140 Years Ago - 1880

Playing croquet appears to be the principal past-time in this village at present.

Our school commenced on Monday with Miss Mary Potts of this place as teacher.

As the State Legislature has adjourned, Hon. A. Potts of this village can now be found at his office during business hours every day.

Sheriff Richard D. Childs died at his home at Grahamsville, this county, on Sunday, the 1st, at the age of 88 years. His father, Timothy Childs, settled at Thompsonville in the town of Thompson in 1779, ten years before the County of Sullivan was erected from Ulster. He had occupied the farm where he died for about fifty years.

Among the census enumerators who have been named are: Callicoon, Howard A. Penny, John C. Mall; Rockland, Archi­bald Cochran; Liberty, Victor Champlin, Bruce Winner; Fremont, Philemon Minckler, J.D. Legg; Cochecton, Benjamin Van Schorick; Bethel, Isaac Soules, James Colwell; Delaware, John Long, B.S. Ward.

On May 15, 1880, Henry R. Whitaker of DeBruce and Mary J. Perry of Bethel, were married at New Rochelle.

On May 22nd, Mrs. Catherine Decker died at Rockland at the age of 70 years.

On May 22nd Albert Williams of Bethel and Mary Magarr of Falls Mills were married at Parksville.

North Branch — George Kortright has been looking at some grist mills and mill sites on the Beaverkill lately… The children of John Walter of Delaware are reported ill with diphtheria; also several of Philip Knack's children… The house and lot known as the Bergold property has been bought by Charles Quick.

130 Years Ago - 1890

The Excelsior Baseball Club of this village has challenged the club at Callicoon Center to play a match game on Tuesday, June 10.

Charles Huff, son of John Huff of Youngsville, died in New York City.

Mrs. Carrie Knell, wife of Jacob Knell, formerly of Youngsville, died on Sunday.

Philip Elbert, now at Callicoon Depot, will take another trip to the west in a few days.

Charles Schmidt has secured a position as clerk in New York City.

Fred Faubel of Scranton is home on a visit.

George Walter of Sand Pond, who has been seriously ill for some time, is very low and not expected to live long.

Lucy Kohler, relict of Casper Kohler Sr., died at Galeton, Pa., last Friday, aged 62 years. Her remains were brought to Jeffersonville and interred in the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church on Sunday. Ten children survive, her six sons and four daughters.

Gus Grouton lost a valuable horse the other day.

The funeral of Jacob Hembdt last Thursday is said to have been the largest ever to take place from the Dutch Reform Church in this village.

Roscoe, on the Ontario & Western Railroad, is one of the most thriving villages in Sullivan County. Upwards of thirty houses have been erected in the last three years. The credit for the growth of this village is mainly due to George Miller. The flat upon which the village is located was owned by the late Louis Schuster, who refused to sell building lots. Mr. Miller bought it several years ago, had it surveyed, and laid out the entire tract in village lots and streets, and the result is the rising of a good sized village.

120 Years Ago - 1900

Henry Dorr was found on May 26, lying on his face, dead on the highway leading from this village to Hankins. He was found within a half a mile of his home. The deceased was 66 years of age, a single man.

Mrs. Elizabeth Krantz, wife of Christian Krantz, who died at her home in Rockland on May 27, was a sister of Michael Bamberger of Jeffersonville. She was born of German parents in Pennsylvania, nearly 61 years ago. She lived in Rockland for over 29 years.

Nathan Misner died of paralysis at Grahamsville, May 18, aged 77 years.

Charles F. Bishop of Liberty and Katie Borden of Readburn, NY, were married at the Liberty parsonage June 1.

Edward J. Botens of Callicoon Depot and Johanna Leschorn of North Branch were married by Justice John A. Darbee of Liberty on Sunday.

Fred Wahl and Miss Mary Mauer of the Town of Fremont were married May 30 by Rev. S. Muery of Hortonville.

The black bass season opens June 15 and closes January 1.

Elected to the state convention by the Sullivan County Democratic Committee on Saturday were Fred Freeman of Barryville, James Fitzgerald of Roscoe and Peter H. Ferguson of Bloomingburg. They were instructed for Bryan.

