110 Years Ago - 1911

A twenty-three foot Indian canoe, sunk in the water of York Lake by Tom Quick, was discovered by L.F. Campbell and raised to the surface today by the assistance of Earl A. Thorn, who afterwards paddled it the entire length of the lake. It is in a fair state of preservation. York Lake is located two miles above Lackawaxen. L.P. Campbell is the caretaker of the property and for years he has been endeavoring to locate the canoe which it has always been claimed Tom Quick, the famous Indian slayer, sent to the bottom of the lake after putting white stones in the canoe. Mr. Campbell recently located what he believed to be the canoe in twelve feet of water, in a cove of what is known as “Devil’s Cave.” The water is so clear at this point that Mr. Campbell had no difficulty in determining that the thing he saw was really a canoe and marking the spot where he found it, the caretaker determined to bring it to the surface on Friday. Young Thorn, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Thorn, is an expert in diving. He assisted Mr. Campbell in getting a chain under the canoe and finally bringing it to the surface after having succeeded in procuring a white stone from the canoe, which bore out the tradition. A monument has been erected to Tom Quick at Milford, PA, and information states that Mr. Quick was born in 1730 and died in 1796. Tom Quick was the first white child born within the limits of the present borough of Milford, PA.

On Thursday evening, July 27, Mr. and Mrs. James I. Curtis of Callicoon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Charles Bergner. Mr. Curtis is the oldest resident of Callicoon.

Great preparations are being made by Committeemen Messrs. E.A. Brand, Christian Sander and V.P. Scheidell for the coaching day parade which will be held on August 14th in Jeffersonville.

Jacob Schneider, who for the past two months conducted a tailoring business in the Lawrence building, left for Schenectady Monday. Jeffersonville regrets losing Mr. Schneider as he was the best tailor who has ever been there.

Someone broke into the Erie R.R. Station in Narrowsburg last week taking nothing but the pocketknife.

100 Years Ago - 1921

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Turner of Callicoon announce the birth of a daughter on August 3, 1921.

When lightning struck a vacant cottage between Liberty and Ferndale last week, the building was knocked off its foundation.

When attempting to unload a bag of flour from his wagon for a neighbor last week, B.A. Tyler stumbled and fell against the edge of the porch upon which he intended to set the flour and the impact caused a compound fracture of the left leg near the ankle. He is now in the Deerpark Sanitarium in Port Jervis for repairs. As he is a man in advanced years, his condition is serious. — Damascus Corresp.

Miss Elsie Strain, youngest daughter of the late Emmet Strain of Long Eddy, now 16 years of age, on July 19, in a solemnly beautiful and impressive ceremony of reception and profession into the Order of the Ursuline in Youngstown, Ohio, received the white veil. She will be known as Sister Augusta Marie.

It may be interesting for the patrons of the R.F.D. route, which was established some six months ago, to know that 28,000 pieces of mail have been handled on the route, and during July nearly a ton and a quarter of mile matter was handled by the carrier. — Cochecton Corresp.

The people of this community were shocked to learn of the death of the 8-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Schaefer, who reside on the Jeff Road, was suddenly seized by appendicitis. He was taken to the Port Jervis hospital by Dr. Schonger where he died Friday morning. He is survived by his parents and 12 brothers and sisters. — North Branch Corresp.

Arthur G. Gottschalk, only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Gottschalk of Van Ness, N.Y., was struck by lightning and instantly killed Sunday, July 31, 1921, at Rhinebeck on the Hudson. With a friend, he had just started on a motorcycle trip to Niagara Falls when overtaken by the electric storm which caused his death. He was born in New York City and spent his vacations at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Katherine Metzger, in Callicoon.

The bazaar and roast chicken supper Thursday was a great success, $377.93 being realized. Much credit is due to the Sacred Heart Society members for working to make it a success. — Hankins Corresp.

90 Years Ago - 1931

William Deckelman of Jeffersonville, one of the most successful Sullivan County lawyers, was designated Democratic candidate for District Attorney on Saturday.

