130 Years Ago - 1895

The law is now in force forbidding forms of gambling: no more pooling; no more raffles and fish ponds at church fairs; no more “chances” in drawing for sleighs, bicycles, horses, pictures, and so forth. No more raffles for turkeys, geese, oysters, or throwing dice at hotel bars for cigars and drinks. Read the new constitution and don’t get indicted before you know it.

Act to improve the public highways of the state. No wagon made after the first day of July in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five, for the purchase of carrying freight and merchandise and drawn by two or more horses or having a tire less than four inches wide shall be used by any person upon any of the public highways of this state outside of paved or macadamized streets of cities and villages.

Rumors are afloat that an establishment for the manufacture of furniture will be started at Roscoe in the near future.

On account of the present low price of milk, the Parksville creamery is manufacturing butter instead of sending its milk to New York.

Jeffersonville and Kenoza Lake have joined musical talents and formed what is termed by outsiders, a “Banjo Band.” Of the former Hank Krenrich and Bill Faubel play guitars and Louis Dietrich a banjo. And of the latter, Arthur Osterhout and George Hembdt handle banjos. Hank is the leader.

Oliver Hofer was in Albany last week for the purpose of having his surveying instruments approved and sealed by the state officials. He has been engaged to survey Stevensville Lake over which some dispute has risen. And by the way, Ollie must intend to live on turkey the rest of the winter, for, we understand, he brought home with him, from the city, a monster bird which was inferior in size only to himself, and not a great deal at that.

120 Years Ago - 1905

F.W. Hartig has purchased the old blacksmith shop and lot of W.C. Hartig of Livingston Manor. Mr. Hartig will tear down the building and improve the property.

Captain-Surgeon Charles E. McDonald, the former well-known physician of Jeffersonville, has returned from a year’s service in the U.S. Army in the Philippines, where he did valiant work and earned high commendation from his superiors and yesterday came to Jeffersonville to see his friends.

Miss Viola Armbrust has returned from a month’s visit to the city. Viola was given a surprise party at her home by a lot of her schoolmates on the evening of January 29. Music was furnished by Andrew Kohler and Miss Flora Osterhout.

Harry Reilly has purchased of R. Tyler the property next to the Damascus post office, and it is said he intends to open a saloon.

Another fall of snow Friday night with cold weather following helped further to dispel thoughts of an open winter. Yet this section has been particularly favored. No such storms have been reported all around us.

Owing to the ingenuity of professional forgers, the post office department has been compelled to change the present form of domestic money orders. The blanks now in use are printed on specially prepared paper and are in the form of a check. They took the place of the zig-zag form in which the sum payable was also represented in clipping the margin. The change, however, has proved anything but an improvement, and fraud is more general now than before. Every effort will be made to devise a blank form of money order that will be fraud proof.

110 Years Ago - 1915

H.C. Patterson, Youngsville’s new postmaster, recently came  into a legacy of about $30,000 from the estate of his father, the late Henry C. Patterson, who died in Brooklyn last April.

A firebug is again on the job, and made the second attempt to burn the old store building on South Main Street belonging to John Beck, now of Brooklyn. But the prompt and efficient work of the Jeff fire department again frustrated the devilish scheme.

There is a strong sentiment here for making an effort to save the John Beck building condemned and remove it for the reason that it stands there vacant in the closely built up part of the village and, as a fire trap, is a menace to the town. Since the two attempts to burn it, the people in the neighborhood are living in sleepless terror of a conflagration that might wipe out the heart of the village.

The residents of Briscoe and vicinity, three and a half miles east of here, are making a move to have the telephone line of the Western Sullivan company extended to that section. Since the Monticello mail route was discontinued the Briscoe people have been completely cut off  from direct communication with the outside world.

Miss Romelia Segar, daughter of Mrs. R. Segar of Briscoe and Fenelon Hill of White Sulphur Springs were married at Vail’s Gate January 31.

The eagerly anticipated “big noise” of the Jeffersonville Grange in the form of an entertainment, masquerade ball and supper, came off at the Mansion House Friday night and proved a splendid success. The receipts were $105 and the amount cleared about $75 – quite a sum for these times. Attorney Robert McGinn gave a splendid talk on the benefits of the Grange, which was highly commended by all. Edwin Weber recited humorous poems, and the entertainment closed with a skit, “Caught With the Goods,” by Harvey Meyers and Ed Neiger Jr.

100 Years Ago - 1925

A bill imposing severe restrictions upon the proposal to permit minors between 16 and 18 years of age to drive motor cars was introduced in the state legislature. The bill provides for issuing permits, but only upon affidavits of necessity by parents or guardians.

