110 Years Ago - 1915

A fire destroyed the out buildings of Henry Stiene of Neweiden, except the barn, on Monday morning about two o’clock. The house and barn were saved by the help of the neighbors. Three pigs and a number of chickens were destroyed.

A well-to-do farm and timber owner – a man who owns perhaps a thousand acres – left his home to go across the fields to his son’s place, a half-mile distance, but never reached his son’s. A score or more of searchers found not the slightest clue of him. Such is the mystery that confronts Jeffersonville. About 8 o’clock on Tuesday, Henry G. Meyers, aged about sixty years, left his home to go to his son Ralph’s. He was seen by one of the Hogencamp boys, crossing a field, carrying an axe and a gun.

A post card from George C. Abraham of Southern Pines, N.C., under date of December 2, says there was a fall of snow there on that morning. He also stated that his peach crop the past season aggregated nearly 7,000 crates.

Surrounded by eleven of their twelve children (one died in childhood) and grandchildren and other relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schneider Sr. of Narrowsburg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home.

Your attention is respectfully called to the new advertisements of  W.A. Hill, Bennett Bros, W.H. Stengel, E. Hoffmann, Liberty Furniture Co., R. Rubinowitch, Stevens, Whitney & Denton and the Callicoon National Bank which appear in this issue of the Democrat. — Callicoon Corresp.

Hannah Barbara Weissman, wife of Peter Weissman of Callicoon Center, died Sunday, November 28, at the State Hospital at Middletown where she had been a patient since having a nervous breakdown last February.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Petitions are being circulated by a number of hunters for signatures to request that our representatives in state Assembly and Senate have a law passed which will prevent the extermination of the red fox by prohibiting the trapping and poisoning and disturbing the litters of their young and making it unlawful to have in one’s possession a red fox between the first day of March and the first day of November in each year. This protection is asked by hunters who take such game by shooting and who find much sport in a day’s hunting with guns and hounds and because two or three professional trappers are exterminating the red fox by trapping and using scented bait which lures the fox and kills him almost instantly by poisonous effect, using the trap to evade the law. Some are digging the foxes from their lair during the springtime and shipping them out of Sullivan County. It is asked of the board of supervisors to eliminate the bounty on red fox and put it on the grey fox as it is claimed by sportsmen that the grey fox is responsible for depredations upon partridge and other game much of which is charged to the red fox.

Al Van Loan, a farmer living in Dahlia, Sullivan County, nearly three miles north of White Sulphur Springs, was kicked to death Friday afternoon by an excited yearling horse, tied in its stall on the Van Loan farm. He lived but an hour after the animal had crushed his skull, opened a gaping wound in his throat and badly trampled him.

Raymond Graby, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Graby of near Callicoon, was severely injured Saturday afternoon when his hand was crushed in a corn husker. The flesh was stripped off the index finger, middle finger and thumb of the left hand. He was taken to the Deerpark Sanitarium in Port Jervis where it was found necessary to perform surgery.

August Faubel of Hortonville shot two large horned owls recently in his dooryard. Mr. Faubel just opened his kitchen door and, though of an advanced age, he brought down both of them at the first shot. Can any of the young fellows beat that?

90 Years Ago - 1935

Herman E. Sprague, 81, founder and many years editor of the Liberty Gazette, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was the son of Stephen M. and Eunice Krum Sprague and the husband of Emma Judd Sprague. He is survived by five sons, Stephen, Morton, Herbert, Leslie and Clifford, and two daughters, Mrs. Eunice Stalker and Miss Ruth Sprague.

Suits were filed in the United States District Court in New York City last week by Guilford E. Geber, as receiver of the First National Bank of Hankins, against thirteen stockholders to recover $100 for each share of stock held by them. The capital stock of the bank which has been in receivership since October 1933 comprises $25,000.

Jackson Day Dinner will be held at Hotel Grossinger. Radio reception of an address by President Roosevelt, to be broadcast at 10 o’clock, will be a feature of the evening.

A few pounds of venison, allegedly taken before the opening of the deer season, brought Jacob and Ward Liebla of Barryville to the county Jail to spend fifty days each. A civil compromise of $52.50 each was arranged in lieu of fines. The men were given time in which to pay the money, but failed.