M.L. Armstrong’s store in Long Eddy was broken into Friday night and $125 of Post Office money and $75 worth of stamps were stolen from a drawer in which the money was secreted. The bandits have been apprehended through the detective work of state trooper Cpl. Waldron and six other state troopers.

Otto Hillig, Liberty’s flying photographer, and Holger Hoiriis, his pilot on a trans-Atlantic flight to Germany, were guests Thursday night at a final gesture of Liberty at a public meeting held at the Liberty High School, when local residents met to present the two men with gold watches and chains and medals in recognition of their feat. William G. Birmingham, president of the Liberty School Board, presented the watches and Dewey Borden presented the chains.

A war on slot machines is again on according to reports from all parts of Sullivan County. Owners of these devices would do well to dispose of them before a raid becomes necessary.

Downsville may be wiped out with other villages of the East Branch of the Delaware River Valley as the result of construction of the proposed new reservoir to supplement New York City’s drinking water supply, it was indicated Thursday with reports from the Shinhopple drill field, six miles south of Downsville, that an ideal location had been found for the reservoir.

Joseph Falcon has opened a new gas and service station in Hankins and will welcome your patronage.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Young Jr. of Fernwood on July 30, weighing 8 and 3/4 pounds.

Mr. and Mrs. William Kille Sr. are the proud grandparents of a son born to Mr. and Mrs. William Kille Jr. of Narrowsburg.

Louis J. Kautz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Kautz of Beechwoods, and Miss Mildred M. Kilroy, daughter of Mrs. Linnie Kilroy of Callicoon Center, were united in marriage July 26 by Rev. John Straub at the Callicoon Center parsonage. Thomas J. Kilroy and Mrs. Wilma Wagner, brother and cousin of the bride, attended the couple.

80 Years Ago - 1941

Charles E. Button, a former principal of the Youngsville and Livingston Manor Schools, and a vice principal of the Roscoe School, was named Superintendent of Schools in the second district of Sullivan County. He assumed his duties as of August 1.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a girl, Sunday, for Mr. and Mrs. Al Berberich; a boy, August 7, for Mr. and Mrs. Milton Merz; a girl, August 4, to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lowe of Middletown. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Huter of Youngsville at the Liberty Hospital.

A miscellaneous shower was tended Miss Ethel Reum at the home of Mrs. Walter R. George, Callicoon, Monday. Miss Reum, the recipient of many beautiful and useful gifts, will be married Saturday to Jack Fisher, Beechwoods, poultryman and employee of the Ohls Hatchery here.

Mr. and Mrs. E. Edward Dawes of Clinton announce the engagement of their daughter, Alice, to Herbert C. McClure, son of Rev. and Mrs. Charles McClure of Callicoon.

Eighty-three-year-old Calvin Hornbeck of Liberty has been denied his driver’s license as the result of a decision of Commissioner George Drexel of the motor vehicle bureau. The action was begun after a minor accident in which Mr. Hornbeck was involved.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Stephens of the Beechwoods are parents of a second daughter born August 1 at the Callicoon Hospital.

Mrs. Elise Ropke of Lava has announced the engagement of her daughter, Elise, to Walter Wood. The wedding will take place in September. Mr. Wood is manager of the Victory Store in Narrowsburg.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Conklin. She was the former Lillian Dexter of Milanville, PA.

70 Years Ago - 1951

The Callicoon Hospital has 20 beds and not 12 as reported in last week’s story.

The two-year degree, Associate in Applied Science, will be awarded for the first time to 132 graduates of the State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences at Binghamton on August 3. Among the graduates are Emerson E. Ebert, Callicoon, Technical Office Assistant; Anna Marie Kurzweil, Callicoon, Medical Office Assistant; and Toy Delores North, Mileses, Medical Office Assisting. All are graduates from DVCS.

