130 Years Ago - 1896

The lands and property of the Monticello Rod and Gun Club, comprising about 300 acres of land situated in the Towns of Thompson and Forestburgh, was sold at a foreclosure sale July 22 to Henry A. Rogers of New York for the sum of $6. Mr. Rogers intends to improve the property and may soon organize a new club.

Mrs. John Barwig died of a stomach tumor at Fosterdale at the age of 60 last Tuesday and will be buried at Kenoza Lake today.

Bill Faubel left Saturday for Scranton where he will make his home. Billy leaves many friends here who regret his departure. His sister, Betty, will remain here to assist Mrs. H. Wagner through the boarding season and will then also go to Scranton.

Rain about every day.

The picnics begin next week. Get your loose change around.

Charles Ranft has tapped the water company’s main and now has that great convenience in his place. Fred Bietz also is using the water.

120 Years Ago - 1906

After many weeks of heated discussion as to the building of a new schoolhouse at Roscoe or repairing the old one, a meeting was held on July 13. The proposition was defeated by 18 votes, but the proposition to repair the old one was carried by 20.

The Circle Orchestra of New York, stopping at A. Heidt’s, Kenoza Lake, held one of their summer dances at Eagle Hall Monday night, which was attended by a large crowd who enjoyed the good music the Circle makes.

The Sullivan  County Record is in receipt of a subscription from Mrs. F.E. King of Honolulu, Hawaii. Mrs. King was the former Miss Julia Vollerson, daughter of the late  James Vollerson of Youngsville. She was for some years a trained nurse in California, but since her marriage and for the past seven years has resided in Honolulu.

Fair and festival at Union Chapel Wednesday and Thursday, August 1 and 2, afternoon and evening. Lots of useful articles for sale.

A special school meeting was held at the Mansion House Thursday evening to vote on a proposition to raise $200 or as much as may have been necessary to remodel and repair the school building. The meeting was held in a public hall for the reason that the last special meeting was so disorderly that the seats in the schoolhouse were damaged. The opposition was in control of the meeting. After much wrangling the proposition was defeated 25 to 20 and the meeting was adjourned.

110 Years Ago - 1916

White Sulphur Springs is destined to rival the famous bath resorts of Germany. New York physicians have found mud deposits having valuable medicinal qualities and have advised that the health resort be built up in  German fashion. The analysis and advice was given by Dr. Felix Von Oefele of the Von Oefele Laboratories. He is an authority on mineral springs and has data on more than 1500 American springs. He recommends that the springs be built up as a center around which to build a concert hall, rest rooms, parks and surrounding walks through the mud deposits. He believes in community development rather than private enterprise.

A case of infantile paralysis developed at Lake Huntington where a 2 1/2  year old girl from Brooklyn, staying at the boarding house of Henry Nordhausen, was found to have the disease. The child was taken by car to a city hospital. A quarantine has been placed at Lake  Huntington and the situation will be carefully watched.

Bids for the erection of a new schoolhouse in Jeffersonville were opened by the Board of Education last Thursday night. There were two bidders – L.J. Dietrich of this place, whose bid was $10,800 and John Lowe of Hortonville who bid $11,000. The Board is revising the specifications so that the bidders may get down to an acceptable figure. The new building will be about 70 by 90 feet in area. (Ed. Note: How times and prices have changed.)

The weekly cash prizes offered for the highest scores at Schmidt’s bowling alley the past four weeks were won with the following scores: Oscar Eggler, 212;  Ralph P. Bird, 224; Mr. Clausen, 209; Edward Tonissen, 217.

Whose Record are you reading? (Editor’s note: This is a filler used in the Sullivan County Record newspaper. The Democrat purchased the right to continue the Down the Decades column from the Record. Today it might be said, “Whose Democrat are you reading?”)

100 Years Ago - 1926

A daughter, Shirley, was born July 19 to Percy and Katherine Kohler. The proud grandparents are William and Mary Kohler of Jeffersonville and Philip and Nellie Hill of White Sulphur Springs.

