110 years ago - 1912

The Bolsom House property in Monticello was sold at foreclosure sale at the steps of the court house Tuesday afternoon for $17,000. M.H. Osborne, the flour and feed man, was the purchaser.

The Sixth Annual Masquerade Ball of Terwilliger Hose Co. at Harmonie Hall on Thursday evening drew the usual enormous crowd and was a huge success both financially and socially. A chicken supper was served at 11 o’clock after which the crowd made merry until 4:30.

Master John Bohn of Mileses has trained his pet dog to draw him on his sled wherever he wishes to go. Johnnie says if anybody has dogs to train he can do it for them.

The seventh annual Lincoln dinner, under the auspices of the Republicans of Sullivan County, will be held at the Liberty House on February 12. Tickets are $2 each.

At Lake Huntington on Saturday the annual ice races were held and a large crowd attended. There were two races: the free-for-all and the Green race. In the former race, Charles Good’s Minnie M took first money, $25. Lee Durlin of Monticello took second prize of $15; and third prize of $10 went to Dermody Bros. of Cochecton. In the Green race, Lee Durlin of Monticello took first prize of $30; Paul Goff of Mongaup Valley took second, $15; and Sawyer and Engert of Callicoon, third, $10.

100 years ago - 1922

Friday’s New York Times carried the following item under an Oldtown, Maine, date. A hobo on Arctic trails who had with him a notebook and other relics of Dr. Cook’s expedition of 14 years ago is described in a letter received from Kenneth M. Clark, a Harvard graduate, who is now crusing timberlands in the Northern Quebec wilderness. Exploring a strange trail with a guide, Clark wrote, he found a rough igloo nearly buried in the snow. Inside was a lone Eskimo or half-breed, clothed in furs. A notebook in the hut, together with papers and bits of metal, apparently parts of a sextant, caught Clark’s eye and in examination of the book disclosed the name of Dr. Frederick A. Cook. The pages contained data, conditions of the ice floes and other memoranda.
Eighty-nine was the furthest north position decipherable, Clark wrote. Before leaving, the man said, he took the notebook and other articles and had been carrying them since. (It was in 1909 that Dr. Cook came out of the North with the claim he discovered the Pole April 21, 1908, which caused heated controversy with Admiral Peary, who characterized Cook’s claim as a “gold brick.”)

The coldest day of the winter to date came after a 10-day spell of zero weather when on Friday morning the thermometer registered 22 degrees below. Abrahamsville registered 30 below. — Cochecton Corresp.

Gladys Graby, 14-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Graby of RFD 2, Callicoon, while riding down the schoolhouse hill at Hankins last week, ran into a pile of mine ties. She received a bad gash over her left ear and was rendered unconscious.

At the installation of officers by Gustave Adolph Lodge, I.O.O.F. at Hortonville Saturday evening, George Buddenhagen was installed Noble Grand and Chas. F. Bergner, Vice Grand. Walter Robisch and August Faubel, who have long held the offices of secretary and treasurer, respectively, were again installed therein.

Miss Olga Hanson and Wm. Scheibe Jr. were married at the home of the bride on Tuesday. They will reside on the Chas. Darby farm near this village. — White Sulphur Springs Corresp.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Tate, a son, Donald Joseph, on January 25.

Miss Simon, teacher at Lava, spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Simon in Mileses.

90 years ago - 1932

The Callicoon Hospital is nearly completed and next week will be ready for its first patients, according to Dr. George R. Mills. Miss Olga Pethick, R.N., will be superintendent; Miss Frances Williams, assistant nurse; and Mrs. Gertrude Farrell, cook and housekeeper. The hospital building is 32 by 44 feet and is of colonial design with shingled exterior. On the interior the first floor consists of a modern office for Dr. Mills, a waiting room for the hospital; a kitchen, a bedroom and a large, modern equipped operating room. The second floor has rooms for patients and the third floor contains the nurses’ quarters. Ken Botsford was the general contractor. The plumbing and heating was installed by Frank J. Roemer of Hortonville; F.W. Davidson furnished the electric fixtures and wired the hospital. Rasmussen’s of Narrowsburg supplied and laid the linoleum and August Newmann of Callicoon painted the building. The bedding was furnished by J.M. Schmidt & Sons of North Branch; Rasmussen’s furnished the beds; and mattresses were made by Ives of Callicoon. Dr. Mills states that the hospital will be open to any physician who is in good standing with local and state medical societies.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Engelmann of Narrowsburg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 25.

