130 Years Ago - 1895

W.H. Moulthrop of Kenoza Lake has constructed a hennery 15 x 50 feet — the largest in this section.

A syndicate of railroad men are looking over a proposed route for an electric railroad that will connect Port Jervis, Monticello, Ellenville and Kingston. The plan proposed is to build a freight, passenger and express line.

Peter Mathern has sold his farm in the Beechwoods to Ed Krantz, son of John Krantz of Kenoza Lake.

During the thunderstorm of November 26, at Monticello, lightning struck the residence of A.W. Fulton, shattered the chimney, ran down to the cellar and followed the steam pipes up into the store adjoining, where it slightly shocked Joseph Reynolds, who was leaning against a radiator.

The Russian Thistle, which has overrun whole counties in South Dakota and forced hundreds of farmers to abandon their farms, has been brought east and 150 plants have been found growing in the West Shore yard in Weehawken. It is supposed that the seeds were carried east in a cattle car.

120 Years Ago - 1905

A meeting of the citizens of Jeffersonville is to be held at Eagle Hall Saturday night for the purpose of promoting the trolley project and securing subscriptions of stock.

The water main is being extended this week along the new street through Charles Scheidell’s land and intersecting with the North Branch Road.

Carl Pauli, the civil engineer and surveyor, was called to Callicoon last week to make surveys, locating the lines of the premises of F. Steinhauser, Chris Schrumpf and John Bremer, over which has risen a dispute that promises to be taken to court.

Henry Hoos on Monday transferred his bakery salesroom from the Pfeifle Building to his own place, the Kohl house, where he now has the whole geschaft. We regret to see the bakery so far from the center of the village.

The wireless telegraph system is to be extended around the world so that a man can never more get out of reach.

The poor gas service in the village of Jeff of late has renewed the agitation for electric lights. That’s right! Give us electric light yet, and then perhaps we can see our finish.

110 Years Ago - 1915

Henry G. Myers, aged between 65 and 70, a well-to-do farmer, left his home, formerly the John A. Hutch place about two miles north of Jeff, about 10 o’clock last Tuesday morning and has not been heard from since.

Mrs. Harriet Bennett Bysin, wife of Rev. Ernest Bysin, a German Methodist minister, died at her home in Jersey City. The announcement of her death was a shock and surprise to her many friends in Jeffersonville, who were not aware that she had been ill.

Callicoon has a couple more diphtheria cases, emanating from the case which first appeared in the home of Wesley M. Dorrer at Hortonville. One of the new cases is the little daughter of mail carrier  Edward Schultz of Callicoon. The school there was closed as a precaution against a spread of the disease.

Last Thursday was butchering day at John Wagner’s on the hill. As “Bennie” was leading one of the pigs to the executioner, John Fuhrer, the victim got away, and gave the men a merry chase over fields and fences and through Phil Gorr’s woods. The neighbors joined the chase until he was caught.

The Jeffersonville Board of Education has adopted a resolution providing that the school library be open as a free circulating library for the use of the people in the district under certain restrictions to protect the interest of the school.

Charles A. Thorwelle, formerly the popular proprietor of the Western Hotel in Callicoon for many years, and now president of the Callicoon National Bank, was greatly surprised at his home Saturday night when a crowd of friends came to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Thorwelle.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Honesdale, Narrowsburg and Beach Lake joined in a union celebration Monday afternoon and assisted in officially opening the new concrete state road beginning at Indian Orchard, a short distance from Honesdale, and running through Beach Lake, to Narrowsburg, a distance of a little over ten and one-half miles.

In a case recently decided by the highest court in this state, it was held that the league pooling contract with the farmers was void and unenforceable as regards the penalty provision. The plain meaning of this is that even if the farmer signs the contract, he can sell his milk where he likes and not be subject to the penalty of the contract because it has been declared unlawful.

The farm and board house of Long Bros. in Beechwoods has been sold to Rubin and Baarch of New York, and the Snetlage farm and Basket Lake, near Tennanah Lake, have been sold to D. Karo of New York.

