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Down the Decades

December 28, 2021 Edition

Compiled by Lee Hermann, Muse, & Ruth Huggler
Posted 12/28/21

110 Years Ago - 1911

As promised several issues ago, a history of the life of J.F. Anderson reveals that he came from a family of 12 children, all of whom grew to adulthood with the exception of …

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Down the Decades

December 28, 2021 Edition

Posted

110 Years Ago - 1911

As promised several issues ago, a history of the life of J.F. Anderson reveals that he came from a family of 12 children, all of whom grew to adulthood with the exception of one William C., who died when a small boy. Because of the size of the family and need of his services at home, Mr. Anderson educated himself and became proficient in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and surveying through books he got from the school district libraries. He taught school in 1848-49 in the Upper Beech District of the Town of Cochecton. He married in 1850 a Dorcas Winslow and moved to property bought in Fremont Center. He borrowed books from his brother, Isaac, who had studied law and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. He set up a practice in 1862 in Fremont Center. He was an ardent supporter of Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860 and when the 56th NY Volunteers were raised in 1861 felt restrained from joining up because of his family. However, in 1862, he volunteered and went in with Captain E.H. Pinney and Lieut. Marcus Frazer to raise a company for the 143rd NY Volunteers and served until his resignation in February 1865 because of the complications of chronic rheumatism of the spine and both hip joints. He returned home and moved to Milford, PA., to seek better employment. His wife and youngest child died shortly thereafter and he married a Eunice Shaw. In 1875 he was elected district attorney, and again in 1878, of Sullivan County. He was elected supervisor of the town of Delaware after six years as district attorney. He continued the law practice until 1903. He died in early December 6, 1911.
Franklin H. Neuberger of Jeffersonville, who invented a concrete building block some time ago, has now perfected a machine to manufacture the same. The models for this machine are being turned out at Wm. Kohler’s lumber mill.

100 Years Ago - 1921

These items are missing from our files.

90 Years Ago - 1931

The Town of Callicoon unloaded a large snowplow here last week. Early this week it was attached to a large caterpillar tractor at Bock’s Garage in Jeffersonville.
A car believed to be the one in which Legs Diamond’s assassins escaped after they shot him in Albany Friday, was ditched and abandoned beside the little traveled country road between Summitville and Mountaindale Saturday, State Police revealed yesterday. The car, a 1931 Willy-Knight, was nearly stripped of identification marks.
Efforts to stock Lake Marie Louise in Sullivan County near Rock Hill with muskellunge, from Canada, has been made by the owner. Seven pairs of the fish were bought at $500 a pair. They had to be brought in by airplane, a pair at a time with a man to feed them oxygen in the plane, as they die very easily in transit. The muskellunge sometimes attain a length of eight feet. It inhabits the Great Lakes and other northern waters.
Miss Elma E. Rutledge of Galilee, PA., and Miss Edna Hall of Grahamsville were among the first graduates of the Clemson Nursing School, Horton Memorial Hospital.
Three abutments for the new bridge across the Delaware on Route 17 at East Branch are completed. Instead of cutting straight across the stream, the new bridge runs diagonally across thus eliminating the dangerous curve.

