140 Years Ago - 1882

We understand that Miss Nettie Ward is expected home on a short vacation this week. She is making a good mark in the normal school that she is attending.

The value of revenue stamps upon matches in the U.S. during the past year was $4,500,000 representing 450,000,000 one cent stamps and, as one of these stamps must be placed on each 100 matches, the total number of matches must be 45,000,000,000.

Married — Erdman-Upham, January 22, at the house of Henry Horner at Youngsville by A.P. Bush, Esq., Philip Erdman of Jeffersonville and Charlotte Upham of Hasbrouck, Sullivan County.

Fifty-seven cases of small pox in Port Jervis and still they come.
Quite a number of those who left here a few months ago for the Pennsylvania woods in quest of fortunes have returned within the past week.

The school at the Center is finely run. Those pupils who cannot crawl under the seats run over the tops of them. Nettie Ward is not teaching this winter.

Things we want to know: How high the snow drifts are between here and the other side of the hill? In what year John Beck’s rubber boots were manufactured, and if any more gum was imported that year? Why the money that was subscribed to pay for the young bass to be put in Shanly Pond has not been used for that purpose.

130 Years Ago - 1892

The unexpected death of L.P. Myers of Youngsville occurred at his home at two o’clock Monday afternoon. Mr. Myers was afflicted with typhoid pneumonia, though he had been up and about only the day before his death. He was a man of large proportions and his increased fleshiness no doubt hastened his death. It is said that he neither ate or drank anything for two weeks but still he gained weight during that time. Mr. Myers not long since became one of the hotel proprietors of Youngs­ville, having purchased the hotel formerly conducted by J.C. Hall. He was engaged in distilling whiskey.

Another old resident of Youngsville has passed away in the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Sander, widow of the late Theodore Sander. Her death was sudden. She was apparently in good health on the evening of January 19th but on the following morning she was found to be dead by her servant girl. She was aged about 74 years and survived by six daughters and a son: Mrs. H.C. Patterson, Mrs. H. Langermar and Mrs. Estaing of Youngsville, Mrs. W.H. Britton of Jersey City, N.J., Mrs. Charles Beiling of Galeton, Pa., Mrs. Jacob Keesler of Ridgeway, Pa., and Jacob Sander of Ledgedale, Pa.

Deputy Collector Schultz discovered two illicit distilleries at Robertsonville, Wednesday of last week. The place was run by two Swedes, who surrendered without trouble but the wife of one of them was inclined to show fight when the officers attempted to destroy the stills. They were, however, destroyed and the men were lodged in jail in Monticello.

Krenrich wants about two carloads of grain of all kinds for which he will pay highest price in cash.

120 Years Ago - 1902

Enter Beck’s store and you will be surprised at the change in the store and in the prices. Why you ought to see the overcoats, they sell for $4, $5 and $7; heavy winter suits $7 and $8; really worth $12, boys’ suits at $1.50 and $2.50.

John V. Schagels, Young­sville and Liberty Express. Orders left at Youngsville and White Sulphur Springs post offices will have my prompt and careful attention. — ADV.

Girls wanted to learn cigar making. Those from 15 to 25 years of age will be preferred. Paid while learning. Apply — American Cigar Company, Middletown, NY.

The 24th Annual Ball of the Sullivan County Social Club will be held at the Lexington Ave. Opera House, 58th St. and Third Ave., New York, on Thursday evening, February 6th, 1902. Tickets admitting gentleman and lady, 50¢. All Sullivan County people and friends are invited to attend.

Dem Bartholomew, our Monticello mailman, got as far as Bushville yesterday and was compelled to return. Ice, piled high in the roads and surrounded by water, prevented passage.

Trolley cars will run next summer. Work on the Liberty-Jeffersonville trolley was not resumed Monday, as promised last week, but we are able to publish another promise that it will soon. Manager Craig’s son is to leave Jersey City tomorrow with this outfit. Mr. Craig was in Liberty the other day and from there comes word that “arrangements are all made to resume work in the spring.” Mr. Craig said he will commence work on the power line in March, and that cars will be running long before the summer is over.

Highway Commissioner WIlliam H. Knemm of Jeffersonville proposes to do away with the short steep pitch at Henry Wormuth’s north of this village on the road to Callicoon. The purpose is to cut off Mr. Wormuth’s corner, starting a little below his house and coming out at the watering trough above.

110 Years Ago - 1912

C.H. Bell of Hancock has sold out his livery connected with his hotel to Whitaker Bros., and he is negotiating with out-of-town parties for the renting of the hotel.