There were four babies born at the Callicoon Hospital this week: a son, July 30, to Mr. and Mrs. Lindon Bryant of Rileyville, PA.; a son, July 29, to Mr. and Mrs. Allen Branning of Narrowsburg; a daughter, July 29, to Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Myer of Lake Huntington; a daughter, July 30, to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Tyler of Milanville, PA.

There is a nice display of items of historic interest pertaining to the early times of Cochecton and the Erie Railroad in D.C. Porr’s store in Cochecton. Especially timely is an 1849 newspaper with the Erie timetable of that date; a map of New York State 1849, with the planned route of the N.Y. & Erie Railroad, shown across the Southern Tier; a revolver used by D.C. Porr’s grandfather to keep order among the workmen (German and Irish) while constructing the stone arches and walls when the railroad was built. Also included is Arthur Henning’s collection of arrowheads.

Two heifers on the Fred Birth farm, Route 97, Callicoon, were killed by lightning during the severe storm last Friday afternoon.

The Rollettes of the Delaware Valley Ladies League brought home all sorts of rewards from their participation in the Women’s State Bowling Tournament in Binghamton during the month of May. The entire Thursday Night Ladies League of four teams came in for prize money. The Pink Elephants won $45; the Callicoon Alleys, $35; The Calico Cats, $18; and the Purple Cows, $14. Winnie Karg and Nell Stabbert received $4 for their doubles, and those taking prizes in individual bowling were Evalina Traynor, $14; Lucia Sprague, $7.60; Lee Adam, $2; and Nell Stabbert, $2.

A son, Michael Francis, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hoffmann on July 15. Mr. Hoffmann, a former Callicoon boy, is personnel manager at a hospital in Newton, Conn. Mrs. Hoffmann is an Australian girl Francis met while in the service in the South Pacific during World War II.

Susan Mary Rieger, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Rieger, was baptized July 29 at Holy Cross Church by Fr. Alvin Hughes.

A group of progressive residents of Kohlertown have formed a television corporation known as Kohitel, Inc. and have completed plans for the erection of a tower on Swiss Hill.

Rev. Paul Brown, a student pastor assigned to the Methodist churches at Kenoza Lake, Fosterdale, Cochecton Center and Jeffersonville, and Miss Dorothy M. Barlow of Treadwell, were united in marriage on July 7th.

60 Years Ago - 1961

Miss Judith Engert, who will be married to Ronald Highhouse on August 26, was feted Saturday evening at a family shower at the home of her cousin, Mrs. Kay Rosenberger. More than 20 attended.

The last batch of chicks came out of the H.E. Ohls Co. Chick hatchery in Callicoon last Monday, July 31. The hatchery has been in operation here since 1938 and now will close its doors. More than 2,000 visited the new installation during an open house at its opening.

Kathy Slausenberg took the Working Hunter Reserve Championship in English Classes on Daddy’s Girl at the Kiwanis Horse Show here last Sunday. Porter Fox, ridden by Harold Bates, took the horse championship in Western Classes and Green Hunter Champion was awarded to Marked Deck, ridden by Major White.

Arnold Palmer, second top money winner this year, and last year’s Masters and Open winner, will participate in an “all-star” golf tournament at the Concord International Golf Course August 8-11.

The big barn of Kenneth Edwards, Abrahamsville, PA., burned to the ground Wednesday morning. The large structure and 8,000 bales of hay were a total loss.

Residents of Roscoe who live near the Central School building were present to watch the destruction of the house formerly occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Fitzgerald, which began about 8 a.m. Wednesday and ended in the afternoon of the same day. The new addition to the school will be built on the Fitzgerald property.

Everard K. Homer has retired as Postmaster at Livingston Manor, having reached the statutory retirement age of 70. It is rumored that Wilfred Smith, a Livingston Manor feed dealer, might be his successor.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kautz celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary July 26 at their home.

Miss Anita Robbins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Robbins of Hancock, became the bride of Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schmidt of Callicoon Center, on July 30, at St. George’s Church in Jeffersonville.