Auto thieves were out through here last night and took a second hand Essex coach from the garage of Joseph Alpy, in the Delaware section of Jeffersonville. They left in its place a Ford Coupe, which Mr. Alpy has learned was stolen in Liberty.

John J. Burns of Monticello received the Democratic nomination for secretary of the United States Senate at the Democratic caucus in Washington, D.C.

Sam Rudolf, who bought the old Pfeifle residence on South Main Street of Will Lawrence a couple of years ago, has made a great transformation in the building. The building was moved back a few feet and a plate glass front for two stores put in, with a balcony on the second floor.

The submarine is being severely condemned. Men may learn in time that the sea is to sail on, not under; that the air is to breathe in, not fly in.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The Jeffersonville Bowling Alley, which has been owned and operated the last twelve years by Gustave Allenspach, who came from Hoboken, has been leased to H. VonDerLeith who came here from New Jersey several years ago.

Albert Pfeifle has exchanged the Pfeifle farm on Swiss Hill for the Maple Hotel in North Branch, owned formerly by John Link and lately by his son-in-law, George Reich-mann.

Weddings: Miss Katherine S. Ebert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ebert of Hurleyville, and Henry J. Vakiener, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vakiener of Youngsville, were married November 22 in Liberty.

The engagement of Miss Theresa Deckelman of Obernburg, a member of the Jeffersonville High School faculty, and Lester Gute, connected with the Roth Bakery, has been announced and the wedding is set for the later part of the month.

Five of the six men indicted by the grand jury for a holdup at the Farm Rest near Monticello last Labor Day are now on trial in the county court with District Attorney William Deckelman prosecuting and Isaac Silberman, Ellsworth Baker, Morris Oppenheim and Benjamin Goldstein of Monticello defending the prisoners.

George P. Peterson, one of Jeffersonville’s retail milk dealers, is in Liberty Hospital with his right leg fractured and ankle dislocated. A bull, chained to a stake, gave him the run-around and his leg became twisted in the chain.

Interesting and entertaining programs have been prepared by Pastor C.W. Jung and his aides for the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church here this week.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Irving C. Robisch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles I. Robisch of Beechwoods, has been promoted to lieutenant commander in the Navy, and is now stationed at Maspeth.

Alfred E. Adler, real estate broker of Kenoza Lake, has sold the Bernard Ulrich boarding house and farm at Cochecton Center to Mrs. Lottie Arcymowic and Theodore L. Klainer of Long Island City.

Miss Edna Lillian Schroeder, daughter of Mrs. Lillian V. Schroeder of Youngsville, and John G. Stumpf, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Stumpf of Shandelee were married in Cleveland, Ohio, December 1st.

A daughter, Susan Mary, the third child, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Schafer of Averill Park.

Carl Sonman, who bought the Harry Williams farm near Hunter Pond and set up a  machine shop a couple years ago for war work is now turning out bobby (hair) pins.

In County Court on Monday, Frederick Schaefer, the 17-year-old Barryville youth indicted for first degree murder of Miss Irma Gambe of Glen Spey last August, changed his plea from not guilty of murder in the first degree to guilty of murder in the second degree.

Bert Harder of Chicago, who bought the residence and food store building of Preston Abplanalp, reopened the store on Monday with a new stock of meat and groceries.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Liberty-Loomis Hospital received a $21,300 grant and Monticello Hospital $28,900 from the Ford Foundation for improvement and extension of their services to the public.

The Board of Supervisors approved a budget for 1956, $72,561 higher than 1955 and created a new position, that of Budget Officer.

A fire of undetermined origin at the Perres Poultry Farm on Route 52, between Jeffersonville and Youngsville last Thursday, destroyed 2,700 hens as well as four pigs and eleven sucklings. Damage is estimated at $9,000.

Dedication ceremonies are being planned for carillon bells which have been installed in the First Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville as a gift through contributions and memorials.

Richard Mitteer was re-elected president of the Sullivan County Extension Service at its 41st annual meeting on Friday.

