110 Years Ago - 1910

The large boarding house of Chris Maus at Tennanah Lake came near being destroyed by fire on Wednesday afternoon. The parlor and another room on the ground floor were gutted and it had burned through the floors into the first story. It is thought that the fire started from the parlor stove.

Train 8 arrived here Thursday morning a little over six hours late due to a wreck at Carrollton. As Train 8 was running slowly past the station at Carrollton, a freight train which was passing was wrecked. Three freight cars were thrown from the track, one of them striking the steel mail car. The collision pushed the freight car back a little but not enough to prevent it from sideswiping all the passenger coaches and damaging them considerably. No one was hurt.

A wreck on the eastbound track of the Erie at Hancock a week ago yesterday, when a car of corn was wrecked, blocked traffic for three hours. No. 2 used the westbound track from Hale Eddy to Hancock. Nobody was hurt and most of the grain was saved.

Mileses, Dec. 31 — Walter Sipple & Co. built a new ice house and filled it with 12-inch ice off their mill pond last Friday.

Long Eddy, Dec. 31 — The next debate to be given by the Long Eddy Debating Society is announced for January 8. Subject: “Resolved that there should be an Educational Qualification to entitle one to vote.” Prof. Russell, Dr. Marsh and Mr. Dale for affirmative; J.B. Hagadorn, C. Torzler and C. Whitaker, negative; George Armstrong and Miss Della Skinner, both of this place, were married last week by Rev. McLaren. The groom is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Armstrong and the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Skinner.

Galilee, Pa., Dec. 31 — On Christmas eve, a quiet wedding was solemnized at Galilee when Louise, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Evans L. Rutledge, formerly of Brooklyn, was united in marriage to William J., son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Canfield, at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. George Bougard… On Thursday, Milo Graham suffered the loss of an eye by the knife he was using penetrating the eyeball. He was taken to a hospital the same day.

Announcement has just been made of the engagement of William E. Halladay of this place to Miss Agnes Coughlin, a popular young lady of Carbondale, Pa. The nuptial event will take place about January 11. Miss Coughlin is a graduate nurse. Mr. Halladay is one of Callicoon's most prominent young men. After an extended honeymoon the couple will reside on Mr. Halladay's farm near this village.

The Callicoon Bridge Co. held their annual meeting at the Olympia Hotel Monday afternoon. The following directors were elected for the ensuing year; Charles T. Curtis, Jacob Knight, Martin Hermann, John Dering, Charles F. Starck, C.A.Thorwelle and Chas. G. Curtis. A dividend of three percent was declared. Owing to money lost in the Knapp Bros. bank the dividend would have been considerably larger.

Judge Smith of Monticello has just concluded a real estate deal whereby John L. Barrowman of Brooklyn becomes the owner of Mrs. Calla Peake Milk's large poultry farm at Brunwood, known as Forest Hill Farm. He will keep only thoroughbred white wynadottes. This is the same breed with which Mr. and Mrs. Milk built up a business that is well-known throughout this section of the country.

100 Years Ago - 1920

Peter Wahl, who formerly conducted a blacksmith shop in the Kautz block, Callicoon, will reopen a shop at the old stand January 5. This will be the second smithy in the village. Mr. Wahl is one of the most expert blacksmiths in the section.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Fuhrer and daughter, Mrs. Fuhrer's mother, Mrs. Osterhout, will go to the city Tuesday. Mrs. Osterhout will stay with another daughter, Mrs. F. Binzen, and the Fuhrers will go to Florida. They intend to make the trip by boat. — Kenoza Lake Corresp.

Mr. and Mrs. O.W. Ihrig of Callicoon sail from New York City January 6 for Hamilton, Bermuda Islands, to spend three months. Mr. Ihrig was there in 1876 and anticipates a pleasurable visit this time.

Charles Dyring, who has been lighting his chicken house for the past two months, says the plan is proving very successful. It is now being tried by J. Maas. — Cochecton Center Corresp.

Charles Hosie, 61, postmaster for years at Ferndale, died in Binghamton, December 24, at the age of 61 years. He was an only son of John Hosie and Jean Stewart of North Branch.

Gustave Adolph Lodge, I.O.O.F., of Hortonville held its annual election Saturday evening, electing Henry Gabel as Noble Grand, L.J. Buddenhagen as Vice Grand, Walter Robisch, Secretary; and August Faubel, Treasurer.

