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Down the Decades

July 13th, 2021 Edition

Compiled by Lee Hermann, Muse, & Ruth Huggler
Posted 7/13/21

110 Years Ago - 1911

Thursday afternoon during the extremely heavy showers, which were accompanied by thunder and lightning, the barn on Adam Gorr’s farm on the hill was struck by lightning …

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Down the Decades

July 13th, 2021 Edition

Posted

110 Years Ago - 1911

Thursday afternoon during the extremely heavy showers, which were accompanied by thunder and lightning, the barn on Adam Gorr’s farm on the hill was struck by lightning and totally destroyed along with the wagon shed, chicken coop and 2,000 feet of lumber. A few members of the Callicoon Fire Department went to give aid in saving the contents but everything was burned before they got there. The horses, cows and wagons were the only things which were saved. The cows and horses were taken to W.E. Halladay’s barn where they will remain until Mr. Gorr can secure a shelter for them.

The Liberty Gazette, in speaking of the Liberty-Jeffersonville trolley road and the vetoing of the extension bill, says: Instead of injuring the prospects for building of the road, the Governor’s action should have just the opposite effect, as it loosens up the situation and opens the way for someone to build the road without buying an old franchise, a few rusty rails and rotten ties at a prohibitive price. The forming of a new company is now in order, and there is probably not another opportunity in the state that offers a better investment than the building of this road.

An automobile belonging to Al Sherwood of Stevensville burned at midnight near the Loomis Sanatorium Annex on Chestnut Ridge, Liberty.

Joel Woodward and family of Hoboken, NJ, have arrived for the summer and are located in their cottage at Hortonville. Mr. Woodward’s son, Arthur, came up in his car. He is considerably taller and larger than last year, now weighing 450 pounds and being 6 feet and 11 inches in height.

Dr. Otis Avery of Honesdale, PA., who has relatives in Sullivan County, is 96 years of age and in the active practice  of his profession of dentistry. He is believed to be the oldest dentist in the United States. Dr. Avery rode on the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel on a railroad in America. The locomotive was imported from England by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company in 1829 and had its trial trip at Honesdale in August of that year.

100 Years Ago - 1921

Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, has issued an edict commanding all Pennsylvania Masons who are members of the Order of the Eastern Star to resign from this order or relinquish membership in the Masonic Lodge. It is feared the order affects 18,000 of the 159,000 Masons of the state. No reason is given for the order, but it is known, that the matter had been under consideration since March by the Grand Lodge.

Callicoon has another furniture store. Robert Larkin has opened a department in connection with his music store. Mrs. Larkin will continue her millinery business.

MARRIED: Isabell Gould and Dowe S. Simon on June 29, 1921; Alfred A. Schrumpf and Anna Hirt on June 19, 1921; Frances M. Hamilton, domestic science instructor in the Callicoon High School during 1919-20, and Willis Pells in Stamford on July 2.

At the meeting of the board of directors of the Callicoon National Bank on Thursday, Miss Edna Metzger was appointed assistant cashier.

John King, who for 30 years was a paid member of the Hoboken (N.J.) Fire Department, is now living a retired life at Callicoon and this week received the hat and the coat badges he wore for 30 years. Mr. King has been elected a member of the Anderson Hook & Ladder Co.

Deaths recorded this week were those of Charlotte Homer Bauer who died June 29, on the homestead where she was born 58 years ago; Gilbert Earl Lahm, 14, of rheumatism that lead to an affliction of the heart. He was stricken by this fatal malady six months ago; Mrs. Otto Dorrer, 34, at home on July 4 of an attack of rheumatism that seized her in March, proving fatal.

Edw. E. Dwyer of Lake Mahopac stopped off to call on Callicoon friends Wednesday. He organized the vocational agriculture department in the Callicoon High School and for three years was its instructor.

90 Years Ago - 1931

A meeting of the Callicoon Co-Operative Dairy Association was held at Kenney’s Hall here Tuesday evening to decide whether or not the plant should be sold to the Dairymen’s League Co-operative Association. It will be sold if the vote taken at the meeting is followed.

Jasper Brown, his wife who is ill, and several children barely escaped with their lives early Monday when fire destroyed their home at Deckertown. All managed to reach safety but lost all of their personal belongings.

Otto Hillig, the flying photographer of Liberty, and his pilot, Holger Hoiriis, are expected back in Liberty July 15. Residents, headed by Ernest Hoose, are making elaborate plans for a welcome.

