130 Years Ago - 1895

A trout, said to weigh between eight and ten pounds, was taken from Palen’s Pond last week. It was transferred to the state hatchery.

John Knead of Roscoe stopped at the Widow Krupp’s place near Sand Pond at noon Monday to buy some calves, leaving his 4-year-old horse standing in the road untied. The horse became frightened at some pigs in an adjoining lot and started toward Callicoon at a terrific pace. It was soon clear of the wagon and ran a distance of three miles before it was stopped. The wagon was wrecked.

The youths of Jeffersonville went to Callicoon Depot on Thursday of last week and got a drubbing for the second time by the Depot young fellows. Score – 30-25. Tom Pendell of the Democrat was the umpire.

Four years ago, a cousin of Mrs. O.M. Lawrence of Jeff died in Paris, leaving an estate of several millions of dollars. He was a bachelor. He left a will making a resident of Paris the principal legatee to the exclusion of relatives. This will the Americans have contested and thus far the finding of the courts have been in their favor. In the event of a decision favoring the contestants, Mrs. Lawrence will receive a large share of the estate.

J. Kelly caught a trout in the Beaverkill River last week that weighed  6 pounds and fifteen ounces.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Hofer last week, a son.

The iron bridge for the Briscoe Pond at Mrs. Litzenbauer’s arrived Tuesday and is being placed in position.

If our fire department expects to draw the annual insurance money the laddies must not forget to run out the engine once a year and test it.

120 Years Ago - 1905

Casper Weissenfluh, who recently returned to his home at Youngsville after having been in the navy service, has pitched a tent on the farm of his uncle, Casper Eggler on Swiss Hill, and will live outdoors this summer for his health. He had an attack of yellow fever which left him in a weakened condition.

The village of Monticello hopes to get rid of the organ grinder nuisance this year by passing an ordinance requiring organ grinders and other  traveling musicians to pay a license of 50 cents a day, and prohibiting them from playing in the streets before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.

George H. Raum, who has charge of the Kenoza Lake creamery, has bought the Flunman farm of 44 acres and lake, recently owned by Charles Kenney of NY, who used it as a summer home.

A small party of gypsies camped on the school grounds in Delaware below Jeff. As they were leaving Friday, three dogs ran into the farm of John Schmidt and tore to pieces a peacock belonging to George Schmidt. The latter followed the band to Youngsville with an officer and the gypsies settled by paying $8.

The attendance of the summer school for teachers which was opened here by Messers. Anderson and McDermott last week is small as yet, much difficulty being experienced in getting board for outsiders who want to come.

Rudolph Gute and family of Middle Village, L.I., are stopping for several weeks at C.W. Wilfert’s. Mr. Gute is one of America’s greatest rifle shots. A short time ago he smashed the world record in  100 shots at 75 feet by making a score of 2466 out of a possible 2500. The record is now 2468.

110 Years Ago - 1915

The dedication of the new St. George’s R.C. Church in Jeff will take place next Sunday morning with fitting ceremonies.

About two dozen people of the masculine gender enjoyed a clam bake gotten up by a number of the young men of the village last Sunday. The bake was made on George Yager’s farm on Swiss Hill with John Fuhrer as chef. The bake included  1000 clams, fish, chicken, potatoes, etc., and was prepared in excellent style.

Fred H. Duttweiler of this place has sold the Liberty mail express and freight route to his cousin, Fred Gerken of Cochecton Center, who takes possession July 1st.

Oscar Eggler won the gold medal offered for the highest score made at Schmidt’s bowling alley during June. His score was 233.

Last Sunday started in clear, fresh and spring-like, followed by nice summer weather, in the afternoon a severe hail storm struck us. Sunday night mercury dropped to 32 degrees, and in some places there was frost. Now what more do you want?

Reuben J. Weltsch, one of the finest, and biggest in New York State, spent a few days at his home. Reuben stands 6 feet 2 inches weighs 220 pounds, and is as hard as a stone.

