Years Ago - 1893

The Neversink River is to be utilized by a new organized corporation to furnish electric light and power for the City of Middletown. This will be done by constructing a dam in the Town of Forestburgh at a suitable point in the Neversink near Oakland. The fall of water will operate turbine wheels, which act on a dynamo that will propel electricity over wires a distance to that city.

New potatoes are selling for 75¢ a bushel.

Postmaster Beck’s two sons, John and Burdette, will start Monday for the World’s Fair, to be gone about a week.

120 Years Ago - 1903

Anthony Manny of Hankins was calling on relatives in Jeff last week. Mr. Manny, a brother of Felix Manny of Youngsville, was many years ago a resident of Jeffersonville where he worked at blacksmithing with Fred Lieb. He finally located at Hankins where he became one of the leading and most prosperous blue stone dealers of the Delaware Valley.

Rudolph Gute of Middle Village, L.I., is stopping for a few days at the Mansion House. Mr. Gute has a fine monument business and contemplates buying a place at Liberty and may eventually locate here when he is ready to retire.

Robert Yaun of Youngsville and Miss Elizabeth Hessinger, daughter of William Hessinger of Callicoon, were united in marriage at the Kenoza Lake parsonage Sunday by Rev. W. A. Rodney. Wilmot Moulthrop and Carrie Hessinger were the witnesses.

The cutters working for several stone dealers in Livingston Manor have struck for higher wages and two of the quarries are now closed. They are getting $2.50 a day and wanted $2.75.

110 Years Ago - 1913

Miss Mabel Sander, youngest daughter of Mrs. John Sander of Sixteen, and Henry Short, son of the late Wm. C. Short of Jeffersonville, were married at the Callicoon Center parsonage July 23.

Thomas Pendell, former Sullivan County newspaperman who recently resigned as sealer of weight and measures of Dutchess County, because it didn’t pay enough, has been appointed a traveling agent of the state agricultural department, at a salary of $10 a day. Mr. Pendell has received a patent on an automobile tire he invented, and which it is said will bring him a fortune.

The Village of Wurtsboro, at a spirited meeting Thursday night, voted down for the second time the proposal to build a new schoolhouse at a cost of $8000. State Inspector Hall and Supt. Chase were present but their arguments had no effect on the opponents of the project.

Lightning on Tuesday of last week struck the Duffy homestead at Mongaup Valley, badly shattering the kitchen and other parts of the house. Miss Katherine Duffy, who was busy in the kitchen, received a severe shock and one side of her body was badly burned by electricity.

100 Years Ago - 1923

Charles Wilfert, our government weather station man, says that it has not been so dry in 30 years as now. 

The Methodist Church Society here have sold their church building on Maple Avenue to the Jewish Society, who will tear it down and reconstruct it into a synagogue on a lot they own on Jefferson Ave.

Miss Elsie Steinhauser, daughter of F. Steinhauser of Callicoon Center, and Jerry Schillo of New York, were married July 21, in New York City.

A record crowd of nearly 750 fans saw the baseball game Sunday between Narrowsburg and Jeffersonville when the Jeffersonville Athletics defeated Narrowsburg by a score of 12 to 3.

Leonard Gohde, who has been making his home for the past 16 years with Frank Neuberger, left on Tuesday for Los Angeles, where he expects to get employment with Earl Ranft and David Moran who went there a few months ago.

Irvin Krum and Richard Breen, two young men of Jeffersonville, have started a new enterprise, the manufacture of candy. They opened a candy kitchen on the Breen lot on East Main Street and are selling their product to dealers.

A son, Warren Klein, was born July 30, to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Miller of Callicoon. Mrs. Miller was Maud Ruebman of New York before her marriage.

George Bezold, who sold his barbershop in Youngsville, is assisting at Smith’s barbershop in Jeff during the busy season.

90 Years Ago - 1933

The Jeffersonville High School alumni dinner will be held this year on the last Saturday before Labor Day, September 2. This dinner will be in the form of a testimonial dinner to the retiring principal, Edward V. McDermott of Jeffersonville.