During the storm last Thursday, lightning struck the barn of Louis Huter, formerly of the Peter Dorrer place, near North Branch, and the building and its contents were burned. They were insured by the Callicoon Mutual for about $1200. During the same storm, the barn of Peter C. Menges near Youngsville was struck and burned with its contents. The adjusters of the Callicoon Mutual have allowed insurance in the amount of $800. At North Branch, a cow belonging to Henry Wingert was killed in the field by a bolt of the firey fluid.

Fred W. Stabbert, manager of the Callicoon Democrat, one day last week left his car parked in front of his place of business with the key in the switch. The car disappeared and he at first thought some friend  had played a joke on him. Two days later the car was found abandoned at Sparrow Bush, suburb of Port Jervis, and Mr. Stabbert recovered it.

Louis Schutt of Middletown, formerly of North Branch, sustained a broken collarbone and dislocated elbow last Sunday afternoon when the car he was driving collided with two of Ed Schultz’s buses in front of the  Henry Gabel Jr. farm on the Callicoon Road.

One of the most daring robberies ever committed in the locality was carried out last Thursday when a thief or thieves came with an automobile truck and carried away three calves belonging to William Freidenstein near Fremont Center and four veal calves and a yearling belonging to the Misses Katherine and Elizabeth May near Mileses.

The village board has awarded the contract for the improvement of the village water system to W.J. Grishaber & Son, plumbers of Jeffersonville, for the sum of $24,800 which was the only bid for the entire job, and the lowest anyway it was figured. 7,000 feet of 8-inch pipe will replace the 4-inch main and alterations will be made at the dam.

90 Years Ago - 1936

Robert Robisch of Callicoon had the first two fingers of his right hand crushed one day last week when the hand was drawn between the gears of an Erie Railroad “mole” working a couple of miles west of Callicoon.

Father Harold Blake, pastor of St. George’s Church, left on Tuesday to attend a Franciscan educational conference at Santa Barbara, Calif., and will be gone for the rest of the summer. The church will be supplied by Rev. Father Canisius Conner of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Callicoon.

Mrs. Martha Quick, drawing old age pension and who has been under the care of Mrs. Ella P. Schmidt in Jeffersonville since last October 1st, celebrated her 99th birthday anniversary on Sunday, July 19.

Letters from William VonBerg Jr. show that he and Phil Markowsky and Floyd Bernhardt are enjoying life at the citizen’s military training camp at Plattsburgh, where they have enlisted for a month.

Champion James J. Braddock and his wife attended the Catholic Bazaar at Kenoza Falls Lodge last Monday night and were introduced to the crowd by Father Harold. Mr. Braddock is in training at Loch Sheldrake.

High school graduates never know what commencement really is until they commence to look for a job.

Repairs at the Lake Jefferson dam were completed Saturday night and the lake is now filling slowly with water. It is expected it will take about two weeks to fill, unless a heavy rain comes soon.

A small boy is a young person who shouldn’t do the things that his father did at that age.

80 Years Ago - 1946

The Democratic County Committee at Monticello on Tuesday named Adam Bernhardt, 37-year-old veteran of Jeffersonville, for county treasurer in place of John Loucks of Livingston Manor, veterans of two world wars, who declined the designation.

One day recently while fishing the Neversink River near Curry, Jack Schadt of Jeff landed a 3 1/2 pound brown trout. The fish measured 22 inches long and was caught on a fly.

A daughter, Nancy Leila, weighing 7 lbs. 3 1/2 oz. was born to Mr. and Mrs. August Lott (Leila Wahl) of Jeffersonville at the Callicoon Hospital at 5 p.m. July 24. The Lotts now have two little girls and a boy.

The Krongels are negotiating for the purchase of the three story Shapiro  Building on Main  Street from the William Kohler estate, used the past few years only for storing building materials.

This country may reach the point not too far distant when there will be two families in every garage.

Next Sunday afternoon the North Branch Fire Department will hold their annual field day.

The first open air concert of the local Callicoon Center Band at Tumble Inn entertained a large audience Monday evening, despite the rain, Harry Schuler, treasurer of the band, made a vocal spiel on behalf of the organization and about $20 was collected toward summer uniforms.

