130 Years Ago - 1895

Valentine Mages of Jeffersonville and Miss Libbie Yaun of Youngsville were married at Kenoza Lake on December 11. Miss Emma Royce Maltby of Kenoza Lake was married to James H. Osterhout at the home of the latter near Liberty Falls on November 26.

Sometime in July, George L. Eldred, residing with Mrs. C.A. Heuser at Cochecton, applied to the excise commissioners of that town for a hotel license to sell strong and spirituous liquors in the new house recently completed by Mrs. Heuser in the village of Cochecton. The board had previously granted two licenses in that village, which were all that had ever been granted there, and upon receiving a remonstrance signed by many good people in the vicinity, they considered the matter and arrived at the conclusion that no other hotel was required in that village, and refused to grant the license.

120 Years Ago - 1905

Henry Graff of this place delivered a load of hay for Valentine Klein to Philip Behrman at Kenoza Lake Friday. Mr. Graff has a pretty lively team and he likes to ride right along. On the return from Kenoza Lake they started out at a good gait, and a lumber wagon is not the nicest thing to ride on. At Tailor Schlapple’s, Graff was thrown off on his head, injuring him somewhat and he returned to Behrman’s and the team, without a driver, sailed on and at Ed Neiger’s corner dumped Klein and the great part of the wagon into the wire fence at the sharp turn.

Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Mrs. Barbara Hess and George W. Baumgardt, both of Jeffersonville, were married at the bride’s home December  10th by the Rev. H. Blaschke.

Flora, one of the fine team of bays of Knell & Durr of the Mansion House, died last week of pneumonia.

The poles are set for a telephone line to connect Mileses and Fremont Center with Hankins, Callicoon Depot and other places.

Last week one day forty kegs of Giant powder, over half a ton, were exploded in one blast near Barryville, to open up a new stone quarry. This was successfully done, as the blast cleared a space sixty feet long, twenty-five feet wide and twenty feet deep, and exploded a fine vein of bluestone.

110 Years Ago - 1915

Preston Becker, who lives about four miles north of Youngsville, while out hunting one day last week in what is known as Panther Rock Hollow, between Youngsville and Livingston Manor, shot and killed a large catamount.

Wirt N. Moulthrop, former postmaster at Kenoza Lake, was at work in his garage yesterday and had the motor of his car running. W.P. Theiss happened along, and, stopping in, found Mr. Moulthrop unconscious from the gas fumes from the engine exhaust.

Some old-fashioned winter weather has set in. About ten inches of snow fell here Monday, followed by high winds until yesterday, which piled up the snow on the highways. The snowstorm in Monticello this week was much more severe than here, about three feet of snow having fallen there. All traffic and businesses were completely tied up and the town was isolated from the outside world.

Joseph Benedict, aged 80, and a veteran of the Civil War, died at his home near Youngsville last Friday. A delegate from Garrett Post, G.A.R. of Liberty accompanied the body of their comrade to the Presbyterian Cemetery in Jeffersonville.

The action of Mrs. Romelia Segar against Samuel Perlman, both of Briscoe, was tried in the Supreme Court at Monticello. The jury returned a verdict giving Mrs. Segar a judgment of $550 damages and an injunction against further pollution of the lake.

100 Years Ago - 1925

The partnership of Benjamin Yaeger and Samuel Kirk, in the garage business in Jeff, and the wholesale of gasoline and oils throughout the county, is to be dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Kirk, who put $10,000 into the business over a year ago, will withdraw his interest, and Mr. Yeager will continue the business alone.

The touring car of Wm. J.  Grishaber of this place, on his return from Liberty, and Carl Meyer of Lake Huntington, going in the opposite direction, collided in front of the home of Elmer H. Bryan the other side of Youngsville.

The Essex coach, stolen from Joseph Alpy’s garage in Jeffersonville on Wednesday of last week, was recovered Saturday night by Mr. Alpy, when he located it this side of Tyler Hill in Pennsylvania, not far from Cochecton.

