130 Years Ago - 1896

Mrs. Martha Benton, widow of Martin Benton of White Sulphur Springs, has been granted a pension of $8 per month, and $2 per month for each of three children under sixteen years of age.

A young bear was captured along the road near Eldred by two Port Jervis men last week. It will be exhibited at the Sullivan County Fair at Monticello.

New arrivals at the Eagle Hotel are John A. Pleines, Miss Annie Pleines, Miss Ella Deakson, Miss Jantzen, E.G. Faulhaber of New York City.

Rev. William Meyer will preach  Sunday morning, August 16, at 10:30 a.m. in the Jeffersonville German M.E. Church and in the Beechwoods schoolhouse at 2 p.m.

Some of the county papers inform us that W.C. Brand of Jeffersonville wants the Democratic nomination for county clerk this fall. W.B. Niven of Monticello is also announced as an aspirant.

C.V.R. Ludington of Monticello has been requested by Chairman Hacket of the  Republican state committee to deliver a number of speeches in this campaign.

Rufus C. Maltby has been engaged as principal of our school for the coming term and Miss Hannah Anderson of Callicoon Depot will have charge of the primary department. Mr. Maltby has served the district many times before in a very successful manner. Miss Anderson is a daughter of Capt. J.F. Anderson and a normal school graduate.

120 Years Ago - 1906

Kenoza Lake – Harry and John Moench are new arrivals at the Fern. Also staying there are Ferdinand Sauerwein, W.J. Frorath, Mrs. A.G. Arneth, Miss K. Guenther, and Miss A. Heck of New York City.

A very pleasant and successful birthday party was held at Charles Schaefer’s American Cottage on August 4 in honor of Miss Carrie Kraus of New York.

John T. Mackin of New York, former labor commissioner of this state, died at Frank Dole’s boarding house, Livingston Manor, Monday, two hours after taking a dose of oxalic acid in mistake for rochelle salts.

In the coaching parade last Monday the first prize for a float, a cut glass water pitcher, went to William Kohler, contractor and builder of this village, who made the greatest trades display ever attempted here. He, with his force of carpenters, put up and completed in every detail during the parade, a 2-story house, 7x10 feet, with front piazza, the float being drawn by four gray horses. It was a very commendable exhibition and a fitting representation of the energy and enterprise of this bustling young builder.

First prize on double rig went to E.F. Homer and Miss Tillie Manny, who drove the former’s handsome gray team attached to a runabout decorated in blue bunting, trimmed with white crepe rosettes and a neat sprinkling of vines, one of the prettiest turnouts ever shown here. The prize was a cut glass bouquet holder.

First prize in a single rig, a large cut glass bowl, was easily captured by D.J. O’Neill and son, Albert, of the Gedney House, Kenoza Lake, in a runabout trimmed in lavender and white and seated under a canopy completely covered with lavender wisteria.

110 Years Ago - 1916

Summer boarders at the Clear View Cottage in the Beechwoods Tuesday night gave Mr. and Mrs. William A. Allgeier, the proprietors, a pleasant surprise in honor of their thirtieth wedding anniversary. They were married August 15, 1886, in the home of the bride’s father, the late John Bauernfeind of the Beechwoods.

John P. Huff, A.C. Tillman and William F. Tuttle went fishing at Hunter Pond and had a fine catch of pickerel numbering 54. Mr. Huff lost a hook and, strange to say while dressing the fish, he found the hook inside one of the larger pickerel.

The new St. Clare’s R.C. Church at North Branch was dedicated last Thursday afternoon by Bishop Hayes of New York, assisted by ten priests. The church is built on a commanding site donated by Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Divers of New York. The furnishings for the interior were also given by friends. The church, which cost $2,500 was dedicated free of debt. Rev. Clement is the priest in charge.

Peter Wagner and wife of Roscoe motored here Sunday in the Saxon Six to visit friends.

Ernest Fimpel of New York spent Sunday here with his family, coming and returning with a friend by auto.

Mr. and Mrs. Casper Eggler and two daughters of Galeton, Pa. motored here in their Buick car to spend a couple of weeks with relatives.

