130 Years Ago - 1893

Frederick Warde, the noted actor, is stopping at the West Shore House in White Lake.

Ex-mayor W.R. Grace of New York is visiting E.N. Knox at the latter’s summer resort west of Liberty. [Editor’s note: Knox owned the big house that was later known as the Loomis annex and stood on the state road. It has since been torn down.]

H. Gardner & Co.’s paper mill, which has been idle for a month during which time much work in repairing and improving the machinery has been done, resumed operation again this week.

Charles T. White has sold the Hancock Herald to Herbert Wagner, formerly editor of the Hawley Times and an old Hancock boy whose parents still reside there. Mr. White will remove to Brooklyn. [Ed. Note: This same Charles T. White, 90 years old, still lives in Hancock. In the August issue of the New York Weekly Press, two pages were devoted to him, giving a brief biography of him.][That Editor’s note was written a long time ago.]

The Erie carpenters have received orders to close and board up ten towers on the Delaware division. The towers that have been closed up are as follows: Shohola, Westcolang, Narrowsburg, west of Narrowsburg between Cochecton and Callicoon, Rock Run, and Hancock, Hankins and Basket west of Lordville, west of Stockport, west of Hales Eddy. This will lay off 20 operators. Two for each tower, each received $45 a month. This saving to the company will therefore be $900 a month.

The kirmess held at Monticello last week was a great success. Crowds witnessed the national dances performed every day by Monticello talent under the supervision of Miss Lila Stewart of Kingston. The proceeds are for the Soldier Monument. [Ed. Note: Now look up kirmess in the dictionary. We did!]

120 Years Ago - 1903

Professional divers are expected from the city this week for the 4th time to search for the body of Frederick H. Drewes, the young Brooklyn man supposed to be drowned in Lake Huntington. The widowed mother declares that if the body is not recovered she will buy a lot on the lake, build a house and spend the rest of her life in view of her son’s watery grave.

It is said that H. Searles Allison, foreman of the Livingston Manor Ensign, has purchased the Callicoon Depot Democrat.

The coaching day at Liberty on Tuesday was spoiled by the heavy rains.

Adam Homer of Livingston Manor is probably one of the heaviest and happiest all around men in the county. In good health, as at present, he tips the scale at 298 lbs.

The following teachers are engaged for the Monticello High School: Mathematics and Science, A.J. Glennie, principal; Latin and Biology, Miss Elizabeth V. Darrow; training class, Miss Caroline V. Anable; grammar department, Miss Celia L. Grinnell; intermediate, Misses Mary J. Cooke, Elvie C . Taylor; primary, Misses Ada Perry and Bertha M. Mitchell; vocal music, Mrs. G.L. McLaughlin.

110 Years Ago - 1913

The comptroller of currency has granted the application for organizing the First National Bank of Jeffersonville. The directors and the officers of the bank have not yet been selected.

While Harry Bacon and Henry Boehn were extending the Western Sullivan Telephone Company’s line in Mongaup Valley from White Lake on Tuesday, they were threatened with dire things by Shoemaker Pabst, Blacksmith French and others at the Valley, who objected to the erecting of poles along the highway in front of their places. French threw a stone and hit Mercer, who was on a pole fastening a wire, and stones were hurled by others. Pabst came out with an old shot gun and a New York policeman there on vacation flourished a revolver and threatened to fill the linemen with .38s. The line was completed without any bloodshed.

Herman Lohman, proprietor of the New Liberty House at Liberty, was instantly killed at the crossing of the Erie Railroad at Callicoon at half past three last Sunday.

Dr. J. Cameron Gain, who located in Jeffersonville three years ago, purchased on Tuesday the Dr. Davis property on East Main Street, Jeffersonville, which he has occupied since coming here.

William Knell was elected president and H.V. Allington as clerk of the Board of Education of the Jeffersonville Union School District Monday night.

 Judge George H. Smith was named for Assembly by the Democrats in place of John K. Evans who declined renomination. George L. Cooke of Monticello was named for district attorney; Robert W. Sears of Liberty for county treasurer.

A first class clam bake will be served on the Jeffersonville House green at 1:30 on the day of the Jeffersonville Fair.

