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December 22, 2020 Edition

Compiled by Lee Hermann, Muse, & Ruth Huggler
Posted 12/21/20

140 Years Ago - 1880

James Comfort of near Stevensville, died on November 28, aged 75.

Snow, sleighing, pleasant evenings.

Barryville has the scarlet fever.

Wm. Myers of Eldred has …

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December 22, 2020 Edition

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140 Years Ago - 1880

James Comfort of near Stevensville, died on November 28, aged 75.

Snow, sleighing, pleasant evenings.

Barryville has the scarlet fever.

Wm. Myers of Eldred has purchased the Clearwater property in Highland.

Stephen Fayerweather of Briscoe, a week ago, had five sheep poisoned by eating laurel.

W.J. Denman, who was lately reported as arrested for setting the Morsston fires, publishes a card in the “Hancock Herald” of last week pronouncing the article published in the “Middletown Argus” and copied into several papers, a lie from beginning to end.

Victoria, daughter of Barbara Stephenson of Hurd Settlement, is very ill with consumption.

Martin Weyrauch of Callicoon killed a spring pig on December 13, eight months old, that weighed 325 pounds.

The stone quarry men in Sullivan County are busy. Large numbers of fine flagstones are being raised and a brisk business is booked for next spring.

Philip Seelig, Jeff's upper leather tanner has purchased a 5-horsepower Binghamton engine for his tannery.

130 Years Ago - 1890

Kenoza Lake, Dec. 16 — Miss Lucy Bossley is visiting friends in Scranton, PA.… The Kenoza Lake debating society met last Saturday for the first time and discussed what was most destructive, fire or water. The young debaters argued the question with skill that would have done credit to a much older person… Mr. and Mrs. John Armbrust are on a pleasure trip to New York … Mr. Philip Hembdt of this place, is teaching the school at the Lower Beech. This is Mr. Hembdt's second term.

John S. Clemo of Wayne Co., PA., was frozen to death on Monday night, while driving to Honesdale from his home in Aldenville.

The following real estate exchanges have taken place in the past week: The “quill pusher” of the Record purchased a house and lot from Mrs. Schaefer. During the winter, the house will be remodeled and enlarged, and the “Record” office will be moved into it sometime in the spring… W.F. Grishaber purchased the building now occupied by the “Record” and contemplates increasing the capacity of the building for a hardware store and tin shop… Chas. A. Ranft purchased the corner building now occupied by Mr. Grishaber. This building will also be remodeled and fitted up for a store room and his stock of goods will be increased.

120 Years Ago - 1900

Purvis Post of Livingston Manor elected the following officers: Commander I.W. Davis, Senior Vice George Wood, Junior Vice Alanson Smith, Chaplain H.C. Lybelt, Surgeon John Walter and Quartermaster C.M. Everett.

Louis Dienfenbeck of Monticello has moved to Livingston Manor and opened a barber shop in Steven's basement.

At the fire district election in Livingston Manor, December 1, S.H. Sherwood was elected commissioner, W.R. Woolsey, treasurer, and $100 was voted to be raised for a building for fire apparatus.

At the annual meeting of the Beaverkill Telephone Co., December 5, M.N. Dodge was re-elected president; S.D. Maynard, vice president; E.B. Palen secretary and J.W. Johnston, treasurer.

Fred Albert of Callicoon Depot, whose health was quite poor, has gone to the Soldier's Home in Bath.

Two children of Balser Fuhrer of Rockland are afflicted with scarlet fever. They are recovering.

A hook and ladder company is being organized in Liberty.

Mrs. Margaret Barkley Marsh, who died November 30 at her home in the Town of Bethel, was 91 years of age. Born in Bethel, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Catherine Barkley, who were among the early settlers of that portion of Sullivan County.

Margaret, a daughter of Mrs. Caroline Kays of Youngsville, died of lung trouble Monday, aged about 18 years.

Conrad Metzger of Callicoon Depot has been appointed coroner by the governor, to succeed Sheriff-elect John Dycker of that place. The appointee is a nephew of the Jeff postmaster of the same name.

