150 Years Ago - 1874

On January 8, in the Town of Fremont, John Weber, son of Andreas Weber, died of consumption at the age of 24.

At Sackett Pond, in the Town of Thompson, December 29th, Mary Norris died at the age of 69.

Miss Elizabeth, daughter of J. Reinheimer, died January 12 in Callicoon at the age of 13.

Five Dollars Reward is offered to anyone who will give the undersigned information which will lead to the discovery of the thief who stole a beehive from the premises of John C. Wagner.

Abram Wood’s steam sawmill at Woodville in the town of Fremont was destroyed by fire January 2nd.

On January 1st at the Callicoon Center parsonage, John Blum was married to Miss Marie Ann Blum, both of Manchester, Pa., by Rev. William Elterich.

Jacob Hoehn and Miss Elizabeth Boehmer, both of Beechwoods, were married January 11th.

Cord wood sells at $3 per cord in Rockland.

A boy was accidentally run over by the Monticello stage last week.

Icemen begin to think that this season is almost a total failure to them.

140 Years Ago - 1884

Be not simply good – be good for something.

M.J. Weyrauch was publisher of the Record 90 years ago. It was a full 7 column four page newspaper.

Sullivan County has about 298 pensioners at present.

At the Liberty Presbyterian parsonage on January 1, 1884, Charles H. King and Marian M. Deppa, both of Briscoe, were married.

At Livingston Manor, January 1, 1884, Richard D. Wormuth of Callicoon and Miss Mary L. Robertson of Liberty were married.

Mr. Henry Soules, a well known resident of Stevensville, died at his residence in his 76th year on December 24.

Miss Susan Puerschner of Newark and Mary Puerschner of New York City were visiting friends and relatives in this vicinity.

 The meeting was called to order by the president, W.J. Harding. The report of treasurer Nicholas Dycker showed a balance on hand of $301.33. Amount of risks in force January 1 was $328.23; Membership numbered 226.

130 Years Ago - 1894

George Hasenfluh died at his home in the Beechwoods on Thursday evening January 4. He was 86.

We have received the 15th annual report of the Callicoon Agricultural Mutual Fire Relief Association from William Gebhardt, secretary.

A meeting was held at the Mansion House last Saturday at which a number of property holders of this place proceeded to reorganize the defunct fire company and to devise a scheme for the raising of the necessary funds to erect an engine house, repair the engine and purchase a new hose.

Liberty has taken the first step in an attempt to become the county seat by having published a petition for its removal, to be presented to the Board of Supervisors at a special meeting of that body duly called for next month.

When whiskey does up a poor man the doctors call it “jim-jams.” If the victim is fairly well off it is alcoholism. In the case of a rich man it is invariably heart failure says the Deposit Courier.

The wedding of D. Foote and Miss Jenne Nesbitt of New York City was solemnized at the residence of Charles Foote of Roscoe Monday evening.

Harry H. DeMeyer of Liberty will build a brick hotel next spring on the site now occupied by the Schubert Hotel in that place, which he recently purchased.

120 Years Ago - 1904

A son was born to Rev. and Mrs. L. William Jones of Roscoe, January 2nd.

The report of the Department of Public Instruction shows that at the November teacher’s examination held at Liberty by Commissioner Knoll, the following earned certificates: Elizabeth Stephenson of Hurd, Charles Wilson of White Sulphur Springs; First Grade and Second Grade, Minna Happich of North Branch, and Carrie Neuberger of Jeffersonville.

Girl babies are born without clothes but they try to make up for it in later years.

Delevan Frisbie, a well-known man of Callicoon Depot, died at the home of his son-in-law, William Gardner of Hortonville, Monday, at the age of 72.

F. H. Woolsey, a large wood manufacturer of Livingston Manor, died Sunday from a stroke of paralysis.

James McCormick of Stevensville died December 28th at the age of 77 years.

August Emrick, a Brooklyn saloon keeper, who moved with his family to the Lober farm, now owned by Jacob Merklin of Callicoon, last spring, died Thursday.

A daughter of William Knack of Beechwoods died Thursday.

At the organizational meeting of the Board of Supervisors at Monticello last week, John M. Watson of Thompson was made chairman and George L. Cooke of Monticello, clerk.

110 Years Ago - 1914

Dr. Irving Howard LeValle of Fish’s Eddy has located in Jeffersonville.

L.P. Faubel is putting electric light fixtures in his cigar store.