50 years ago - 1971

Marc Stier and Jerry Jacobs, Liberty High School juniors, had a triumphant homecoming last week after they captured top national honors in a debating contest held at Georgetown University in Washington. The boys bested a team from Miami Beach, Fla., to take first place in the junior varsity division of the Forensic Institute’s three-day interscholastic tournament. The topic for the debate was “Should the jury system be significantly changed.” The boys are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Stier and Mr. and Mrs. Max Jacobs.

Extremely heavy rain in the upper Buck Brook-Roscoe-Obernburg area Tuesday caused a flash flood along Buck Brook and the upper end of North Branch. An unconfirmed report also is that a bridge along the Basket Brook, near Long Eddy, was damaged by flooding water.

The psychiatric unit at Liberty Community General Hospital has been decorated with curtains, spreads and pictures supplied by the members of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Lt. Milton Ratner Post of the J.W.V. of Liberty.

Seventeen-year-old Diane Levan of Wurtsboro will preside as Miss Sullivan County Sportsmen’s Show at the annual event September 10-12. Second place went to Nancy Rohrman of Cochecton and third to Dale Matthews of Grahamsville. Miss Levan succeeds Rose Eck of Livingston Manor as Queen of the show.

The Eagle Scout Award was bestowed on Steven Schiff, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney P. Schiff of Liberty, at special ceremonies on July 17, held at the Liberty Elks Lodge.

Many people of all faiths were on hand July 20 to greet His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke, as he made his visit to the Holy Cross Parish.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren Doetsch of Callicoon are the parents of a son, Darren Dennis, who was born at the Wayne Memorial Hospital on July 21.

Susan Selthafner was feted with a bridal shower Saturday evening. She will become the bride of Michael Spafford of North Branch on August 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Zimmerman of Damascus, PA., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a surprise party at Reber’s Sunday.

Audrey Head, Sullivan County’s Dairy Princess, presented a trophy to Eldon Harner Saturday evening for his winning drive behind Deputy Hanover.

At the Liberty Loomis Hospital it was a daughter, Brette Idelle, to Mr. and Mrs. Max Zalkin of Liberty, July 24; a son, Scott Brian, to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Clark of Youngsville; a son, John Paul, to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Abplanalp of Liberty on July 25; a girl, Tamara Marie, to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ackerly of Roscoe, July 26; twins, Chad Edward and Kim Lynn to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Edwards of Youngsville; a girl to Mr. and Mrs. David Dutcher of Livingston Manor, all on the 27th.

Mr. and Mrs. Berwyn Williams are the proud parents of a 9 pound baby boy, born July 7. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Whitmore are the proud paternal grandparents and Mr. and Mrs. Glen Avery are the maternal grandparents.— Damascus Corresp.

Five trophies were brought back to this area on July 25 when an antique car meet was held at Binghamton. Those attending from here and each winning were Mr. and Mrs. Warren Mall with a 1930 Ford; Mr. and Mrs. Nial Lindsley, a 1929 Hudson; Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Bossley, a 1929 Ford; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Chellis, a 1930 Chevy; and Mrs. and Mrs. Edwin Chellis, a 1932 Chevy.

40 Years Ago - 1981

More than sixty parishioners and guests filled the small Pond Eddy Methodist Church in celebration of the 120th anniversary of the founding of the church on Sunday.

Craig Stewart, supervisor of the Town of Delaware, said Thursday that he received a call from Congressman Matt McHugh’s office confirming U.S. Government Environmental Protection Agency Funds for Sewer District No. 1 for Step 2-3 (design-construction) of the project.

The 102nd Little World’s Fair will be held August 14-16 at Grahamsville. An independently run agricultural fair, it is the only one of its kind in New York State.

Members of the Hankins Fire Department are busy improving the appearance of their new church hall, the former Sacred Heart Church, in Hankins.