80 Years Ago - 1941

The Junior Choir of the Methodist Church in Callicoon appeared in their new gowns for the first time at the Christmas service last Sunday evening. The gowns were a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Starck Sr. Mrs. L.E. Rodgers is the leader of the group and Mrs. Fred Fendt is the organist.
Dorothy Olsen and Elmer Robisch were married December 18. He is home on a fifteen-day furlough. Constance Robisch and Howard Fink of Hortonville were the honor attendants.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert C. Persbacker have announced the engagement of their daughter, Frances, to Karl Ebers of Rhinebeck. No date has been set for the wedding.
The U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent recently a resolution making the fourth Thursday of November the official national Thanksgiving Day.
Suspension of mail service between the United States and her possessions, and Germany, Italy or Japan and any territory under their control is announced in a bulletin to county post offices.
Robert, 4-year-old son of Joseph Blais, who works on the farm of Melvin Stephenson, about two miles north of Bethel, perished in a fire that destroyed the John Ackerman home, where the Blais family lived, on December 14.
Word has been received that the Farragut, on which Raymond Lahm is stationed, was on patrol duty on December 7 and was in no way involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The American Legion of Jeffersonville has arranged for air raid warning towers at the hill back of Walter Weiss’s between North Branch and Callicoon Center; at John Vogel’s on East Hill, Youngsville; at David MacArthur’s, Dahlia; and at George Sauer’s, East Cochecton. Watchmen are there 24 hours a day.
Wise-cracking Bob Hope, screen and radio comedian, has been selected as the “Champion of Champions” of entertainers on the radio for 1941. He won top honors in the annual poll of more than 600 radio editors and columnists in the U.S. and Canada. Jack Benny was second to Hope.

70 Years Ago - 1951

PFC Robert A. Davis has returned to a hospital in Japan. He does not regain weight as rapidly as he should. During his illness of septicemia he lost 51 pounds. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Davis.
Elliott J. Moran, 46, prominent Jeffersonville businessman, died December 17 after being a patient at the Cooperstown Hospital the past three weeks. He was suffering from a heart ailment. He conducted a coal, fuel oil and poultry business in Jeffersonville and was a member of the Board of Education.
At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a son Thursday to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schwab of Galilee, PA.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Timmerhof of Yulan are the parents of a son born Saturday; Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Snyder of Equinunk, PA., are the parents of a daughter born Saturday.
Virgil Murray, a postal clerk in Liberty and commander of the Third District, was backed by the County American Legion for New York State Department Vice Commander at the next state election.
Elva Mae Gillette and Franklin M. VanGinhoven were married December 12 at the Long Eddy Methodist Parsonage by Rev. John E. Swords.
Benton Bros. of Liberty announced on Monday that Mrs. Ronnie Winkelstern of Kenoza Lake won the Grand Prize certificate of three hundred dollars for her entry on the “American Way of Life” essay in the recent Crosley County Contest. In addition one hundred dollars will be presented to the Sullivan County 4-H Camp Pines fund by Benton Bros., as designated by Mrs. Winkelstern in her tribute to the youth of our county.
Sgt. and Mrs. Ed Lohr of Biloxi, Miss., are the proud parents of a baby girl, Rhonda Gail, born December 7. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lohr of Mileses are the proud grandparents.

60 Years Ago - 1961

Mrs. Tessie Zehner, who was appointed Tusten supervisor, is the first woman ever to hold a supervisor’s post in the county, according to the best information available. About 20 years ago, the Town of Callicoon had a woman, Mrs. Helen Reichman, running for supervisor, but she was defeated at the polls. Mrs. Zehner’s late husband, Henry, held this position until his death last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sprague of Lake Huntington were honored on the occasion of their 45th wedding anniversary last Sunday.
Benjamin Gerow, former sheriff of Sullivan County, former state assemblyman and retired postmaster of the village of Liberty, died Saturday at the age of 80. He and his wife, who survives, had been married 61 years, were the parents of 14 children, with 34 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He had the first automobile agency in Sullivan County.
Christmas colors and decorations predominated at the wedding of Linda Luckey of Kenoza Lake and Raymond Ferber on December 16 at the Kenoza Lake Methodist Church.
At the Callicoon Hospital on Saturday, it was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gries, Callicoon; a son, Sunday, to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paciga of Cochecton; a son, Monday to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Fuller of Cadosia; and a daughter, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Peters Jr. of Callicoon RD.
Work will resume in the spring on the interstate bridge across the Delaware at Callicoon. The machinery has been winterized for the layover.
Lt. (j.g.) John Calvin Crawford and Mary Catherine Pidel of Yonkers were married at the First Church of Monticello, Presbyterian, on Saturday, December 16. The officiating minister was the groom’s father, Dr. William A. Crawford, pastor of the church.