The acid factory of George Treyz of Willowemoc, ten miles from Livingston Manor, was destroyed Monday morning by fire. The fire is supposed to have started in a tank containing raw wood alcohol.

Yesterday was the coldest day of the winter in these parts. Mercury registered from 18 to 24 inches below zero in different places in Jeffersonville in the morning.

Callicoon Center – Philip Steinhauser is having an electric water pump put in his place. All along Main Street the water supply is frozen up, and there is a regular tin pail brigade on our street every day. All the abandoned pumps have to be fixed up again.

The creamery ice house here is being filled by Wm. C. Fuhrer and force who have finished the big creamery ice job at Kenoza Lake.

A very stubborn fire occurred last Wednesday afternoon in the cellar of Philip Orth’s former hotel at Callicoon, which is now managed by Mr. Orth’s son, Webster, as a garage. A gasoline truck was engaged in filling  a gasoline tank in the front of the place, and in some way the gasoline ran over and into the cellar of the building where an explosion took place when the gas reached the furnace, setting fire to the entire cellar.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The state highway department has under consideration plans for a viaduct across the deep valley at Bridgeville on Route 17 to eliminate the two steep hills going down into the village. Surveying and preliminary engineering work for the viaduct already have been done.

Fosterdale – Philip Neff, who remodeled the old house on the former Meyer farm, which he owns, has contracted with Joseph Beiling, Jeffersonville carpenter, to do the flooring and finishing on the inside of the house.

White Sulphur Springs - Frank Bryan, local constable, had the unique experience of getting kicked by a duck at his farm in Midway one day this week. The constable went to the duck pen with the idea of moving the duck to another pen. He caught the duck by the neck and just as he reached for the feet, the bird upped exactly as “Maud” in the funny sheet would and let go with both feet. No bones were broken, but Mr. Bryan received a number of bad scratches on his body.

William Gottfried, aged 55 of New York, who has a room in the Geo. Yager building, fell off the post office steps here not long ago and sustained an injury to his leg. He brought suit through Liberty attorneys against the owner of the building, William Knell, for $500, claiming a defective porch caused his fall. Mr. Knell turned the matter to his insurance company which we understand has settled the case for $300.

Andrew Proto of Brooklyn, and Theresa Morro of Jeffersonville, were married January 16 at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Callicoon. They were attended by Arthur and Mary Guarino. The couple will make their home with the groom’s sister and husband on the Jerry Wood farm between Jeffersonville and Callicoon Center.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Seventeen cars of a fast eastbound Erie freight train were derailed a half a mile from the state at Lackawaxen Sunday night, blocking both east and west bound tracks and necessitating the rerouting of important trains on the D.L.&W. system. No one was injured. Several of the derailed cars were loaded oil tankers.

A number of ladies’ bowling teams from Callicoon and vicinity are going to New York today via Erie to take part in a bowling tournament in the metropolis.

We are glad to have so many letters from our servicemen. Our readers enjoy them as they are anxious to know how our boys are doing in far away places. What a great day it will be when all are able to return to their homes among us. The prospects of such a return are getting brighter continually – the news is good.

Sullivan County’s deer population may be somewhat depleted because of the severe winter and the deep snow but many are surviving in good condition.

Henry Gercken, owner of the Callicoon Alleys, announces that hereafter all league bowling matches will start promptly at 8 o’clock. This is made necessary by the recent order of the War Production Board that amusement places close at midnight.

Wayne County had a perfect safety record last year. No fatal automobile accidents occurred within its confines in 1944.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Ed Loughrey and Larry Hauschild of this place on Thursday of last week went on a hunting trip up in the north country. They were out for snowshoe rabbits. They didn’t get any of the big bunnies but they had a good day’s hunt – four wood grey foxes and six cottontail rabbits --– not bad. The men said the snow was a foot deep where they hunted.

George Kent, who is with the signal corps at Fort Hurancha, Ariz., has been promoted to corporal. George was inducted into the Army in August 1953 and received his basic training at Camp Gordon.

It is reported that Simon Sattinger, due to an allergy to chicken feathers, will discontinue the chicken business and plans to move to Florida.

Callicoon Center – Adolph Wagner of Wagner Farms, Inc., has purchased the Callicoon Center Schoolhouse from the local fire department. Mr. Wagner plans to use the building in connection with egg candling.

While in the city, Mrs. Evelyn Greenfield was notified that the kitchen range in the Balschiva house, which she occupies, had exploded due to a frozen water back. The stove was a complete wreck and much damage was done to the walls and floor.

