110 Years Ago - 1911

F.J. Lewis of Barryville has been elected supervisor of the school districts of Liberty, Bethel, Cochecton, Highland, Lumberland and Tusten. Mrs. Emma Chase has been elected Supervisor of District 3, consisting of the towns of Fallsburgh, Thompson, Mamakating and Forestburgh. The district comprising the towns of Neversink, Rockland, Callicoon, Delaware and Fremont will be supervised by James A. Hall of Narrowsburg.

Pleasure trips through the county are being enjoyed by Mr. A. Meyer, proprietor of the Arlington Hotel in Narrowsburg, who owns a 1911 Hudson touring car.

The Milanville chemical works, owned by Charles A. Weed of Binghamton and operated by Corbett & Stuart, will start up the first of September. The factory has been suspended since last spring principally because of the lack of wood. In the neighborhood of twenty men are employed about the establish­ment.

The August 22, 1911, Sullivan County Democrat sells for five cents a copy. Matt T. Collins is the editor and publisher. Advertisements from out of town appear from the Honesdale National Bank, H.Z. Russell, Pres., E.F. Torrey, cashier; Honesdale Dime Bank, E.C. Mumford, Pres., W.F. Riefier, vice president and Joseph A. Fisch, cashier; Wayne Co. Savings Bank, W.B. Holmes, president, Hon. A.T. Searle, vice president, H.S. Salmon, cashier and W.J. Ward, asst. cashier; Holmes Music Co. of Port Jervis, advertising square pianos from $10 to $50; J.M. Schmidt & Sons Co., North Branch, advertising 100 wagons in stock, two, three and four-seated tourist and business wagons, $38 to $50; Gordon and Malven Co. of Port Jervis, advertising No. 2 Ham’s Lanterns, reg. 75¢, while they last at 35¢.

Leonard Lakin of New York City and Monroe Lakin of Bridgeport are spending their vacation in Hancock with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Lakin. Yesterday they took their flying machine, of the Bleriot monoplane type, to Scutt’s Green Flat Farm, where they are putting it in shape for a tryout.

Ed. Note: The following is carried over from the August 23, 2011 issue due to space constraints:

The body of Richard Weiss, the young man who was drowned in Lake Liberty last Wednesday, came to the surface of the water Monday morning at 10:30, while men were endeavoring to find the body in another part of the lake. The body came to the surface fully 700 feet from the place where it was supposed the drowning occurred.

Edison Ellsworth, the 7-year-old boy crushed underneath a flag stone at Rock Run a week ago Friday, died Monday morning of injuries sustained as a result of the accident.

Born to George Teeple and wife of Lookout, PA., a daughter, August 6.

At a meeting of the Liberty Board of Education last Tuesday contract was let for erecting the new school building to Porter Parsons of Binghamton in the amount of $54,607, the lowest bid.

The 90th anniversary of the Damascus Baptist Church was held Sunday, August 13… The post office at Calkins, PA., will be discontinued August 31, with effort being made to establish a star mail route from Boyd’s Mills by way of Calkins to Milanville, a distance of about 9 miles… F.A. Canfield of Damascus, PA., is making three trips a week to White Lake, to supply summer boarding houses with poultry and eggs. — From Happenings in Wayne County.

Merritt’s Hotel, a fine large structure located about 200 feet west of the railroad station at Centerville, burned to the ground Wednesday.

The new Liberty National Bank has issued $25,000 in national bank bills, $10,000 of which is in twenty dollar bills and $15,000 in ten dollar bills.

The new station at Hurleyville is nearly completed and will soon be occupied.

100 Years Ago - 1921

A new principal, Roy C. Ireland of Antwerp, a teacher of several years experience, will be the new principal when the Callicoon High School opens in all departments next Tuesday.

Saturday evening, the large barn of Wm. Cramer was burned to the ground, together with a great quantity of crops. — North Branch Corr.

The friends of Miss Sylvia Sullivan recently gave her a variety  shower at the Olive House in Tyler Hill, PA., where she received over 100 pieces of kitchenware. — Damascus Corresp.