Mr. Reith is suffering from a bruised hand which he sustained while trying to put a new spring in his auto. The jack slipped and let the weight of the car fall on his hand. His daughter, Frances, pried the car up with a bar and released her father's hand. — Lava Corresp.

At Heuser's Hall, Cochecton, Thursday evening, Jan. 1. Music by Turner's Hokus Mokus Jazz band. Proceeds for the basketball team. — Advertisement.

90 Years Ago - 1930

On Christmas Day, Ruth Blanche, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Aldrich, and Audley Ian Dorrer, both of Callicoon, were united in marriage at the Methodist Episcopal Church with Rev. F.W. Stine officiating. Mr. and Mrs. J. Vance Hunt attended the couple. They will reside in a flat in the Delaware House, Callicoon, after a motor trip to New York City.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, noted explorer whose home was formerly at Callicoon, has filed an application and is scheduled to come up for parole at the hearing of the January meeting of the United States Penitentiary Parole Board. Along with 800 other prisoners, he will be allowed to tell why he feels that he should have his freedom. Dr. Cook was received at the Federal Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kans., April 6, 1925, and has served one-third of his 14 years and 9 months sentence. Since he has never broken any rules, he is in line for parole on his behavior record. Dr. Cook has no money to pay the $12,000 fine against him, but that cuts no figure in granting parole. He has been imprisoned as the result of a conspiracy to use the mails to defraud.

Sheriff Ben R. Gerow of Liberty is now functioning as the new Sullivan County Sheriff in the office at Monticello. George G. Darling, former Sheriff, and his assistants have all been replaced and will seek other means of occupation. Walter Flynn is the new undersheriff.

Webber, Kuhlman and Webber, Inc. of Roscoe, have closed the doors of their large printing plant at that place. This procedure was made necessary following a mortgage foreclosure sale.

A new Ford car with the latest 1930 improvements is being demonstrated at Bock's garage here. Many body improvements have been made to the car including a higher radiator, smaller wheels, larger tires, streamline front fenders and other minor changes.

W. Graham Stanton, employed as a printer in the printing department of the Chase National Bank in New York City, spent a few days' vacation at the home of his mother, Mrs. Margaret Stanton, here. “Cracker” as his intimates know him, is a graduate of the Democrat office and is making good at his chosen work.

From the Editorial: Fact that Byrd and his comrades can explore the Antarctic with the thermometer 50 below zero, does not prove our folks can go to church if the thermometer is below freezing.

Richard Schoaf, 54, who had conducted the Fern Hotel at Kenoza Lake for the past 22 years, was found dead in a chair in his apartment, Monday, December 30. He was born in Hanover, Germany.

Announcement was made early this week of the merger of the Sullivan Telephone Co. with the New York Telephone Company, effective January 1, 1930.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Rev. G. Roy Bragg officiated at dedication services at the M.E. Church in Callicoon on Sunday evening. The newly altered and renovated chancel and lectern and the new organ and chimes were dedicated in a short ceremony preceding the regular services of the church on Christmas Eve. Mrs. G.R. Bragg was guest organist. A special choir rendered two anthems, “Holy Night” with an obligato solo by Mrs. Stuart Mudge and “Upon the Midnight Clear.” The organ was a gift of the late Miss Anna Anderson, Frank S. Anderson and Mrs. Hannah Jessup.

With Christmas came the announcements of many engagements: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kero of Hankins announce the en­gagement of their daughter, Elma Esther, to Victor J. Valaitis of New York City; District Attorney and Mrs. William Deckelman have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jeanne Esther, to Theodore King Bowen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bowen of Syracuse; Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Mootz of Callicoon Center announce the engagement of Miss Madeline Elizabeth Kick, youngest daughter of the late George and Mary Kick, to Francis Joseph Tempel, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Temple of Rockland. No date has been set for any of the weddings.

Kenneth Tate and Miss Maxine Rineberger of New York City were united in marriage in the Bronx last June 3.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Deutsch of Youngsville are the proud parents of a son, Lowell Arthur, born Sunday, December 24.

Virginia Marie Kneckt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Knecht, was christened by the Rev. Fr. Jerome Kelley on Christmas Day. A dinner was served following at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Kenney. — Long Eddy Corresp.