John J. Schaefer, a native of Jeffersonville, and for many years past a prominent citizen of Cadosia, died at  his home in there on August.

Youngsville – A barn dance will be held on Thursday evening, August 24, at Durr’s Casino for the benefit of the Frauen Verein. All are welcome.

100 Years Ago - 1926

William J. Harding died at his home in Callicoon Center last Friday morning, August 13, in his 93rd year, thus bringing to a close the career of one of the most notable and highly esteemed citizens of this town. Mr. Harding served as postmaster for 40 years, and as justice of the peace for about 50 years. He was town clerk for about 10 years. He was one of the organizers of the Callicoon Agricultural Mutual Fire Relief Association and served as its president for 35 years.  He left an estate of about $250,000, mostly in municipal bonds.

Steve Hoffman, George Durr, Fred Schadt, Clarence Royce, Fred Dedling, Henry Chelius and Fred Chelius attended the Port Jervis Elks clambake at Westbrookville Sunday and do not want to see another clambake for the next few days.

Police Inspector William Coleman in charge of traffic in greater New York is vacationing with his wife and two children at Charles Robisch’s in the Beechwoods. Lieut. Ernst and family are also sojourning there.

Miss Christina Sohl of this place and Mrs. Lena Buddenhagen of Callicoon returned Saturday from a summer course at the Albany State College. Miss Theresa Deckelman has returned from a summer course at Columbia University and Miss Marie Wilfert from the Chautauqua course. All are members of the Jeffersonville school faculty.

Youngsville – Mrs. J. Schlagel, Mrs. J. Sander and Mrs. William Menges will serve at the Ladies Aid of the Reformed Church Thursday, August 25.

Kenoza Lake – Miss Bernice Fuhrer has returned home from a three week visit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. Meyerhoff of Rochester.

Fosterdale – R. Abplanalp is building a new blacksmith shop.

90 Years Ago - 1936

A disastrous bolt of lightning descended on the Walter Scott farm at Fosterdale last Monday evening about 5 o’clock, killed a valuable pair of horses standing in the stable, and burned the 30 x 55 foot barn with 50 to 60 tons of hay and some implements, and the nearby granary with about 260 bushels of oats.

The house of George Hasenpflue in the Beechwoods was hit by lightning during the storm Monday evening, but the only damage was slight, only a bit of the siding being knocked off the south side of the house.

Burned by lightning during the same storm was the 30x40 foot barn of Calvin Stewart near White Lake and the Lee Morton house at White Sulphur Springs, occupied by Fred Doetsch and family, was also struck.

Fred Schmuck of Union City is stopping with his schwieger, Ed Schwalbe, the photographer.

The school here will be reopened on Tuesday, September 8, following Labor Day, Monday.

Ray Shaara, who has a bungalow on the Beechwoods Road, has been engaged to teach music to groups of pupils from the Callicoon Center, North Branch and Quick district school, outside of school hours.

A son was born August 5 at the Callicoon Hospital to Mail Carrier and Mrs. Percy Cross of Hortonville.

Postmaster and Mrs. Ben R. Gerow of Liberty left on August 10 on a 19-day tour of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Mount Rainier and the Canadian Rockies.

80 Years Ago - 1946

Miss Shirley LeRoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. LeRoy of Jeffersonville and Raymond H. Semon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Semon of Kingston, were married at the Presbyterian Manse Saturday afternoon, August 1.

Last Sunday, August 11, the Luchs clan gathered together at the Shady Farm of Swiss Hill, near the scenes of their childhood, and other reunions. They are planning for another whenever John comes from California. The last one was held there four years ago. The five brothers are still “percolating” as Fred would say.

Michael Manzolillo, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Manzolillo, is home after his discharge from the Navy.

From an advertisement setting forth the platform of Katherine St. George, Republican candidate for Congress: “I support farm sentiment in the 29th Congress: “I support farm sentiment in the 29th Congressional District requesting suspension of food subsidies as soon as practical. I believe the farmer is entitled to an adequate return for his labors but prefers to operate free of government regulation.”