Callicoon High bettered her winning average this past week by taking two games: one from South Fallsburg at home a postponed game, 18 to 11, and her second league game from Youngsville, 28 to 13, at the loser’s court.

Eric R. Karg, proprietor of the Olympia Hotel, has completed a model village for the holiday season. The model which measures about 4x6 feet shows the hotel, Erie R.R. tracks and station, St. Joseph’s Seminary, the Callicoon Hospital and other houses. Made of Plaster of Paris and cardboard covered with shiny colored glass and light-reflecting material, the miniature village presents a novel appearance when lighted up. A water fall adds to the beauty of the whole affair.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Three hundred pupils of the nearly 1,000 attending Liberty High school to total were absent from classes last week due to the influenza epidemic. School was closed a week earlier than usual for Christmas vacation.

The Delaware Valley, in common with other sections of the state and nation, was blanketed with snow this week with a total of 15 inches.

The Callicoon Hospital, which has been short of nurses, has added two new members to its nursing staff. They are Mrs. Francis (Helen) Evans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Chandler, and Miss Mae Gilbert of South Dakota, a discharged Army nurse.

It was 10 below Monday morning and 16 below zero this morning. Sort of snappy.

Max Scher, who has been in business here the past 22 years, sold his Lake Huntington Store to Morris Heller of Ridgewood.

Irving Nelson, proprietor of Nelson’s Poultry Company at Lake Huntington, settled an office of Price Administration claim for $2,017.14, according to an OPA announcement from Binghamton. The OPA alleged that Nelson sold 28 truckloads of live poultry between April 4th and October 1st at $1,053.57 above the ceiling price. Nelson settled an Administrator’s claim for twice the amount of the overcharge. Nelson also consented to a permanent injunction. The injunction restrains Nelson from dealing in poultry at more than ceiling price.

Malcolm Dexter, supervisor of the Town of Tusten, is erecting a large new hangar on the Delaware River at Narrowsburg. Five small hangars were on the field, which is a short distance north of Narrowsburg.

A dinner honoring Miles D. Kennedy of New York City, State Legion Commander, was tendered by the Sullivan  County American Legion at the Lenape Hotel on Tuesday evening, on the occasion of his official visit to the district. Justice Sydney F. Foster acted as master of ceremonies.

A fire in the Dorrer double house on Route 97 on December 6 did considerable damage to several rooms. The fire started in a basket of clothes in an apartment. The firemen responded immediately and within a few minutes controlled the fire so that the loss was kept under $1,000 and the building was saved.

At the Victory Store: Durkee Shortening, 3 lb. can, 65¢; Norwich All-Purpose Flour, enriched, 25 lb., $1.05; Del Monte Coffee, 1 lb. can reg. or drip, 33¢.

70 Years Ago - 1955

The oldest house in Monticello is being torn down to make room for the new Sullivan County Trust Company at the corner of Broadway and  St. John Street, Monticello. The house, built in 1804 by John P. Jones, formerly was owned by Dr. Nathan Rosenthal.

The County Board of Supervisors voted eight to six to employ a combination auditor, purchasing agent and budget officer. The vote was along strict party lines, with the Democratic majority winning.

Dedication ceremonies are being planned for the carillon Bells which were recently installed in the First Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville.

Liberty-Loomis Hospital was granted $21,300 and Monticello Hospital was granted $28,900 by the Ford Foundation.

Special FBI agent Frank Schweitzer, stationed at New York, last week conducted a photography class at Monticello for law enforcement officials.

County Democrat Chairman Harry Borden will be among those from Sullivan County at the ground breaking ceremonies December 15 for the new Cannonsville reservoir. The ground breaking will officially start the construction of the 44-mile tunnel which will carry waters of the West Branch of the Delaware River to Low’s Corners, near Grahamsville, where the water will flow into Merriman Dam. In addition to marking the ground breaking, the ceremonies will commemorate the 50th year of the Board of Water Supply.

William F. Miller, 78, one of the county’s best known men, died Sunday. He began his career at Monticello with a livery and drug store; knew many prominent men and owned much real estate. He is survived by his wife, the former Helen Holden; a daughter, Mrs. John J. Willis; a son, William F. Jr., and a granddaughter, Patricia Willis.

