130 Years Ago - 1894

A smallpox scare has visited Liberty. However, it is not as great we are assured as some are disposed to make it. Several of the afflicted were visitors to the village last week and it has set this place in a furor of excitement.

Twenty turners are now employed by the Livingston Manor Manufacturing Co. The factory inspector made the statement last summer that this was the largest factory of its kind in the state.

T.A. Cook has purchased between 500 and 600 acres of the land of Messrs. Reilly at Callicoon Depot. He proposes to have a large dairy farm and will erect a barn about 3250 feet in length, with engine and boilers, and all improved apparatus. One hundred acres of this land, which is all covered with timber, will be cleared each year and seeded for pasture. The Reilly Bros. Reserve the timber on the tract and will soon erect a mill to cut it up as it is taken off.

There is talk of another attempt being made in the spring to bore for oil in the vicinity of Long Eddy. The general belief  is that both oil and gas are to be found there.

At the annual election of Livingston Manor Fire Department last Saturday, an appropriation of $100 was voted for the erection of a firemen’s hall, and an appropriation of $400 was voted to pay for incidental expenses.

Louis Reichert and Mr. Lindner are getting ready a carload of Christmas trees to ship to the New York market. They are being cut on Swiss Hill.

Talk about sugar trust: None of it in Jeffersonville, but quite the contrary. Several of our merchants somehow became deeply engaged in a cutting tournament on the price of sweet stuff; while the consumer looked on with interested joy. Stash away, gentlemen, we like to see some life in business.

120 Years Ago - 1904

The Sullivan County Board of  Supervisors at Monticello last week denied New York City’s application for permission to locate a sanitarium for consumptives in Mamakating.

The masquerade at Eagle Hall on Thanksgiving night was one of the best affairs of its kind held here in some time. There were a number of pretty costumes made of crepe paper and Misses Maggie Scheidell and Leila Yager wore dresses made of copies of the Sullivan County Record.

Youngsville: Otto Wagner has sold his house to William Hogancamp for $400. Mr. Hogancamp bought a piece of land adjoining the property of C. Von Weissenfluh for $100 and will move the house on it.

The Erie management has asked for bids from telephone contracting firms for the installation of a complete private telephone service along its line. This service will supplement the telegraph in the operation of trains.

Walter Townsend, who went to North Dakota last February to work on a farm, returned last week and after stopping a while with relatives in this vicinity will seek employment in the city. Walter says he doesn’t want to go back farming here after working at it in the West, where it is all done by machinery.

110 Years Ago - 1914

The suffrage meeting at Union Chapel Monday night was a success in spite of the bad weather. Organizers of the Empire State Campaign Committee were there to receive the guests and they were glad to welcome five voters who came out to say nothing of how happy they were to see the splendid group of women, which shows that women are interested and do want the vote.

The marriage of Miss Nora Bollenbach, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bollenbach of Jeffersonville, to Charles F. Jacobs of Youngsville will take place at the Presbyterian Church Saturday.

There recently appeared in this town, giving performances nightly for a week, a company commonly known as a “medicine show,” the object being to draw people to vaudeville entertainment and then sell them so called medicine and toilet preparations, claimed to be wonder workers. Aside from the fact that this company gave good entertainment they were what may be lightly termed a bunch of cheerful bunco artists.

The Jeffersonville High School basketball team traveled to Kenoza Lake late Thursday night and were defeated 32-6. All things considered they did better than was expected. The lineups were as follows: Kenoza Lake – J. Schwarz, H. Meyers, A. Meyers, E. Neiger, W. Luckey; Jeffersonville – D. Miller, C. Allington, F. Joergle, F. Seibert and F. Edelman.

100 Years Ago - 1924

The Dairymen’s League Co-Operative Association, Inc., has purchased the properties and businesses of Clover Farms, Inc., which was built up by the efforts of two men – Luther L. Campbell and John J. Weissenfluh, both Sullivan County boys.

In the Supreme Court of Monticello last week, the cases of Mrs. Anna Schmidt and another against Joseph Schmidt, was an action for specific performance of an alleged contract and convey land to the plaintiffs, the land in question being a farm in the Beechwoods in the Town of Delaware.

Reconstruction of the Monticello-Forestburgh highway is expected to be started in the spring and the entire nine miles completed by next fall. This will complete the highway to the Orange County line and thus eliminate the only bad piece of road between Jeff and Port Jervis.

