110 Years Ago - 1911

Last Thursday a special meeting was held at the Callicoon firehouse  for the purpose of voting on the proposition as to whether or not the district would pay the Callicoon Water Co. $500 per year for the use of the twenty-four hydrants. Twenty votes were cast – eight in favor of the  proposition and 12 against. When the result was made known about town it caused considerable consternation among the businessmen, most of whom had not bothered to vote because they thought it would be carried by a large majority. Both sides are deadlocked just at present, the Water Co. claiming that it cannot afford any longer to sell water to the district for fire protection at a rate of $150, and some of the taxpayers claiming that $500 is too much. It seems that the only other solution is for the district to borrow the money and purchase the plant at the Water Co.

The firm of Merold & Zimmerman who have conducted the Western House Livery for the past year in Callicoon, has dissolved partnership.

Adam Neumann and wife of Youngsville have moved to the Daniel Meyer house on the hill, which, with twenty acres of land, they have leased of the owner, Henry Schaefer. Mr. Neumann has also leased and opened the Schaefer saloon at the four corners. — Record.

According to press dispatches a Mr. Rainre of Los Angeles has recently ascended Mt. McKinley and found the box containing the records left there by Dr. Cook. He did not bring the tube with him but waited to secure permission from Dr. Cook. He said the papers were in a decayed condition, but still legible.

On last Tuesday, the village of Equinunk was thrown into a state of excitement over a report that Silas Lord had been killed in a fight with Samuel Reed. This serious affair is said to be the result of another attempt on the part of Mrs. Leona Lord to construct a sewer of which she claims is on the line between her lot and the adjoining property of Silas. Reed is a watchmaker who has resided in Equinunk a number of years. His house and shop adjoin the Bleck Hotel. It seems that during the fight, Mr. Reed picked up a hoe and struck Mr. Silas several times on the back of the head. Silas Lord did die Friday night from the injuries received on Tuesday in his fight with Samuel Reed.

William B. McMillen of Monticello has received notice from the Cemetery Commission of the Grand Army of the Republic that in October a monument will be unveiled at Lookout Mountain in honor of the troops who participated in the memorable battle. As the battle occurred on October 29, 1863, the monument will probably be unveiled on the anniversary of the battle. Transportation free will be furnished to 600 of the New York participants of the battle and will include the 143rd Regiment of this county; the members of which were in the thickest of the fight. — Watchman.

Supervisor Curtis has made arrangements with Sheriff Winner, whereby Callicoon will come into possession of one of the cells now being used in the temporary jail at Monticello. As soon as the new county jail is ready for occupancy the cell can be obtained.

On Thursday morning, between two and three o’clock, the large barn on the farm occupied by Fred Schaeffer, at Beechwoods, was totally destroyed by fire.

The post office at Abrahamsville has been discontinued, there being no one in that little village who cared to bother with the office. It went into effect on July I.

100 Years Ago - 1921

Huckleberries are ripe and plentiful. — Bethel Corresp.

Fred Stoesser, who fell from a hay wagon a short time ago and broke several ribs, is recovering nicely. — Acidalia Corresp.

Wednesday evening a “Signal” moving van loaded with the household goods of Mrs. Elizabeth Frazier of Brooklyn, was totally burned just beyond George Feigenbutz’s on the Obernburg road. The Fraziers purchased a small farm of C.A. Schmeidell at the Basket a couple of weeks ago and were moving on to it. A van also loaded with furniture, was burned on the Bethel highway last week.

The Commissioner of Agriculture has announced that the largest single cheese ever manufactured will be made at Lowville for exhibition at the New York State Fair at Syracuse September 12-17. It will weigh 12 tons and will require 150,000 pounds of milk — the milk from 7,500 cows for one day — for its manufacture.

Next Sunday the Hortonville Rifle Club will hold a shoot-off for the several marksmen who at the prize shoot July 4 tied at 20. The firing will commence at 1:30 p.m. sharp.