Nate Mitchell, while coming down the road above the tower yesterday, saw a large wildcat crossing on the ice to the Pennsylvania side. A number of hunters started out after him.

Local athletes have already started training for the ice races at Lake Huntington on Saturday. It is reported that Black Lake is coming over forty strong and if such is the case then the annual fight ought to be a hot one this year.

The body of George Berg­mann, the fireman of Protection Engine Co. of Honesdale, who has been missing since the fire that destroyed the Reif Block two weeks ago Saturday, was discovered in the ruins a week ago Saturday morning. Bergmann disappeared after making an attempt to rescue Olaf Spetti­gue Jr. with other firemen. They managed to get Spettigue out and Bergmann was not missed until after the worst of the excitement was over. His body was found under six feet of debris.

Sunday morning Cook’s milk sleigh crossed the tracks opposite the Delaware House and started to skid sideways. They slid across the road and hit the post in front of Mrs. Traynor’s store, dumping part of the load onto the sidewalk and breaking a large number of bottles and cases.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norris of Kenoza Lake have sent out cards announcing the marriage of their daughter, Miss Mamie, to Floyd Mosier of Newark, N.J.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. R. Ray of Acidalia, Thursday, January 18, a daughter.

W.J. Donaldson & Sons have the contract to move the Presbyterian church, which was nearly a mile from the village, in town. the new site is east of Miss A.E. Gillespie’s residence.

100 Years Ago - 1922

The eight school directors in the first supervisory district met at Monticello again yesterday to elect a superintendent of schools and again failed to elect, the vote being a tire between Mrs. Chase, the present incumbent, and Mrs. Godfrey of Bloomingburg.
The Record last week reported that eight cows and heifers and a hog of John Yager Sr., of Sixteen, had died of a mysterious poison within the past seven weeks. Last Sunday, another cow died of the same cause the last two cows of his herd are now sick and expected to die. Farm Bureau Manager Charles Willi was at the Yager farm Tuesday and has sent for the state veterinary to come and make an investigation.

The new Chiefs of the Kallicoon Tribe of Red Men were raised to their respective stumps on the sleep of last Tuesday at the Mansion House Hall, where the council fire was kindled for the purpose, the regular wigwam not being available. C.C. Huson of Scummemunk Tribe of Liberty officiated at the raising and he was accompanied here by several other Red Men. When the council fire was quenched the Indians present made a raid on some appetizing lunch prepared by Squaw Knell, and after smoking the pipe of peace, the Red Men, about twenty-four in all, dispersed to their own haunts.

Lillian Reichman, daughter of Senator George M. Reichman, and Arch M. Hertenstein of Nashville, Tenn., were married at the Jeffersonville home of former Senator Reichman on Saturday evening by Rev. Edwin Gerity. The senator was too ill to leave his home and the ceremony was performed at his bedside.

William Bury, who was born in Jeffersonville 72 years ago, died January 19 at his home in Everett, Washington. Mr. Bury, a son of Rudolph Bury who ran the first grist mill in Jeffersonville on the site of the present Bollenbach mill, had been a resident in Everett about forty-five years. Later the family moved to a farm north of this village known as the Zopfi farm, and then moved to Youngsville. Mrs. Bury has lived with her son since the death of her husband and is still alive and quite well at Lake Stevens, Washington, at the age of 97.

90 Years Ago - 1932

The Liberty and Monticello public schools will have bands and orchestras among their students, who will be instructed by directors furnished by a conservatory of music.

A woman presented herself at a grocer’s one day this week with an order from the Welfare Department. It called for groceries to the extent of five dollars. She ordered, first of all, a carton of one kind of cigarettes and four packages of another kind. Then she took a hand of bananas, 3 pounds of white grapes and a dozen oranges. She ordered some potatoes, meat, bread and finished out the order by including some canned goods. The groceryman said this was not at all unusual. He said that frequently people coming in with such orders want everything but groceries. Nearly every such order includes cigarettes, cigars or tobacco.

Electrical Contractor LeRoy W. Busing, radios, Mazda lamps, radio tubes, appliances, radio repairing, Kenoza Lake, N.Y. — ADV.
Bowling Alley, A. Allen­spach, Jeffersonville. Come in and enjoy yourselves. Ice cream, refreshments, cigars, etc. — ADV.

Stephen W. Schuster, acting postmaster at Callicoon Center since the death of Postmaster Valentine Hessinger last July, has been recommended for the postmastership by Congressman Platt of this district on the approval of the local Republican Committeemen. Other applicants for the position were Jack Lentz, Joseph Moser, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kastner.