Capt. Victor Champlin of Liberty on Saturday received the appointment as one of the ushers at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

Ed C. Neiger of Kenoza Lake has been engaged as principal of the Callicoon Depot school for another term.

William B. Voorhees of Roscoe, past master of Livingston Manor Lodge of Freemasons, has been appointed deputy grand master for the sixteenth district, comprising the counties of Sullivan and Delaware.

Charles Scheidell has hauled some ties to Liberty for the electric road.

110 Years Ago - 1910

A daughter was born May 25 to Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Kohler.

H.A. Meyer and son have started work on the foundation for their branch store at Kenoza Lake.

Lawrence and Fred Huebsch of New York were here last week to see their mother in Beechwoods, who is in poor health.

Gernett Howland and family of Callicoon and Miss Martha Scheidell of Deposit visited their relatives here over Sunday.

Oscar Royce and family of Livingston Manor are spending a few days with relatives here.

Lawrence Hauschild and Cas­per Reyman, East Hill young men, left Tuesday night for South Dakota, to seek their fortunes.

H.A. Meyer and wife are at Ithaca this week attending the graduation exercises at the conservatory of music, at which their son, Henry E., gets his diploma.

The steering gear of the Yager and Grishaber auto stage went wrong Monday afternoon, while Charles Messler, the chauffeur, was taking several passengers to the train in Liberty, and the big machine left the road and went through a wire fence in front of Ira Edwards at White Sulphur Springs before Charlie stopped it with the emergency brake. No particular damage done, but the passengers had to hustle for conveyances to catch the train.

It is said that a week ago Sunday there were no less than 50 autos in town and last Sunday that number was nearly equaled.

Wm. Kohler, the lumber manufacturer, has bought and received a model Q Maxwell car through the agency of Palmer and Co. This is the coveted model that is so hard to get, on account of the great demand for them.

Invitations have been issued by Mrs. Emma Armbrust of Kenoza Lake to the wedding of her daughter, Rowena E., to Henry J. Klaus of Long Island, to take place on June 8.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Scott of Rockland and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Menges of Youngsville spent Sunday with E.J. Sheridan and wife of Livingston Manor.

100 Years Ago - 1920

G.C. Yager, having sold his residence here, is preparing to move to Liberty, where he is fitting up temporary quarters in his garage building there. Mr. Yager has bought about six acres of the Young estate located on North Main St., Liberty, which he will cut up into building lots.

Mr. and Mrs. William Wagner of Youngsville received a little daughter of May 28.

A daughter was born May 29 to Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Luckey of Loomis.

Mrs. Frederick G. Bennett of Far Rockaway has announced the engagement of her daughter, Alice McCabe, to Frank Breiner of Livingston Manor. Miss McCabe is a teacher in the Youngsville school.

At the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Schaefer in Beechwoods on Tuesday evening, four of their grandchildren were christened by Rev. Charles Nietzer of the Presbyterian Church. They were Harold Philip and Edna Theresa, children of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred L. Long, and Elmer Philip and Osmer Frederick, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Geib. A big feast followed the baptism.

Miss Mildred E. Stephenson, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Stephenson of Hurd, was graduated from the Long Island City Hospital of Nursing in Brooklyn on June 1.

E.C. Royce has sold his house and lot in Kenoza Lake to Jacob Schwartz.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bollenbach were all home for a reunion over Sunday.

Miss Martha Scheidell of Deposit spent Sunday here with her mother, Mrs. Mary Scheidell.

John Wohltjen of Brooklyn joined his wife here Saturday and accompanied her to the city.

Joseph Bauernfeind and bride, Miss Margaret I. Weber, returned from their wedding trip this week, and Tuesday night were serenaded by the boys at the Myers farm.

90 Years Ago - 1930

Miss Marion Margaret Dietrich, only daughter and child of Louis J. and Rose Bosley Dietrich of Jeffersonville, was married to William Kane, son of Mrs. Carrie Kane of Ozone Park, L.I., at the Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon. A reception and dinner was held at the Dietrich home for 70 guests.