Motorists who had hoped to see all toll bridges in Pennsylvania and between New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, wiped out this year are doomed to disappointment. The season is not opportune for the necessary financing. Eight toll bridges in the state proper are listed for taking over and made free just as soon as the money market warrants. Locally bridges to be included were the toll bridges that cross the Delaware at Stalker. Wayne County, and owned by the Little Equinunk Bridge Co., and the bridge at Lackawaxen — old aqueduct between Pike County and the Empire State. This aqueduct, designed by the builder of the Brooklyn Bridge to carry the old D. & H. Canal over the Delaware River, has been in use more than sixty years.
Corp. Wm. M. Waldron of Hancock and Miss D.E. Zurn of Lordville were united in marriage on January 19.

80 years ago - 1942

Two Lookout residents, Samuel J. Rutledge, 76, and John Caulfield, about the same age, were killed instantly yesterday afternoon about 3:40 when a small delivery truck, in which they were bringing a load of coal from Honesdale, skidded on the ice on Route 90 near Rileyville and struck a large tree. The coal was to be used in the airplane observation post on Union Hill near Lumbrick Manor.

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Bush were honored on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, February 3.

Next Monday morning, at 2 o’clock, the United States will change to War Time for the duration. Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour ahead next Sunday.

The following will leave for induction into the Army next week: Richard Krongel, Jeffersonville, from the Liberty District; Carl L. Campfield, Arthur Hensz and Michael Mason of Narrowsburg; Frank Bambino and John Waldron of Cochecton; Donald Hughson, Kenoza Lake; Hyman Goldsmith, Jeffersonville; Orville C. Kalin of Yulan; Howard Fink, Hortonville; Charles Behringer, Callicoon; Kenneth Kelly and Walter Campbell of Barryville; and brothers, Arthur and Arnold Griffin of Westbrookville.

Callicoon Firemen are having a February dance with all proceeds to go to the Red Cross Fund.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Engelmann of Narrowsburg observed their sixtieth wedding anniversary on January 25. Mr. and Mrs. Engelmann, both 83 years of age, are both active.

One of Narrowsburg’s old landmarks, the old Riverside Mill, and since 1902, the old J.C. Branning Co. Mill, has been sold and will be razed some time before Spring. The Riverside Mill was erected in the late 1890s and was vacated when the Narrowsburg Feed and Grain Co. was organized and a new mill erected on the site of the old Dairymen’s League building.

The Dairymen’s League Cooperative Association today appealed to Dr. Thomas Parran, Surgeon General of the United States, for his cooperation in a movement to obtain permission from the various boards of health throughout the New York Milk Shed for farmers to deliver milk to receiving stations one hour later during day light time so as to conserve work hours for food production, stating that farmers could perform a greater patriotic duty by operating on standard time than daylight time.

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Conklin are the parents of a son, born Sunday, February 1; Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Kimble of Cochecton are parents of a baby girl, born January 30; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Conklin of Milanville became parents of a daughter on January 31.

70 years ago - 1952

More than 150 friends of the Callicoon Hospital attended the open house on February 3, celebrating the hospital’s 20th anniversary. Dr. George R. Mills, founder, and Dr. Edmund T. Rumble formed a partnership in 1949. Dr. Rumble had become associated with Dr. Mills in 1938 and remained here until 1942, when he entered the service. He returned in 1946. In 1947, a laboratory was added and George Dudley was employed as laboratory technician. There are eleven nurses on staff with Miss Elsie VanIderstine, R.N., is head nurse. More than 3,000 babies have been born at the hospital with 14 pairs of twins. Louis Bayer of North Branch, was the first surgical patient.
About 75 active and reserve members of the Callicoon Fire Department gathered at the Olympia Hotel last Thursday evening to pay tribute to Herbert C. Persbacker on his retirement as Chief of the Department after 26 years of continuous service. Chief Charles H. Engert acted as toastmaster. George N. Homer, a reserve member, recounted some of the early days as a Callicoon fireman. Mr. Homer joined the department in 1907. He told of the three companies which formed the department in the early days, of the first truck which was purchased in 1925, and of the unification of the department some years later. August Neumann, oldest fireman present, spoke briefly and stated that he was one of the organizers of the department in 1901. Mr. Persbacker was presented a wrist watch by Commissioner John Traynor.