Two hundred attended the fifth annual dinner of the Callicoon Fish and Game Club at the Kenoza Lake House. The dinner was again in charge of Wm. C. Fuhrer and was all that could be desired.

The cold snap a few weeks ago is said to have penetrated more than all the cold last winter. In many instances, potatoes were frozen in the cellars.

90 Years Ago - 1934

In the November issue of the American Mercury, John L. Spicak contributes the leading article which deals with the writer’s investigation of the Red Cross. He makes twenty charges against the organization and calls for a congressional investigation as to how the millions of dollars are spent.

Abe Strong, the 26-year-old self-taught pilot of Cochecton Center took his first fall with his plane last Sunday when he attempted to leave the Cochecton Airport. The airport, banked on both sides by mountains, is not an ideal taking off place and it is not approved by the Army for that reason. This is the first accident that occurred there.

Beginning next week pupils of Jeffersonville High School will have, during the winter months, an opportunity to supplement cold lunches with a cup of hot cocoa or soup at a cost of a cent a day. The PTA has arranged for the hot food to be prepared at a nearby home and brought to the school.

The number of deer killed in Sullivan County during the recent fifteen days of open season was 515 as against 489 taken in 1933 and 419 in 1932. Cliff Calhoun, the Ten Wild baseball pitcher, shot the largest buck in this county, a 21-pointer.

Elias Eisenberg is having plans made to remodel his Maple Theater, which was damaged by fire recently. The entrance to the new theatre will be on Main Street on the west side of the store and will be equipped with a steam heating plant.

Raymond Knack has purchased the Spring Brook Farm at Hortonville from his father, Frank E. Knack, and took possession last month. The Knack milk route to Callicoon will continue to be operated from Spring Brook Farm.

80 Years Ago - 1944

Mrs. Winifred Luchs Mullally, a teacher in the Jeff Central School, shot a 4-point buck last Saturday while hunting with members of the Star Ridge Club in the lower end of the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Casper Eggler of New York spent the weekend here and made arrangements for the opening of a factory for women’s underwear in the Hessinger building (formerly the Jeffersonville house) about the first of the year. They expect to employ several hands to start. It is understood that the family is engaged in this line of work in New York.

The editor of one of our exchanges persists in a hopeful attitude of his outlook towards the election. He notes that Landon lost the election by ten million votes, Wilkie by five million and Dewey by three million. By the time Roosevelt comes up for his fifth or sixth term he feels that the Republicans will be ready for him.

Miss Patricia K. Poley, 20-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Poley of Jeffersonville, has enlisted in the Women’s Naval Reserve as an apprentice seaman and will be assigned to the training school at Hunter College.

The first state-wide report for the sixth war loan drive reveals that  Sullivan County is in first place, leading all the counties of New York State.

I notice that the state auditor has criticized Liberty village officers for taking pay for goods or service furnished the village outside of their duties as such officers. There is nothing unusual about this practice. There probably isn’t a school district or incorporated village in the state where this is not done, in violation of the law. It seems hardly fair that a school or village officer, while giving his time and service without pay, as such officers should not receive pay for goods and services given in the vocation on which he has to depend for a living.

70 Years Ago - 1954

Miss Donna Graham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Graham of Roscoe and Youngsville, became the bride of Herman Bose, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Bose Sr. of Youngsville on Thanksgiving morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sugrue of Long Island City are parents of a son born November 23.

William Mark Kohler and Roland Westervelt have made application for the Navy.

The body of Mrs. Mary Weyer, 88, who walked away from her home in Callicoon last August, was found on Saturday in the woods one mile south of Callicoon along Route 97 by two out-of-town hunters.

Mrs. Sophie Adams, 68, a retired school teacher, died at her home in North Branch on Thanksgiving Day of a heart attack. She is survived by her husband, a brother August and a nephew, George.

Miss Alfreda Topp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Topp, was tendered a bridal shower on November 26 at the home of Miss Alice Rempt. She will become the bride of Andrew R. Nissen on December 11.

A daughter was born November 18 to Mr. and Mrs. William Geiger of Utopia, Pa. Mrs. Geiger is the former Rosemary Simpson.

Walter Scardefield shot a fox last Tuesday in the yard of Philip Reum at the lower end of the village. It is assumed that the animal was rabid to be so close to town.

