100 Years Ago - 1920

Saturday, Miss Julia Geib and Adam Metzger devoted their time to “putting over” the drive for the new St. Francis Hospital in Port Jervis. Their efforts resulted in raising, in this town, $286.35 for this most worthy cause. The total fund is $75,922.

Luis deHoyos of Monticello was re-elected chairman of the Sullivan County American Legion at the second annual convention at Liberty Thursday evening. T.W. Reilly, president of the Private Emmett Turner Post of Callicoon was named third vice president; Dr. Dworetzky of Liberty, second vice president; R.S. York of Monticello, treasurer; S. Smith of Monticello, secretary; E.K. Homer of Livingston Manor war risk and employment officer; Dr. Burke of Livingston Manor, state committeeman and H.E. Miller of Roscoe was appointed a committee of one to formulate a plan for collecting the war relics of the county.

The M.E. Church Fair at Monticello this year netted slightly more than $550.

A railroad cross-tie creosoting plant, employing 50 men at the start, is planned by the O&W Railroad at Livingston Manor to begin operations the first of the year. The 40-acre tract has been purchased. There are only three of these plants in the United States. Ties for not only the O&W but for three other roads will be handled.

A $10,000 fire destroyed the 28-room Katz boarding house at Livingston Manor Friday morning. Insurance does not exceed $2,500. Origin of the fire is laid to cigarette stubs.

The county seat is spending $3,340 on its firemen's hall. Firefighting apparatus has been thoroughly overhauled and the department made ready for an emergency.

Next Monday, the Schwedt & Starck Toy Co. Inc., will remove from the Zimmermann building in Callicoon to larger quarters in the Bergner building, now occupied on the lower floor as a furniture store, and room upstairs, formerly occupied by the Masonic Lodge. They will also have the storage room adjoining.

Jennie M. Wagner, wife of Postmaster Wilbur J. Wagner of Parksville, died at her home in that village August 3 after several years of pulmonary trouble. She was 38 years old. Mr. Wagner is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Wagner of North Branch.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beiling returned from their honeymoon Thursday and have gone to housekeeping in Mrs. Pauline Starck's apartment in the Traynor building, Callicoon.

Edw. Ahr, proprietor of the L.X.L. garage in Niagara Falls, shipped a live eight-year-old rattlesnake to his address there from Long Eddy, Sullivan County, early the past week. The reptile arrived at the post office by parcel post yesterday afternoon and was delivered by a parcel post carrier. The snake had seven rattles and seemed to have stood the trip without developing any viciousness, for employees at the post office stated that the snake failed to show any temper while he was at the office waiting to be carried to his destination. Mr. Ahr went to Long Eddy about ten days ago to enjoy a fishing trip and it was his intention, while there, to try and procure a good specimen of rattlesnake alive. He is a student of zoology and has hunted big game in the Canadian woods for several years. Mr. Ahr received special permission to ship the snake from the post office department at Washington. It is the first time that a live snake of any species was received by parcel post at the Niagara Post Office. It was shipped in a wooden crate covered with fine wire netting. Mr. Ahr intends to keep the snake alive as a curiosity.

90 Years Ago - 1930

At the annual meeting of the voters of Union Free School, District No. 1, town of Delaware, held at the Callicoon High School auditorium last evening, Mrs. Hazel Bennett was chosen the first woman member of the Board of Education of the district. The meeting was called to order by H.C. Persbacker, clerk, and A.E. Mitchell was chosen chairman.

On Friday night, August 1, Rev. F.W. Stine united in marriage Earl Hughson of Cochecton and Miss Nellie A. Conklin of Callicoon.

The Lorraine Hotel at Lake Huntington is full and overcrowded. A Kiddie Show will be given Friday night and a masquerade Saturday night.

Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Rose celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary at their new home, “Breeze Inn” on Delaware Ave., Callicoon, recently.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Gagliardi of North Branch, a son, on August 2.