The fire alarm shortly before 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon brought out the fire department to squelch a fire in the cellar of the gas house on Center Street.

Sometime during Friday night thieves broke into the store of the Porr Brothers at Cochecton and stole a lot of goods.

On Wednesday, December 31, Edward G. Hauser, son of Balser Hauser of Callicoon Center, and Miss Trena C. Euker, daughter of Mrs. Caroline Euker of North Branch were married at the bride’s home.

The marriage of Miss Pearl Smith and W.R. Donaldson,  which took place December 31, was attended by over 100 persons.

Charles Schlorb Jr. of New York and Miss Hattie Will, daughter of Peter Will of Callicoon Center, were married at the bride’s home January 1st.

100 Years Ago - 1924

Fred Reum, Erie station agent at Long Eddy, has received the appointment as agent at Hancock station. Mr. Reum is a native of Beechwoods, a son of Valentine Reum and has been in the employ of the Erie for 11 years.

Now is the time to send in your application to the Conservation Commission of the State of New York for trout fry or fingerlings.

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hill of W. Sulphur Springs announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Katherine R. Hill, to Percy W. Kohler of Jeffersonville.

The Jeff girls ran away from the Callicoon girls in a 36 to 7 victory at the school Friday night. Vincent Grishaber refereed and the local players were Mildred Tiemann, Elsie Behnken, Myrtle Moran, and Marion and Dorothy Scheidell.

Assemblyman Guernsey T. Cross received assignments to the committees on internal affairs, villages and conservation in the state legislature.

90 Years Ago - 1934

Last fall those people living in the section known as “Sixteen” petitioned Superintendent of Schools Charles S. Hick to have their properties placed under the Jeffersonville School District. The State Education Department sustained the appeal of the people.

Ben R. Gerow, former sheriff and Assemblyman, has been appointed acting postmaster at Liberty. William Brown, the present postmaster, has been appointed chief substitute clerk.

Put that radio of yours in first class condition again. See or telephone LeRoy A. Busing at Jeffersonville. — ADV.

An overheated chimney set fire to the outside walls of the dining room of the home of Oscar Royce at Curry Thursday.

Protection Hose Company, at its annual meeting Monday night, elected the following officers: Chief Charles M. Peterson, First and Second Lieutenants, Mark Kohler and August Lott Jr., President Fred Weiss, Secretary/Treasurer Samuel Baer and Fire Surgeon Paul Schwartz.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dekay Blume of Livingston Manor. Mrs. Blume is the former Miss Margery Grishaber of Jeffersonville.

The marriage on June 23, 1933, of Olney Borden, son of Maurice A. Borden of Liberty, and Miss Anita Gettle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gettle of Callicoon, was recently announced.

Albert Holcomb died at his home in Acidalia, January 3rd.

Henry Philandeer Eastman, aged 47, died suddenly at his home near Livingston Manor, January 7th.

Frederick M. Lovell, aged 70, died of pneumonia at his home Sunday.

Frederick Huggler, aged 84, died January 4th at his son John’s home near Liberty.

80 Years Ago - 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kehl of Cochecton Center on January 5th received a telegram from the War Department announcing that their son, George C. Kehl, aged 20, was killed in action in New Britain December 22nd.

Frederick M. Pansing, husband of Louise Knell of Youngsville, died suddenly at his home in Torrington, Conn., last night.

Miss Frances Louise LeRoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin LeRoy (Mary Ernst) of Callicoon, and Lawrence W. Mauer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Mauer of Beechwoods, were married at Holy Cross Church, Callicoon January 5th.

Miss Mary Louise Campbell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles White of Cochecton was married at her home January 1st to Sgt. Frank Samson of Walton.

A daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Willard C. Schadt (Betty Schoonmaker) of Jeffersonville at the Callicoon Hospital on January 11. The father is in an Army camp in Virginia.

A son was born January 10 to Mr. and Mrs. Morris Yeager of Liberty, formerly of Jeffersonville.

Mrs. Catherine Wolff, 87, widow of John Wolff, late of Jeffersonville, died January 9th at the home of Miss Rose Menges of Youngsville.

70 Years Ago - 1954

John Sander, 63, Youngsville dairy farmer, died Tuesday at the Liberty Loomis Hospital.

Town of Callicoon officials were reported well pleased today with the performance of their four-wheel drive jeep with a seven foot snowplow and salting apparatus.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Helflich of Roscoe announce the engagement of their daughter, Joan Ruth Newman, to Adolph Walter, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Walters of Roscoe.