Mike Stauch, Callicoon’s famous walker, will be heading for Syracuse next week to compete in the Empire State Games. Dad, Roger, recently caught a nice 17-inch, 3 lb. 4 oz. largemouth bass “somewhere around Callicoon.”

The athletic feats in track and field of Tracey Armstead of Monticello were recognized with a framed certificate and ribbon by Monticello Mayor Louis Harmin on Monday evening. Tracey is the holder of several New York State records.

30 Years Ago - 1991

At least three issues of the Sullivan County Democrat have carried a full page history on “The Who’s Who of Sullivan County Hotels,” showing many pictures from the old days when the hotel business was in its heyday. The account included a list of names of hotels that had existed in Sullivan County and readers were invited to submit names of those not yet listed. (The August 2, 1991, issue listed those in the Loch Sheldrake, Masten Lake, and Mongaup Valley — which were being printed according to the villages in which they existed, alphabetically.) The page also showed the Lake Jeff Hotel in Jeffersonville, Hillside Villa in Liberty and the photo of a large boarding house taken in the 1920s.

Dr. Joseph Lauterstein of Monticello was honored as the recipient of the Sixth Annual SYDA Community Service Award. At the age of 2, he and his family were forced to leave their native land, Czechoslovakia and then to America in 1941. Like his father before him he was destined to become a doctor — a profession that enabled him to help people in need. Dr. Lauterstein returned to Europe to study at the University at Vienna, graduating in January of 1964, and joining the staff at Community General Hospital in 1970. He became chief of cardiology there in 1971.

Six fire companies responded to an alarm in the attic at the Jeffersonville school when wood was ignited as repairmen prepared to paint the surface. Damage was minimal.

20 Years Ago - 2001

The Neversink Renaissance group took top honors – and $20,000 – at the first-ever Annual Awards Picnic for Sullivan Renaissance. Fourth place was given to John Theadore for his project at the North Branch firehouse, which also helped him earn his Eagle Scout honors. Third Place went to Jeffersonville for their Main Street Beautification project, and the members thanked Liberty for helping them fix the project after it was vandalized last week. Second Place and $10,000 was awarded to Liberty for the LaPolt Park Beautification project. First Place and $20,000 Grand Prize went to Neversink for the work on the Grahamsville/Route 55 corridor. Phil Coombe Jr. accepted the prize and said the money will go for an addition at the Daniel Pierce Library.

The Lions Field in Jeffersonville was filled with activity Saturday as the annual Jeffersonville Jamboree took place. Serving as Grand Marshals for the parade were Dick and Kathy Herbert.

Polar Publishing Company, organized three years ago to reprint in revised editions the work of Dr. Frederick A. Cook, one of the most prominent and controversial of 20th century explorers, has issued the 90th anniversary edition of Cook’s seminal work – “My Attainment for the Pole: The Record of the Expedition that First Reached the Boreal Center, 1907-09.”

10 Years Ago - 2011

The Mamakating Library is going to have a new and permanent home, after moving from place to place for 98 years in rented premises. The new building is slated to be built right on Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro, next to the Community Church. With help from Kathy LaBuda, Jonathan Rouis and local county legislators, the library board were able to purchase the property through a tax sale. The building still standing on the property has been condemned and will be torn down.

DA Jim Farrell confirmed yesterday that former County Probation employee Leigh Shaddock was indicted by a grand jury, standing accused of stealing in excess of $16,000 from the Department. She was indicted on 54 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree and one county grand larceny in the third degree, all felonies.

Gaining the most online votes - 272,257 - the hamlet of Roscoe has won the zesty new title of “2011 Ultimate Fishing Town USA” a significant coup that carries a $25,000 financial benefit as well as prestige that money can’t buy. Roscoe won out over 300 other towns, all vying for the bragging rights as the WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town for the year. WFN, North America’s only 24-hour fishing network, will donate $25,000 to the Roscoe Chamber and feature the town on its cable network.