Chas. V. Newman, highway superintendent who is supervising the rebuilding of the Long Eddy highway, was severely injured Wednesday evening when his car ran off the Long Eddy-Hankins dugway.

Delaware Hose Co. No. 2 is to hold a prize dance at Harmonie Hall Friday evening. A door prize of $2 will be awarded. Among the other prizes to be given away are a large leather wall banner or table cover to be awarded to the house having the largest representation, a pair of gentlemen’s hole-proof silk hose and cravat, donated by L.A. Rubin, and a writing cabinet donated by W.H. Stengel, as prizes in a flat-foot waltz contest; a box of cigars, donated by O.W. Hornung, and a lady’s umbrella, donated by Bosca’s department store, as prizes in a fox trot contest.

Mrs. Stanton and son, Graham, are to move to Callicoon soon so that the latter may continue his school courses. — Narrowsburg Corr.

The threshing crews are busy here, threshing buckwheat. The crop is yielding 30 to 42 bushels per acre. — Conklin Hill Corr.

Jacob Werner has on exhibition in Nearing’s store three large pumpkins, the largest of which weighs 54 3/4 lb. — Long Eddy Corr.

Ed. Note: the following is from the Aug. 23, 2011 issue: The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. G.C. Berkemeir, who are now making their home in Narrowsburg, were married 40 years ago on August 18. Their children planned a surprise party with about 150 people coming to surprise them.

At Hoffmann’s Dry Goods Store in Callicoon: Muslin, extra heavy, 10¢ a yard; Outing Flannel Yd. Wide, 14¢ a yard; Dress Goods, beautiful plaids, yd. wide, 65¢; Sheets, 72x90, extra good quality, 79¢ each; Baby Crib Blankets, Teddy and Rabbit designs, 98¢ to $1.35 each; Boy’s Khaki Knickerbocker Pants, 8-16 years, 65¢ pr.; Comfortable, heavyweight, fancy stitched, $2.49 up to $4.49 each.

Albert G. Baer, son of Mr. and Mrs. August Baer, who moved away from Callicoon nearly four years ago and now resides in Lindenhurst, was in town Thursday. He put in 19 months in the Navy, having been called to duty when here last three years ago. Part of the time he was in the transport service, during which he contracted influenza and spent three months in a base hospital in America just after returning from France. Last summer he served on board the battleship Minnesota on a four months’ cruise that covered some 20,000 miles and included visits to Cuba, Mexico, Panama, the Hawaiian Islands, Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego.

90 Years Ago - 1931

Sullivan County candidates who passed the June examinations conducted by the State Board of Law Examiners for admission to the bar included Jos. Heller of Parksville, Isadore T. Leader of Liberty and Wm. G. Wertheim of Mountaindale.

The Interstate Bridge Committee of the Board of Supervisors is in albany today in connection with the freeing of the Kellam’s bridge over the Delaware near Hankins. This is still a toll bridge and is controlled by private interests. Most of the Delaware bridges have been freed for several years but peculiar circumstances have retarded the work at Kellams.

The large modern barns on the late Capt. Stephenson farm in the town of Bethel and which the captain left to his nephew, Melvin B. Stephenson, were destroyed by fire last Wednesday evening together with its stock of hay and other articles. This was another fire due to spontaneous combustion from uncured hay.

District Attorney Gardner LeRoy, Sheriff Ben R. Gerow and state police held a conference in Monticello last week in which it is understood the officials discussed the speed and alleged recklessness with which the busses are driven over the highways of Sullivan County. Notice of intended action will be sent to the buslines.

Otto W. Hornung might be called the champion bass fisherman of Callicoon. He caught a large bass in the Delaware last week and did not use hook, line, bait or spear. It happened that he was spearing eels one evening and all of a sudden he became conscious of a violent struggle in his overalls. Otto investigated and found that a large bass had entered through a hole in the pants and found itself trapped.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Kratz of the Beechwoods were pleasantly surprised by their many relatives and friends on August 17, it being their 41st wedding anniversary. A handsomely decorated cake, which was really a work of art, was presented by Miss Mae Rosenberger.