100 Years Ago - 1923

Sidney F. Foster of Liberty has been named county historian of the American Legion. He is presently working out plans for an extensive history of Sullivan County in the World War and plans to complete this task during the year. The idea of a history of Sullivan County’s part in the war has long been under consideration by members of the Legion and it is felt that the work should be done before the data becomes scattered as members of the county’s delegation in service may move away or lose their records. Several counties throughout the state have compiled county histories and the value of such a work in this county is beyond question.

Fred W. Schadt and Frank Doughty went to the state fish hatchery at  Summitville yesterday and brought back forty cans of trout fingerlings for distribution in the brooks around here.

Wayne County, Pa., is to have one of the largest hydro-electric plants in the east. Eighty engineers are now at work at Wilsonville, Wayne Co., for the Phoenix Utility and Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, planning a gigantic dam and generating plant. The plant will be just above the falls at Wilsonville, will be 1,000 feet long and dam the water back for 15 miles, forming a huge lake.

“Billy” Faubel appears in the special feature movie to be shown at Masonic Hall, “Black Beauty.” Not much of him is seen in the movie but he really does do an awful lot. He climbs up a ladder into a hay mow and sets the barn afire from the ashes from his pipe.

90 Years Ago - 1933

President Roosevelt and his party passed through Jeffersonville yesterday at 2:37 p.m. on his way to the Greater New York Boy Scout Camp at Tusten. The president came from his home at Hyde Park. The route in the county brought him to Monticello to White Lake to Fosterdale, to Kenoza Lake, to Jeffersonville and over the hill to the North Branch road to Callicoon Center and on to Roscoe where he went to visit his private secretary, Miss Tully, who is recuperating there from an illness. He was accompanied by State Police, his personal staff and a moving picture newsreel outfit. From Roscoe he returned to Hyde Park.

The Board of Education has engaged Rhoderick Lee Lacy as principal of the school to succeed Edward V. McDermott, retired. He comes from the state of Virginia.

Last night a torrent in the Jones Brook washed away 70 feet of roadway at the Allgeier bridge on the Callicoon road. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Howland of Liberty were returning from Callicoon about midnight in a new Chevrolet sedan when they came on the 20 foot reinforced bridge at Mrs. Mary Allgeier’s. The bridge collapsed with them. The Howlands managed to get out of their car and are now marooned at Mrs. Allgeier’s. The car was carried 300 feet downstream.

80 Years Ago - 1943

The County Democrat Committee the other night named William R. Schaefer of Lake Huntington as County chairman to succeed James M. Kelley of Monticello who held the office for many years and declined re-election.

Miss Betty Dowitsch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dowitsch of North Branch, and Lt. Warren K. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Miller of Hortonville, will be married September 1 by Rev. Dr. Fred Foerster.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Seibert of Bayonne were here for the weekend and will return here in two weeks to take over the confectionary store of his stepfather Louis P. Faubel, who is retiring on account of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Mall will be married fifty-nine years September 8.

70 Years Ago - 1953

The John Wohltjen family reports that while enjoying an outdoor meal in their yard last week bullets were heard to fly past them. Mrs. Wohltjen thinks someone has been doing some target practice in the village and some of the shots missed the target and traveled in the direction of the Wohltjen home.

Henry Kempf, living northeast of Youngsville, celebrates his 93rd birthday today. Only 7 more to go he says to make it a hundred. He was born on the farm where he lives in 1860 and has never lived anywhere else.

The boys are busy after working hours on their regular jobs completing the addition to the Jeffersonville Firehouse. They say they will have it ready for the annual firemen’s ball in October.

August Lott of the Ace Garage, local Hudson dealer, has been awarded a Benrus calendar watch for meeting his quota in sales – sale of three Hudsons. Augie met it with ease and went on to sell twelve instead.

The referendum on the proposed expenditure of $200,000 for improvement to the Monticello water system was defeated Wednesday by a vote of 412-87.

60 Years Ago - 1963

The South Fallsburgh School building, now being used by the Sullivan County Community College, is being readied for the opening of classes on September 23. Dr. Richard K. Greenfield, SCCC president, is taking up residence in rented quarters in Monticello this week with his family, moving them from Merrick, L.I.

The proposition to establish a public dump on the Winkelstern site in the Town of Delaware was defeated by referendum on Wednesday, August 21. At Callicoon, the vote was 173-121 against and at Kenoza Lake the tally was 115-97 in favor of the dump.

Miss Nancy Ellen Schadt became the bride of Paul T. McDermott at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Liberty on August 17.