A. I. VanLoan, aged 46, a farmer near White Sulphur Springs, was kicked and trampled to death by an old family horse which he was attempting to shoe in the stable Thursday afternoon.

Additional contributions to the recent drive for the benefit of the Cross sisters of Bethel have swelled to the sum of $801.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The Keystone Gas Company, Inc., has been authorized by the Public Service Commission to supply gas to rural residents of the towns of Fremont, Delaware, Cochecton, Bethel, Tusten, Highland, Lumberland and Forestburgh in Sullivan County.

Harold F. Schue and Eugene F. Rosch of Liberty were discharged from the Liberty Hospital where they were treated for injuries sustained on the night of November 22nd.

Fire, believed to have been started by an overheated stove adjoining the old building of the Monticello High School, spread to the high school building and roared through three classrooms, causing damage estimated at more than $20,000.

E.F. Mattocks, William D. Hicks, William Galloway and Peter Coscia, engineers for the Erie Railroad Company, who were in charge of building the new Erie bridge at Callicoon, have completed their work and are moving to Port Jervis where they will be engaged in supervising the construction of an underpass at Pike Street in that city.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Frederick Schaefer, aged 17, of Barryville, was sentenced to from 30 years to life imprisonment for the killing of Miss Irma Gamba of New York City.

An important real estate deal was brought about this week by Alfred E. Adler, Kenoza Lake real estate broker, with the cooperation of Otto Hornung of Callicoon, when the property known as Kenoza Falls Lodge, owned the past few years by the Callicoon bank, was sold to Mike Kotowski and Leo Parente.

The Frank Allgeier homestead on the Callicoon road has been sold to Anthony Rudie, who has owned a farm in Beechwoods for over twenty years.

Mrs. Ida Riker of Narrowsburg has announced the engagement of her daughter, Florence, to Michael Antosh, formerly manager of the Victory chain store in Narrowsburg.

A daughter, Susan Kathleen, was born December 7 to Sgt. and Mrs. Robert J. Flynn of Roscoe at the Roscoe Hospital. The mother is the former Millicent Schadt of Jeffersonville.

A shower was given Miss Elaine Werner, physical education teacher at the school. Miss Werner will become the bride of Morris Katzoff of Lake Huntington next Sunday.

“Why the Chimes Rang” will be presented by the Jeffersonville School Music Department next Tuesday at the school auditorium. Conrad Schminke, Henry Swarz, Roger Baum and Dorothy Norris are the principal characters and will be supported by a large cast.

70 Years Ago - 1955

A son, Alan Granville, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Alan Newkirk on December 10th at Liberty-Loomis Hospital; a son was born on December 13th at the Callicoon Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Menges.

The White Lake Presbyterian Church celebrated its 150th birthday with a buffet supper, followed by a candlelight service. The first service was held on Christmas Day 1805 at the home of Capt. Abner Hollister in the town of Bethel.

Frances Polster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Polster, was given a “Sweet Sixteen” birthday party at Nolde’s Hotel, attended by about 100 friends and relatives.

Miss Caroline Rose Westervelt, daughter of Willard Westervelt of Fosterdale, was married to Thomas M. Halloran of Jeffersonville at the Fosterdale Methodist Church.

Ralph Huter of Bethel, a polio patient in Liberty-Loomis Hospital, is wearing a happy smile these days. Friends from Bethel,  Fosterdale, White Lake and Kauneonga Lake contributed to buy him a remote control TV set for his hospital room.

Katherine C. Scheidell of Jeffersonville was elected 2nd vice president and Alfred E. Adler of Jeffersonville was named as a director of the Sullivan County Real Estate Board.

A fire, which raged for three hours on Sunday morning, caused $90,000 damage to a Monticello office and residential building occupied by Mountain Dairies and Philadelphia Dairy Products.

Five people were injured on Route 17B two and a half miles west of Monticello when a truck skidded on the ice and crashed head-on into a car driven by Stephen Wormuth of Lake Huntington. He and his wife were taken to Hamilton Avenue Hospital.