Rudolph R. Jauernig, who operated the Shandelee Lake Hotel for 32 years and sold it last year to Conrad Tempel of that place, died  August 4 at an Elmira hospital.

70 Years Ago - 1956

Adlai Stephenson has received the nomination for President at the Democratic Convention in Chicago.

Damage estimated at $35,000 was the result of a fire set by an arsonist at St. Peter’s R.C. Church in Liberty. The church’s organ and a large stained glass window were destroyed. An empty gasoline can was found after the fire was extinguished.

The County Board of Supervisors approved a bid to rehabilitate Workmen’s Circle as a county welfare home, but did not approve the controversial county airport.

Mr. and Mrs. William Jamieson of Youngsville celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family party at the Lake Jefferson Hotel.

Last Friday afternoon a large part of the ceiling of Victor Vincent’s store came down, carrying with it the lighting fixtures. No one was seriously hurt and business was back to normal soon after.

Playing at the Maple Theatre – Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr in “The King and I.”

60 Years Ago - 1966

The Camp Israel Airport site in the Town of Bethel “is approved for airport development under the Federal Aid to Airports Program,” the County Board of Supervisors was advised by letter Monday night. The airport site location is on North Road off Route 17B and is three air miles from the exact center of the county.

Miss Patricia Haney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Haney of Jeffersonville, became the bride of John Ryan of Middletown on Saturday, August 6, 1966, at St. George’s R.C. Church.

John H. Hector Jr. of Bethel, sponsored by Mills and Evans Chevrolet of Callicoon, participated in the 29th All American Soap Box Derby at Akron, Ohio.

A daughter, Diane, was born to Charles and Helen (Olsen) Hanslmaier on July 29, 1966.

Area residents called it “Knapp’s Folly” yet it became one of the oldest continuously operated resort hotels in Sullivan County. Founded in 1891, the  hotel had accommodations for 125 guests in the first few years and has grown to where it now handles about 330.

50 Years Ago - 1976

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Spire of Cochecton have announced the engagement of their daughter, Deborah, to Steven T. Otlowski of Newburgh. An October wedding is planned.

Assemblywoman Jean Amatucci Fox, her husband Mark Fox, her parents, Daniel “Jerry” and Carmela Amatucci and the driver of the other car, Max Newman of the Bronx, were injured in a head-on crash on Route 209 in the village of Haven Sunday afternoon. All but Mr. Amatucci were discharged from the hospital. Newman was charged with reckless driving.

Mrs. Nancie Seaman, 105, expects to attend the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair where she will take part in the dedication of a covered wooden bridge which one must cross to enter the fairgrounds.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Wood of Abrahamsville, Pa., announce the engagement of their daughter, Nancy, to John K. Moss of Tyler Hill, Pa.

A son, Jeremy Robert, was born July 26, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Guinan at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale. The little fellow will reside with his parents and one older sister, Heather, at Callicoon.

Arlyn Milk was guest of honor at an 85th birthday party at his home August 8th in Rock Valley.

40 Years Ago - 1986

Robert Brenner blew the Shofar (Ram’s Horn) to open the 14th annual Interfaith Worship Service, held Sunday morning in Grahamsville at the Little World’s Fair.

Phil Kaplan of Jeffersonville has been named editor and Barry Lewis of Neversink was named managing editor of the Sullivan County Democrat in Callicoon, according to an announcement made this week by Fred W. Stabbert, Jr., publisher of the twice-weekly newspaper.

The second annual Monticello Street Fair is scheduled to be held this coming weekend, sponsored by the Monticello Action Committee.

Plans to purchase the former New York Telephone Company building on Route 42 north, near the Jamesway Mall, to be used for a new Town of Thompson town  hall was confirmed this week by Supervisor David Kaufman.

Jeffrey Carmen, outgoing Liberty Village Manager, was the recipient of a certificate commending him for his “outstanding efforts on behalf of the village and in appreciation of his leadership in all areas of community improvement” by Liberty Mayor Pearl D. Bern at the Monday night meeting of the village board.