Dr. H.C. VanKeuren closed his office over the post office for the first time in 47 years. His health has not been of the best in past months and he had to give up his practice. He started his practice in Jeffersonville in 1916 and came to Narrowsburg in February 1928 on a part-time basis, until August when he moved his family to a four-room bungalow on the Flats.

Jon E. Ostrander, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Ostrander of Damascus, Pa., is the first out-of-state student to enroll at Sullivan County  Community College.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a son, Friday, to Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Houghtaling of Lookout, Pa.; a son, Saturday, to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schwab of Tyler Hill, Pa.; a daughter, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Hess of Callicoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Bossley of Jeffersonville announce the engagement of their daughter, Karen, to Donald W. Huter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Huter of Bethel.

The famous Rheingold Girls will appear at the Monticello Raceway this week and at the Hortonville Firemen’s Field Day on August 25.

Another group of petitions with 3,584 signatures went to Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller August 14 protesting the construction of the Expressway west of Livingston Manor.

Claude Sprague, Monticello carpenter, was bitten on the hand Monday by a small monkey which had been trapped by a box trap made by Mr. Sprague. The monkey has been seen in the trees by the monument at the corner of Broadway and Jefferson Street since Thursday.

50 Years Ago - 1973

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Milton Levine of Fallsburg was unanimously nominated on August 7 in Albany to be the Democratic candidate for Supreme Court Justice from the 3rd Judicial District which area covers seven counties, including Sullivan.

Mr. and Mrs. Miles Ellison of Liberty were feted by friends and relatives on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary Saturday. Events of the day began with a dinner for 16 at the Antrim Lodge in Roscoe including members of the wedding party, followed by a dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Aden Road. They were married October 16, 1948, at St. Aloysius Church in Livingston Manor.

The engagement of Jacalyn Mahon to Keith Robisch has been announced. She is a teacher in the Delaware Valley Central School and comes from West Winfield. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Robisch of  Callicoon.

40 Years Ago - 1983

A Pontiac 6000 LE car has been donated by Mickey Roche and Reese Roche of Roche’s Garage to be won by the golfer who makes a hole-in-one on the 16th hole of the Sullivan County Democrat’s Golf Tournament to be held at the Grossinger’s Hotel and Country Club this weekend.

A total of $52,000 was raised in a fundraiser for the Firemen’s Burn Center in a baseball marathon held this past weekend in Rosendale.

Marilyn and Sidney Shapiro of Sullivan’s Department Store will receive the 1983 Torch of Liberty Award from the Anti-Defamation League at a reception in their honor on August 25, to be held at the Grossinger’s Hotel. Associated Mutual Insurance Company will also be honored for their 70 years of service.

Nancy Conjura of Grahamsville won the Jr. Champion Jersey class with her five-and-a-half-month old calf “Bambi” at the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair.

Anne Maus of Jeffersonville won a first place award at the Catskill Art Society sponsored 13th annual Arts and Crafts Country Fair on the Court-house Green in Monticello. Anne works in stained glass creations.

Diane E. Roth of White Sulphur Springs became the bride of James D. Palm of Oklahoma City on July 15 in Oklahoma... Darlene Rembish and William Ackermann were married June 11 at the Our Lady of the Lake R.C. Church in Lake Huntington.

Anniversary greetings were extended to Vincent and Marie Cronk on the occasion of their 60th with a gathering at their home... Mr. and Mrs. Nelson “Nip” Calhoun of Monticello celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with 150 guests gathering at the Jackson Huntington Camp.

30 Years Ago - 1993

The Community General Hospital Auxiliary sponsored a celebrity auction, raising several thousand dollars to purchase equipment. Included in the 225 items were autographed posters and albums from a host of stars, past and present; an autographed script by Alan Alda from M*A*S*H; cuff links from President Ronald Reagan; a golf glove from Arnold Palmer and many other gift certificates, dinner certificates, hotel accommodations and theatre tickets.

After the 114th Little World’s Fair, the 24th anniversary of Woodstock, and a highly successful second air show at the Sullivan County International Airport, what do you do for an encore? Another airshow at the airport! This one is scheduled for August 22 to 24 and will include two four-engine bombers that helped to win World War II, a B-24 Liberator and a B-17 Flying Fortress, ferried in by the Collings Foundation in Massachusetts.