Mr. and Mrs. Cortland F. Benedict of Summitville and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Teller of Middletown, married in a double wedding ceremony, December 22, 1905, were honored at a double golden wedding anniversary party at the American Legion Home in Fallsburg.

60 Years Ago - 1965

With demolition of the Curtis Homestead and the Knack house on Main Street, Callicoon, by R. & H. Gorr, work began last Friday laying out the new building of the United National Bank.

A beautiful new Christmas tree with a blaze of white lights has added to the holiday spirit in Callicoon this year. The tree, which is located in the center of town by the fire gong, is the project of the Community Improvement Committee of the Women’s Literary Club of Callicoon.

Sullivan County Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Manville B. Wakefield as Associate Professor of Art and coordinator of the commercial art curriculum.

Helicopter Pilot John Nielson of Neversink is one of five crew members commended for outstanding display of professional skill in evacuating wounded from a downed aircraft in an area subject to hostile ground fire near Cho Gao, South Vietnam. Bad weather hampered the rescue mission, the pilot cutting through thick clouds to remove the injured from the area while under Viet Cong 50-caliber machine gun fire. The recovery team also made a rapid extraction of the downed aircraft after removing the wounded survivors, delivering the damaged ship to Bien Duc airfield. There the crew learned security troops for that area had been committed to the battle and after refueling elected to take the damaged craft to the security of Vinh Long, after dark and in a heavy downpour.

50 Years Ago - 1975

Mr. and Mrs. Chris A. Karadontes of Jeffersonville announce the engagement of their daughter, Georgia, to Kevin F. Hart of Liberty.

A century-old landmark, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Monticello, was ravaged by a fire that swept the building Sunday night in what police say was an act of arson. Discovered at 11:04 p.m., the blaze was battled by 67 Monticello firemen, aided by the Liberty Fire Co. South Fallsburg stood by at the Monticello firehouse.

David Fisk, 13, of Hortonville, made his way to the semi-finals in Detroit this past weekend in the Ford Motors Punt, Pass and Kick contest. This is the third year he has progressed to the semi-finals.

Debra F. Mears and John A. Miller were united in marriage November 29 at the United Presbyterian Church in Livingston Manor.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Teachers at the Jeffersonville Youngsville Central School are still working without a contract after representatives from the board of education and the faculty association reached an impasse earlier this week. The teachers have been working without a contract for almost six months now.

Diana Sabloff and Todd Mohrmann were two Liberty High School students chosen by Village of Liberty Mayor Pearl Bern to help chair Monday’s meeting on a proposed youth center for the Town and Village of Liberty.

Former Liberty resident, Kathy Lynn (Gorton) Emerson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Gorton, is the author of The Mystery of Hilliard’s Castle, written for young people in grades 6-9. The story features a stone house with a locked tower, similar in appearance to Liberty’s Hillig’s Castle, which could be seen on a hill overlooking Liberty when Mrs. Emerson was growing up. She is currently working on a children’s book set in 1887 Sullivan County and based in large part on the memoirs of her grandfather, Fred Gorton, who lived in what used to be called Strongtown.

Fourth grader Jennifer Mall and fifth grader Ilene Epstein, were the winners of their grade’s spelling bee at the Jeffersonville School. The two competed December 12 in the county-wide bee at Sullivan County BOCES. 

Charlie Barbuti Sr., Joe Meola and Vernon Beseth of Liberty are planning to participate in the “50s and over” softball league this summer. Barbuti, 71, played some ball in the sunny south and thought such a league would be welcomed in Sullivan County. He helped initiate such a league last summer.

Mark Rosenshein’s 13th place finish was the top performance among the local contingent at last Saturdays’ National AAU Junior Olympic Cross Country championships at Mercy College just outside Philadelphia, Pa. A student at Tri-Valley Central school, he outdistanced 114 other runners. Kevin McManus of Eldred covered the 4K course in 16:12. Tammie Reiss of Eldred wound up 22nd, covering the 3.1-mile course in 20:43 with Caryn Landau of Tri-Valley coming in 26th out of 158 runners in the girls’ midget race.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Twenty-five property owners who live north and east of the old county landfill in Monticello should know in a month or so whether leachate oozing from the old landfill and getting into the groundwater is fouling their wells. 