School closed here on Thursday evening with a Christmas entertainment at the school house. The program was enjoyed by all. Santa Claus appeared and gave everyone a bag of popcorn. Mr. Hoffman, the teacher, was assisted by Miss Ruth Cargin at the piano; also Shirley North announcing the program. A large crowd attended. — Mileses Corresp.

Charles I. Robisch, Milton Maurer and Frank Eagin were re-elected to the County Agricultural Conservation Committee for 1940 at a convention of delegates in Liberty on December 19. Mr. Robisch will serve as chairman of the committee for the third successive year.

Mrs. Adeline Fair was elected matron of St. Tammany Chapter No. 492, Order of the Eastern Star, Callicoon. George N. Homer will serve as patron; Mrs. Freda Robisch, associate matron; Mrs. Hazel Bennett, secretary; Mrs. Pauline Kautz, treasurer; Mrs. Edith Gottschalk, conductress; and Mrs. Katherine Peake, associate conductress.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Mr. and Mrs. Hyman Singer of Singer's Victory Villa of Lake Huntington, and Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Hopkins of Brooklyn, received 250 guests at the reception tendered in honor of their children, Sidney and Esther. The groom is the owner of the Sugar Bowl in Lake Huntington.

A letter from Mr. and Mrs. Erich Fisher, who are spending the winter at Jensen Beach, Fla., states that they witnessed the marriage of Mayor William O'Dwyer at 7 a.m. on December 20. They described the beautiful scene and were thrilled at being able to witness this event which was front page news over the nation for several days.

The Tom Manouse gas station, which was burned out December 14, is in business again. Repairs to the building are still awaiting adjustment but gas and accessories are on sale as usual.

Mr. and Mrs. William Fink yesterday purchased the Gercken residence in Hortonville and they will occupy the premises shortly. Mr. and Mrs. Gercken and son of Hortonville and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Liebman and two children of Long Eddy, have moved to Rockville Centre, L.I., where they have purchased homes. Gercken and Liebman are partners in a large liquor store in that city.

Abraham Kleinman, a veteran of Liberty, and John F. Lynch, a non-veteran, formerly of Callicoon, have passed an open competitive examination to qualify for appointment to the position of special agent, Department of Mental Hygiene. The position pays an annual starting salary of $3,846.

Valleau C. Curtis, chairman of Region I of the American Association of Nurserymen, will preside at their annual winter convention at the Hotel Statler in New York City on January 5th and 6th. Mr. Curtis is also vice president of the New York State Nurserymen's Association and is known locally as the operator of the Curtis Nurseries at Callicoon, a wholesale and retail nursery and landscape organization.

60 Years Ago - 1960

Vernon Molusky, son of George F. Molusky, Callicoon, has been promoted to the vice presidency of the Biscayne Savings and Loan Association at Miami, Fla.

Ed Lohr Jr. of Fremont Center is the winner of this year's Snug Harbor, Narrowsburg, big deer rack contest, according to proprietor Joseph Purcell. Lohr's entry measured 61 1/2 inches and possibly constituted the largest set of antlers to be taken anywhere in Sullivan County this year. He received a pair of Irish Setter insulated hunting boots.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a daughter, December 25, to Mr. and Mrs. James Rynearson, Honesdale, Pa.; a daughter, December 28, to Mr. and Mrs. John Vannatta, Milanville, Pa.

At the A&P you can buy 2 heads of lettuce for 29¢; 5-lb. canned Domestic Ham, $3.55; D'Anjou Pears, 2 lbs., 29¢; and Eight O'Clock Coffee, 1 lb. bag, 57¢.

Miss Frances McNeely, retiring owner of Hamilton Avenue Hospital, was described as “an angel of mercy” and compared to Florence Nightingale at a testimonial dinner in her honor Saturday night. nearly 400 attended the affair at the Concord Hotel.

The third community Christmas tree within a week was erected on the square at Livingston Manor's Main Street about a week before Christmas. The other two were removed as casualties of traffic accidents.

George Krick of Acidalia writes the Democrat from Florida that he is spending the winter there working on the largest poultry farm in the state. He says that they keep 40,000 layers and now have about 40,000 chicks two weeks old.