The town board of the Town of Callicoon adopted a resolution requiring all property owners after January 1, 1956, to apply for a building permit and submit plans and specifications of new buildings to be constructed, residential buildings converted or alterations to be made under the New York State Multiple Residence law.

Mrs. William Nakao and son, Michael, are on a trip to Chicago where Michael underwent plastic surgery.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Stark tragedy in the death of two of their children and the complete loss of their home and possessions struck Mr. and Mrs. John William “Jack” Turner of Galilee, Pa., when a flash fire erupted in the Turner house on Saturday.

Robert M. Rosen of Monticello has been named by the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors as Public Defender.

The big game season continues on its way to what appears to be record takes of deer and bear.

Donald Krantz of Callicoon RD was sworn into office as the Acting Postmaster at Callicoon. The post became vacant with the retirement of William L. Bergner of Callicoon who has held the post since 1936.

Funeral services for one of the three men killed in a single-car auto crash early Sunday morning near Woodbourne were held Sunday afternoon. Rites for the other two were held today.

Many car owners in Sullivan County were jolted the past couple of weeks when they received their punch-card applications for the 1966 car license plates from the State Motor Vehicle Department at Albany. They found that the fee had been increased by 50 percent — and a large percentage found that they must pay even more than that because of the new pro-rated system.

50 Years Ago - 1975

Monticello Raceway began its 5th Annual Winter Carnival of racing on an auspicious note on Thanksgiving Night with a good crowd and a good handle, despite a tropical downpour which marred most of the holiday during its daylight hours, but which had terminated before the 8 p.m. post time.

Walter Peters of Jeffersonville is leading the pack in the Sullivan County Democrat’s Big Rack and Big Bear contest with a rack totaling 63 1/2 inches.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hoffman of Fremont Center were honored on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary at a surprise party held at the Little Texas Ranch in Obernburg. About 90 relatives and friends joined in the celebration.

A coyote-appearing animal is awaiting further identification after being shot by Joe Miller at the Tamarack Hunting Club last week. The carcass was taken to the DEC laboratories in Delmar for identification.

Mr. and Mrs. James B. Creegan of Cochecton announce the engagement of their daughter, Patricia, to Charles R. Segar, son of Mrs. Catherine Segar of Fosterdale and the late Charles M. Segar. A March wedding is being planned.

40 Years Ago - 1985

In observance of the  300th anniversary of the birth of George F. Handel, the Wayne Choralaires, under the direction of Dorothy Light, will present The Messiah in the Central United Methodist Church in Honesdale on Sunday, December 8, and Sunday, December 15.

The Hazel bridge, spanning the Willowemoc Creek between Roscoe and Hazel, is scheduled to close next week. Local residents say the closing will cause them a great hardship as it means greater traveling distances between the two places. The county DPW is looking into ways to strengthen the bridge so that it can be used while a new span is constructed 50 feet upstream.

Charles Engert, former 26-year town clerk for the Town of Delaware and former head of transportation at the Delaware Valley Central School, died Tuesday, November 26. He was 79 and a veteran of the Normandy invasion during  World War II.

Robin Fiddle of Parksville has been crowned Miss New York State Teenager as first runner-up in the recent contest. Claudeen Travis of Chenango County went on to become Miss Teenager of the States, allowing Robin to assume her NY state title.

Representatives of the Mountaindale, Jeffersonville and Eldred American Legion ambulance corps each received plaques for 20 years accident-free driving while serving their respective communities.

The covered bridge at Livingston Manor was reopened for vehicular traffic up to five tons last week after a respite of ten years. Restoration of the historic bridge was begun in 1984, using authentic covered bridge detailing. “We used all wood, the way it was  done originally,” said George Haas, Sullivan County bridge engineer. The 110-foot span is constructed without nails but with trunnels of red or white oak. The bridge is made from Douglas fir with siding made from Eastern hemlock.