Without masks but each armed with a Colt automatic revolver, five highway robbers a few minutes after midnight Sunday night drove up to the entrance of the Ideal House at Kiamesha Lake, near Monticello, entered the dining room with a hundred guests, corralled all and relieved them of money and jewels valued at nearly $1,000. The holdup, planned and executed in a daring manner, is the boldest in Sullivan County’s criminal record. It is branded as banditry by Sheriff Pelton.

90 Years Ago -1931

Otto Hillig is back. And what a homecoming he was accorded yesterday by the largest crowd that has ever gathered in Liberty. At 4 o’clock a parade headed by the West Point Academy Military Band of 78 pieces and Otto’s “trans-Atlantic grin” wound through the streets of the town. All civic organizations, the fire department and the police department were in line. Two fife and drum corps from Middletown aided the band in providing marching music.

Otto and Holger Hoiriis were feted at a dinner by the Society of Danes of the United States. Monday night the fliers took in the “Little Show” in New York and Otto had his first trip backstage. He was introduced to Beatrice Lillie and Ernest Truex, headliners of the show.

D. Crowley killed a large rattlesnake last Sunday a few steps from his home in Long Eddy. The snake measured over 40 inches in length and had 11 rattles and a button.

Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt has planned to visit Sullivan County August 28. With him will be his wife and Guernsey T. Cross, his secretary. They will visit the boys’ camp near Narrowsburg where the Governor will review the boys. They will go to Middletown where the Governor will inspect the Middletown State Hospital and from there will return to Hyde Park.

The people of Tyler Hill, PA., were suddenly awakened about 11:15 Friday night with the noise and lights from the burning of the large dairy barns owned by Fred Hinaman and purchased from Clarence Fortnam about two months ago. Insurance is said to be about $5,500 with full coverage on the contents. Twenty-five loads of hay had just been stored that day.

Douglas Frank, for five years connected with the Monticello office of the New York Telephone Co., has been transferred to Callicoon as manager of three central offices in that district. Henry Roemer of Callicoon, for 17 years an employee of the company in the Callicoon, Jeffersonville and Lake Huntington offices, has been transferred to Monticello.

Three prominent citizens of Callicoon passed away this week: Charles F. Wizemann on July 18, following a brief illness of pleurisy and heart trouble, at the age of 66. He was born in Beechwoods, the son of Gottlieb Wizemann and Louisa Dreher, the seventh in a family of eight children . . . Valentine Hessinger, 66, died at his home at Callicoon Center on July 19 after a long illness of rheumatism. He was a native to that village where he was engaged in the retail merchandise business and was postmaster there for many years... Walter K. Robisch, 64, died at his home in Hortonville July 21 after an illness of three weeks. He had spent all of his life in the same house in which he was born. He was the son of John and Fredericka Robisch.

Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Freda announce the birth of a baby daughter, Rose Mary, on July 14. Mother and daughter are doing well at their Callicoon home.

A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pollock July 18 in nearby Damascus.

Samples of what is believed to be crude petroleum, found on a Bradley farm owned by John Train, have been submitted to the Cornell Experiment Station by Herman J. Levine of the Ellenville office of the Jewish Agricultural Society. Mr. Levine believes there is a strong possibility that oil has been struck on the farm, which is situated between Liberty and Neversink.

80 Years Ago - 1941

Helen Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bury of Fremont Center, and Laurence Maurer were united in marriage in a beautiful ceremony at the Fremont Center M.E. Church on July 20. Miss Elvira Forsblom and Milton Mauer were honor attendants. After a wedding trip to the west coast, the couple will be at home at the Maurer farm, RD 2, Callicoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Edson Tegeler of Jeffersonville are the parents of a baby boy born July 21, at the Callicoon Hospital. On Tuesday, July 22, it was a baby girl for Mr. and Mrs. Burton Bogert.

Minisink Flats near the scene of the July 22, 1779, Battle of Minisink, will be the scene of the 1941 Route 97 Day on August 13. This is the third annual event sponsored by the Route 97 Council. Henry Schick, manager of the Hotel Minisink in Port Jervis, has application blanks for the several contests of the day. On this day a new Belle of 97 will be selected. She must be 18 years of age and a resident of any of the eight towns participating in the Route 97 Council.