110 Years Ago - 1910

Edmund W. Bennett, formerly of Jeffersonville, died suddenly of heart trouble at his home in New York City on Sunday, aged 38 years. Funeral services will be held at the home of his mother on Maple Avenue on Friday with interment in the M.E. Cemetery where there is a family plot. The deceased was the oldest son of Mrs. Harriett and the late Dr. Thomas W. Bennett of this place. He was born in June, 1872, in the Metzger building on the post office corner, where his father kept a cigar store.

Celestina Abplanalp, wife of George Edelman, died of pneumonia at her home in Fosterdale, December 7, aged 48 years. She was a daughter of the late Pete Abplanalp of Fosterdale, who died in October last.

Casper Ryman, an East Hill young man, who was arrested a year or so ago for making off with a Liberty livery rig, and who went West last summer, is again in the tolls of the law, according to a South Dakota paper which reports that young Ryman confessed to setting fire to a building in Mansfield, starting a $75,000 fire, but claiming the affair was an accident. On the plea of guilty of arson, he was sentenced to one year in the state penitentiary at Sioux Falls.

George H. Raum has started to enlarge and remodel his store at Kenoza Lake, and to make room, he is selling his entire stock, including many desirable Christmas gifts, holiday and winter goods, at greatly reduced prices.

Mr. John W. Nober of Cochecton Center and Miss Dora M. Sauer were married at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George L. Sauer, near Cochecton, at noon on December 14 by Rev. K. Stadelmann. Rev. Stadelmann baptized Louis G. Keim, son of John and Minnie Keim of Lake Huntington at the Sauer residence, with Mr. and Mrs. Sauer as sponsors.

100 Years Ago - 1920

Peter Wagner, one of Jeffersonville's few remaining old timers, died on Tuesday, following a stroke on the preceding Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Eckhard, in the Bronx, where he went on December 1 to spend an indefinite period. He was 87 years old on November 29. The funeral will be here Saturday with interment in the Lutheran Cemetery.

Mr. Wagner was born in Rhinefalz, Germany, November 29, 1822. His father died when he was 18 years old and a year later his mother came to America, settling soon after in Jeffersonville, where for many years Peter followed his trade of carpentry. In 1856, he married Annie Mary Scheidell, daughter of the late Frederick and Louisa Scheidell, who came from Rhinefalz and were pioneers of Jeffersonville village. Mrs. Wagner died on December 26, 1901. Surviving, besides his daughter, Mrs. Eckhard, are three sons, John and Charles of Jeffersonville, and Peter of Roscoe, who is wintering at Port Orange, Fla. Mr. Wagner was a member of Gustav Adolph Lodge of Odd Fellows of Hortonville.

Miss Emma Geib, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Geib of Jeffersonville, was married to George J. Andres in New York City on Wednesday.

Arthur M. Busch and Miss Anna P. Heib of Fosterdale were married at the Presbyterian parsonage in Jeffersonville on December 11.

Miss Lillian E. Gabel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gabel Jr. of Hortonville, and Thomas Stephen of New York were married on November 24 in the city.

Lester Floyd, 9-month-old son of Lester J. Hust and Louise Elizabeth Esselmann of Jeffersonville, was baptized on December 4 at the Presbyterian parsonage by Rev. Charles Nietzer.

Miss Jessie Maud Laird of Stevensville and Miss Elizabeth Reichman of Roscoe were graduated as nurses from Thrall Hospital in Middletown yesterday.

90 Years Ago - 1930

The Town of Callicoon now assesses its property the nearest to 100 percent value of all the towns in the county, according to the ratings given by the Board of Supervisors, which has set the ratios as follows for the purpose of equalization of taxes; the figures given are the percentages of full value: Bethel, 17; Callicoon, 98; Cochecton, 17; Delaware, 17; Fallsburg, 10; Forestburgh, 20; Fremont, 19; Highland, 16; Liberty, 85; Lumberland, 19; Mamakating, 19; Neversink, 13; Rockland, 85; Thompson, 12; Tusten, 18.