George Deckelman of Fremont Center added to his point lead in the Street Stock division by winning the National Parts Peddler Pocono Qualifier Saturday night at the White Lake Speedway and qualifying him to take part in the invitational at the Pocono Speedway.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Huggins of North Branch celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on July 20.

30 Years Ago - 1996

The Grover M. Hermann Division of Community General Hospital (CGH) celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 1971 dedication in a formal ceremony on Saturday.

The Cross/Osterhout family (descendants of Noah Cross and Rachel Osterhout who were married in March of 1776) will hold their annual reunion August 24 at the Neversink firehouse. 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin P. Bodin, son of Paul H. Bodin of Yulan, is supporting the search and recovery of TWA Flight 800, while assigned on board USS Oak Hill, homeported in Little Creek, Va.

Natalie Mattison of Napanoch announces the engagement of her daughter, Sandra Mattison to Daniel Kellogg, son of June Gale Kellogg of Kripplebush. She is also the daughter of the late Clifford Mattison. Wedding plans are incomplete.

Former New York Knick Dean Meminger, a member of the team’s last championship team in 1993, was on hand recently to give a basketball clinic at Liberty’s Hanofee Park.

Illusionist P.J. Yacino III of Narrowsburg will perform magic and mystery with exciting special effects at the Tusten Theatre in Narrowsburg on Friday.

Brian Brustman and Tim Ackermann were named Most Valuable Batter and Most Valuable Pitcher respectively in the Democrat’s softball tournament recently. The team of Buddenhagen’s Ford in Hortonville won its second straight tournament held by the newspaper. As is usually the case, both MVPs came from the winning team.

20 Years Ago - 2006

The upstairs room of the Jeffersonville Village Hall was named in honor of Russell Duttweiler at an open house held recently at the facility. A former trustee and mayor of the village, Duttweiler has long been involved in the community and actually donated the building that now houses the village offices on Center Street.

Nicole Spafford and Jeffrey Scanna of Neversink announce the birth of a daughter, Gabriella Scanna, on July 17, 2006.

David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash,  and Neil Young returned “to the garden” to perform Sunday at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Crosby told Duke Devlin the “vibe” is still alive at the site of the 1969 Woodstock concert.

Max Gersten of Monticello celebrated his 100th birthday on August 8. More than 130 people attended the party held for the occasion.

Bill Lane was presented with a 50-year certificate for his participation with the American Legion at a recent meeting of the Ruddick Trowbridge Post #73 of Monticello.

DEATHS: Retired English teacher Marguerite “Maggie” Matthews, 79, died August 7, 2006 in Gwynedd, Pa. ... Mildred “Midge” Wells of Liberty died August 12, 2006 in Harris at the age of 71. ... James “Teddy” Thiele of Mileses, 61, died August 12, 2006 at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. ... Bernice Decker Masten, well-known for her love of Sullivan County history, entered into Heaven August 14, 2006 at the age of 75.

10 Years Ago - 2016

Frost Valley YMCA announced the centennial anniversary of the Frost Valley Castle, former home to early-1900s wool baron Julius Forstmann and his family. The “Friends of the Castle” endowment, which provides daily care for the castle, allows guests to experience this timeless treasure for years to come.

The Columbia Hill Neighborhood Alliance (CHNA) will host its 2nd Annual “What the Hill” Friend-Raiser at the Hurleyville Fire House Sunday, August 21. The community celebration will feature information on the history of Columbia Hill.

Numerous brief but intense thunderstorms crossed Sullivan County for the past week. A fallen half of an ancient maple tree temporarily blocked Old Taylor Road near Kenoza Lake and knocked down utility lines, leaving a few dozen homes without electricity for several hours. Thousands more homes and businesses throughout the county were also affected by power outages over the weekend.

Sullivan County Public Health Services has reported that a skunk tested positive for the rabies virus in the Town of Rockland after the skunk attacked a family’s dog. This is the third confirmed case of animal rabies in the County this year. The previous two involved a raccoon and a feral cat. Be sure your dogs, cats and ferrets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.