Barbara Marie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Meyer of Fremont Center, became the bride of Frank Degenhardt of New York City at a ceremony held June 2 at St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg.

At B.E. Dycker Co., July 9 to July 16 — Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup, 2 for 17¢; College Inn Deviled Ham, 14¢; Pink Salmon, 2 tins for 25¢; Lux Toilet Soap, 3 for 21¢.

A large barn on the farm of Frank Graby between Hortonville and Hankins burned to the ground Friday evening. It is thought that the fire started spontaneously from green or wet hay.

The schedule of 1931 reunions of the Tyler Kinderd of America has just been received. The notice says that Thursday, July 30, with headquarters at the M.E. Church in Damascus, a dinner will be served promptly at 12:30. All cousins are asked to register. Mrs. Florence A. White of Damascus, PA., has information and is the Wayne County Secretary for the group. F. Webster Tyler of Binghamton is the National Secretary.

80 Years Ago - 1941

Carl H. Bischoff of Hook and Ladder 8 in New York, who lost his life Saturday when he was trapped in a fire at 200 Broadway which injured 31 others and is said to have caused one other fatality, was a native of Cochecton Center. Mr. Bischoff was killed when a floor gave way. He was buried in Brooklyn with a deputy chief’s rites.

Released from the Callicoon Hospital this week were Mrs. Anthony Schumacher and infant daughter of Callicoon and Mrs. Carl Heidt and infant son of Jeffersonville.

On Sunday morning, Carl Stecker tried to break the barrier and get through to the creamery with his milk and on Maple Avenue was held up and the milk was poured down the street. In front of the Peterson blacksmith shop, he was again halted by men and more of the milk was thrown away. After the Jeffersonville creamery had been closed, pickets, composed of farmers, truck drivers, city vacationists, and others gave their full attention to the Callicoon plant of the Dairymen’s League Tuesday morning. Some milk was dumped near the Esso gas station and some on the bridge over the Callicoon Creek. Fred Knack III, about 20 years of age, is a patient in the Callicoon Hospital suffering from a fracture at the base of the skull. He had boarded the delivery truck of William Wilke and had torn the ignition wires from the distributor head. He fell on the hard pavement and other pickets nearby realized immediately that he had been hurt seriously. He was rushed to the hospital and treated by Dr. George R. Mills who described his condition as serious. On Tuesday about 95 cans of milk were either dumped or withheld from the local League plant. There has been no disturbance at the Honesdale plant.

Agnes Knipping of Brooklyn and Kenoza Lake and Albert J. Sand of North Branch announced their engagement last week. The wedding will take place this fall.

70 Years Ago - 1951

Contract was signed earlier this week for the purchase of the Callicoon Bowling Alleys by Frank Schweinfest and Robert W. Doetsch, both of Callicoon. Franklyn Trinkner, present owner, says possession will be transferred on September 1.

Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Wood of Roscoe have announced the engagement of their daughter, Ruth, to Otto Green Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto K. Green, also of Roscoe.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Schehl of Abrahamsville celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary  on July 6. Mrs. Gordon Chilson  is a daughter and came with her husband from San Francisco to help celebrate the occasion.

About 50 voters present at the annual meeting of the Delaware Valley Central School District were told on Tuesday evening that an additional $100,000 was necessary to complete the new school building, to furnish it and grade and pave the grounds.

Frank Mitchell of Conklin Hill, PA., lost 7,500 chicks and 1,500 laying hens by fire Thursday night, July 5, when a four-story chicken house and a two-story coop were consumed. Origin of the fire is undetermined.

Edward J. Franzer and Sarah Leah Wilson repeated their marital vows for the third time in a lifetime on July 4 at St. Lucy’s Church, Cochecton, at a special Mass celebrated by the pastor, Fr. Anselm Hardy, thus commemorating their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Miss Evelyn Irmscher became the bride of Ensign Gary Weiss last Sunday at the Callicoon Methodist Church with the Rev. Melvin Byrd officiating.

Rita and Leo Rosenberger have opened a new store in Hortonville in a building recently constructed. The building also houses a garage and a fine apartment.

60 Years Ago - 1961

Concrete was poured two weeks ago and early last week into the forms for the first of the piers of the Delaware River Bridge. Binghamton Bridge and Foundation Co., Inc., of Endicott has the contract for the work.