Ed. Note: the following is from the Aug. 23, 2011 issue.

Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt has had to cancel his planned trip to visit the Boy Scout Foundation at Ten Mile River and a public reception in Monticello, planned for August 28.

More Bronx Boy Scouts have availed themselves of the privilege of camping at Camp Ranachqua, the Bronx Scout Camp at Ten Mile River, this year than during the same period last year. Over 600 Scouts have camped an average of three and a half weeks each since the camp opened July 1.

Liberty firemen are preparing the welcome which they will extend to the other firemen of Sullivan County on September 10 when the annual county firemen’s field day will be held in that village. Under the direction of Chief Adolph Doeinck and Asst. Chiefs George Mauer and E.J. Hoos, a general committee and a number of sub-committees are working out the program for the day.

Hoffmann’s Dry Goods Store, Callicoon, has children’s one-piece suits, drop seat, 59¢; ladies’ gown, fine sheer material, each 39¢ and 50¢; Turkish towels, fancy stripes, 16x32, special, 10¢ each; men’s cotton Lisle Hose, tan only, special, 2 prs. for 25¢; Ladies’ fancy percale aprons, special, 40¢ each.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Grimm, at the home of the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Gorr of Callicoon, an 8 pound son, William Jr., on August 14th.

Cards received from Edith Helen Curtis the early part of the week stated that she was having a good time at the Yellowstone National Park.

Mr. and Mrs. L.V. Boyd of White Sulphur Springs have a new son, born Sunday morning, August 16.

Percy Keesler of Lake Huntington, who purchased land of Mrs. Luella Phillips, is building a house on his property.

Preparations are being made by the officers of the old Delaware Valley Academy to hold their annual reunion at the new Damascus High School on Labor Day.

80 Years Ago - 1941

A 15-hour search was ended this morning when Mrs. Phoebe Tyler returned to her Delaware Avenue home, Callicoon, PA., after an all-night wandering through the woods southwest of her home. About 50 volunteers were in the woods looking for the 83-year-old woman. Upon her return home, Mrs. Tyler did not go to bed, stating, “I’m not much one to sleep in the daytime.”

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sadenwater of Callicoon are the parents of a baby girl born on Monday.

Last Saturday morning, Thomas Burns, a local high school athlete, and Coach Fred Fehling, motored to Ebbets Field where Tom got a tryout under the supervision of Dodger Scout Joe LeBate. He was one of 7 or 10 out of 60-75 boys at the tryout whose name was put on file as potential Dodger material.

The Monticello Bulletin exclusively reports the wedding of Monticello Postmaster Ralph S. Washington and Agnes F. Spillane of Wurtsboro Hills on August 6. They are now residing at Wurtsboro Hills. Mr. Washington is also the owner of the Landfield Ave. Garage, which he leased when he became commissioned as postmaster.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. William Bennett on their good luck in winning second prize for a square dancing contest at “97 Day” last week. — Cochecton Corr.

Among the War Department contracts awarded this month for the Air Corps are two to the Scintilla Magneto Division, Bendix Aviation Corps, Sidney, totaling over $340,000.

70 Years Ago - 1951

Announcement has been made of the engagement of Miss Elizabeth Popp of Troy to Robert M. Long, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Long of Callicoon. The wedding is plan­ned for September 29th.

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sherwood of Livingston Manor lost their lives Monday afternoon in one of the worst accidents in Sullivan County this year. A truck, loaded with 12 tons of crushed stone, went out of control down an embankment and into a large tree killing the driver, Robert Newman of Spring Valley, instantly. The truck had sideswiped the Sherwood car before careening on its fatal path.

A farewell party was given Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Lahm and children, Carol and Patty, on August 18. The Lahms have moved to San Diego, Calif.

Chapell Peake Jr. of Hankins has been appointed manager of a Victory store at Unadilla.… The daughter of Madame Curie, famed scientist, stopped at the Falcon service station today en route to Buffalo. — Hankins Corresp.