Mr. and Mrs. Val Scheidell went to the city to witness the graduation of their daughter, Henrietta, from Barnard College on Tuesday. Miss Scheidell will take a position in a broker's office.

Mr. and Mrs. John Biebel of Staten Island have purchased the house of Christian Krantz in Delaware. Since the death of his wife, Mr. Krantz makes his home with his son-in-law, Wm. Kohler.

The Liberty School will have 38 teachers for the next term, from high school to kindergarten. M.D. Merring has been retained as principal.

August Lott is making additions to his house in Delaware.

On Sunday morning, June 1, the thermometer registered down to 28 degrees and yesterday went up to 90 in the shade.

Miss Ethel Gain is home from Columbia University.

Charles Geib, aged 79, died of hardening of the arteries at his home on the Beechwoods Road on May 29. He was born in Beechwoods, May 16, 1851, the son of Jacob Geib and Elizabeth Hoffman, natives of Germany. He lived on the homestead until 10 years ago, when he turned the farm over to his son, William, and bought of Charles Mages the Miller place adjoining the Mages farm where he died. In 1886 he married Elizabeth Schuck, native of Bavaria, who survives with two sons, Charles J. of Hancock and Wm. O. on the old homestead.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Fred W. Schadt has received notice of the United States Senate confirming his permanent appointment as third class postmaster here under the civil service after having served in the office four years. He succeeded Mrs. Marion Scheidell Moran. The office pays $2200, with extra for clerk hire. Mr. Schadt was born in Scranton, Pa., but was reared at the home of his uncles, the late Frederick Scheidell, for many years supervisor of this town, as was his sister, Henrietta, widow of Valentine Scheidell, also a town supervisor for many years.

Mr. Schadt served as supervisor for a few terms and retired from politics to take the post office job. He is the father of Attorney Frederick W.V. Schadt, law partner of District Attorney Wm. Deckelman. A daughter, Millicent, is the wife of Corporal Robert Flynn of the Roscoe state police. Another daughter is the wife of Albert Felske, manager of the Fallsburgh A&P store, and other sons are Willard and Jack of this place. Mrs. Schadt is the former Ann Royce, whose father died Sunday at the age of 81, and her mother, Caroline Brown, was a member of an old family in Jeffersonville, and died last year, also an octogenarian.

Mrs. Adelaide Schadt will retire from the English department of the central school and Miss Amy E. Almfelt of Norwalk, Conn., a Syracuse graduate, has been engaged to fill her place.

William C. vonBerg of Jeffersonville was graduated from Syracuse University this week. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. William vonBerg attended the graduation and baccalaureate exercises.

Mr. and Mrs. Val Mall entertained at dinner Sunday in honor of the 20th anniversary of their son, William A., and wife.

Judge and Mrs. Owen W. Bohan were weekend guests at the Mansion House.

James Francis Royce, aged 81, died Sunday at the home of his son-in-law, Fred W. Schadt, where he had made his home for over 30 years. He was born in Monticello July 5, 1858, the son of John F. Royce and Gertrude Hornbeck of Maplewood. In 1881 he was married to the former Caroline Brown. They moved to the village of Jeffersonville about 40 years ago.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Roy Crandall, a leading Sullivan County building contractor, died suddenly at his home below the village of Jeffersonville on Saturday, June 3. He was born in Yulan, September 24, 1898, the son of Martha Minckler and Milton Crandall. Surviving are his wife, Margarette, his son Alfred, a brother Bruce of Lakewood, Fla., and two sisters.

George R. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jens Anderson of Jeffersonville, will receive a degree of B.S. in electrical engineering at the 155th commencement exercise of Union College at Schenectady on June 11.

Mr. and Mrs. John Miller of Youngsville have returned from their honeymoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy VanFradenberg (Aileen Sedletsky) had their baby girl, Nancy Jean, christened at St. George's R.C. Church on Sunday. Father Edward officiated.

The Arcadia at Kenoza Lake has opened for the summer season.