Mrs. Lizzie Turk of Acidalia returned home about a week ago on the USS American after a trip to the battlefields of France with a contingent of Gold Star Mothers. The voyage over was made on the USS Republic. Mrs. Turk states that the Gold Star Mothers can never repay the United States Government for the kindness shown them on this trip. A highlight of the trip was on Monday, July 7, at the Arc de Triomphe, when the mothers placed flowers at the grave of France's Unknown Soldier. They also visited the battlefields in the Argonne Forest and Verdun. As related by another mother who made the trip, “When we visited the Trenches des Baionettes, where hundreds of soldiers were buried as they were standing up and their bayonettes sticking out of the ground, I was suddenly horrified to see a skull sticking out of the ground but upon telling the interpreter about it, was warned to keep away from it. When I stood in the Argonne Forest near the place where my boy was killed, I felt a heavy load on my heart but then I thought of his white marble monument, one of thousands of monuments around it, and the mothers standing at my side, and my heart became lighter.”

The first contract to be filed for the transportation of high school pupils under the new law that requires one-room school districts to transport was made, filed and approved on August 7th between Abram D. Low, trustee of common school district number nine of the town of Neversink and Wilbur A. DuBois of Sundown. Under the new law, the state pays one-half of the cost of the transportation.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Miss Rose Schoonmaker, representing the town of Deerpark, was chosen “Belle of 97” at the first annual “97 Day.” Helen Eller of Callicoon, who was Miss Delaware, was chosen as runner-up. The work of the Route 97 Council in promoting the day bore excellent fruit as the large and enthusiastic crowd was entertained by the parade, featuring old-fashioned cars and horse-drawn rigs, old-fashioned hayrides, three yoke of oxen, funny costumes of all kinds, contests in the afternoon and evening, all on the bank of the Delaware River at Narrowsburg.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, Hortonville native who attained world-fame by his claims of discovery of the North Pole and other exploits, throughout an illustrious lifetime, died at New Rochelle on August 5. He was born June 10, 1865.

Jack Bennett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben J. Bennett, Callicoon, is with the U.S. Merchant Marines and at present is on the first leg of a training cruise in the Caribbean.

Mr. and Mrs. George Dirie of Callicoon are the parents of a baby boy, born Monday, August 5.

Miss Ruth Hubbert and companions are making a motor trip west. They travel from 375 to 450 miles a day and when last heard from were visiting her uncle, Victor Bauernfeind in California.

District Attorney for the past nine years, William Deckelman has been named a candidate on the Democratic ticket to succeed himself.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held July 22 for the construction of Walton's $365,000 50-bed Delaware Valley Hospital to be located just off Stockton Ave. Dr. C. Sumner Gould, dean of Walton physicians, and Ralph L. Higley, past president of the hospital's board of directors, were among the speakers.

Shavertown, settled 180 years ago by vigorous American pioneers, will be razed during the coming year to make way for the newest of New York City's Reservoir watersheds, the proposed Pepacton Reservoir. The first settlement on land in what is now Andes township was made at the Shavertown site in 1770. An old mortgage, recently uncovered, illustrated the antiquity of the Shavertown settlement. It is dated 1796 and reads, “one cow and one chane. Two pots and one kittle, two fether beds and bedding. Six knives and forks and spoons, chists, pales, two hoes and One spaid. My lot of land, 100 acres on the Tremperskill containing five acres of Indian corn. Three stacks of wheat. Two oxen. Signed Henry S. Belvins.”

Only four suspected cases of polio have been reported for Sullivan County this year. Mrs. Eleanor Havekost, 38, wife of Eugene Havekost and native of Monticello, died July 30 of poliomyelitis in Meadow Brook Hospital. She lived in Levittown.