Merel K. Scheidell sailed from New York City for California where he expects to locate. An elder brother, Floyd T., has been located in Los Angeles the past several years. Both are followers of the legal profession.

80 Years Ago - 1942

A jury in the Supreme Court at Monticello last Thursday awarded a judgement of $1,000 to John C. Luhrs, Kenoza Lake steamfitter, against the Heckerman Iron Works of Syracuse, as a result of injuries he sustained while employed at the central school here during construction in February 1939. He had sued for $15,000.

Joseph G. Beiling, the contractor, has sold his bungalow and four acres of land below the village of Jeffersonville to Jack Fischer, son of George Fischer, on the Pete Hubert farm, in the Beechwoods, and the son-in-law of Charles Reum of Kenoza Lake. Fischer, who works for the Ohl’s chicken hatchery at Callicoon will take possession March 1st and engage extensively in poultry raising.

Dr. John Adams Miller of Roscoe, oldest physician in Sullivan County, died at the home of his son, Major Henry Miller U.S.A., in Monticello at the age of 82. He was born in Delaware County and was graduated from Columbia in 1887. Dr. Miller, who practiced medicine in Roscoe for fifty years, retired last year.

Five balls and entertainments, celebrating the president’s birthday on January 30th and for the sole benefit for the fight against infantile paralysis, will be held in Sullivan County this coming year. The ball for western Sullivan County this year will be held in Narrowsburg under the chairmanship of Fred N. Hendrix. Other balls in the county will be held at Livingston Manor Central School, the Flagler Hotel in Fallsburg, at the Liberty High School and at the Monticello High School.

Elizabeth Lyons, 87, who died at the Wilfert home on January 18, followed closely the death of her sister, Mrs. Magdalena Wilfert, who died on December 6th at the age of 84. She was the daughter of Henry Duttweiler and Anna Meyer of Switzerland, who were early settlers here and was born on Swiss Hill, September 8th, 1854.

70 Years Ago - 1952

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Johnson of Long Eddy are the parents of a daughter born Mon­­day at the Callicoon Hospital.

The house of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Klimchok of Conklin Hill, Pa., burned to the ground Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weiss of North Branch announce the engagement of their daughter, Faye, to Thomas A. Mahony of White Plains.
Miss Ann Marie Kenney of Roscoe became the bride of William Veyhl on January 6.

Mr. and Mrs. Francis E. Hartmann of Livingston Manor announce the engagement of their daughter, Dorothy, to Charles K. Neuman, also of Livingston Manor.

Mrs. E.F. Jenkins was given a bon voyage party Friday. She and her two sons will leave for Germany where they will join Capt. Jenkins who is stationed there.

60 Years Ago - 1962

Miss Mary Weyrauch was feted Thursday afternoon on the occasion of her 99th birthday at a gathering in the Willing Workers rooms.
Miss Maria J. Miller of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lt. Terrence L. Roche, Callicoon, were married in Cleveland December 30.

A June wedding is being planned by Miss Dolores A. Tedesco of Engelwood, N.J., and James Keesler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Keesler of Callicoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mohn were honored on the occasion of the 50th wedding anniversary with a party at Kennedy’s Korners, Lake Huntington, on January 21.

The New York City Board of Water Supply Police Bureau has been authorized to open a detachment in the Village of Hancock. The fact that the area will have round-the-clock police protection is welcome news to the populous place.

The framework is up for a 200-foot-long two story additional building at the Holiday Mountain Motor Lodge at Rock Hill. Also at Swan Lake, the tremendous Stevensville Lake Hotel project is proceeding well. The construction includes a 121-foot six-story addition and a new front. In the addition will be a new indoor pool.

50 years ago - 1972

Three Liberty area men were arrested by Ferndale State Police last week on January 19, charged with removing 350 pounds of scrap copper from the ruins of the former Columbia Hotel in Hurleyville.

January 31 marks the centennial of the birthday of one of America’s finest sportsmen and authors, Zane Grey, and a soon-to-be-published book of his hunting and fishing tales will contain several stories which deal with the Delaware at Minisink Ford. In fact, the first story ever sold in 1902 by this author was about smallmouth bass angling in the Delaware. A 1905 photo of the sportsman fishing in the Delaware is included in the January-February issue of Fishing World with an article by George Reiger, who makes considerable reference in the article to Grey in the Delaware.

Announcement has been made of the engagement of Miss Mary Freda to Daniel Bell of Damascus. No date has been set for the wedding.