On June 1, Betty Louise Kehrley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Kehrley of Briscoe, became the bride of Howard Jacobs, son of C. Fred Jacobs of Youngsville, at a ceremony at the Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville. Rev. Joseph C. Kovach officiated.

Michael Lauer of Callicoon has announced the marriage of his daughter, Miss Sophie Lauer, to Michael Goodhart of Pompton Lakes, N.J.

60 Years Ago - 1960

Funeral services for Mrs. Lydia Hadden of Fosterdale were held Monday with Rev. Edward Ottinger officiating at the Jeffersonville Stewart Funeral Home. She died Friday, June 3. Born in Callicoon, March 10, 1865, she was married to the late Thos. Hadden. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Joseph McCoach, and six grandchildren.

Sullivan County, according to census tentative figures released last week, will show an increase of 11 percent in population. The county total will reach 45,032, an increase of 4,321 over the figures in 1905.

Clifford Krantz of Jeff was elected Commander of Emmett Turner Post 276 of the American Legion. He succeeds Allen O. Segar.

Jack Baker of Livingston Manor was elected Commander of the Sullivan County American Legion. He succeeds Frank Lindsley of Wurtsboro.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Jean Hinkley of Lyndhurst, N.J., who became the bride of Donald Peters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Peters of RFD, Callicoon, on June 4 at Jeffersonville.

On Sunday, June 5, eight young folks were confirmed at the Jeffersonville First Lutheran Church. Those received by the church were Paul Back, Peter Diehl, Dennis DuBois, Wm. Kamper, Nancy Leute, Ruth Sanft­leben, Virginia Segar and Karen Steffens.

50 years ago - 1970

Miss Deborah Hess, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hess of Hortonville, was crowned Sullivan County Dairy Princess last Saturday evening during ceremonies at Livingston Manor.

Saturday afternoon, June 6, Miss Diane Girard became the bride of James Hess at the Jeffersonville Methodist Church.

Former N.Y. Jets player Sam DeLuca of Huntington, L.I., spoke at the athletic dinner and congratulated Delaware Valley Central baseball teammates for winning their fourth straight Western Sullivan League championship.

Mrs. Wilma Polack of Liberty has been honored for attaining a straight 4.0 average at Sullivan County Community College.

Miss Barbara Stephens became the bride of George Walter at a ceremony performed May 23 at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Huntington.

Among the old time cars and trucks at Monticello Saturday was the 1928 Chevrolet fire truck of the Hortonville Fire Dept. The antique cars were on display in Monticello on Saturday and for an hour Sunday morning at the Victory parking lot in Jeff. A banquet was held at the Valley View House Saturday night.

J. Allen McGuire spoke to those gathered for the Memorial Day observance at Callicoon when Steam Engine No. 759 pulled into Callicoon.

40 Years Ago - 1980

Florence E. Leewe of Callicoon has been appointed as postmaster of the Bethel post office. She has been in the U.S. Postal Service since 1965 as a clerk in the Hankins post office.

Katrina Stirna of Narrowsburg Central School participated in the New York State Leadership Seminar in conjunction with the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation held this past Memorial Day weekend at Columbia University.

Mary Jane Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Meyer of Lake Huntington, became the bride of Jeffrey K. Nober, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Nober of Narrowsburg on June 7 at Our Lady of the Lake R.C. Church in Lake Huntington.…Debra Jean Hendrickson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Hendrickson of White Lake, became the bride of Arthur Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lee of Smallwood at a ceremony held at the Arvada United Presbyterian Church on May 3… Mabel Campfield Piscitelli, a former employee of NY Bell Telephone, was married Sunday June 1, to Leo Gumpper of Honesdale, Pa., at the Cochecton Center Methodist Church. He is the owner of a shoe repair shop in Honesdale… Mindy Joy Streifer of Monticello became the bride of Scott Davis of Far Rockaway on June 1 at Temple Beth-El in Kauneonga Lake… Elizabeth VanEtten of Monticello became the bride of Gregg Lounsbury of Middletown at St. Anne's Church in White Lake on June 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Irving Kratz of Callicoon announce the engagement of their daughter, Carol, to Albert Gabella Jr. of Goshen. An August 23 wedding is planned.