70 Years Ago - 1956

In the Sullivan County News on Radio Station WVOS Phil Singer read a statement about Harold Cole, Republican County Chairman, taking the Record and the Sullivan County Democrat to task for their criticism in recent weeks of “Bucky” Mintz and the Republican party “team” in Sullivan County. The two newspapers were criticized for never having grown up “beyond the wilderness horse and buggy days.”

Max Yasgur has added seventy-five Guernseys to his herd of 100 cows for producing milk at Yasgur Farms in Bethel. As the only farm in Sullivan County selling only milk produced on his own farm, Mr. Yasgur has been steadily building up his highly productive herd on the 700 acre farm he operates.

The severe lightning storm last Monday morning killed seven cows belonging to Albert E. Thony, and injured two others. The storm did considerable damage in the area.

Death came this week to Clara Hornung Schmidt of Livingston Manor, at the age of 71, of a heart attack, at Liberty-Loomis Hospital; Francis Hemmer, 65, of Callicoon RD, at the Callicoon  Hospital; Peter C. Doscher, 71, of Mileses, died at Callicoon Hospital of a cerebral thrombosis.

The VFW will sponsor a Donkey Ball Game at the Lions Field in Jeff next Friday night.

Mrs. Louis Young announced the engagement of her daughter, Marjory Ann, to Joseph Robert Erlwein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Erlwein of Callicoon Center.

Don’t forget the mid-Summer Mardi Gras at the Jeff Firehouse next Tuesday evening.

A reunion of the Shaara family was held last Sunday at Paramus, N.J.

Playing at the Maple Theatre – Bob Hope, Eva Marie Saint and Pearl Bailey in “That Certain Feeling.”

60 Years Ago - 1966

The expansion plans of the United National Bank, Callicoon, are at last bearing fruit, with construction beginning this week on the site near the Delaware River bridge. The new structure will be ready for December occupancy (it is reported). General contractor will be the Albert E. VanKeuren Construction Co. of Narrowsburg with Harold E. Deighton of Callicoon serving as Clerk of the Works.

Mrs. Helen Fisk, 47, of Hortonville, co-owner of the Village Inn, famous eating place of this area, passed away on Saturday, July 16. She was a daughter of Charles and Katherine Kutcher Fisher and was married to Ralph Fisk.

Miss Candy Baker, who was named Beauty Queen of the Narrowsburg Firemen’s Field Day, will be sponsored by the Lake Huntington Fire Department for the Miss Sullivan County Beauty contest next month.

Rev. Newton B. Ford accompanied Keith Backlund, Kathy Stabbert, Keith  Cron, Richard Bjorklund and Nadine Ford, members of the local Methodist Youth Fellowship when they delivered 30 health kits which they had made and filled to the Rev. Vernie Lee Boldin of Highland. Rev. Boldin serves as a chaplain to migrant workers in the Hudson Valley.

Obituaries were recorded this week for Frances Doetsch, 90, formerly of Hortonville, who passed away July 15; John Coll, 46, of Buck Brook, who passed away July 18; Charles Heib, 79, of Lake Huntington, July 15th.

Devil Douglas, a Shetland Sheepdog, won his Champion Dog title in three consecutive shows. He is owned and trained by Mrs. Katherine Curtis of Callicoon.

50 Years Ago - 1976

An old-time play, “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” will be presented at Harmonie Hall in the Western Hotel, Callicoon, Saturday night, July 24, by the Narrowsburg Theatre Group.

Dick Shulman and sons, Jay and Ron of Cochecton, brought home two unusually large flukes, 15 pounds and 7 1/2 pounds, which were taken off Connecticut. They brought in a total of 28 “doormats” altogether.

Medicare was 10 years old on July 1, 1976, according to Thomas J. Morris, Social Security Manager in Monticello.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Welch of Livingston Manor are proud to announce the birth of a son, Alonzo Lee, born July 13. Mrs. Edith Tyler and Mrs. Florence Welch, both of Livingston Manor, are the proud grandmothers.

Also it was a boy for Mr. and Mrs. James Krupp on July 13 at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore D. Felter and Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Krupp are the happy grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Felter Sr. of Deckertown are the happy great-grandparents.