40 Years Ago - 1982

Five different fire companies and more than 60 firemen battled flames Friday at the Sullivan County Steam Laundry, Inc., in Woodridge. Firefighters believe material caught in a dryer may have been responsible for the laundry fire. Fires also occurred on Friday at the home of David Lippman, who was not at home at the time, in Mountaindale, and at the Avon Lodge in Woodridge. Half the Avon Lodge was saved. No determination concerning the cause of the blaze has been made. In all three fires, about 200 volunteers participated.

Elppidio “Charlie” Guido, mayor of Bloomingburg, died on January 24 at the Horton Memorial Hospital in Middletown, following a short illness.

Walter Wolff, a retired New York City policeman, celebrated his 97th birthday Tuesday at the Eldred Town Hall. His father had operated a coal barge on the D&H Canal.

Miss Valerie Kelly of Narrowsburg and Anthony A. Albano were married on November 7, 1981, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Narrowsburg.

30 Years Ago - 1992

Sullivan County will have its own representative in the Assembly at Albany according to a proposal by the majority Democrats. The area would also include the Orange County cities of Port Jervis and Middletown and the towns of Greenville, Deerpark and Wawayanda.
A new year-round rabbinical school is planned at the former Gibber Hotel. Workmen are presently renovating the former nightclub for classrooms. The Yeshiva Viznir D’Kah Torath Chaim, Inc., will accommodate from 150 to 200 boys as students and is currently operating in Rockland County with plans to relocate to Sullivan County in the next few months.

Millie Fisher of Hortonville was guest of honor when about 40 of her friends and relatives feted her at a surprise 88th birthday party at the Hortonville Firehouse.

Delaware Valley Central School football players, Derrick Riullano, running back, and MIke Swartwood, defensive lineman, have been named to the third team of the All-State Team.

Woodridge Mayor Richard J. Elliott succumbed to a heart attack suffered while he attended a testimonial dinner in his honor on Sunday night. He was 59 years of age and had held the office for 14 years.

20 Years Ago - 2002

Standout Monticello basketball player John DeGroat reached a career milestone Wednesday night when he scored his 1,000th career point in the Panther’s win over Liberty.

The Boy Scouts’ Klondike Derby was hosted by Troop 101 of Rock Hill this past Saturday at the Mahogany Ridge Hunting Club in Monticello. For 110 scouts of the Nav-A-Len district, it was a perfect place to be, covered in several inches of snow and with an iced-over lake for staging an ice rescue.

The most recent Sullivan County Interacademic League (SCIL) meet was held at the Sullivan County Courthouse Saturday. The teens were invited into the courthouse to try their hand at the different aspects of the law.

Alice Ellmauer of Youngsville celebrates her 98 birthday today. She has spent her whole life in Sullivan County, and most of it in Youngsville. She remembers dances at the grange in Youngsville and dancing the waltz at Maple Grove, the hotel that used to sit across the street from where Baims’ Garage now is in the town. Those were the days when she and husband William went out on the town — before their children were born.

10 Years Ago - 2012

Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue stands behind a menorah and in front of the ark where a Torah valued at $35,000 was stolen last weekend. The synagogue is offering a $6,000 reward for the safe return of the stolen Sefer Torah. A flyer issued by the synagogue on Wednesday read in part, “If you stole our Torah and would like to return it without getting into trouble… What can you do with the Torah? Nobody will buy a Torah unless they know where it came from!… You can bring the Torah to the synagogues in Liberty or in Woodridge. Remember, you had better hurry and bring in the Torah yourself. If the police find you first they will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. And the police have assured us they will find you.”

Jim Kayton, the owner of Callicoon Theater, introduced Zachary Stuart Pontier as “A local boy who’s made good,” at the recent showing of the film which Pontier edited and part-directed, “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” The theater was near-capacity, and many seemed to know Zac. Although he now lives mostly in New York City, Pontier’s roots are in Sullivan County, the son of Glenn Pontier and Laurie Stuart, publisher of The River Reporter in Narrowsburg. The rural and somewhat remote area served as the backdrop to one half of the story, about a cult “family” and a young woman played by Elizabeth Olsen, sister of the famous Olsen twins. She eventually runs away from the cult, but not without considerable psychological damage that leaves the older sister and her husband to whom she runs for shelter, baffled, and eventually leads in progressive steps to her breakdown. Pontier was present at the Q&A session after the showing, the dimmed lights in the theater accentuating the movie’s nightmarish atmosphere that explores the relationship between reality and madness.