Because the trustees of the Fremont Central School District have differed with the state commissioner of education in the matter of transportation of high school students, they are now in trouble and liable to be removed from office and the district made to suffer the loss of its public money. On appeal the commissioner reversed a vote of the district refusing such transportation. The commissioner has now lost patience and ordered the trustees to appear before him to show cause why they should not be removed from office and the district lose its public money, for refusal to comply with the commissioner's decision of November 12. The trustees involved are George B. Muth, Joseph Farber and U.S. Minckler.

Three men were arrested by dry agents for Volstead Act violations after two raids at Hancock. Five establishments in Monticello were raided Friday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Vinal Phillips returned yesterday from their wedding trip.

The young folks have been enjoying skating on Lake Jefferson during the past week.

At the Lutheran Church next Sunday in the morning there will be a German service with Heigem Abendmahl and in the evening an English service with the Lord's Supper.

80 Years Ago - 1940

On December 7, both the varsity and inexperienced Jeff debating teams went to Highland to participate in the Interscholastic Debating League of Eastern New York tournament. There were ten teams. Jeff's alternative team of Lillian Myers, Anna Greis and Patricia Cunningham defeated Arlington and Ossining, and lost to Liberty. The affirmative novice team of Louise Hahn, Elizabeth Merklin and Abe Rosenfeld won all of its debates, and the negative novice team of Charlotte Hahn, Gwendolyn Abel and Doris Neill won one and lost four. The four debaters were accompanied by Mr. Raum, Miss Tuhy and Mr. Strawbridge of the faculty and by Clarence Roesner and Leonard Misner as chairmen.

The Jeff scout troop with Scoutmasters Thomas J. Kilroy and Robert Ayers of the central school faculty, won a bronze trophy, the climax of a Court of Honor for the Lenape district held at the Callicoon schoolhouse Monday night for having achieved the highest percentage of advancement in the district. The district includes Liberty, Livingston Manor, Roscoe, Youngsville, Narrowsburg, Cochecton, Callicoon, Long Eddy and Jeffersonville.

Miss Annette Krongel, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Krongel of Jeffersonville, will be married on January 19 to a young Jewish theological student at Tulsa, Okla., whom she met in New York.

At the Jeff fire company meeting on Monday night, the following officers were nominated without opposition for the coming year: President James Holmes, Vice President Joseph Beiling, Chief Earl Kohler, First and Second Lieutenants, Edward Knack and Samuel Baer, Secretary-Treasurer Robert Mann, Executive Committee Edwin Keyser, Otto Bollenbach and Chas. M. Peterson and Sergeant Fred J. Weiss.

Six hundred suppers were served at the 20th annual supper of Protection Hose Co. at the Lake Jefferson Hotel last Saturday night. Joe Forsbach roasted the beef and Oscar Will did the slicing.

70 Years Ago - 1950

The town of Callicoon Democrat Club will hold its regular meeting at Bucky's Inn tonight, according to Mrs. Warren Ruppert, club secretary, and will hold its annual election of officers.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Mootz of Callicoon Center have announced the engagement of their daughter, June Phyllis, to Rudolph Henry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Noetzel of North Branch.

Rev. Joseph Kovach, pastor of the Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church, has been elected president of the Sullivan County Cerebral Palsy Association. At a meeting held in the Jeffersonville Central School, other officers elected were: Wilbur Myers, vice president; Mrs. Jeanett Sawitch of Kauneonga Lake, secretary; and Mrs. Regina Huff of Jeffersonville, treasurer. Directors elected included Mrs. Ethel Myers, president emeritus, and Francis Hanofee, Liberty, supervisor, for a period of three years. Max Spector of Liberty and Mrs. Permelia VanLoan of Livingston Manor for a term of two years; and Antonio Balduci of South Fallsburg, and Mrs. Freda Robisch of Callicoon for a term of one year each.

Mr. and Mrs. George L. Seibert gave a housewarming party last Sunday in their recently purchased home in Flushing, L.I.

60 Years Ago - 1960

Arthur Bayer, 67, a native of Buck Brook, died on December 9 in Middletown. Mr. Bayer was a farmer and is survived by a brother, Louis.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Kaiser, formerly of Youngs­ville, now residing in Ellenville, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 5. They were married in Youngsville in 1900 by Pastor Muery of the Reformed Church.