Mrs. W. Vaughan of Long Eddy has received word from her son, Edwin, stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, that he is well and enjoying life there. He says in part, “We are camping on Wainac Beach and have been firing the 77 mm. guns at moving targets out in the ocean. We fired at night using searchlights…I suppose everyone thinks we are going to war but I don’t believe that it will ever happen. We have more planes here than I can count. The sky is always full of them. We have 21 of those big bombers, the Flying Fortresses. I have seen another Hawaiian blackout, and I surely know how the people in England feel when they have an air raid. When the alarm is sounded the lights go out all over “the Rock” in about two minutes.”

Ernest E. Cole, Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, has sustained the appeal of Charles Becker of Fremont Center and set aside the action of the special meeting held on June 6th designating the Reichmann site as a site for a central school for the Delaware Valley Central School District. It is not yet known what action the Board of Education will take.

At a meeting of the trustees and other officials of the Callicoon Methodist Church held Monday evening, it was decided to remodel the parish house or church hall in order to make it more suitable for the needs of the various organizations interested. The completion of this work which has been undertaken involves an expense of more than $1,000.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Brockner of Jeffersonville are the parents of a daughter born at the Callicoon Hospital July 16.

Mrs. Jacob Hoehn of Callicoon Center is known throughout this section as a great lover of horticulture and the many beautiful flowers and plants adorning her home and grounds is a sight well worth seeing. An Angel Wing Begonia, 3 years old, stands 8 feet high and three feet wide and has eight large blossoms. A Trout Begonia, two years old, stands four feet high and about five feet wide. An Amaryllis planted last October bloomed at Easter with two flowers the size of Easter lilies. A hurried count by your reporter number 50 geraniums outside the house, including a poinsettia ger­ani­um with the flower shaped like that of a poinsettia but much smaller.

The C.W. Mausoleum Company of Uniondale, PA., broke ground recently for the mausoleum which they are building on the top of Point Mountain near Hancock. The $175,000 structure is being built of marble, stone and bronze. It has been announced that at an early date sound equipment will be erected near the site and Sunday programs of sacred music will be arranged.

70 Years Ago - 1951

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence R. Milk of Hortonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Phyllis, to Eugene Hahn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Hahn. No date has been set for the wedding.

The Loomis Hospital which had recently been refused a charter to operate as a public hospital will be opened soon as a private hospital. It is owned and will be operated by Dr. Luther Grant of Liberty…Progress in the current subscription campaign to raise $400,000 for the construction of a completely new and modern Maimonides Hospital in Liberty was noted this week, by Isadore L. Benjamin, president of the hospital.

Relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Frazer of Cochecton joined them July 8 in celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Ed is known in several counties, New York and Pennsylvania, as “The Pain King Man.”

Operations on the twenty-six miles of tunnel for the New York City reservoir project in Sullivan County are back after the end of the wildcat strike which had tied up the project for 11 days.

The booming by Democrats at a meeting in Monticello last night of County Judge William Deckelman of Jeffersonville for the Supreme Court Justice’s post at the November election led to considerable speculation here today that there would be no deal between Democrats and Republicans in the Third District. The deal rumored from time to time has been that the Democrats would endorse a Republican for the post (he probably would be Justice Herbert Hamm of Troy) if the Republicans would create a ninth judgeship in the seven county district. Judge Deckelman, a Democrat, would get the appointment.

Katherine Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Baker, Callicoon, became the bride of Donald Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Adams of Hankins, at a July 1 ceremony at the Abrahamsville Meth­odist Church.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a daughter to Mrs. Wm. Eldridge of Eldred on July 16.

The Village of Wurtsboro at last has its new American LaFrance fire truck which was ordered last October and was supposed to be delivered in February. The 500-gallon capacity pumper is mounted on a two-ton Chevrolet chassis. Cost of the truck was $8,900 according to Chief C.P. Stanton.