Mrs. Elizabeth Chelius Dedling died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Robert Knack, on December 1. She was born in Jeffersonville August 17, 1886.

Miss Mabel Eltz of Johnson City and Jason C. Root of Odessa were united in marriage Thanksgiving Day in Johnson City. They were attended by Mrs. Martha Joyner of  White Sulphur Springs, twin sister of the bride, and Julius Smith, the groom’s brother-in-law.

60 Years Ago - 1964

Miss Barbara Mount of Hankins and Francis Tobin of Callicoon were married Thanksgiving Day at the Sacred Heart Church in Hankins.

Miss Gloria V. Doetsch ex-changed wedding vows with Elmer G. Stevens on November 25.

Fremont Supervisor James Gottschalk resigned that position Monday night and Joseph Winkler, Hankins farmer, was appointed to fill the vacancy by the Fremont Town Board. Mr. Gottschalk was recently appointed Jury Commissioner and succeeds Stephen Wormuth of Lake Huntington, who retired.

Richard J. Lusk has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation from school in Texas. His wife, Arlyene is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon T. Meyer of Pea Brook.

50 Years Ago - 1974

Henry G. Peters, mechanic 1/c with the New York State Electric and Gas Corp., retired as of November 1. He had been with the company since April 7, 1952.

The strike of Local 1199 against all three divisions of Community General Hospital entered its fourth week this Monday and on Tuesday a delegation of strikers went in chartered buses to Albany to lay their case before Governor Wilson and Governor-elect Hugh Carey to solicit their intervention to bring an end to the labor dispute.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stabbert of Callicoon announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathy, to John M. Werner, son of Mr. and Mrs. David I. Werner of Port Jervis. An early summer wedding is planned.

The Walnut Mountain Nursing Home is nearing completion in the village of Liberty. The 180-bed facility is slated for opening next year.

Wedding Bells: Doreen Ann Johnson of Jeffersonville became the bride of Terrence K. Treverton of Beach Lake, Pa., on November 16     . . . Yvonne Marie Corneau of Melrose, Mass., and Richard P. Fink of Callicoon were married on October 26. . . Suzy Crawson of Long Eddy and Carl Davis of Hancock are making plans for an October wedding next year.

40 Years Ago - 1984

Beth Lang of Narrowsburg has been named director of the Sullivan County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse which will open soon in Monticello in the former Hamilton Avenue Hospital.

How many canoes can the Upper Delaware hold? A recent study by David Humphrey of Urban Research and Development Corp., a firm hired by the Conference of Upper Delaware Townships (COUP) to help draft a new river management plan, that figure is anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 per day. The average high use of the river now is between 1,800 and 2,000 canoes per day. The average canoe group of canoeists is 3.5 according to the report and it is also stated that the use of the river has dropped since its peak in 1980-81.

On Saturday, December 31, the new mandatory seat belt law for the State of New York will go into effect. Under the new law, motorists in New York are required to buckle up every time they drive a car which had seat belts installed at the time of manufacture.

The Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church is celebrating its 80th birthday this year. From 1904 to 1911, the congregation considered itself a Congregational Church although supplied by Presbyterian pastors. Rev. Susan Strang is the present minister.

Pauline Albrecht of Monticello died November 29 at Horton Memorial Hospital in Middletown. She was a former co-owner of the Victoria Hotel from 1909 until its closing about six years ago.

Fourteen stations of the cross were donated by the Knights of Columbus and have been erected on the grounds of the Holy Cross Church in Callicoon. A ceremony of dedication was held on Sunday, December 2.

A physical therapy department of Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa., has acquired an Orthotron (CYBEX) machine from the New York Giants football team. It is an  isokinetic exercise machine designed for knee rehabilitation and will be available for both in-patient and out-patient use of those in the area.  

Ronald Monzo of Liberty, hunting in White Sulphur Springs, brought down an eleven point buck which measured 62 1/2 points in the Democrat’s Big Buck Contest. Then came along Charles “Toots” Dauch of Bethel who took down an 8-pointered that measured 63 1/2 points. But he was outdone by Herm Herbert of Jeffersonville who downed a ten-point buck that measured 67 1/2 inches.