Mrs. Shirley Diamond has been named president of the Board of Education at Liberty, to succeed Mrs. Elaine Etess, who retired.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Fuller (nee Kathy McCoach) of Camillus are the proud parents of a son born July 10.

40 Years Ago - 1986

The Delaware Valley Knights of Columbus Council #4478 recently honored Betty and Tony Argiros of Long Eddy for their dedication to the future of youth. After a Mass, the couple were praised with a special plaque.

Engaged: Louise Krause of Hawley, Pa., and Richard Hillriegel of Beach Lake, Pa; Ann Marie Szabo of Lake Huntington and Jay Nober of Milford, Pa. A September 13, 1986 wedding is planned.

30 Years Ago - 1996

Nearly 100 people attended the ribbon cutting and dedication of Wurtsboro’s new post office.

Village of Liberty police officer Scott Kinne has a new partner – Blesk is his name, and he’s a dog. A German shepherd to be exact.

Sullivan County Community College faces a significant decrease in students and the loss of its Japanese-based Toyama program as it moves into a new academic year with a proposed $12,265,094 budget.

The Summer Youth Employment Program is putting 124 youths ages 14-21 to work this summer for 11 different government and non-profit agencies.

The legendary folk musician Pete Seeger will hold center stage at the upcoming family folk concert benefit, “An Afternoon of Music: The Music of Malvina Reynolds,” co-sponsored by WJFF Radio Catskill and Sullivan Performing Arts July 28 at the Seelig Theater, Sullivan County Community College, Loch Sheldrake.

Ashley Adams, age 12, of Equinunk, Pa., and Karen D. Zurawski, a former Liberty resident, now living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, have just had original poetry published in “Spirit in the Age” and “The Voice Within” respectively, a treasury of today’s poetry compiled by The National Library of Poetry.

A daughter, Rachel Sue Mallett, was born at the Wayne County Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. to Jacquelynn and Bradley Mallett Jr. of Jeffersonville on June 24. 

The engagement of Julie Lynn Barnes to Jeffrey James Lattimer, son of James K. and Cheryl Lattimer of Middletown, has been announced by the future bride’s parents, Nancy Toia of Huguenot and John S. Barnes of Cuddebackville. They plan a June 1997 wedding.  

The Sullivan County American Legion baseball team has now won ten straight games, running its record to 10-2.

20 Years Ago - 2006

The streets of Narrowsburg were all going to the dogs with the second annual River Dog Parade Saturday. All of the participants received a free doggie bag.

Kutsher’s Sports Academy continued its long tradition of bringing in star athletes for sessions with campers recently when Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard Smush Parker and New York Mets pitcher Jose Lima visited the facility. On the same day, both Parker and Lima stopped by for drills, answered questions, gave some lessons, and took pictures and signed autographs.

The flood of June 28 left much of the Roscoe Central School’s athletic facilities in rough shape. The pool was already closed down because of damage sustained during the April 2005 flood, and flood insurance is not going to cover all the damage that was done to the pool and athletic fields.

Sean Semenetz of Jeffersonville set a new course record at the Villa Roma Country Club, when he fired a 7-under par 64 on Saturday afternoon. He was playing with Villa Roma Golf Pro Matt Kleiner and top amateur Ken Cohen. The round included eight birdies and one bogey and eclipsed the old course record by a single stroke.

10 Years Ago - 2016

How can locals position themselves to land one of 1,400 jobs estimated to be available when the Montreign Resort Casino opens in March 2018? That’s where SUNY Sullivan comes in, with a range of degree and certificate programs, some specifically geared toward preparing a workforce that will have to deliver five-star services. Professor Diane Riegal noted a pilot program of the coming Catskills Hospitality Institute will begin in August offering courses on hospitality, guest services, appearance/etiquette and more.

The Monticello High School Boys’ Basketball Summer League concluded on Wednesday evening crowning their first champions, as Ellenville defeated Liberty 41-28 in the championship held in the Monticello High School gym. Ellenville earned a trip to the title game by defeating Fallsburg 40-28.