An eighteen-car Centennial exhibition train — containing displays and equipment of 100 years ago and today — will be put on view by the Erie Railroad in Callicoon August 2 from 9:30 to 10:30 and at Cochecton from 12:15 to 1:15. Open to the public, the Exhibition train will include an actual 1851 locomotive with its baggage car and coach; a museum car, the biggest and latest Army tank on a flat car, a cut-away display diesel locomotive unit; examples of modern passenger and freight equipment and “Daniel Webster” seated on a flat car. A century ago the Erie completed its original line between Piermont and Dunkirk, N.Y., to become the first rail connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. One of the distinguished passengers on the inaugural trip was Daniel Webster, the Secretary of State, who rode in a rocking chair bolted to a flat car because he “wanted to enjoy the beautiful scenery through which the railroad passes.”

60 Years Ago -1961

Joy Ann Neer of Long Eddy and Winfield Proterow of Sidney Center were united in marriage at St. Patrick’s Church in Long Eddy July 15.

The Air Force Commendation Medal was presented to M/Sgt. William T. Ruebman of RD 2, Roscoe, son of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Reubman. Sergeant Ruebman left Japan this month for a new assignment at Andrews AFB in Maryland. He is a thirteen-year-veteran of the Air Force and was cited for the “outstanding manner” in which he “maintained an enviable in-commission rate on aircraft to which he was assigned.”

Ronald and Gladys Eldred of Jeffersonville are the new owners of the Dolly Madison Shoppe in Jeffersonville. They purchased the business from Mrs. Mary E. Seibert.

Art Wall, one of the biggest money winners in golf, will give a demonstration of golf at the Hillside Inn, Narrowsburg, on Friday. His home is in Honesdale, PA.

At the Callicoon Hospital this week it was a daughter, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schuman of Lookout, PA.; a son, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bertsch of Cochecton; a daughter, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Ward Keesler of Equinunk, PA.; a daughter, Wednesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Noetzel of North Branch; and a son, Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond.

The “Four Corners” cemetery located between Lake Huntington and Cochecton, has been cleaned up by Ernest Miller and two helpers. The oldest inscription found on the tombstones was that of Jane Brown, 1782-1827, although there may have been burials there before that time. The next oldest located was Bela E. Brown, 1810-1847. The only veteran’s grave located was that of Joseph Camfield, Co. E 56th Reg. N.Y.V., 1842-1861; and Scipio L. Crosby, veteran of Civil War, 1831-1906. Some of the names on the monuments are Keesler, Acres, Crosby, Strong, Brown, Nearing, Knapp, Levi, Bishop, Bull, Cochran and Camfield.

50 years ago - 1971

July 19 was a red letter day for medicine in the Delaware Valley. Members of the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps and the Damascus Ambulance Corps assisted in transferring the patients from the Callicoon Hospital to the new Grover M. Hermann Division of the Sullivan County Community Hospital, two miles south of the village on Route 97.

Willis Reed, captain of the New York Knickerbockers basketball team, will personally present the trophies at the 4th annual Upper Delaware Canoe Regatta on July 25.

J. Bruce Lindsley, 90, of White Sulphur Springs, died July 16, after a long illness. He was well known in Sullivan County and had served as County Clerk at one time. He was a member of the Sullivan County Republican Committee over 55 years. Mr. Lindsley was an auctioneer and had been known for his playing and calling of square dances.

Wedding bells rang for Wendy Ann Krongel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Krongel, Jeffersonville, and Steven Grossman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Grossman of South Fallsburg, at the Jeffersonville synagogue June 27.

At the Liberty-Loomis Hospital, it was a girl, Ann Marie, to Mr. and Mrs. John Kirchner of Liberty, July 9… a boy, Gordon Case, to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Le Roy of Liberty, July 10... a girl, Tammy Lynn, to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Steffens of North Branch... a girl, July 13, Karen Ann, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bendle of Jeffersonville; a boy the same day to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Egner of Jeffersonville.

Miss Ann Pierce of Lake Huntington was chosen queen of the Lake Huntington-Cochecton Firemen’s Field Day.