50 years ago - 1970

Miss Lynne Dudley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Dudley, became the bride of Edward Klimchok, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Klimchok, at a pretty ceremony performed at Holy Cross Church on December 6.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kutger of Youngsville announce the engagement of their daughter, Jo Ann, and Thomas E. Mall of Jeffersonville. Wedding plans are incomplete at this time.

Mrs. Harriet Menges, 109, died Friday, December 26, 1969, in Kentucky. She was born in Youngsville August 25, 1860.

One of the most beautifully decorated homes in the village of White Sulphur Springs is that of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Wehner Sr. on the Mineral Springs Road.

Brian Teeple, 12-year-old grandson of Mrs. Merlin Brigham, shot his first deer on the opening day of the antlerless deer season. — Damascus Corresp.

On December 22, a 9 lb. 1 oz. baby girl, Kimberly Ann, was born at the Loomis Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Elbert VanKeuren of Jeffersonville. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bury are the proud grandparents.

On Tuesday night, Tom and Janey Puerschner moved into their new home on the Beechwoods Road. Fourteen family members shared in the festivities in the lovely home that evening. — Jeff Corresp.

More than 16 inches of snow fell during the past week making traveling hazardous on all the local roads.

Mrs. Trudy Halvorsen of Bethel has donated an afghan, made by her mother in Germany, for the benefit of the fund drive of Grover M. Hermann Hospital. Tickets are available at the Callicoon Pharmacy and the Jeffersonville Pharmacy.

40 Years Ago - 1980

A story of almost unprecedented neighborliness was revealed this week when it was learned that the late Miss Laura E. Treyz of Cooks Falls, in the generous terms of her will, left almost $250,000 to Sullivan County institutions, including $111,566.21 in two installments specially granted to the Grover Martin Hermann Division of Community General Hospital, earmarked for capital improvements and not to be allocated for operational expenses. Specifically, the hospital re­ceived $25,000 in November, 1978, and $85,766.21 on December 12, 1979. Exact similar bequests, on the same dates, were also made to the Roscoe Community Nursing Home and to Read Memorial Hospital of Hancock. The largest beneficiary of Miss Treyz's estate was Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton which re­ceived a total of $332,298.62. Also receiving monies from the estate were the R&R Volunteer Ambulance Corps, $5,000; Roscoe Free Library, the United Church of Roscoe and Otschodela Council Boy Scouts of America, each $10,000; and $25,000 to the Delhi Campus Ministry. Miss Treyz died October 9, 1976, after a lifetime of service to the community.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Rapenske of Liberty have announced the engagement of their daughter, Debra Mary, to Timothy TerBush, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. TerBush of Grahamsville.

The electric cable furnishing power to the star on Irish Hill in Narrowsburg was replaced December 26 by some members of the Town of Tusten Lions Club, allowing more power to the star and it is now much brighter.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter McKeen of Jeffersonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Jeanne, to Scott R. Erlwein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Erlwein of Jeffersonville. No date has been set for the wedding.

Frieda Unger was elected matron of Revonah Chapter, OES, Liberty, and Lawrence Unger will serve as patron. Lucy Carlsen and Lou Carlsen were elected associate matron and associate patron, respectively; Elsie Wynkoop will be conductress, Barbara Slater will serve as associate conductress. Helen Aldrich was re-elected secretary and Maryon Vandenberg will again be treasurer. The officers will be installed January 3.

A book, “Life in the English Country Home: A Social and Architectural History” by Mark Girouard, has been donated by the Kiamesha Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Monticello, to the Crawford Memorial Library in memory of deceased members.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Passersbys were treated to an ice carving of reindeer and sleigh at the display of Leisure Time Ice and Bottled Water in Kiamesha Lake.

Monticello firemen were kept busy with three alarms beginning about 8 p.m. Christmas night and continuing into the mid-morning of December 26. The first fire was at a mobile home. According to fire department officials, arson is definite in a later fire that damaged a garage and two motor vehicles at a Cold Spring Road home. Fighting in bitter cold weather conditions, the third fire was at an apartment house on Pleasant Street. More than 100 firemen were involved in the activities.

Leonard Persaud and Judy Millsap are the new people in charge at the Jeffersonville Adult Home. Persaud's wife, Helen, will be arriving from England within the coming months to join the team. Improvements are planned at the facility including an upgrade of the facilities at the home, redecorating the inside and doing some landscaping outside so the residents will be able to enjoy the outdoors in the summer.