Harold E. Reichmann was elected Master of Callicoon Lodge 521, F&AM, Jeffersonville, for the year 1961.

Interested citizens and businessmen of Jeffersonville have contributed $1500 toward the cost of Christmas lights and decorations which are displayed on Main Street.

The November Farm Milk Price has been set at $4.85 per cwt., by Dr. C.I. Blanford, market administrator.

Olga and Dick Resenbaum have been invited to the inauguration of President Kennedy at Washington the third week in January.

John Arborio, Inc., was the low bidder for construction of a new bridge and approach over the Willowemoc Creek in the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The work is scheduled for completion by December 1, 1961.

The Jeffersonville school hill was very slippery early this week. It needs a lot of early sanding.

A son, Michael, was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Schwartz of Kohlertown on December 4.

50 years ago - 1970

The Nova Sportswear Factory has opened in the old Ohls Hatchery building in Callicoon and will be known to employ from 85 to 100 within a month, says the owner Toby Terranova.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cox of White Sulphur Springs have announced the engagement of their daughter, Donna Marie, to Dennis Edward Day, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Day of Warriors Mark, PA. No date has been set for the wedding.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zemaitis are the proud parents of a baby girl born to them on Friday, December 11, at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital. A little sister, Penny, awaits the return of Patricia Ann to their home in Kenoza Lake.

Elaine and Morris Katzoff were surprised on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary with a special cake made for the occasion Saturday night. About fifty relatives and friends enjoyed a buffet supper and social evening.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William C. Pfeifer, son of Constant J. Pfeifer, RD 1, Callicoon, has received his third through ninth awards of the Air Medal for action while assigned at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. He is now serving at Forbes AFB, Kans., with a unit of the Tactical Air Command.

The county supervisors Monday night adopted the $16,215,390 1971 budget after minor adjustments from the tentative budget on which a public hearing was held December 8th.

40 Years Ago - 1980

If renovations can be completed in time, the first seminary of the Anglican Catholic Church will open in September 1981 in the old Liberty-Loomis Hospital in Liberty. The church purchased the hospital and 17.5 acres of land on December 15.

Victor Reeves, a 37-year-old Mongaup Valley race driver, died only minutes after driving his ten-year-old mare, Cheryl Grattan, to victory by half a length at the Monticello Raceway Tuesday night.

Mountaindale is all set for a “modest-to-terrific blowout” celebrating the 100th anniversary since its name was changed from Sandburg to Mountaindale.

Miss Kathy Orr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Orr of Beach Lake, PA., became the bride of Leon King of White Lake at the Beach Lake Methodist Church on October 11… Vera M. Bernhardt and Thomas J. Reilly, both of Jeffersonville, were married at the residence of Rev. Matthew Foley, Bethel, on November 12.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hill of North Branch announce the engagement of their daughter, Cheryl, to Douglas Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith of Callicoon. An April wedding is planned.

Lisa Townsend, 17, Sullivan County Dairy Princess, served punch and holiday cookies Sunday at the Hillside Greenhouses' annual holiday Open House in Liberty.

Eddie Adams, Pulitzer-prize-winning photographer, founder of a new photography school in Jeffersonville, is reported by Time magazine to be “A-OK” and not wounded in combat in Baghdad in Iraq. Mr. Adams has been covering the mid-eastern Arabic conflict for Time.

The Margolin Building at the corner of St. John Street and Broadway in Monticello has been purchased by the Rhulen Agency of Monticello. The property adjoins the present Rhulen complex.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Grossinger's Hotel, once the diamond in the Catskills string of renowned resorts, was left gutted by a bankruptcy court-order auction of its contents this week as hundreds gathered to enter bids and witness a sad chapter in resort industry history. Grossinger memorabilia had been removed from the auction but over 1,000 items, from lighting fixtures to carpets and kitchen equipment, remained for sale with more than $600,000 realized in an effort to recoup some of the monies owed to some 100 creditors. “I never would have imagined it would have come to this,” said Rubin Margules who purchased Grossinger's when it was first offered by the Grossinger family.