George Abraham, whose Green Thumb garden column appears in the Sullivan County Democrat, has been named America’s most outstanding Horticultural Newspaper writer for 1960 by a panel of newspaper judges and horticultural scientists in Washington, D.C.

The Delaware Valley model railroad in Narrowsburg will be open during the months of July and August on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Forty-seven relatives attended the second reunion of the Martin Jensen family, held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Moran on June 18.

Attorney Jacob Epstein and Realtor Alfred E. Adler are still in business after the Adler Building burned in Jeffersonville. A fire there last week almost ruined the building but emergency repairs have been made and the offices on the ground floor are in use.

Delaware County’s only fair will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year August 14-19 in Walton. Founded in 1886, the Walton Fair, now known as the Delaware County Fair, has had a continuous existence.

Ford Brown of Bethel has completed construction of a 34x50 foot barn on the old Donaldson place at Bethel. Area firemen held a dance in the barn July 1st with 2000 attending. The former barn on the farm burned this past spring.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ernis Keesler of Bethel, a son on July 1.

Callicoon firemen were called to the Vernon Welsh farm at Tyler Hill early Friday morning. A storage barn on the property was burned to the ground when firemen arrived.

Rush C. Ross died July 4, 1961, in South River, N.J. He was born in Callicoon, the son of the late Joseph and Amelia Ross.

Miss Marion Milk has been appointed to the position of Children’s Consultant for the Ramapo Catskill Library System. She has just completed a year as elementary librarian in the Monticello Central School System.

50 years ago - 1971

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hecker were guests of honor at a Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration at the home of their son, George, and family.

Sullivan County Community College has received notification that the Statler Foundation of Buffalo will contribute $386,000 to equip the kitchens and laboratories of the Hotel Technology Department at the college campus in Loch Sheldrake.

Linda Gabriel, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Gabriel of White Lake will reign over the forthcoming White Lake-Kauneonga Lake Carnival August 7-8. She was chosen from 11 contestants.

Recently married in Bangkok, Thailand, were Boonpan Inthong and Wayne K. Bihler. Mr. Bihler is with the Air Force stationed in Bangkok and plans to make the service a career.

Mike Kreindler, 18, was awarded a $100 bond at the Sullivan County Sportsmen’s Show.

40 Years Ago - 1981

Bruce Wells, 60, a reporter and columnist for the Sullivan County Democrat, died July 9. He was at one time news editor for station WVOS radio... Alex Budoff, the eldest of a trio of brothers who made a name for themselves in the furniture business world with a Sullivan County business they started in 1938, died July 7, after a short illness. He was 68 years of age.

Sammy Davis Jr. was in the county over the Fourth while entertaining at the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake.

Jayne Meddaugh, representing Kauneonga Lake Fire Department, was named queen of the 79th annual Narrowsburg Fourth of July Celebration last Saturday. Nardina Toscano of Lake Huntington was runner-up.

George H. Snyder, a member of Delaware Lodge No. 561, F.&A.M., Callicoon, was installed district deputy at the recent ceremonies held in Utica. Samuel Raiten of Monticello was installed State Grand Sword Bearer.

Joan McGowan, daughter of Everett and Ruth McGowan, ice skating pros at the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg, has recently been on tour with “Holiday on Ice” in South America. Her picture recently appeared on the cover page of the Argentinian version of “Parade” announcing the second generation McGowan Star. Her parents were with the original Ice Follies in 1936 and then with Holiday on Ice and Ice Capades.

Nancy Ryan of Farmingdale, L.I., and Randolph Noetzel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Noetzel of Youngsville, were married May 30 in Farmingdale…Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paciga of Callicoon announced the engagement of their daughter, JoAnn, to Charles C. Bechle of Franklin Lakes, N.J. A 1982 wedding is planned.

More than 200 years of religious service was represented when the family of Father Anthony Moore, pastor of Holy Cross  Roman Catholic Church, gathered for a family reunion. Father Anthony has five siblings who are also members of religious orders: Father Robert Moore, a priest for 35 years in the Brooklyn Diocese; Father Donald Moore, S.J., has been a Jesuit for 31 years and a priest for 21 years. He is a professor of theology at Fordham University. Sister Mary Kenneth of the Dominican Order celebrated 45 years as a nun and is currently religious education coordinator in Palinville, Conn. Sister Blanche Marie, O.S.U., is with the Mt. St. Ursula Academy in the Bronx, and is 40 years professed. Sister Felicia Moore, R.G.S., is a residential coordinator at the Madonna Heights Residential School in Huntington, L.I., and just celebrated her 35th year in religion.