A son was born at the Callicoon Hospital to Dr. and Mrs. Arch Freer of Jeffersonville. There are now four boys which Doc says with himself constitutes a basketball team — and a Freer needs no substitute. 

A son was born July 24 at the Callicoon Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. George Schaller of White Sulphur Springs. She was the former Frances Hick of Youngsville.

Albert Holcomb has sold his Deer Lake property in Acidalia to Maurice H. Harris of New York.

Mrs. Timothy F. Bush, aged 90, widow of the late Judge Bush, died at her Monticello home Monday. She was born March 5, 1843, the daughter of William Ratcliff of England and Lucinda Buckley of Liberty. The Buckley family were among the pioneers of Liberty.

At the special meeting of the Jeffersonville Fire District at the firehouse on Tuesday night, 70 voted in favor of buying a new 500 gallon pumper at a cost of about $4500. Eleven voted against it.

Clifton Mathern hauled a 3 1/2 lb. trout out of the Callicoon Creek on Monday.

Over 2,200 Boy Scouts are at the Greater New York Scout Camps in Tusten. The Paul Wallingford Todd Memorial Museum of natural history of the camp foundation will be dedicated next month by President Roosevelt.

80 Years Ago - 1943

Miss Winifred Luchs, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Luchs, and Staff Sergeant Vincent Mullally, both of Jeffersonville, were married at St. Joseph’s Seminary parlors, Callicoon, August 4. They were attended by Mrs. Louis Smith and Bert Mullally.

Mr. and Mrs. William Rittershausen, who sold their farm on East Hill last year and since have been living in Liberty, have bought Mrs. Hazel Poley’s house on Wawanda Ave. in that village. 

After October 1, the Mansion House, one of the first hotels in Jeffersonville, will be closed. William Knell, who with his wife, recently deceased, ran the place for over 40 years, will lock the door and go with his son-in-law, Stephen J. Hoffman and family in one of the apartments in the Murray Building on South Main Street. Another old landmark passing in the march of time. This will leave Jeffersonville with only one hotel, the Hotel Jefferson, to cater to transients.

70 Years Ago - 1953

Hyman C. Levine, attorney of Jeffersonville, received the unanimous endorsement of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee at its meeting held July 22, for the nomination as a candidate for the office of Special County Judge and Surrogate. Mr. Levine’s name was placed in  nomination by Attorney Frederick W.V. Schadt and seconded by Monroe Davis.

On July 17 at Manor Field, the Jeff Legion won their 9th straight ball game by beating Manor 9 to 4.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tiemann and daughter of Lake Charles, La., are visiting at the Tiemann homestead.

Joseph E. Kurey of Jeffersonville has accepted a position as scout executive in Utica. For the past three years he has been a science and mathematics teacher in the Youngsville Central School and coach of the boys’ sports.

Harry Rose, the smiling butcher at Oscar Will’s, had a birthday last Friday. He and Joe Forsbach share the same day.

Sherwood Peters, the big farmer at Briscoe, has bought a 400-acre dairy farm located three miles from Skaneateles. He is now negotiating the sale of his Briscoe farm where he had 94 head of Holstein cattle and 7,000 White Leghorn hens.

60 Years Ago - 1963

Two armed bandits walked into the Irvington Hotel in Fallsburg early Tuesday morning and left a short while later with a 500 pound safe containing an estimated $25,000 in money and jewelry.

Unlike the May 9, 1961, tornado near Liberty, the big wind in the Fosterdale area Friday appears to have been a  straight wind – not a twister. The storm struck an area perhaps a mile wide, from Fosterdale south along Route 55 toward Lake Huntington, and carried on over eastward and seemed to have spent most of its force near the Yasgur Farms where it blew down a silo.

Mrs. Robert Bennedum and her two daughters narrowly escaped severe injuries when their trailer home near Fosterdale was blown over during the storm. A utility pole prevented the trailer from rolling over and over down the hill. 

At the Fred Bischoff home in Lake Huntington, a huge tree blew over onto electric wires providing plenty of “fireworks” after the storm. 

Albert Segar of Fosterdale had the job of clearing up a large tree which was toppled on the property of his father, Charles. The storm lasted about five minutes.