This past Sunday and Monday, Henry Frydman of Jeffersonville, a student of citizenship for the foreign born in the adult program of the Jeffersonville Central School, and his teacher, Salvatore Princiotta, participated in a two-day “Americanization Pilgrimage” to Albany – the first of its kind.

Kenoza Lake – Cards have been received from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hildenbrant who are honeymooning in southern Florida. The couple were married on January 25 at St. Petersburg. She is the former Betty Freise of Jeffersonville.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Thirteen members of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors gathered at the Monticello High School to argue the site of the new Sullivan County Community College.

On March 21, the Sullivan County Community Dial Plan is scheduled to be introduced. Plans were also being made to extend the local calling area to Callicoon customers to include Galilee, Pa.

A black squirrel was seen Monday, February 15, on Route 97, near Cochecton. This is a rare sight.

Beechwoods – eorge Olsen received a fracture of his nose and bad lacerations which needed 27 stitches in an auto accident. He is recuperating very nicely, but his truck sure looks bad.

Edith Milk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence R. Milk of Callicoon, was married on February 15 to Richard V. Hofer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hofer of Jeffersonville.

North Branch – Doug Immoor of Petersburg and Fred A. Knack had to be hospitalized for smoke poisoning while they were fighting fire at the Larson home which was completely destroyed by fire last Thursday evening.

50 years ago - 1975

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Sauer of Cochecton were tendered a surprise buffet and party last Saturday night at the Cochecton Fire Hall to celebrate the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary.

George W. Seibert, 79, who in almost a half-a-century of residency in Narrowsburg, was one of the most active men in its community affairs, died Tuesday, February 11. Mr. Seibert operated the drugstore in Narrowsburg which bore his name.

An application has been submitted to the State Office of Parks and Recreation for financial assistance in the development of the county’s Stone Arch Bridge Recreation area between Callicoon and Jeffersonville. A grant of $28,750 is being sought.

Mary Lou Kinne and Lavonne Baker, both of the Liberty Central High School, and Julie Reed of Monticello High School, have formed themselves into a Gospel trio and have recently cut their first 10-song record album. Calling themselves “The Believers,” the girls made the album during a trip to Canada.

Five books concerning the exploits of Dr. Frederick Cook have been donated to the Liberty High School library by Sheldron C. Dorough of Atlanta, Ga., a member of the Dr. Frederick A. Cook Society.

40 Years Ago - 1985

The new sewer plant for Jeffersonville, which is located on Sickmiller Road out of the town, was damaged due to ice build-up which broke a shear pin on one of the skimmers in the plant and broke apart part of the machinery in another section of the plant, according to Joseph Klopchin, chief engineer for Kesco, Inc., of Goshen, managers of the plant. Kopchin has asked the board to approve installation of an electrical outlet for an arc welding outfit and some eighty feet of cable so that workers at the plant could repair the broken equipment.

Philip Coombe Jr. of Grahamsville, who began a career in the state corrections department more than 25 years ago, will move into one of the top state positions on February 21. He will be in charge of (or oversee) the state’s 1,300 officers as well as directing and maintaining security at all of the state’s facilities. 

Rep. Benjamin Gilman has announced the appointment of Brian A. Roeder of Hortonville, son of Donna and Harold Roeder, to the freshman class at West Point Military Academy.

Rose Keller, Rose Rosen and Rose Gilbert were among the 500 reunited Sullivanites who gathered on February 11 in Pompano Beach, Fla., for the Fourth Annual Reunion. Monticello photographer Mark Perlman was among those attending and sent pictures to the Sullivan County Democrat to be shared with the readers up north.

Connecting on 11 of 16 free throws in a game against J-YCS, the Delaware Valley Eagles secured a second place in the Western Sullivan League (WSL). They will meet Roscoe on Thursday where a win for the Blue Devils would clinch first place for the Roscoe team.

The Lady Yellowjackets of Eldred defeated Tri-Valley’s Lady Bears to clinch their sixth straight crown in the WSL.

A boy, Thomas Michael, was born February 11 to Mr. and Mrs Richard Stagl of Kenoza Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hill Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stagl Sr. are the proud grandparents.

Madeleine Wootan, a resident of Callicoon and a senior at Cornell University, shattered the school’s indoor track record in the shot put during a recent meet with Syracuse with a heave of 41’ 3”. She now holds both the indoor and outdoor shot put records at the Ivy League school.