No more dazzling, blinding lights on automobiles will be permitted in N.J. after July 1. On that date the new state law against glaring electric, oil and acetylene lamps goes into effect and thereafter motorists who try to get by with a brilliant lighting outfit will be taken in by authorities.

100 Years Ago - 1925

The annual meeting and dinner of the Sullivan County Automobile Club will be held at the Arcade Hotel, Liberty, Saturday night. A beef steak dinner will be served for $1.50.

Butcher Oscar Will yesterday captured a dandy trout in the creek below the gristmill. It weighed just three pounds and measured 20 1/2 inches. 

A lad from Jeffersonville, who refused to give his name for fear his mother would hear of it, was snatched from a watery grave at Kenoza Lake about 4 o’clock Monday afternoon by Herbert Pryers, aged 18, who makes his home with Mrs. Roesner at Kenoza Lake, and attends the Jeff high school.

Arthur L. Huebsch, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Huebsch of Woodside, L.I., and Miss June Quirine of Brooklyn, were united in marriage at Lenruth Hall, Brooklyn, on June 17th.

A lively bunch of “merry widows” – some grass, some real – got up early Sunday morning, picked their husband’s pockets — those who had any — and off they went on an outing to Bear Mountain, came back busted, and are now waiting for the family till to be replenished for another raid. The female roster was made up of Mrs. Wm. Deckelmann, Mrs. W.H. Lawrence, Mrs. Val Scheidell, Mrs. Mary Scheidell, Mrs. Wm. Lieb, Mrs. Louise Ranft, Mrs. E.V. McDermott, Mrs. Brudi, Mrs. Cronauer Mrs. G.H. Raum and Miss Martha Scheidell.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The double barns on the former Paul Seelig property at Fosterdale burned to the ground Saturday night, the fire starting from an unknown source at about 10 p.m.

Frederick Schadt, son of Supervisor Schadt of this town, and Joseph Cooke, nephew of County Judge Cooke, were admitted to the bar in Albany on Monday.

Arthur C. Newman of near Fremont Center was walking in his pasture on his way to get the cows home for evening milking one day recently, says the Democrat. His shepherd dog trotted merrily ahead of him. Suddenly Mr. Newman saw the dog make a peculiar motion and at the same time noticed that a rattlesnake had bitten the dog through the tongue. The snake was dispatched immediately and proved to be a small one with four rattles. The dog was given attention by a veterinary who cut away part of the infected tongue, and will recover.

The 20th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Harry O. Pfeifer of Floral Park, L.I., was celebrated June 22 with a dinner at Tillson’s Amber Lantern Inn at Flushing.

Herbert Duttweiler won the award of five dollars in the Jeffersonville High School for the best essay on fire prevention. The award was given by the Cooperative Fire Ins. Co. of Woodridge. Herbert is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Duttweiler of Jeffersonville.

80 Years Ago - 1945

A son, Dennis Lloyd, was born June 21 to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Knack of Jeffersonville. A daughter, Linda Lee, their first child, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berner of Liberty on June 22. The mother is the former Caroline Brownstein of Jeffersonville.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Seelig of Jeffersonville announce the engagement of their daughter, Carol Hilda, to Nial B. Kehrley, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kehrley of White Sulphur Springs.

The 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Fries was celebrated at the home of their son, Fred, near Youngsville, on June 26.

Attorney Fred W.V. Schadt was recently appointed District Deputy Grand Master in the Masonic Order.

Geraldine Wehner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wehner of Shandelee, is suffering from a badly broken arm. Last Tuesday, Geraldine was mounting a saddle horse when, due to a loose girth, the saddle slipped throwing Geraldine to the ground and breaking her left arm near her shoulder.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Frederick Schwartz, a native of Kenoza Lake, died at his home here last Sunday evening after a stroke on Saturday afternoon. He was 79.

Declaring that the rabies epidemic in the town of Liberty and the adjoining towns of Fallsburg and Neversink, is becoming serious, Dr. Lee Tompkins, town and village health officer in Liberty, on Tuesday of last week warned all to have control over their domestic animals.