Miss Carolyn Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K.C. Lewis of Callicoon, became the bride of Martin Moore of Obernburg, at the Callicoon Methodist Church on June 8.

On July 18, Fred W. Stabbert Jr., became the legal publisher and editor of the Sullivan County Democrat, a position held since 1927 by his late father, Fred W. Stabbert, who died April 28. His mother, Nellie C. Stabbert, has been temporarily serving as publisher of the popular western Sullivan County weekly newspaper.

At the Callicoon Hospital it was a son Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hartmann of Cochecton; a son, Tuesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Trask of Walton; and a son to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sipple of Mileses; a son, Wednesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Freiermuth of Callicoon.

Miss New York State of 1961, Sherrlynn Patcelle, will crown the winner of the title of Miss Sullivan County Catskills at Monticello Raceway on July 27.

Miss Janet Rosenberger of Hortonville, became the bride of Herman VonAhnen of the Bronx at a double ring ceremony at the Hortonville Presbyterian Church on July 20.

50 Years Ago - 1973

George Dudley of Liberty has been named as the administrator of the Sullivan County Home and Infirmary.

The first section of the Sullivan County Democrat was printed by photo offset method. This marks the most significant step forward made by this paper since it started publication in the Fall of 1892. When the paper was founded, our masthead bore the slogan, “Devoted to the interests of Delaware Valley in Particular and Sullivan County in General.”

The Class of 1948, Jeff-Y, held its 25th reunion July 14 at Saulina’s in Jeff with 27 classmates, spouses and teachers enjoying a delicious hot and cold buffet.

A check for $500 was presented by Debbie K. Field, 1973 General Organization president of the Monticello High School, to Irving Shapiro, president of Community General Hospital, which is to be used to purchase equipment for the hospital.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Donald Tobin of Narrowsburg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 23 with a family gathering at the Century Hotel in Narrowsburg.

40 Years Ago - 1983

Little two-week old Jeffrey Kevin Lambert II is blessed with his share of grandmothers. At a shower held Tuesday, his great-great- grand-mother, Mary Lenich of Liberty, his great-grandmother, Viola Thompson of Watertown, his grandmothers  Veronica Vespermann of Liberty and Thelma Conklin of White Sulphur Springs and his mother, Elaine Conklin Lambert and his father, Jeffrey Kevin Lambert, proudly posed for a five generations picture. Another great-grandmother, Margaret Wigman of Farmingdale, L.I., was unable to attend. 

The Sullivan County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved the appointment of Maurice “Reese” Roche of Callicoon to replace Karl Ebers as a member of the Board of Trustees from July 1, 1983, to June 30, 1992. Mr. Ebers had served for 18 years on the board.

Officers of the newly organized Disabled American Veterans were installed on Sunday, including First Junior Vice Commander Fred Vassmer, Adjutant Louis Ratner and Chapter Commander George Pierro.

Miss Susan R. Withers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Withers of Livingston Manor, became the bride of David L. Sprague of Walton on June 18 at the Presbyterian Church in Livingston Manor. Rev. J. Richard Heaphy and Father Ray Donahue of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Downsville officiated.

Mrs. Evelyn Heinrich was the recipient of flowers and words of praise upon her retirement as teacher-in-charge at the Youngs-ville School. She has 41 years of teaching experience.

Mr. and Mrs. Willis Armbrust of Fremont Center became parents of a girl on July 6, 1983. A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Hubbert of Callicoon Center on June 21. Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Manzolillo of Cochecton RD1 became parents of a girl on June 26. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Litzenbauer of RD1, Damascus, Pa., on June 24, all at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa.

30 Years Ago - 1993

Lisa and Ludwig Gampfer of Kenoza Lake were honored on the occasion of their 70th wedding anniversary at the June 14 meeting of the Lake Huntington Senior Citizens Sunshine Club.