Mrs. Johanna Brown of Hankins, announces the engagement of her daughter, Anna, to Paul William Edwards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adna Edwards of Youngs-ville.

More than 500 residents of the Jeffersonville area obtained motor vehicle tabs from County Clerk Robert J. Flynn at the Jeff Firehouse Tuesday.

The Presbyterian Ladies Aid last week elected Mrs. Gertrude Schaefer, president; Mrs. Ella P. Schmidt, vice president; Mrs. Frank Pecsi, secretary; and Mrs. Ida M. Kohler, treasurer.

Eugene Colent D’Art and wife, Beulah, were found guilty of endangering the life and health of a child by Justice Garrigan in Liberty last week. They received a year sentence in the Sullivan County Jail. The eleven-year-old boy was found by Liberty police in a small back room. The boy was lying on the bare springs of a bed, scantily clothed, and with one light covering. The window of the room was opened. He was taken to Liberty Loomis Hospital.

60 Years Ago - 1964

Mrs. Diane Delameter, the 28-year-old Livingston Manor woman accused of the murder of her husband, David, 29, was acquitted by a County Court jury on Friday in Monticello. Mrs. Delameter, who was then released, said she intended to go to Florida where she would “make a new life for herself and her four children.” The jury of seven women and five men deliberated slightly less than three hours.

With an 8-7 vote, which was later made unanimous, Mortimer Michaels was re-elected chairman of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors. This is Mr. Michael’s 7th consecutive year as chairman.

The 62nd wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bruce Lindsley of White Sulphur Springs was celebrated by the couple and their friends and family on New Year’s Day. Both are 83 years of age. Mr. Lindsley, who is in remarkable health, held an auction in Liberty only a few months ago.

On Christmas Day, Mr. and Mrs. William Filippini of Bethel announced the engagement of their daughter, Rose Marie, to Dominick DeMaio, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick DeMaio of Brooklyn. A spring wedding is planned.

Congratulations to Miss Patricia M. Baum, and Airman 2nd Class Gerald H. Mootz Jr., who were married January 4th by Rev. John Mongin at the Callicoon Center parsonage.

50 years ago - 1974

Mr. and Mrs. Neal Kemp of Callicoon announce the engagement of their daughter, Karen, to Douglas Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Miller of Callicoon. A May wedding is planned.

County Judge Benjamin Newberg adminstered the oath of office to Robert C. Williams installing him as Supreme Court Justice of the Third Judicial District.

Milton Levine of Fallsburg has been named as the first full-time County Attorney of Sullivan County, at an annual salary of $30,000.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Keesler of RD 2, Callicoon, announce the engagement of their daughter, Barbara, to Richard Brown, son of Mr.  and Mrs. Williard Brown of Lookout, Pa.

Winners in the Roscoe-Rockland Garden Club and Hillside Greenhouse of Liberty annual home decorating contest were: Religious theme, Mrs. Madeline Hickey, Old Route 17; Prettiest Doorway, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Poley, Rockland Road; Best Use of Natural Material, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Whitehill, Rockland Rd.; Creative Window Decoration, Mr. and Mr. Raymond Pomeroy, Rockland Rd.; Business Decorations, Ronald M. Albee Insurance Co. on Broad Street, Roscoe.

40 Years Ago - 1984

The Sullivan County Board of Supervisors has reinstated Democrat Brian Ingber of Fallsburg as its chairman and with the reluctant support of the Republican minority, has also created the position of a vice chairman, naming Democrat David Kaufman of Thompson to that job. Dennis Greenwald of Mamakating has been named Democratic majority leader and James Gorman of Neversink was named Republican minority leader.

According to Evelyn DeMyer, coordinator of the “Holiday Watch” program, which was designed to give rides home to teenagers who either had been drinking or who were out with someone who had been drinking, transportation was provided to 32 persons who called the hotline number set up in the office of Gary Cormier, Liberty Youth Division Officer. The students who helped with the program will be honored on the 17th.

Forty-five-year-old Don Burkey of Livingston Manor scored a bowler’s dream last Wednesday night at Liberty Lanes when he smashed the maples for a perfect 300 game during Woodbourne League action.