PFC David L. Cole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Cole of Lookout, Pa., was buried yesterday in the Braman Cemetery, a casualty of the Korean War.

Jack S. Ingber of South Fallsburg, recently admitted to the bar, has become associated with the law offices of Wiess & Costa of Monticello. The Ingbers have a son, Keith.

At the Callicoon Hospital, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kubler of Eldred are the parents of a daughter, born Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. John Carman of North Branch are the parents of a son, born Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Page of Equinunk, Pa., are the parents of a son, born Monday; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Baum of Jeffersonville, are the parents of a daughter, born Thursday morning.

Dr. J. Cameron Gain, after serving the Town of Callicoon for 22 years as health officer, resigned that position last week. Dr. Edward R. Miller of Jeffersonville, who served the Town of Fremont as health officer since 1934, has been appointed to take Dr. Gain’s place.

The six-month old child of Mr. and Mrs. Morton Shimm of Jeffersonville died at the Horton Hospital in Middletown and was buried in the Jewish Cemetery last Thursday.

60 Years ago - 1962

Mrs. Rosemary Kunze of Roscoe has announced the engagement of her daughter, Arlene Rita, to Milton D. Highhouse of Hortonville. No date has been set for the wedding.

Miss Clare F. Long, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Long, graduated with a degree in Practical Nursing from the New York State University of Morrisville on January 14.

Thieves sometime Friday night “peeled down” the safe in the Motor Vehicle Bureau office in Monticello and got some $3,000 in cash.
A daughter, Carol Ann, was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Brown of Harpursville on January 16. Mrs. Brown is the former Leena Keesler of Fosterdale.

Anniversary congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kraack who celebrated 54 years of wedded life on January 22.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mohn of Cochecton Center were given a 50th wedding anniversary party at the Lake Huntington Firehouse.
Friends of Mrs. Herbert Katzoff gave her a surprise stork shower at her home Thursday evening and Rhonda Lee received many useful and pretty gifts. All had a delightful time and made the acquaintance of the new baby.

Monticello Raceway is expected to pay out more than $1 million in purses to horsemen during the 1962 season, officials at the track announced today.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a daughter, Saturday, to Mr. and Mrs. G. Swendsen of Narrowsburg, and a daughter, Wednesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kolbe of Callicoon.

By a 43-7 vote Monday, taxpayers in the Fallsburg Fire District approved a bond resolution to the tune of $35,000 for the purpose of a new modern 1,000 gallon pumper truck, completely equipped.

50 years ago - 1972

Not many residents around here can remember such a mild winter. Except for a few spots, the Delaware River has remained open.

George Glassel, of the Beechwoods, has been presented the 1971 award as Outstanding Conservationist of Sullivan County by Conservation District Chairman Fred Feinman.

Anna Todd, school nurse, and John Egan, English teacher, both on the staff at Jeff-Y, have submitted resignations effective at the end of the current school year.

Mr. and Mrs. George Bernhardt of Kenoza Lake celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on January 29.

Fred W. Sprague of Roscoe was given a testimonial dinner by firemen Saturday night at the Antrim Lodge for his half-century of service to the Roscoe Fire Department. A total of 160 attended.

40 years ago - 1982

The first half of a $1,600 pledge for the purchase of an altar for the chapel in the new wing of the Wayne County Memorial Hospital was presented to Donna Simons, RN, chairman of the Nurses Committee for the wing, by Mrs. Philip Stark, Vice Regent of the Court St. Martin, Catholic Daughters of America.

Pauline Albrecht of Spring Street in Monticello was feted on the occasion of her 95th birthday on Thursday. Among her gifts were flowers from relatives in Germany, whom she visited a little more than a year ago.