30 Years Ago - 1995

The ownership of the Monticello Raceway will change hands amid much speculation over the new owners and their plans. Watermark Investments Limited, based in the Bahamas, has signed a contract with Berenson Pari-Mutuel of New York for an undisclosed sum. “Watermark plans to continue operating the harness racing facility,” according to William W. Hopson, an Atlanta attorney representing Watermark.

Roger Williams, a retired military and commercial pilot, regaled the second and third graders of the Tri-Valley Central School with stories of his Australian travels which he reported on through e-mail to the kids since September.

Delaware town officials have scheduled a public hearing on March 15 to address the enactment of Local Law #2-95 which will address unsafe and collapsed buildings that pose a possible threat to the public’s health and welfare. One such building to be considered is the four-apartment building on Fremont Street which was gutted by fire on Wednesday, March 20, 1991. Also on the agenda was the possible erection of a senior citizen center/town hall on Audley Dorrer Drive. There are other locations which can also be considered according to Supervisor Eric Nystrom. 

Doug Heinle, owner of Heinle’s General Store in Cochecton Center, won honorable mention from the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce for the 12-foot snowman he had on display for the Holiday Decorating Contest. First place was awarded to Ja-Co Antiques in Monticello; 2nd to the Callicoon postal employees for their decoration of the village’s railroad station; and 3rd place to Gallery of the Lakes in Rock Hill.

Melvin Olsen of Callicoon is a lucky man. While working in the basement of his home, the 7 1/2” circular saw, which he was using, jumped and hit him square in the leg, just two inches above his knee. Although he didn’t know it at the time, the cut severed three major muscles. Surgery at Community General Hospital in Callicoon, requiring 200 stitches, saved the leg after having it in a cast to stabilize the injured limb. The hospital has a 24-hour emergency room service. Dr. Enrique Castellanos was on duty when Olsen needed him in a hurry.

A minimum of $1 million has been established when Brown’s Hotel goes up for public bid on Friday in Long Island. The resort has been in bankruptcy since last spring.

20 Years Ago - 2005

Douglas Lepera of the K.L. Rutherford Elementary School was named the winner of the 2004-05 National Geography Bee competition at the K.L. Rutherford School in Monticello. The seven finalists were Connor McCausland, Douglas Lepera, Candace Wong, Amanda Castro, Nicholas Rodriguez, Justin Mapes and Skylar Glick. 

Angela M. Reeves and Richard R. Miller Jr., both of Beach Lake, Pa., announce the birth of a daughter, Ella Marie Miller, born February 1, 2005. Maternal grandparents are Clarence and Jinni Reeves of Narrowsburg. The paternal grandparents are Richard R. Miller Sr. of Beach Lake, Pa., and the late Diane Reiser Miller.

The Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Tusten held their very first “Fire and Ice” celebration Saturday in Narrowsburg, with the help of local merchants and art galleries.

The annual Livingston Manor “Heart of the Manor” dinner was held at Sullivan County Community College and the 2005 honorees were Gerard Ilaria and Steve Wilkinson, the guiding forces behind several projects that in recent years have breathed new life into a dying town, otherwise rich in local lore and blessed by the beauty of the Beaverkill Creek.

10 Years Ago - 2015

It’s the little station with a big voice and a lot of love. WJFF Catskill Radio, piped out of humble, funky and smart offices off Route 52 in Jeffersonville, has channeled good energy to listeners in Sullivan County and thereabouts for a quarter of a century, as of February 12. Dozens turned out for the radio station’s 25th birthday celebration, a three-day extravaganza. Volunteers and well-wishers also flocked to the radio station’s Honesdale, Pa. studio in The Cooperage on Main Street. Radio Catskill now airs 50 national programs and 40 local programs for listeners throughout Sullivan County and a third of Wayne County in Pennsylvania. 

The United  Church in Roscoe celebrated the five year anniversary of its Shepherd’s Food Pantry on Wednesday. Thirty dedicated volunteers and a handful of students from Roscoe Central School unloaded crates of food from a U-Haul truck and packed it into cardboard boxes to be distributed to needy families later that afternoon. The pantry provides food assistance to between 100 and 130 local families once a month. The amount of food assistance depends on the size of the family, but each box contains at least a three-day supply of essential food groups such as eggs, milk, and bread.The food is, in large part, purchased from an annual $3,600 federal grant. The rest comes from the kindness of local residents and area businesses. 

The Academy of Finance at Monticello High School has paired up each 12th grade student with a local businessperson who will be their mentor. The new mentor program will give students someone who can assist them with achieving their future goals and plans for after they graduate high school. This new program gives students the opportunity to connect with someone that they might not otherwise have, as well as teaching them the importance of setting goals for the future and networking within the community.