50 years ago - 1971

Miss Anne Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Meyer, Mileses, became the bride of David Estroff of Warwarsing on November 13 at Ski Mini on Lake Miniwaska Trail.
Liberty J.V. debaters Brian Powell, Jerry Jacobs, Matt Bessen and Marc Stier won top honors as a four-man team at the Henry Hudson Invitational Tournament last week.
A son, Mark Bradner, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bradner Topolewski of Staten Island. Mr. and Mrs. Otto Tegeler are the proud grandparents. This is the 14th great-grandchild for Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Tegeler of Honesdale, PA.
Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Madill of the Kenoza Lake Parsonage became grandparents with the arrival of a daughter to their son, George, and his wife, of Alexandria, VA.
Announcement was made Christmas Day of the engagement of Ruth Ann Quimby of Massapequa, L.I., to David Campbell Jr. of Kenoza Lake. He is stationed on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. A December wedding is planned for next year.
George Dudley, administrator of Doctor’s Sunnyside Hospital, and former administrator of the Callicoon Hospital, has been notified that he has successfully completed all requirements and has been awarded the New York State License in Nursing Home Administration.
The three-week winter meet at the Mighty M opened December 15 and will close January 9. There are more than 100 horses stabled at the track.
The Delaware Free Library is offering for a three-month period, a collection of filmstrip materials and equipment for use by its patrons. The loan of AV EXPO is a demonstration project made possible through the Ramapo Catskill Library System.

40 Years Ago - 1981

Miss Ann Marie Henderson, 17, of Monroe will represent Sullivan County in the Miss New York Universe Pageant. She was recently crowned Miss Catskill World.
Joseph E. Fersch, a 62-year employee of the Sullivan County National Bank in Liberty, died Friday, December 18, after a short illness. He had started working at the bank (where he rose to the position of chairman of the board) at the age of 15. He is held in high esteem among his colleagues.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen R. Kraft of Hankins have announced the engagement of their daughter, Alynn, to Glenn VanPelt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon VanPelt of Cochecton. An August wedding is planned.
White Lake Speedway recently awarded trophies to the top point racers of the past season. Included were Dale Morton of Woodbourne, Bill Verkys of Freeport, L.I., Dave Armbrust of Callicoon Center, Craig Stewart of Callicoon, Rich Cucci of Callicoon, John Beatty of Brooklyn, Lee Miller of Narrowsburg, John Dibble of Middletown, named Rookie of the Year, George Heady of Middletown, Joe Scarbrough of East Orange, N.J., 1981 Champion, and Craig Atkins, WSL Promoter.
Alex Pradere was honored with his own special day at the Delaware Valley Central School after he returned from participating in the Junior Olympics held in St. Louis, MO. He finished 45th in the 5000 meter run, covering the course in 16:36.