Sullivan County Community Bank, the area’s first new commercial bank to open since 1913, officially marked its second anniversary last week. The two-year-old bank, which opened its doors on December 7, 1993 with a staff of 10, now employs 16 people at its banking office and operations center on Route 42 in Monticello.

After a long period of waiting and debating, the Liberty History and Art Center has finally found a home – in the former Katz’s Bakery in downtown Liberty. 

Diagnosed with prostate cancer but lacking a steady income or health insurance, George Nichols is attempting to raise treatment money by raising himself to the roof of a Liberty business this week. Nichols has pledged to stay atop the roof of the Century 21 building on Main Street 24 hours a day through this Friday night to raise awareness about his personal campaign.

Delaware Supervisor Eric Nystrom may have lost the battle – but won the war. In a surprise announcement Monday, Supervisor-elect Jack Sattler said he will decline office, possibly leaving the door open for Nystrom to continue on as supervisor for another year. Sattler defeated Nystrom, 445-411, on November 7.

Students in Mr. Glenn Wooddell’s Radio Production Class are working with the WJFF Radio Station in Jeffersonville. Students Christine Davis, Jane Malara, and Alyssa Nearing are learning from Station Manager Ms. Betty Popovich and Mr. Wooddell how to use their new equipment and become proficient with the technical material.

Sally Thurmond Hermann of Pebble Beach, Calif., the widow of Grover M. Hermann, died Sunday, December 17, 1995, in California.

Stephanie Hubert, daughter of David and Linda Hubert of Fremont Center, has been selected to represent Delaware Valley Central School at the 38th annual Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation. 

Liberty beat Jeff-Youngsville and its former coach, Ron Bernhardt, 36-28 on Saturday afternoon to win the Jeff-Youngsville Girls Tip-Off Classic. While noting the critical absence of his Danielle Fiorelle, out with a concussion, Bernhardt credited Liberty’s Timika Bruce, the tourney’s MVP, with being instrumental in the loss.

20 Years Ago - 2005

A fire ripped through a mobile home off Route 17B in Monticello late Thursday afternoon, leaving a couple and their three young children homeless. It was reportedly the third fire at the mobile home park in the last several years.

The ice and snow that dropped across the county Thursday night into Friday closed every school in the county and sent twin brothers, John Paul “JP” and Mason Rosello, both seniors at Sullivan West, out on a drive in the snow. On their trip back from Long Eddy, the 17-year-old Mason lost control of the truck and they collided with another vehicle. Their truck apparently spun around and flipped over, and Mason was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead later that afternoon.

The new Monticello firehouse currently has several leaks in its roof, but some patching should be able to get it open before the new year, according to officials.

Al Rasnick Do the Right Thing Award winners for September and October at Fallsburg Central School were high school student Rudy Dieudonne, and junior high student Ramya Pratt. Also rewarded for his good work was Raekwon Evans, a BOCES student.

10 Years Ago - 2015

The Town of Neversink had a lot in common with the weather on Thursday, December 17 as well as the ink on the newly acquired liquor license – all were “wet” that day, as the first legally purchased and consumed beer was poured for the first time in over 80 years at a local eatery. It was a long time coming for this small community, leaving only eight municipalities in New York State left to hold the title of being “dry” towns. Neversink went dry in 1935, two years after the repeal of prohibition, thanks to a successful crusade to outlaw booze by May Bonnell Cross, a prominent member of the Methodist Women’s Christian Temperance Movement. The first attempt to repeal the law came in 1937, and subsequent attempts in the 40s, 70s and 2000s all failed to garner enough votes.

Sullivan County residents, businesspeople and politicians celebrated yesterday afternoon at BHR in Rock Hill moments after the NYS Gaming Commission unanimously approved the gaming license permitting the Montreign Casino near Monticello to operate. Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber expects concrete foundations to be poured for the billion-dollar resort starting in January, with an opening in 2017. 

State Police at Liberty report the arrest of two individuals after an investigation into ATM card skimming.  During the first week of November 2015, it was reported to State Police that several customers of NBDC had their bank accounts compromised. State Police remind people to be aware of their surroundings when using an ATM. If they suspect that an ATM has been tampered with, avoid using it and notify bank management and police immediately.