Catherine and Alfred Mootz of Chula Vista, Calif., former residents of North Branch and Callicoon, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in California last Friday.

A recent big reunion of the classes of the Fallsburg Union Free School attracted hundreds of alumni at a gathering at the Pines Hotel. Classes from 1932 through 1947 were presented.

Monticello Kiwanis Past President Jacob Aks was recently presented with a pin signifying 42 years of perfect attendance at the club meetings, no small feat since the club meets every week.

Howie Twyman of Cochecton was twice lucky in his 1990 hunting experience. He brought down a 6-point deer and a black bear - both with a Model Four Remington .243 rifle.

Winners in the Democrat's Big Buck contest were John Barnes of Barryville whose deer, taken in the Barryville area, had a whopping 82 1/2 under the scoring system, and Manny Anastasis of Liberty whose 10-pointer took the $100 prize for heaviest - 177 pounds. Barnes and Ted Hendrickson of Ferndale tied for second place with their deer weighing 161 pounds each and will split the $25 prize. Anastasis also got $25 for the second largest rack. Barnes will get a free mounting from Rod's Taxidermy and wins $75 in cash.

Monticello senior Katina Mack needs just 11 points to become the 19th member of the New York State's High School Girls Basketball 2,000 Point Club. Her team is scheduled to play Washingtonville tonight at Port Jervis. In addition to the 18 girls with 2,000 points, there are currently 33 boys in state history to reach the milestone.

20 Years Ago - 2000

Many uncertainties remain regarding the proposed $40 million performing arts complex at the 1969 Woodstock music festival site in Bethel, but landowner and developer Alan Gerry of Liberty says everything is still on track - including the issues of siting the center and giving it a name.

Heavy rains, warm temperatures and melting snow caused a state of emergency to be declared Sunday in several towns and villages as high waters closed an estimated 20-30 roads in the area. A state of emergency was declared in the towns of Callicoon, Liberty and Rockland.

In the last five years, the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless has helped hundreds of people through meals at the Together for Meals (TOMS) soup kitchen, or finding temporary housing, or any one of several other programs. Now the organization itself is looking for room for at least three offices and a small reception area. St. John's Episcopal Church is reclaiming its parsonage where the Federation has been housed.

Controversy erupted last year when Sullivan County Legislators attempted to raise their salaries by $9,000. After a series of public hearings on the matter, the raise was reduced to $5,000. The financial management committee passed a resolution that would allow a four percent annual cost-of-living increase.

10 Years Ago - 2010

The Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello - and every other piece of county property - may soon become smoke-free. At a recent Health and Family Services Committee meeting, legislators seriously discussed disallowing smoking anywhere on county grounds. Smoking is currently prohibited inside but is allowed at least three feet outside of county buildings. Tobacco-Free Coalition Program Director Bob Korabik advocated for increasing that distance to 25 feet or banning smoking altogether, noting Sullivan County's high rates of heart attacks, cancer and premature births.

The resurrected Catskills Casino Coalition (CCC) held its welcome back party at Bernie's Holiday Restaurant in Rock Hill with many of the county's most influential leaders in attendance. CCC President Todd Diorio is also the Hudson Valley Building Construction and Trades Council president, representing a group of unions interested in the work a casino building project would bring - as much as 4,600 construction jobs.

The Sullivan County Farm Network took its passionate message to the county's Industrial Development Agency (IDA). Co-founder Cindy Gieger, a Jeffersonville dairy farmer, asked the IDA Board to consider more ways it can help struggling farmers - the kind that otherwise face imminent closure of their businesses.

The pending sale of two Sullivan West shuttered schools has drawn interest and criticism as petitions circulate around the involved communities to require the school district to let voters have a say. The petitions seek to compel SW to put a ballot up that asks voters whether or not the sale of the two campuses, Narrowsburg and Delaware Valley, to NYC developer Ilwon Kang should be reversed and the bidding process reopened. Residents are suspicious of Kang's intentions with the two campuses, as Kang has only indicated that DV might become an “international boarding school” and Narrowsburg some sort of hospitality property, perhaps a microbrewery or a restaurant.

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