Harvey Bershader and Arlen Ebert have returned from a Boy Scout trip which took them to the west coast.

60 Years Ago - 1961

Bob Coburn is having a fallout shelter built in the cellar of his home on Froehlich Hill, east of Callicoon. It is being built according to specifications of the Office of Civil Defense (CD) and is the first fallout shelter to be built in Callicoon. CD urges the erection of such structures in our rural area because of wind-carried fallout.

Representatives from the Chicago White Sox baseball team will be at the Roscoe Central School baseball diamond to conduct tryouts for the Chicago White Sox Minor League Clubs.

The six lovely candidates for the title of Miss Rheingold will be at the Monticello Raceway Saturday night and will make an appearance at the Hortonville Firemen’s Field Day on August 27.

Mr. and Mrs. G.W. “Bud” Schuler of North Branch will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house at the North Branch Firehouse on August 30.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Molusky of Callicoon are the parents of a son born Sunday at the Callicoon Hospital. It was a son Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Jones of Honesdale, PA., and a daughter, Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Mullins of Yulan, both at the same hospital.

On Monday morning, August 21, a shovel arrived to begin excavation for the addition to the Delaware Valley Central School.

Mrs. Cora Landers, mother of Mrs. George R. Mills, was tendered an 80th birthday party at Reber’s in Barryville on Sunday. Sixteen members of her immediate family attended.

Janet Borden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Borden of Liberty, has been selected to represent Sullivan County 4-H Clubs at the State Dress Revue on September 8 in Syracuse.

Joan Elmore of Damascus, PA., has made several wins showing her basset hound, Sunny Terrace Timmy, in recent dog shows. On July 29 at the Lackawanna Kennel Club in Scranton, PA., Timmy made his greatest win to date, going first in the American class, winner’s dog, best of winners and best of breed.

50 years ago - 1971

Twenty-six women from Callicoon and surrounding communities met Thursday evening, August 19, to organize a Women’s Auxiliary of the new Grover M. Hermann Hospital. A committee consisting of Mrs. Marion Michelfelder, Mrs. Carol Roos and Mrs. Johanna Flaherty were named to draft a constitution.

Irving Shapiro of Sullivan’s in Liberty expects the new Community General Hospital in Harris to cost $21,600,000 and to open late in 1974. This is what he reported in his meeting with the county supervisors Monday night.

Mrs. Frances Ebers of Eldred has been appointed Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star of the State of New York. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Persbacker of Callicoon.

Joan Bestenheider, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bestenheider of RD Roscoe, and Gottfried Karl Schauer of Richmond Hill, were married August 14 at Grace Lutheran Church in North Branch.

40 Years Ago - 1981

The Idle Rest Inn in Glen Spey was destroyed at 4 p.m. on Sunday by fire which has been termed suspicious. At one time considered to be “the place” in town, the building was now empty. Lumberland firemen were assisted by firemen from Highland Lake.

The 38th annual firemen’s field day will be held on Sunday, August 30th, at Hortonville.

Members of the Youth Conservation Corps have been working for the Liberty Parks and Recreation Commission to improve Walnut Mountain. They are under the supervision of Al Snedeker. Included in the construction has been play equipment. A baseball field, picnic area and hiking trails are also found at the site.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jacobs of Monticello have announced the engagement of their daughter, Kathleen Frances, to Jeffrey M. Klein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Klein of Forestburgh. A spring wedding is planned.

AT2 Edward Skelly of the U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Skelly of Callicoon Center, has been named Sailor of the Month. He is stationed in the Philippines.

30 Years Ago - 1991

The Little World’s Fair at Grahamsville just keeps getting bigger and better. Erin Allen, 11, of White Lake and her best-of-show winning rooster were sure to agree as was George Dean, whose children entered nine animals, seven of them qualifying for the finals in the cow barn. The prize for the longest distance traveled to come to the fair went to a group from Seattle, Wash. The oldest fair-goer was a 93-year-old; the oldest married couple had celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. It is estimated that 30,000 had attended the fair as a worker, exhibitor or paying guest.