The abandoning of the three-arch bridge at Neiger's corner near Kenoza Lake and the two section bridge at Hortonville to be replaced by new modern steel span bridges by contracts recently awarded to Jess Howes is reminiscent of much local history. The serious flood in August 1947 prompted the abandonment of these bridges in favor of a safe mode of transportation over the Callicoon Creek and the North Branch Creek.

On August 5th, Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Stabbert Sr. (owner and publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat) celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary with an open house attended by more than 80 friends and relatives.

Mrs. Otto Dorrer of Petersburg has received a telegram saying that her son, Pvt. Edward Houghtaling, was wounded in action in Korea.

Mrs. Sandra Berle (mother of the famous Milton), who is stopping at the Grossinger Hotel in Ferndale, was a guest of the Muldavin Colony in North Branch last Friday.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Norris of Fosterdale, having sold 16 of their registered Holstein dairy cows to R. Austin Backus of Earl­ville, attended the 256th sale there last Wednesday. The highest price brought for some of their cows was $400.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Cortese of Narrowsburg, a son on Wednesday; a girl Friday to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Carroll, also of Narrowsburg; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Messemer of Endicott on July 19; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Haight of Davenport, named Donna Kathleen, born July 18.

Gwendolyn Louise, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bernhardt, was baptized at her home Wednesday evening by Rev. Cady.

Mr. and Mrs. Louise Rose of Kenoza Lake celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary August 5.

60 Years Ago - 1960

Miss Sharon Lee Meddaugh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Meddaugh, was united in marriage with Robert Jon Puerschner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Puerschner on July 23 at the First Lutheran Church in Jeffersonville.

Morgan L. McKoon, 81, of Long Eddy and Brooklyn, died August 1 at the Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn where he had been admitted July 22 as a result of injuries suffered from a fall at his home in Long Eddy. He was a grandson of Jude Samuel McKoon, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Fremont and its first supervisor.

On Saturday, July 30, Joyce Robisch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Robisch of Hortonville, became the bride of William Fisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Fisher of Hortonville, at a ceremony solemnized at Holy Cross Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Mitchell became the parents of a son, Thursday; it was a boy for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fuchs of Rock Hill on Friday, both at the Callicoon Hospital. Discharged: this week were Mrs. Paul Long and daughter, Callicoon; Mrs. Harold Nystrom and son of Callicoon. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Thony of Kohlertown are the parents of a girl, named Margaret Anne.

50 years ago - 1970

The Golden Jubilee of Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Huntington was observed on Sunday, August 9. A parish dinner followed Mass at Gilbert's Inn.

Workmen from the Corischello Construction Company have all but finished work on the new “Dugway” between Callicoon and Hortonville. They are preparing to move their equipment to a new job.

Lt. Gov. Malcolm Wilson was among those paying tribute to Sullivan County Sheriff Lou Ratner at a testimonial dinner last Thursday, July 30, at the Concord Hotel. In lauding the highest enforcement officer in the county, Gov. Wilson said the sheriff had a trait for helping people and while so many people were inclined to violate the laws on which our society was founded, a debt was due Sheriff Ratner for enforcing these laws in keeping order during turbulent times.

Miss Gail Emily Egan of Jeffersonville became the bride of Joseph Caldiero, also of Jeffersonville, at St. George's R.C. Church on July 25.… Miss Linda M. Streever and Martin Cohen were united in marriage at the Holiday Inn of Liberty on July 19.

40 Years Ago - 1980

Jerry Stollman, proprietor of Stollman Fish Co. in Monticello, advertises wherever he goes, “Eat Fish” says his license plate. The Stollman Fish Co. was established ten years ago on Broadway in Monticello.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Puccio of Warwick have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lori Ellen, to Mr. Frank Randolph “Randy” Atkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Atkins of Catskill. The Atkins family were former residents of Callicoon. A September 1981 wedding is planned.

Monticello Raceway publicity director Andrew Furman was fired Saturday evening when he invited Alfred Lentz, a member of the Pennsylvania Ku Klux Klan to the track as part of a publicity stunt.