Mrs. Anita Frankell of Wurtsboro and Mrs. Ursula Good of Monticello have been chosen to serve with six other community leaders in the Congressional District as senior citizens consultants to Rep. Benjamin Gilman in 1990.

The Town of Fallsburg is leading a successful challenge of formerly tax-exempt religious camps that could reverberate far beyond the borders of Sullivan County. Recently, the Sullivan County Supreme Court advised that it had refused to reinstate full tax-exempt status to the Yeshivath Shearith Hapletah Camp in Woodbourne because it has no certification to teach boys and girls and the buildings were used to house people who had nothing to do with the camp's religious program.

20 Years Ago - 2000

Sam Seelig, piano virtuoso, piano teacher and major area philanthropist, died Wednesday, December 29, 1999, at the Skilled Nursing Unit of the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris, at the age of 85.

The first Sullivan 2009 Conference is aimed at presenting ideas to various taxing authorities throughout the county on how they might collaborate on services as a means to provide better service at a lower cost, said the county's director of communications, Glenn Pontier. The purpose of the Sullivan 2009 panel, named to coincide with the county's bicentennial year, is to investigate ways to reduce the overall tax burden on the public without eliminating services or jobs.

The new eagle observation areas along the upper Delaware River are ready for public use, just in time for the annual arrival of the region's wintering eagles. The Eagle Institute, along with numerous local, state and federal agencies, has been preparing since last winter in anticipation of the annual migration of the eagles and the thousands of people who come to see them.

After 17 years, Mostly Books, the county's only general service bookstore dealing in new books, closed its doors last week, a victim of diminished traffic at the Apollo Plaza and the advent of the Internet book supply houses.

The first baby of the 21st century at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa., was born on Saturday, January 1, 2000 to proud parents Dr. Allen and Karla Orehek, who recently moved to Waymart, Pa. Dr. Pedro Mencia delivered Shannon MacKenzie Orehek, who arrived at 2:32 a.m.

January 5 — On Monday evening, a few of the Cordaro's Singles Group members came to visit, and we had a great evening.

On Wednesday evening, the Pierce family, Jim Mosher, and my family came over for a buffet supper. All had a great time.

On New Years Eve, Pete, Sharon and her son and I went to visit Charlie and Daisy Smith and then went to Tony's to watch the ball come down. It was a quiet evening but we had a good time.

Gloria Garn made a chicken parmesan dinner for our family on New Year's Evening.

Philip, Diane and girls, Kaitlin and Christine Jesmonth of Albany, spent a few days over New Year's at the home of her parents, Dottie and Woody Schlegel. Dottie and Woody were to go to Albany, but Woody wasn't up to traveling.

Sure hope the weather gives us a little break. It's been miserable lately.

Have a good week and please call if you have news to share!

10 Years Ago - 2010

Officials from the National Weather Service in Binghamton honored Harold R. Hoyt of Rock Hill with the Dick Hagemeyer Award for 45 years of service as a cooperative weather observer for the National Weather Service. Hoyt reports temperature and precipitation observations from Rock Hill to Binghamton. Hoyt's reports become part of a record published monthly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center and provide long-term climate information for the entire nation.

A new youth group was formed in Monticello spurred by the murder of Monticello resident Carl Williams. Rachel Lewis, Germaine Otero, Debbie Issman and their Orange County Community College professor, Dr. Elisa Street, created the Youth Alliance Committee (YAC) after attending the “Stop the Violence” March that followed Williams death. Its mission is to reach out to the youth in Sullivan County, providing referrals and programs that can improve their lives and those of their families.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kane received a plaque of appreciation from the Sullivan County Legislature in honor of his retirement from the bench after 25 years. Kane started as a Family Court Judge in 1984 to County Court Judge to the New York State Supreme Court and its Appellate Division, where he reached the Associate Judge level before retiring.

It was an anticlimactic ending for the Sullivan County Landfill when a few trucks rumbled down the road leading to the top of the landfill, where the only remaining open space existed. After decades of often controversial operations, the landfill saw its final truckload of trash courtesy of the county itself delivering a tractor-trailer load of garbage from the Mamkating Transfer Station. Next up, according to Solid Waste Director John Kehlenbeck, is letting a contract for capping the landfill. The site will be monitored for as long as necessary.