The crowds may have been down but some of the spirit was still there as close to 2,000 people gathered this past weekend on the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Festival to celebrate the event’s 22nd anniversary.

An 8-year-old has been referred to Sullivan County Family Court in connection with a rock-throwing incident on the Quickway last week. His 5-year-old companion was released to the custody of his parents. A large rock, thrown from the Old Liberty Road overpass, broke the windshield of a car passing beneath it. The driver was uninjured.

The Beaverkill Covered Bridge at Livingston Manor, more than a century old, was rededicated in a ceremony held last Friday. The bridge was built in 1865. Sullivan County is unique in that it has five of the 20 covered bridges still in use in the state of New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Herbert of Jeffersonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jacqueline Sue, to Bradley Mallett, also of Jeffersonville. A fall 1992 wedding is planned.

20 Years Ago - 2001

Peggy and Richard Vogler announce the engagement of their daughter Christina to Timothy O’Sullivan, son of Stephanie and Ken O’Sullivan of Grahamsville. An August 18, 2002 wedding is planned.

The 21st Rouff Family Reunion was held July 21 at Loretta Engelmann’s in Bethel. There were four new babies this year: Devyn Fahnestock, Justin Miller, Tiffany Amber Gabriel, and Lindsey Makayla Cruz. There were two 88-year-olds present this year: Mabel Bernhardt of Kenoza Lake and Charles Pless of Garden City. Mabel was the elder by four months, so once again she was the eldest member attending.

Rhonda Sullivan of West Lake, LA., daughter of Mrs. Leota Hermann of Callicoon, was recently promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Army Reserve where she serves as an operating room nurse. Her civilian occupation is Infection Control/Employee Health Coordinator at W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center in Lake Charles, LA., where she is on staff as a registered nurse.

The new Misses of Sullivan County crowned at the 2001 Miss Sullivan County pageant are: Young Miss Jaqulin Nicole Wallace, Teenage Miss Michelle DiSanto, and Pre-Teen Miss Bianca Skye Rappaport.

Longtime Sullivan County residents might know it as Goody’s, but if Mike Stoddard has anything to say about it, Cobbler’s is the name that will replace it on people’s lips. Not that he’s forgotten the legacy of one of Liberty’s most famous watering holes – or people like Harvey Etess and Heather Swayze who ran Goody’s for years – but Stoddard is intent on going back to the roots of this 77 North Main Street edifice, which was once the home of his mother and grandmother. Until the 1970s, said Stoddard, the building housed Poley’s Shoe Store.

On August 19, the Town of Highland officially rang the new bell sitting atop the Town Hall in Eldred. The bell was a Sullivan Renaissance project begun through grants from the Upper Delaware Council in an effort to restore the town hall to its original beauty. The winners of the town logo contest were also announced, with Robert Galanakis taking first place and $100. Second place winner was Lindsay Giuffrids, who received $50 for her winning design.

The entire racing community at Monticello Raceway was shocked and devastated on Friday, August 24, with the unexpected death of the track’s general manager, William J. Sullivan. “Sully,” as he liked to be known, only 51 years of age, was felled by a heart attack while enjoying a leisure activity.

10 Years Ago - 2011

Close to 900 people attended the Liberty Fire Department Gun and Knife show held in Rock Hill. Most were hoping to buy a collector’s item at a bargain price while checking out the 65-table show. Since the show was quite the success, one firefighter suggested they should run a gun show as a fire department fundraiser. The vendors and buyers were pleased. Not everyone found his or her bargain knife or gun, but many visitors to the show bought refreshments or other items from local vendors.

Years of violating state environmental regs behind them, Village of Woodridge leaders and residents joined state and federal officials to celebrate the completion of the village’s $11 million sewer plant. While benefitting from grants and a zero percent state loan, Woodridge’s 900 residents (at least those who are in the sewer district) will have to pony up an additional $195 a year to pay for the new facility.

After the lingering effects from great floods of the past five years, the Town of Delaware hurried to buy a $50,000 generator for the sewer plant in Callicoon after a recent storm knocked out the power and the emergency generator burnt out.