“If you’re old enough to be drafted, you’re old enough to drink,” says Julia R. Klisahoff, a 19-year-old student at Sullivan County Community College, in regard to the new drinking law which raises the age from 19 to 21.  The law took effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday morning and is aimed at reducing the incidence of drunk driving.

Don Meckle of Callicoon shot a nine pointer that tipped the scales at 140. The buck measured 75 3/4 points in the Democrat’s Big Rack Contest.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Elsie Trible celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends at the Jeffersonville Adult Home on Monday. She was born in Middlesmithville Township, Pa., when the United States Flag boasted 44 stars, Grover Cleveland was in his second year of his second inaugural term and the war between the states had ended just  28 years before.

Richard Guttzeit of Lake Huntington, famous for the chain saw carvings he makes of bears out of logs, has turned his talent to a “Frosty” the snowman carving which will grace the Christmas season on the shores of Lake Huntington.

“Old Man Winter” started early this year, dumping 6-8 inches of snow on Sullivan County Wednesday morning. The second snowstorm of the season caused two hour delays in western Sullivan schools. Monticello and Eldred schools closed for the day.

Ann and Ben Schneider of Monticello celebrated their 60th anniversary with a gathering of their family on November 16. They are the parents of two children, Barbara and her husband, Michael of North Miami Beach, Fla, and Alvin and his wife, Madelyn of Connecticut. They also have six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Gerald Berry of Circleville entered a 10-point buck in the Democrat’s Big Rack contest which had a 69 1/4 point rack. Other biggies included a 10-pointer which measured a 68 1/2 point rack taken by Robert Bonnaci of Smallwood. His deer weighed 145 pounds.

Evy Possick of Pine Bush won the 1996 Ford pickup raffled by the Jeffersonville Chamber of Commerce at its gala event held Sunday. A total of 336 tickets were sold. In addition to the truck, 13 cash awards were made.

20 Years Ago - 2005

Major renovations are scheduled to get underway early next year at Kiamesha Lanes.

Route 42 is undergoing an emergency replacement of its heavily-trafficked bridge over Sheldrake Stream. The bridge is the main artery in and out of downtown South Fallsburg. The bridge was seriously damaged by last April’s floods.

Members of the Narrowsburg Central School Class of 1955 recently held their 50th reunion. 

With less than five minutes left on the game clock during Friday night’s Billy Moran Girls’ Basketball Tipp-Off Classic championship game at Sullivan West High School, the SW Lady Bulldogs led the S.S. Seward Lady Spartans by 28 points. But then Seward went on a 14-2 run until it was shut down in the stretch by a bucket by Rachel Houghtaling, a shot that reignited the Lady Bulldogs fire against a late game full court press. SW posted a 53-36 victory. Scoring in double figures for SW were Kate Fanning (19 points) and Sarah Lander (15 points).

10 Years Ago - 2015

Fallsburg High School students Johanna Lemus, Grace Strauss, and Odette Lemus (cousin of Johanna) earned Area All State Chorus selection and performed on November 20 and 21 at Suffern High School. Odette received a special honor to sing a solo in one of the final works of the evening, “Macquerule.” Chorus teacher Ms. Colleen Barber O’Toole accompanied her students on the trip.

A more beautiful day couldn’t have been possible for people to come out and support Amanda Ward in taking the oath of office as Fallsburg Town Justice, than Sunday, December 6 was. Amanda Ward was born and raised in Fallsburg, and is now raising her daughter here. She has a law degree from Hofstra, is a teacher at SUNY Sullivan for the past 6 years, is a senior director for workforce development at the Center for Discovery, and has an ample background in community service. 

Mae Kratz, the youngest of seven  children born to George K. and Wilhemina Rosenberger, peacefully passed away at her daughter Carol’s home on December 3, 2015. In addition to raising her own four children, she was a dedicated foster parent and welcomed exchange students into her home. 

Madolin Tenbus was delighted to have four generations of her family visiting together in Hortonville recently, Kara Kasmer and Patti Miller with Sadie Rose Kasmer. It was very special for Madolin to have them visit and to meet her great-granddaughter for the first time.