30 Years Ago - 1991

The music departments of various schools throughout Sullivan County perform during the noon hour at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello, presenting holiday music for the 12th year. The program received favorable comment from those who are at the center between the hours of noon and 12:30 p.m.
Ground was broken Wednesday for the new Sullivan Renal Dialysis Center. The $750,000 clinic is scheduled to begin treating its first patients next spring if Rockledge Builders of Hankins can finish breaking ground for the foundation before the ground freezes.
On December 24, the Callicoon United Methodist Church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the bell that tolls in the church steeple. Given by Civil War Capt. John Anderson on December 25, 1891, the bell was cast by the Clinton J. Meneely Bell Co. in Troy, NY, and is 29 inches in diameter and about the same height. Mr. Anderson also had another notable accomplishment in 1891, namely the founding of this newspaper. A staunch Democrat, he helped launch the newspaper to compete with the Republican-oriented Echo, which did not survive the years.
The Callicoon sewer system officially went on line December 5, culminating a more than 10 year process leading to the construction of the plant and sewage collection system for the village.
Joan Lewee, the office manager of Burkle Insurance Co. in Callicoon, and the daughter of John and Annette Geiselmann Leewe, died unexpectedly as she was getting ready to go to work on December 19. She was 49 years of age.
JoAnne Mason of Kiamesha Lake is ranked fourth in the world among women billiard players.
The Ladies Auxiliary No. 5808 of Callicoon is one of the many exhibitors in the Christmas tree display at the Sullivan County Historical Museum, Art and Cultural Center. Their tree contains stars in white with pictures of charter members of the Post in the Center, accompanied by the VFW Buddy Poppy. Blue streamers depict the blue skies from which the Japanese planes came in their bombing of Pearl Harbor and the red streamers for the blood shed during the raid. A wide gold ribbon across the tree says, “Day of Infamy – December 7, 1941 – December 7, 1991.” Flag placemats circle the tree on the floor. At the 45th anniversary celebration of the Auxiliary on December 12, six charter members attended a dinner at Mullally’s in Jeffersonville – Helen Peters, wife of the first commander Henry Peters; Helen Luckey, Dorothy Krongel, Anne Mages, Ethel Schaefer, Winifred Mullally and Leota Hermann.

20 Years Ago - 2001

Sullivan County’s two ski hills, Villa Roma in Callicoon and Holiday Mountain in Monticello were busy this week making snow thanks to a frigid blast of Arctic air. On Saturday, December 29, both places will be open to skiers.
On December 23, an early afternoon fire destroyed the home of Elizabeth Skinner, a caregiver of elderly residents, in Narrowsburg. The smoke from the afternoon fire could be seen as far away as Beach Lake, PA. At the time, the owner was not home, however, the elderly residents managed to get out of the burning building.
Mr. and Mrs. Khanh Gia Huynh of Wilkes-Barre, PA., and Mr. and Mrs. James Robert Hubert of Jeffersonville announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Minh Ngoc Huynh and Robert Peter Hubert. A spring 2002 wedding is planned.
The Village of Liberty won a Silver Community Award in the Automobile Club of New York’s Community Traffic Safety Awards Program for its many effective traffic safety efforts including their DWI enforcement checkpoints.

10 Years Ago - 2011

Richard and Olga Parlow of Forestburgh recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, enjoying a two-week cruise through the Panama Canal, on Princess Cruise Line “Coral Princess.” The couple were married on October 28, 1961, at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church, in Forestburgh.
Callicoon native Anne Foland recently released her new book “Long Ago, But Near at Heart: Stories of a Lifetime in Catskills Country.” The 122-page book chronicles the life of Foland, who grew up in Callicoon during the 1920s and 30s. Her stories tell of real life experiences during her childhood and early adult life, from playing games to visiting the 1939 World’s Fair, to raising a family with her beloved husband, Perk Robisch.
The Mom’s Choice Awards has named the audio book, The Indigo Wizard’s Awakening Tales, among the best in family-friendly media, products and services for 2011. Livingston Manor-based composer Ann Krupski created the original orchestral score and produced this two-CD audio book. Kazzrie Jaxen, jazz pianist and singer, a resident of Callicoon, is featured as the reader of the tales. Dana Duke, of Big Twig Studio in Roscoe, was the sound engineer and co-producer. The audio book is based on a manuscript by Paula Matthew, CSJ, of Windsor.
When Bob “Whip” Whipple of Monticello passed away at the age of 69 following a courageous battle with cancer, he left behind an undeniable legacy of love for his family, friends and community. And, of course, skiing. For more than 40 years, Bob Whipple owned and operated Bob Whipple Ski Shop near Holiday Mountain Ski Area in Bridgeville. Whipple became the ski instructor at the Concord Hotel in 1966 and would spend many winter days skiing with students at the Concord and then going to work at the ski shop. Whipple was instrumental in creating some events at Holiday Mountain, including the ski carnivals and fire department ski races.

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