A group of parents, relatives and friends attended the Youngsville Kindergarten graduation Friday morning at 9:30 in the school auditorium. The program opened with a pledge to the flag, followed by a Bible reading, a welcome and a selection by the Kindergarten Rhythm Band. The tots presented a play, “The Three Bears,” to the delight of all. They also enjoyed a Kindergarten Prom.

The Sullivan County Eagle awarded a good journalism key to Peter Muth, editor of the school paper, “High on the Hill.” He is awarded for his diligence and interest in the field of newspaper work.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Miss Denise Marie DuBois of Fosterdale was graduated from Roosevelt Hospital School of Nursing in New York City. A graduate of Jeffersonville-Youngsville School, she is currently employed at Monticello Hospital.

A 19-year-old  Barryville youth, Raymond Clouse, who had just completed his first year of college, was fatally injured in an early Friday morning smashup on Route 97, near Barryville. Troopers say Clouse passed another vehicle, apparently at a high rate of speed, struck a stone wall and was virtually demolished. Clouse was born in Callicoon in 1946.

Total rain for  June was one and one-half inches. The drought persists.

John J.J. McGough, County Highway Superintendent, has announced that a branch of that department will open in Monticello on Monday.

50 Years Ago - 1975

The Town of Tusten’s supervisor for 14 years, Carl W. Behling, declared this week that his hat is in the ring for his eighth two-year term on the county board. Behling, a popular vote getter, has only lost one election, in 34 years in public service.

Bent rails and scattered ties bear mute witness to the derailment of the Erie-Lackawanna freight cars, just above the old acid factory in Long Eddy. Hard work soon got the line back in operation.

Kathy L. Stabbert and John M. Werner were married June 28 at the United Methodist Church in Callicoon. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Stabbert Jr. of Callicoon. Mr. Werner is from Port Jervis.

Roberta White, 12 years old, had good luck fishing in the rain Friday when she landed a 3 pound, 4 ounce largemouth bass that measured just 18 inches,

Debbie Johnson of Callicoon and Michael Popolillo were named King and Queen of the Delaware Valley Central School Junior Prom.

Last Thursday was moving day for the New York State Electric & Gas Co., when they moved a 150-watt transformer from the Erie-Lackawanna yards to the Coopers Corners sub-station on Route 17B.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Euker of North Branch are the proud parents of a second son, Jeffrey Allen, born June 25 at the Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Hanson (nee Arlene Peters of Callicoon) of Greenwich, Conn., announce the birth of a daughter, Diane Sydney, born June 26.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Gaunt, formerly of Galilee, now living in Monroe, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, June 22.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Martin Agronky, well-known television commentator and moderator, was the guest speaker at the Sullivan County United Jewish Appeal Conference held at the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake. Milton Levine, campaign chairman, said that  $120,000 had been raised in the local ongoing fundraising campaign.

Gordon Frost of Grahamsville has recently completed training at the New York State Fire Training School in Montour Falls, and has been appointed an instructor for Sullivan County’s volunteer fire service.

Catskill area hotels have long offered a game of “horse racing” as part of their activities program. The hotels may now be able to offer real horse racing in the form of live television, complete with betting. A bill, passed by both the Senate and Assembly, was signed by Governor Mario Cuomo on Sunday.

The Callicoon Center Band will present a patriotic program on Wednesday, July 4.

The Dave Saunders Country Music Show will be among those performing in Grahamsville on Saturday.

Dan McManus of Eldred took two first place finishes with wins in his age group in the 800 meter and the 1500 meter run in the Metropolitan Area Junior Olympics at Washingtonville on Saturday. His older sister, Meg McManus, was first in the 1500 meter race in her senior age group and took second overall in the event. Jeff Schorling, also of Eldred, was second to McManus in the 1500 meter dash. Kevin McManus, a younger brother of Dan and Meg,  was second in the 200 dash. Delaware Valley’s Mike Hennigan took first in his age group and was also first overall in the high jump with a 6-3 effort. Peter Sosko also of DV, was first in the intermediate division in the 3,000 meter run and took a third in the 1,500 meter walk.