30 Years Ago - 1991

The new 160-bed Sullivan Adult Care Center in Liberty got what might be called “a clean bill of health” from Albany Monday. A letter last month from the regional office of NYS Public Health Department had listed several corrections that needed to be made before the last 50 patients could be admitted. They were complied with and the facility is now operating at full capacity.

The Monticello Village Board gave approval Monday night for a private agency to construct an immediate care facility for the developmentally disabled in the village. Middletown-based Crystal Run plans to build a 4,000-square-foot single-story ranch home to house 12 aging, mentally retarded residents which will be located on a 1.6 acre parcel on Varnell Road off of West Broadway near 17B.

Dawn Christine Rothberg, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Paul Rothberg of Hankins, and Stephen Stenros, son of Rose Stenros of Callicoon and William Stenros of Montana, were united in marriage on June 8 at the Hankins Assembly of God Church. After a wedding trip to Jamaica, they will live in Bethel.

The Narrowsburg Firemen’s 4th of July celebration brought 90 units to the parade with an estimated crowd of 8,000 to enjoy the festivities. The barbecue of 1200 pieces of chicken was chaired by Charlie Weiland with a bevy of volunteers to man the grills... Fourth of July parades and celebrations were also held in Roscoe and Fallsburg.

Will Cagle, general manager of the Orange County Speedway, won the 1991 Ford in a drawing at the Monticello Raceway on June 30.

Jeff Richardson of Salisbury Mills has been unbeatable in the Street Stock Division of Sullivan County Speedway this season. He had won eight out of ten feature events and finished second in the other two coming into Saturday night’s special “Fourth of July Sparkler” 35 lap feature event when he won his ninth of the season and seventh in a row.

 

20 Years Ago - 2001

With over 35 entries from all corners of Sullivan County (and from several states beyond New York), the recently completed “Name That Center!” contest by the Sullivan County Democrat was quite successful. We will be forwarding the list to the Gerry Foundation for their review. It is their choice to accept or reject any or all of the suggestions, since the contest was not initiated, sponsored or condoned by them. It’s our hope they will choose one of the names put forth by county residents, as they are all interesting.

Narrowsburg artist Greg Wood created a stone sign for the county’s museum in Hurleyville. The sign was made possible through a Sullivan Renaissance grant and the dedicated work of several local residents.

Earlier this year, Sullivan County agreed to join the pool to immediately receive a portion of the gigantic tobacco settlement monies. Last week the Sullivan County Legislature’s Financial Management Committee discussed how to handle the estimated $13 million coming the county’s way. It is mandated that a minimum of 60 percent be used for debt reduction, and the rest can only go toward capital projects.

In a small but intimate ceremony on June 13, past and present Cooke Elementary School teachers and employees gathered to dedicate a plaque and picture to one of the Monticello school’s most well-liked principals, Vincent M. Lake. Lake, who died in 1981, served at the school from 1959-1976.

The Kountry Kickers line-dancing group performed at the Sullivan County Area Farmers Market in Callicoon Sunday afternoon.

Thousands visited Main Street in Livingston Manor for the annual Strawberry Festival at Water Wheel Junction June 30. This year’s festival marked the 13th year for the effort.

10 Years Ago - 2011

The New York State Board of Elections has told its county counterparts to look into consolidating polling places, and the Sullivan County Board of Elections is giving it some thought. “They only suggested it - for monetary reasons,” county Commissioner Faith Kaplan said. The deepening governmental fiscal crisis and the increased costs of handling the new electronic ballot machines have led the state and its 62 counties to seriously evaluate expenses.

A 150-pound jet black pig, sporting 5-inch tusks, held law enforcement at bay for nearly half an hour before a brave captor made a daring tackle inside the fenced in yard of the Wootan residence on Mill St. in Callicoon. Nicknamed “Patty Pig”, the pig of unknown origin, made herself comfortable at Joanne Gerow’s barn in Swan Lake after its capture.

The Monticello Rotary Club recently held a three-day weekend Rotary Interact International Student Exchange Program. This annual event featured a special evening at The Museum at Bethel Woods followed by dinner at Benji and Jake’s in Kauneonga Lake.

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