Mr.and Mrs. Walter Scardefield gave a party at their home celebrating the 45th wedding anniversary of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Krum, and also Mrs. Krum’s birthday.

Mr. Robert Prasciunas has purchased the Olympia Hotel in Callicoon.

Mr. Joseph McCoach of Fosterdale narrowly escaped serious injury when he fell between his tractor and manure spreader while they were in operation.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Dr. John Rettaliata, president of the Illinois Institute of technology, yesterday announced a gift of one million dollars to the school from one of its trustees, Grover M. Hermann, honorary board chairman of the Martin-Marietta Corporation.

Henry Hermann of Callicoon bagged a beautiful 10-point buck on November 22. The buck has won first prize in a contest held at the Hankins House.

Approximately 25 speakers at an informal hearing at the Monticello courthouse spoke in favor of a county airport.

“With snowflakes in the air and many a coolish day, every country boy knows that winter is on the way,” rhymes Lou Boettger in his weekly note.

The Big Eddy Telephone Company converted its new direct dialing equipment into operation for the Galilee area on December 5th at 12:01 a.m. Sunday morning. This special equipment permits the Galilee subscribers to dial their own long distance phone calls direct, without needing the Long Distance Operator.

50 Years Ago - 1975

Area firefighters poured gallons of water on the blazing barn at the Recreation Farm, Fosterdale, as the fire, feeding on the bales of hay soared skyward. Eight fire companies were involved in the spectacular fire last Saturday night.

Crystal Lynn Sparling of Monticello and Airman First Class Richard M. Deagle of Neversink were married November 29 at the First Presbyterian Church, Monticello.

The 25th anniversary of the Lumberland Fire Department was the highlight of the annual installation dinner and dance held at the Glen Spa Restaurant Saturday night, with 170 members and guests attending.

Joanne M. Burns and Michael H. Knack were married November 16 at the home of the bride’s parents in Livingston Manor.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Vakiener of Youngsville were honored on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Hosted by their son, Robert and his wife, Carol, festivities began with a brunch at the Treadway Inn in Binghamton, followed by a gathering and buffet at the younger Vakiener’s new home.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Marty VanVleet is back at the helm of coaching basketball at Fallsburg Central School. The Comets defeated Delaware Valley 57-38 in a non-league game and the game also marked the return of VanVleet to coaching after taking a break during the 1984-85 season.

Historic Roebling Bridge, which connects Minisink Ford and Lackawaxen, Pa., has been reopened to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The bridge, 138 years old, was the forerunner for the famed Brooklyn Bridge. NPS plans call for the opening of the bridge to vehicular traffic in 1986 following the replacement of the wooden superstructure and improvements to the highway approaches. 

Scott Gustafson of Galilee, Pa., shot a 400-pound Caribou while hunting in the Alaskan Peninsula in October.

Malcolm Brown, 53-year-old professor of philosophy at Brooklyn College, and his wife, Anne Larsen, will be running a hydroelectric plant at the base of the dam on Lake Jefferson, just outside Jeffersonville. If construction goes according to plan, electricity will be produced at the plant by next April. Maximum output will be 300,000 kilowatt hours annually (enough to supply 50 households). The power will be sold to NYSEG at the rate of six cents per kilowatt hour. 

Wedding Bells: On October 6, Miss Nancy Heinrichs became the bride of Kenneth J. Fraley at the First Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville. Betsy Lang and John W. Lynch were married August 24 at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Narrowsburg. Karen C. Medlar and Michael Brother were married September 7 in Hingham, Mass. Sally Margaret Reddish and George Creegan were married October 12 at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon.

Pianist Frank Schwartz and soprano Susan Parkyn gave a benefit concert December 1 to raise money for the Town of Lumberland’s Steinway. The piano, one of only a few made, is in need of extensive repairs and refurbishing.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Sculptor Joe Speicher of Fremont Center has volunteered to restore the statue of the Virgin Mary belonging to St. George’s R.C. Church in Jeffersonville, which was damaged by vandals in mid-September. 