Ken and Renee and their three children will occupy a home being constructed by the Wayne County Habitat for Humanity in White Mills, Pa. The volunteer crew works every Thursday evening and all day Friday and hope to have the home done by the end of summer. An auction is scheduled in the early fall to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity projects.

Charlie’s Angels are the 1993 playoff champions of the Monticello Women’s Softball League. The squad, named for the late Charlie Walls, has had only one loss this year.

Dairy farmers in Sullivan County may soon be able to draw on emergency federal funds to get them and their herds through the winter. Because of prolonged drought — the second in three years — yields of hay and corn for silage are down substantially, making Sullivan eligible for low-cost loans and grants to buy corn and soybeans from federal stocks.

The Rose Valley Senior Center celebrated its fourth anniversary with pink and silver anniversary buttons for everyone and an ice cream party.

Ludwig P. “Lou” Grupp, a former 12-year Town of Callicoon supervisor, died August 22, 1993, at the age of 61. He also owned and operated the Lake Jefferson Hotel.

The first open house at the Joel Hill Sawmill in Lookout, Pa., attracted more than 300 visitors.

The “Red Rose Rockets,” a cycling team out of Lancaster, Pa., will compete at the Masters World Cup of Cycling Criterion Events in Monticello September 11-12. One of the team members is Leo Rosenberger, a former Hortonville resident and 1967 graduate of Delaware Valley Central School. He puts in as much as 80 miles of cycling per day to train for his sport.

20 Years Ago - 2003

On Tuesday, the first official business in the Emerald Corporate Center broke ground – Crystal Run Healthcare – on its planned 81,000-square-foot, three-story medical facility in Rock Hill. The facility is planned to open in 2004, creating 300 new jobs.

Water in Liberty is once again safe to drink. The village imposed a boil water order Wednesday immediately after coliform bacteria was found in the water system.

Jessie Curtis Baade’s play “Vincent,” was chosen as one of just 217 plays for this year’s Fringe Festival, the biggest and most prestigious multi-performance arts festival on the continent. She is a Delaware Valley Central School graduate, and the daughter of Ed and Terry Curtis of Callicoon.

Neversink will be a drive-through town no more. Meigan and Arden Dean broke ground Friday afternoon on a 5,000-square-foot building with a grocery market, full deli and gas island, all of which they hope to have open by December 4. They expect to employ about 10 people. The town is a mostly rural community and the last convenience store closed at least 16 years ago.

On Saturday, August 23, the community of Smallwood turned out in force to celebrate its 75th anniversary. A promoter named A.N. Smallwood first became interested in developing the area in 1928. The first cabin was built by the Smallwood Company a year later in the Highview section of Mountain Lakes Development. In 1933, a post office was constructed at Mountain Lakes, and the community was officially named “Smallwood, New York.” Mr. DeCamp served as the first postmaster.

Congregation Ahavath Israel of Liberty last Sunday evening celebrated community and the lasting impact on the life of their temple by honoring Herman “Hesh” Laufer and his parents, the late Matilda and Morris Laufer, for their contributions to the community.

10 Years Ago - 2013

Marie Zalesky served as an honorary Grand Marshal at this year’s Hortonville Fire Department Field Day parade. At 105 (and a few weeks shy of her 106th birthday), she is Sullivan County’s oldest resident. Marie has missed only one of the 80 parades.

Dr. Allan Abramson and his wife Carol  arranged a “dog wedding” at their Bethel home to raise funds for the SPCA. Joined in matrimony were Abramsons’ 5-year old Black Labrador Retriever female ‘JJ’ and Hal and Carolyn Wachtel’s Golden Doodle male ‘Chumley.’ In an effort to support the special fundraiser and to celebrate their 100th Anniversary, Jeff Bank is pitching in, promising to match each donation by an individual for $100 or more to the Sullivan County SPCA by an equal amount. 

DEATHS: Joseph A. Roseo of Roscoe died August 21, 2013... Mary Mentnech of Woodbourne departed this life on her 96th birthday, August 21, 2013... Judy J. Gabriel, formerly of Kauneonga Lake, passed away on August 24, 2013... Joseph D. Yannetta of Woodridge died August 23, 2013 at age 78... Patricia Thorpe Parmele, formerly of Roscoe, died August 5, 2013... Francis E. “Huggie” Huggins of Jeffersonville, owner of Huggins Sales & Service, died August 22, 2013... Robert “Bob” Rossal of Bethel, passed away August 23, 2013.