Miss Linda Doyle of Long Eddy became the bride of Craig English of Salinas, Calif., on June 26, at Holy Cross Church, Callicoon.

Keith Warfield accepted delivery of the new $26,000 fire truck for the Equinunk Volunteer Fire Department.

40 Years Ago - 1981

United National Bank President Vince Zanetti announced the Grand Opening celebration for the Liberty office will officially begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, July 17, on Route 52, Jamesway-ShopRite Mall.

The Liberty Town Board will go ahead with its plans to construct a new sewer system for Briscoe Road and repair the existing lines in Swan Lake. The new district will cost $185 for the average homeowner. The other 87 percent of the money will come from the state and federal funds.

30 Years Ago - 1991

About 80 Conrail workers from different parts of New York State are replacing a total of 34,000 ties along 38 miles of track between Lordville and Narrowsburg. They are being housed in trailers on the sidetrack at Callicoon.

Ralph and Robert Sykes will host the “Down on the Farm Day” on Saturday, August 3. The tour will include a demonstration on the milking of cows, educational and informational exhibits on display of equipment and machinery and light refreshments, served by the Sullivan County Dairy Princess and her court. Also featured in the special section of the Sullivan County Democrat was an article on the Brey Egg Farm where it took more than $40,000 to clean up the debris from a fire last March. The Breys are putting up a new building. At one time, there were 300 egg farms in Sullivan County. Today there are only two. Brey’s Eggs will be using 150 tons of feed per week later this year when they resume full production.

Billie Jo Sedlacek has been chosen to reign as queen of the Livingston Manor Fire Department 100th Anniversary scheduled for July 25-28. The 73rd annual Sullivan County Firemen’s Association will hold their parade in Livingston Manor on Saturday to help in the celebration.

20 Years Ago - 2001

The Village of Woodridge celebrated its 90th anniversary over the weekend. In addition to the festivities, a special service plaque was presented to Harold Kronenberg, who is currently the Sullivan County Fire Coordina­tor, for his 50 years of dedicated service to the Woodridge Fire Department.

According to Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Jon Gonder, current enrollment at Sullivan County Community College is down 17 percent from last year at this time. The target enrollment for the year is 1,110 and the fall semester is starting in about six weeks.

The Ontario Hose Co. #3 of Liberty is celebrating its centennial this year. The first official meeting of the fire company was held January 15, 1901 for the purpose of electing officers: Temporary Secretary M. Schaefer, temporary Chairman F. Monroe, President W. Randall, Vice President F. Monroe, Secretary H.E. Smith, Treasurer M. Schaefer.

In the Catskill Junior Tour’s Fallsview Junior Tournament held at the Nevele Grande Resort July 9, David McDonald of Grahamsville took the boys 9-11 division by winning the first hole of a three-way playoff, while Margaret Norden of Callicoon edged out Meghan Kelley by one stroke to take the girls 15-17 division.

Darin Day of White Sulphur Springs caught a 25-inch, 2 1/2 lb. brown trout while fishing on the Pepacton Reservoir in Downsville.

10 Years Ago - 2011

Around 230 proud graduates were thunderously cheered by their even prouder families during Saturday’s commencement at Sullivan County Community College.

Roy Howard and Jeryl Abramson’s attorney filed court paper contesting the Town of Bethel’s demand of $25,000 from the couple for allegedly violating a consent order banning even the advertising of events on their land. Kingston attorney Russell Schindler said he filed an affidavit from Howard testifying that “any planning that was done was incidental to the camping permits.” The couple had garnered five camping permits from the township earlier this month, allowing them to host up to 25 campsites on their land.

At its May meeting the Town of Highland Town Board heard about a pending gift of a piece of steel from the World Trade Center, Artifact #i0069i, to the town from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Supervisor Andrew Boyar had requested the artifact for the town, noting the “many lives here that have been affected by this…many people would like to memorialize friends, relatives, and loved ones properly.” A “WTC Task Force” was established to make recommendations to the board concerning the site, design, funding and maintenence for an appropriate memorial of the artifact.