Nellie Stevens Stabbert Persbacker, matriarch of the Sullivan County Democrat and recognized for her contribution of “While the Kettle Boils” in that newspaper by the New York Press Association who gave her an honorable mention in 1977, died Wednesday, December 6, at the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center in Honesdale, Pa. She had written more than 2,500 columns since beginning her column in 1939 and in 1989, a 190-page anthology of her columns, “While The Kettle Boils: 50 Years of Country Poetry” was published. She was a grade school teacher who came to Callicoon in 1924 for her first teaching job, met her future husband and married Fred W. Stabbert in 1925. Several years after his death in 1963, she married Herbert C. Persbacker with whom she had several happy years. Mrs. Persbacker was a community leader and “doer.”

The Hortonville Post Office hosted an open house on the occasion of the completion of renovations which have greatly improved the working conditions offered to the staff. There are 160 postal boxes available in three sizes, with about 120 in use. Artifacts and old photographs were on display.

Local school instrumental and vocal groups will be featured during noon-time at the Sullivan County Government Center until December 20. The Liberty High School Honors Chorus sang traditional seasonal songs on Friday and were well received.

The old Arlington Hotel in Narrowsburg is undergoing renovations which include demolition, construction and the installation of various heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems. The 100-year-old building was acquired in 1981 by the Delaware Valley Arts  Alliance. The DVAA has received a $25,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.

20 Years Ago - 2005

A White Sulphur Springs native son brought the World War II memorial sign back to life. Mason Tom Edwards remembered the old monument from his youth, but like many residents of the hamlet, he couldn’t tell you what became of it. On his down time over the winter, he borrowed a picture from his aunt’s scrapbook, a book saved by his cousin, Deming Lindsley. The photo showed the original monument with all 64 names. Edwards ordered a huge slab of granite, had the names engraved, then got some help from his employees and others, erecting the monument near the entrance of the Firemen’s Park.

Thirty years after 17 adult men and women moved into a home for individuals with disabilities in Loch Sheldrake, New Hope Community has 28 homes serving 212 adults from 21 to 91 across Sullivan County. The first center was actually the rehabilitated Green Acres Hotel.

An employee of the world-famous Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum since it opened in 1981, Agnes Van Put has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to the area ... in her duties as chief gift shop volunteer, a fly-tier, guide, historian, museum representative and all-around goodwill ambassador for Sullivan County. Thursday night she received the Sullivan County Visitors Association’s highest honor award – the TOAST (Tribute to an Outstanding Associate Serving Tourism).

10 Years Ago - 2015

DEATHS: Mattia “Matty” Anthony Russo Jr. of Callicoon passed away on December 8, 2015 at the age of 58. He was the son of the late Mattia and Marge Russo. His body has been donated to Weill Cornell Medical College/Cornell University for the advancement of medical education and research. ... Josephine Anne Okrak of Jeffersonville, a retired seamstress who at one time sewed for the women of the White House, died Friday, December 11, 2015 at Roscoe Regional Rehab & Nursing Center, Roscoe at the age of  95. She was the daughter of John and Amelia Wozniak. ... Irene Frishman of Delray Beach, Florida, peacefully passed away on December 4 as she was requested by God to  continue making her amazing jewelry from used watch pieces in heaven. Her parents, Irving and Shirley Sadownick, moved the family to Glen Spey when she was about seven and at age fifteen moved to Monticello, where she  resided for most of her life.

The only time you’ll see a gun openly displayed without trouble inside the Sullivan County Government Center is when the Sullivan County Veterans Coalition hands one to its annual raffle winner every December during the Veterans Committee meeting of the Legislature. The raffle this year raised around $4,800 to benefit the coalition’s van used to transport veterans who can’t drive or who don’t have vehicles. 

The Liberty Public Library on North Main Street got the thumbs-up it needed from the Liberty Central School District Board of Education last week to allow the library to expand its footprint on the school property it currently occupies, plus use an additional portion for staging of construction materials and equipment. Library Director Marjorie Linko said the next step is in the hands of the library board, which must now determine timelines with its architect. Ultimately, the project will come up for public vote.