Five persons have been recommended as representatives to the Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) according to Cochecton Supervisor Jean McCoach. They are Richard Guttzeit, a resident of the Town of Cochecton, Gerald Skoda and Ruth Aprilante, recommended by Mrs. McCoach, Brian Acciavatti of the White Water Canoe Rental, proposed by Highland Supervisor Andrew Boyar, and Richard “Rick” Lander of Lander’s Canoe Rental, whose name was proposed by Tusten Supervisor Fred Tegeler.

Sullivan County Sheriff Joseph Wasser will be joining an elite group of law enforcement officials from throughout the United States next month for a 12-day seminar at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. He will be one of only three law enforcers from New York State and only 30 nationwide attending the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS), which starts on February 4 and runs through February 12. Wasser, who is a former New York State Corrections Commissioner and has served as Sullivan County Sheriff from 1971-1976, was sworn into office again on January 1, 1983, to serve a four-year term.

30 Years Ago - 1994

A 1936 picture, submitted for the Decades’ “Way Back When,” shows Ellsworth Buck of Harris, manager of the Fairmont’s Ice Cream Store next to the Shortline Terminal in Liberty, and Elwood Baim of Youngsville, his assistant, and Gayle Pyzsco, as the waitress. The sign shows a pint of Fairmont’s ice cream selling for 15¢ and banana splits (with three scoops of ice cream, a banana and fruits, nuts and real whipped cream) sold for 15¢.

FBI agents have arrested three harness race drivers, two horse trainers and one bettor on charges of plotting to fix the outcome of harness races at the Monticello Raceway. The arrests were made as the result of a nine-month investigation. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of ten years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

The Community Bank of Sullivan County marked its official opening January 6 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the bank headquarters on Route 42 in Monticello. Among those present were Assemblyman Jacob Gunther III (D-98) of Forestburgh and several bank officers and other representatives from the Sullivan County business community.

The Jeff-Youngsville DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program graduated 146 students of the fifth and sixth grades in a recent ceremony. The program teaches students how to “Say No To Drugs.” Essays were written by the students explaining what they got out of the program. Winners were Tracy Abplanalp, Maynard Schmidt, Matt Josef, Eric Ferland and Patrick Brady. Sheriff’s Deputy Don Starner was the instructor.

Walter and Vicki Busch have announced the engagement of their daughter, Tracy Lee, to Louis J. Milucky, son of Alojz and Maria Milucky of Long Eddy. A summer 1995 wedding is planned.

Danielle Corey of Rock Hill competed in the Marist Swim Club Holiday Invitational at Marist College in Poughkeepsie December 17-19 and earned medals in the butterfly, taking second; breaststroke, for a sixth and individual medley, taking fourth. She is a student at the Monticello Middle School and swims for the Middletown Recreation Swim Team.

20 Years Ago - 2004

Rene and James Terwilliger of Grahamsville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Christy Ann, to Malcolm Richard Perry III of Grahamsville. He is the son of Nettie Perry of Liberty and Malcolm Perry Jr. of Livingston Manor. An April wedding is planned.

A Dollar General store may be on its way to the Town of Liberty.

The home of Chan and Kelly Edwards was nearly consumed by fire Thursday in Youngsville, in frigid temperatures. An estimated 70 local volunteer firefighters responded within minutes to the blaze, a factor that saved their house from total destruction.

The 8th annual Sullivan First Winter Forum convened Sunday, January 10 at Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake. The highlight was a series of workshops in which folks interested in sprucing up the county got firsthand insight into the inner workings, goals and objectives of the innovative grassroots beautification project known as Sullivan Renaissance. Prior to the workshops, Sullivan First Achievement Awards were first presented to Robert Green, Wurtsboro Renaissance, Tri-Valley Central School, and Monticello Schools’ SCIL Team.

10 Years Ago - 2014

SUNY Sullivan and partner HelioSage can proceed with a nine-acre solar farm, thanks to a conditional site plan approval. Issued by the Fallsburg Planning Board at its Thursday meeting, the approval allows a private Virginia-based commercial solar power developer to construct and operate the array next to the college in Loch Sheldrake.

The descendants of Jacob Quick recently became aware of the cleanup of the Quick cemetery [as reported in the Democrat] and wrote a letter to the editor saying they appreciate the care and respect  shown their ancestors’ final resting place. 

The Delaware Town Board unanimously agreed Wednesday to put former Councilman John Gain back in his seat. He had been tied with challenger John Murphy after the November elections, leading the state to declare a “failure to elect” and allowing the town board to decide who would sit in that spot for the rest of this year. Gain will have to run for the remainder of the seat’s term this coming November.