30 Years Ago - 1995

The Mountain Lions played a home opening game in Mountaindale on Wednesday.  Practically all of the players were summoned to the third base fence at one time or another before and after the game to sign their name for an autograph-seeking fan. Trevor Haughney, a 24-year-old ballplayer from New York City, pleased the crowd by getting three hits, the first one, a double to left, to be hit at Mountain Dew Field at Baxter Park in Mountaindale. He also scored the first run for the Mountain Lions, helping his team defeat the Mohawk Valley Sharks before a crowd of 2,773 fans. Irene Griffin of Jeffersonville led the audience in singing the Star Spangled Banner.

Sullivan County Democrat columnist Kathy Werner and her husband, John, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on June 28. 

Kathy Zylko of Jeffersonville was installed president of District 2 Ladies Auxiliary VFW at the June 3-4 convention held in New Paltz. She is a member of Auxiliary 9217, Liberty, and was installed by her mother, Loretta Owens, past District 2 president.

The Narrowsburg Fire Department is preparing to host its 93rd annual July 4th celebration on Tuesday. Activities include a parade, music, games, a chicken barbecue and fireworks at dusk.

In the special Graduation Section of the Democrat, recognition was given to the 41 graduates of Delaware Valley Central School and to 41 graduates of Eldred as well as 73 from Fallsburg, 42 from Jeff-Youngsville,  193 graduates of Honesdale, Pa. High School, 41 at Livingston Manor, 81 at Liberty, 161 at Monticello, 13 at Narrowsburg, 59 at Tri-Valley,  and 10 from Roscoe.

20 Years Ago - 2005

Helena Manzione, a principal of Watermark Communications, LLC, announced on Wednesday that Watermark has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to purchase Liberty radio stations WVOS-AM and WVOS-FM. Watermark is currently owner of WSUL, 98.3 FM, in Monticello.

For 34 years, Shirley Keesler has been a fixture at the Delaware Free Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library in Callicoon, formerly the Delaware Free Library. Thursday, Shirley was honored with a plaque in grateful appreciation of her service, as she is retiring from her post as library clerk.

Longtime Democrat columnist Ben Kaplan of Boynton Beach, Fla., recently celebrated the addition of a fourth generation to his family, owing to the birth of a great-granddaughter. Kaplan’s granddaughter, Mara Epstein, is the mother of Hannah Epstein, who is the granddaughter of Kaplan’s daughter, Sari Kaplan Mittler. The Kaplan family had the occasion documented by posing together for a photo.

Newly installed Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce President Terri Hess received a traditional bat salute from her Charlie’s Angels teammates before a recent Sullivan County Women’s Softball League game.

10 Years Ago - 2015

The “Wall of Fame” inductee at Liberty High School this year was Swan Lake native Maurice “Hank” Greenberg. The WWII veteran and former head of insurance giant AIG joins the ranks of 18 other notable locals. Greenberg was born the son of a candy shop owner in Chicago, Illinois, in 1925. His father died when he was 6, and his mother, Ada, married a dairy farmer and moved the family to the Swan Lake area. Greenberg dropped out of school when he was 17 and lied about his age in order to enlist in the military. As a soldier he saw action in Europe, participating in the liberation of Dachau. He stayed in the Army up through the Korean War, rising to the rank of Captain and earning a Bronze Star.  Wall of Fame inductees  Thomas Nickou and aerospace engineer for Martin Marietta, Howard K. Schue, were also in attendance.

Dozens of residents and townsfolk filed into the Livingston Manor Fire House on June 24 to discuss ideas for the Livingston Manor River Walk, a plan to make the “gateway to the Catskills” a more walkable community. The evening was sponsored by the Livingston Manor Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Town of Rockland, and facilitated by the Sullivan County Renaissance, as well as the Sullivan County Division of Planning. Design plans were provided by Hart Howerton.