Frederick Obermeyer received a plaque from the Monticello Board of Education, signifying 12 1/2 years of dedicated service. Mr. Obermeyer resigned to assume his duties as supervisor of the Town of Bethel.

More than 350 athletes, including 30 from Sullivan County, will be participating in the opening ceremonies for the New York State Winter Special Olympics to be held at the Concord Resort Hotel on Wednesday morning, according to Director of the Olympic Games Ira Simon.

Bob Sherwood, past chief of Liberty Fire Department and past president of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Assn., was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley VFA, last Sunday.

30 years ago - 1992

Young and old alike enjoyed an old-fashioned ice harvesting last weekend, held on Lake Cole at the Frost Valley YMCA Saturday. The event reminded residents of a time, not so long ago, when all refrigeration needs were met by the annual harvesting of ice on Sullivan County’s many lakes and ponds.
Hitting another dead-end in their search for a Woodstock solution, Bethel officials last week abandoned their plan to have a specially appointed attorney attempt to tackle the troubles of property owners in the vicinity of the Woodstock Festival site. After facing objections from the unexpected quarter of the property owners themselves, Bethel officials scrapped the appointment last Wednesday night. Two weeks earlier, Frank LaBuda had been named as special Woodstock counsel.

Hermine Engelhard, a patient on the skilled nursing unit of Wayne Memorial Hospital, marked her 100th birthday on February 2. She has a son, Kurt Engelhard, who resides in Damascus, Pa., and was able to be with her for the celebration. Pennsylvania State Governor Robert Casey sent congratulations.

Garrett Ross, son of Sandy and Ernie Ross of Long Eddy, entered the fastest car in the pinewood derby sponsored by Cub Scout Pack 113 of Callicoon last Monday evening.

Tom Killian, tax collector for the last 36 years, was presented a plaque in recognition of his service to the Town of Liberty, at the annual installation of the Liberty Ambulance Corps. He has written a history of both the ambulance corps and the fire department, each handwritten and taking about a year to complete. At the ambulance corps dinner, charter members Charles Topper and Richard Herring each received plaques. The corps was organized in 1969.

20 years ago - 2002

Sullivan County District Attorney Steve Lungen blames the Sullivan County Legislature for his decreasing annual salary, down from $130,000 to $127,000. Lungen says unfair politics have resulted in the pay cut.

A community auction raised $8,000 for Brad Chesney, 3, who is undergoing treatment for a lepto-menengial tumor.

Just passing by the Neversink Reservoir, one can see the effects of mid-winter drought, as the water is only at 34 percent capacity.
Sullivan County and New York City are both under drought warnings.
George Seibert, former Jeffersonville resident and pharmacist, died at 82. He is survived by a sister, Rita Faubel Yewchuck, of Jeffersonville.
A daughter, Chanlyn was born to Christina Vogler and Timothy O’Sullivan, of Callicoon, on December 29; and Melissa Roth and Matt DeWitt have welcomed twin daughters, Brianna and Brooke, who were born on January 16.

The Sullivan County Community College Generals, ranked seventh nationwide, defeated the top-ranked Roxbury Community College Tigers, 67 - 57.

10 years ago - 2012

Livingston Manor girls’ basketball Coach Kevin Clifford earned his 100th career victory following the Lady Wildcats 48-12 win over the host Family School Lady Falcons in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division VI game. Clifford has a record of 100-71. This is his ninth season at the Manor helm and he has guided the team to the sectionals in all of the previous seasons.

After a special meeting Monday night, it’s clear that a majority of Roscoe community members are not interested in considering a merger with neighboring Livingston Manor. Asked to complete a brief survey, more than 70 percent of the district residents indicated their opposition to even conducting a merger study. This comes about a month after Livingston Manor residents strongly supported the study.

What County Legislator Alan Sorensen called “a concerted effort to keep jobs in Sullivan County” apparently paid off. Partnership for Economic Development President Allan Scott said the Partnership and local government officials secured the continued employment of up to 50 workers at Frontier Insurance Company in Rock Hill. NYS Senator John Bonacic told Scott that the state Insurance Department (now known as the Financial Services Department) agreed not to liquidate the company, which would have led to the abolition and/or relocation of the remaining workers.