The Catskill Bass Club awarded Dan Gorton a trophy for the biggest smallmouth bass (5-lb. lunker). Pat Welsh was named Catskill Bass Club’s “Fisherman of the Year” catching 35 pounds, 11 ounces of bass, and Roger Widmann was awarded the prize for his 7 lbs. 11 oz. “Largemouth Lunker of the Year,” which he had mounted.

30 Years Ago - 1994

About 100 parents and students gathered in the cafeteria of Delaware Valley Central School to learn more about the proposed merger of the two small school districts. Dissenters were in the minority.

A son, Travis Joseph, was born to Laurie and Jeffrey Brockner of Kenoza Lake on November 8. He weighed 7 lbs. 8 1/2oz.

Della Jaycox celebrated her 100th birthday at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home with 51 family members and friends coming to help her celebrate. 

James Gately of Newburgh, hunting in the Grahamsville area, bagged a buck with 11 points which measured 71 1/2 inches. The first 80-inch buck in several years made its appearance in the Democrat’s Big Buck Contest. Tom Mullen of Holbrook, L.I. shot the massive buck in Grahamsville and is in first place in the current standings.

Mary Curtis of Callicoon has been named NPS “Employee of the Year” for the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is the historian for the Town of Delaware and was recognized for the development of “one of the best oral history programs in the National Park Service.” She was also lauded for her efforts to create historic districts and designations for the Minisink Battlefield, the Milanville, Pa. community, local cemeteries and old houses in the upper Delaware region.

Billy Parker Jr. notched his 400th driving victory at the Sullivan County oval when he reined Slushy to victory in Monticello this past Saturday.

Two members of the Sullivan County Seniors softball team were part of the 75-and over Senior Softball World Series champion Florida Diamonds earlier this fall. Sid Fein, 78, of  Foxcroft Village in Divine Corners, and Mike Meltzer, 81, of Smallwood, were on the roster as the Diamonds beat the Arizona Silver Foxes 7-2.

20 Years Ago - 2004

The 18th annual holiday theme tree exhibit opened Sunday at the Sullivan County Historical Society Museum in Hurleyville, with over 20 trees displayed. This year’s theme is Victorian Floral.

The 29th annual tree lighting in Livingston Manor moved down the street to a new home, right in the center of the hamlet. It includes the addition of a menorah this year, “which was the idea of the chamber of commerce,” said event emcee and local businessman Barry Foster. The land where the holiday decorations are located has been donated for the season by businessman Andrew Krieger.

The Tusten Youth Commission recently held their annual Christmas Party and Tree Lighting in Narrowsburg.

DEATHS: Poul Jorgensen, 78, of Roscoe, a retired mechanical engineer and renowned fly tyer, died November 29, 2004, at his home...Joseph G. Brustman, 84, of Liberty, a lifelong area resident and a retired auto parts wholesaler, died December 1, 2004 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris...Anna Gottel of Long Eddy, 99, a homemaker and longtime area resident, died December 1, 2004 at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty.

10 Years Ago - 2014

Center for Discovery Vice President for Administration and Operations David Fanslau (familiar to many as the former Sullivan County manager) gave details last week to the Fallsburg Town Board about the Center’s ambitious plans for downtown Hurleyville: the relocation of Greber Road in the hamlet, in order to accommodate a variety of new initiatives, including a “Makers’ Lab” where people will be able to use 3-D printers and other tools to create new inventions. Fallsburg Supervisor Steve Vegliante said new municipal parking is also in the works for Hurleyville, which the Center aims to turn into a pedestrian-friendly, model downtown. 

A new plaque was installed for an old friend in the Village of Woodridge recently, dedicating the meeting hall in the Richard J. Elliott Municipal Building (the village hall) to former Mayor and longtime Woodridge businessman Nat Kagan.

DEATHS: Raymond C. Hornbeck of Grahamsville died December 5, 2014 at the age of 92. He retired from the Town of Neversink as Superintendent of Highways... Georgine D. Finn of Liberty passed away Saturday, December 6, 2014 at age 88. She had taught at Liberty Central School District and St. Peter’s Elementary School... Wilbur (“Moe”) A. Kespert died September 23, 2014 in Brooksville, FL. He grew up in Youngsville, and graduated from the Youngsville Central Rural School in 1944... Artur Sawall of Callicoon Center, died December 5, 2014 at age 83. Artur was a carpenter at Sullivan Diagnostic Treatment Center prior to his retirement, and operated the Tumble Inn in Callicoon Center for many years.