The Andersens of Long Eddy will host the New York State Jr. and Sr. Hereford Field Day on July 11 and 12. Judging of cattle will be made on entries from all over New York State.

30 Years Ago - 1990

The Delaware Valley Job Corps Center in Callicoon will celebrate its 11th anniversary of operation on June 15 with an open house, tour of the facility, exhibits and contests, together with a bake sale of items prepared by the Corps' culinary department.

Mark Herbert and Pam Abram were named DVCS Senior Outstanding Athletes at the annual awards program held Tuesday evening.

Fourteen thousand square feet of manufacturing space is being added to the 50,000 square feet of the original building of A.T. Reynolds and Sons in Kiamesha Lake. The project is part of the expansion of the Leisure Time Spring Water Co., a subsidiary of the 106-year-old Reynolds Co., ice manufacturing firm.

Kevin Connors was presented the “Fireman of the Year” plaque by the Jeffersonville Fire Company.

Kristen Myer of Lake Huntington was named 1990 Miss Sullivan County Teen Sunday at the Villa Roma in Callicoon. She was crowned by Lynn Gill, the outgoing queen.

George “Sonny” and Agnes VanAken were honored guests at a 40th anniversary party tendered them by their children at the White Sulphur Springs Firehouse on May 5.

George and Yvonne Brustman celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary with a surprise party at their home on May 27. The Brustmans were married in her hometown of LeMans, France.

The Livingston Manor Lady Wildcats defeated Fort Ann in semi-final play but lost the state championship to Deposit on Saturday in Newburgh.

20 Years Ago - 2000

Robert Magie Jr. of the Loch Sheldrake Fire Department was named Firefighter of the Year at the annual SCVFA dinner held Saturday night at Bernie's Holiday Restaurant in Rock Hill.

Tri-Valley Central School District residents will be asked to head to the polls tomorrow to vote on the proposed $12.8 million building project at the school in Grahamsville. According to school officials, the new building is needed to meet increasing student population and graduation needs.

The fourth annual “Relay for Life” held in Monticello to raise funds for the American Cancer Society experienced an increase in pledges of perhaps 50 percent over last year's $15,000.

Miss Yvonne Hasselmann, daughter of Heinrich and Heidemarie Hasselmann of Wolt­hausen, Germany, and Michael Joseph Ratner of Boston, Mass., were united in marriage in an outdoor garden ceremony on the footbridge of Public Gardens in Boston, Mass. on October 23, 1999. The groom is the son of Ann and Richard Ratner of Woodbourne.

Robert and Kathleen Meyer of Cochecton announce the engagement of their daughter, Jamie, to Boomer Meyer, son of Art and Eileen Meyer of Beach Lake, Pa. A September 30, 2000 wedding is planned.

10 Years Ago - 2010

The Delaware River was put at the top of the “Most Endangered” list this week by American Rivers, a non-profit environmental advocacy group. The threat according to the organization is the imminent arrival of gas drilling. A press conference was held in Narrowsburg including Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Superintendent Sean McGuinnes and brought out a variety of locals supporting gas drilling as well as those who are opposed to gas drilling.

Sullivan County is struggling with its records storage problem. Some of the county's oldest files dating back to 1827 are sitting in an unheated, non-air conditioned pole barn in Liberty. Newer records aren't any better off with some stored inside a metal shipping container lacking electricity and swarming with bees. Others are crammed inside a secure room in the County Clerk's office waiting for a new space to be determined.

Annual Memorial Day services and parades were held across the county. Fremont Center's Memorial Day Parade started a few new traditions. The first was the placement of a Veteran's Memorial and Park in front of the Town of Fremont Hall. The stone marker honors the many veterans from the Town of Fremont who have served our country and it was duly honored with a Memorial Service preceding the parade. The second new tradition was unveiled following the parade. The parade committee donated a flag which was folded by two members of the 143rd Infantry reenactors, namely Chuck Young and Scott Bernitt. Dennis Bernitt, another member of the group, then presented the flag to Shirley Stabbert of Callicoon in honor of her late husband's service to his country during the Korean War.