Stanley and Grace Deighton of Sparrowbush celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, July 18 at the Sparrowbush Firehouse. He is a former resident of Conklin Hill, the son of the late Floyd and Susie Merkenslager Deighton. Among the gifts they received, was a painting of the Conklin Hill Church which Mr. Deighton attended in his youth, painted by Helen Rieger. Mrs. Rieger and her husband, William, a longtime friend of Stanley Deighton, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 19. A celebration was held in their honor at their home, hosted by their children “under the big top” tent, with about 150 guests attending.

Eleanor Knack of North Branch was guest of honor at a testimonial dinner honoring her for her many years of advocating for the elderly. The Knack family recently held their 42nd reunion at the Hortonville Firehouse, with 83 attending.

More than 10,000 visitors have viewed the international exhibition “Anne Frank in the World: 1929-1945” at the Apollo Plaza in Monticello. The exhibition has proved to be a major area tourist attraction. It contains more than 800 photographs and focuses in great detail on daily life in both Nazi Germany and occupied Holland.  Anne Frank’s personal family history, reconstructed through photographs, serves as a powerful example of what happened to one “ordinary” family during those tragic years.

Twenty-three watercolor and oil paintings by Martin Gunther of Livingston Manor and Brooklyn, are on display at the Senior Citizens Art Exhibit at the Sullivan County Government Center. Mr. Gunther is 80 years of age and frequently makes trips to places like China and Alaska. He and his wife, Gertrude, came to the United States from their native Germany in 1949.

20 Years Ago - 2003

The 2003 5K River Race was held Saturday morning as a benefit fundraiser for the Delaware Youth Center in Callicoon. The fifth annual race attracted a field of 91 competitors of all ages. Tom Manza of Rock Hill was the first runner to cross the finish line. Manza is the president of the Sullivan Striders Running & Walking Club. Virginia Layton of Equinunk, Pa., was the first woman to cross the finish line.

The 13th annual Riverfest was held in Narrowsburg on Sunday. 

With summer in full swing, it is once again time for the Kittatinny Canoes Clean Up the Delaware River event. Canoe livery owner Ruth Jones has been coordinating the river cleanup since 1990. To date, the Kittatinny Canoes Cleanup has collected over 6,114 tires, 7,060 pounds of cans, and a total of 219.42 tons and 29.81 tons of scrap metal.

Wendy Cole, daughter of Ray and Thelma Cole of Neversink, and Douglas Dean of Neversink, son of Elizabeth Dean and the late Franklin Dean, were married at the Grahamsville Reformed Church on May 31, 2003.

Sharon Fox and Joseph Bastone were married on March 22, 2003 at the Cross & Crown Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. The bride is the daughter of Linda and Richard Fox of Loganville, Ga., and the groom is the son of Marilyn and Dennis Bastone of Monticello.

On Saturday, May 10, 2003, the Roscoe Community Nursing Home was the scene of a double-ring ceremony when Beatrice Simpson Gatrell, formerly of Roscoe, and Edward Veron Bloom of Napa, Calif., were united in marriage. This was a first for the nursing home. The mother of the bride, Helen Simpson, is a resident of the nursing home.

A new business located at Sullivan County International Airport in White Lake celebrated its tenth anniversary recently. Woodstock Aircraft Services, the locally owned fixed base operator, owned by John L. Nichols of Liberty, hosted an open house for patrons and the public on July 8.

10 Years Ago - 2013

A Long Eddy woman was seriously hurt Monday afternoon when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing Bridge St. in the hamlet of Callicoon. Police said the woman, 60, suffered a fractured skull in the hit-and-run accident. She was flown to West-chester Medical Center in Valhalla by LifeNet. Police set up a roadblock on Tuesday afternoon at approximately the same time as the accident to try to see if anyone might have any information regarding the case.

The Ruddick Trowbridge American Legion Post #73, Monticello, held its annual “Ralph Breakey Memorial Scholarship” and this June, it awarded $1,000 and a certificate to graduating senior Brittany Rupp, of Forestburgh, to assist in furthering her education. 

The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop announced that its recent theatrical production “The Miracle Worker” has been given three awards by the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS): Excellence in Acting to Mekayla Perneszi for her portrayal of Helen Keller; Excellence in Costume Design to Ed Berens; Meritorious Achievement Lighting Design to Jim Schmidt.