The United States Military Academy Concert Band will present an evening concert August 8 at the Town of Thompson Park.

Mark S. Fredenburg, only son of Lester and Barbara Fredenburg of Bradley, was on board the USS Nimitz, supercarrier, when she participated in the effort to recover the hostages being held by the Iranian government. He was serving on the flight deck when the helicopters took off for the ill-fated rescue mission.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Jeannette Barnes, widow of David Barnes, donated his collection of ancient Indian artifacts to the Fort Delaware Museum in Narrowsburg. Included in the collections are hundreds of arrowheads, some larger spear-type stones, hammers, vessels, knives, a corn masher, and dozens of small pieces or sections of larger tools and utensils.

Stained glass windows, the first for the 30-year-old Immaculate Conception Church of Woodbourne, were recently designed and made by Anne T. Maus.

The Sullivan County Department of Public Works is completing work in rebuilding the front of the Sullivan County Cultural Center in Hurleyville to accommodate an elevator which will make the building accessible to handicapped visitors.

The unofficial “longest travelers” at the recent Callicoon Street Fair were Betty and David Lowe of London, England, who were staying at Lanza's Country Inn in Shandelee and were on their way to Pennsylvania on business when they found their way to the local event.

Alice Mentnech has opened the “Bushel and Bag,” a new general store, deli and home bakery in Kenoza Lake. The building was built around 1890 but has been vacant two or more years. The last owners were Al and Gus Wolrath.

The Meadowlands can claim the Hambletonian but the only Elephantonian, a race for trotting elephants, happens at Monticello Raceway. The Elephantonian is a yearly event at Monticello Raceway when the circus is in town. Placing in first, second and third this year were Billy Parker Jr., Donald Simon and Pat DeRito.

Sisters Kate and Caryn Landau of Tri-Valley Central School are not idle this summer. Both have earned top seed status for the upcoming Empire State Games in Syracuse, Kate in the 10,000 meters and Caryn in the 5,000 meters.

20 Years Ago - 2000

Despite the gray clouds overhead, scores of people made their way to Callicoon Saturday for the annual Street Fair.

The cloudy skies and steady drizzle forced the sixth annual Dr. Don Games to be held inside the pavilion at Rotary Park in Livingston Manor Sunday afternoon, rather than outside on the spacious field.

Members of the Leadership Sullivan Class of 2000 presented Health and Family Services Commissioner Judith Maier with some 140 suitcases collected as part of a class project. The suitcases are to be given to children who are placed in foster care by the department. The Leadership Sullivan program, sponsored by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, is now in its third year.

BIRTHS — A boy, Anthony James, was born to Eve Rodgers and John Hughes of Long Eddy on May 28, 2000… A boy, Alex Montgomery, was born July 3, 2000 to Wendy and Richard Schwalb of Jeffersonville. …A boy, Benjamin Andrew, was born July 3, 2000, to Deborah and Andrew Master of Monticello… A boy, Wyatt Thomas, was born July 4, 2000, to Denise and Bruce Fulton of Livingston Manor.

Corey Jane Vitagliano and Scott Douglas Crumley were married May 9, 2000 in South Maluaka Beach in Maui, Hawaii, with the Rev. Jean Keating officiating. The bride is the daughter of Michael and Mary Ellen Vitagliano of Albany. The groom is the son of Karen Crumley-VanDunk of Rock Hill and the late Glenn D. Crumley.

10 Years Ago - 2010

Actor of the stage and screen, Ed Asner received a huge dose of Catskills hospitality as he turned his one night Forestburgh Playhouse engagement into a whirlwind tour of Sullivan County. “I really didn't realize how beautiful the Catskills were,” Asner, who recently turned 80 said. “It was really remarkable.” Asner was in town to perform a special one-night engagement of “F.D.R.”, his one-man show about this country's 32nd President. Performing to a sold-out house of 300, F.D.R. raised $13,000 for the Playhouse.