130 Years Ago - 1896

Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Ramer of Jeffersonville, June 18, a daughter, to Rev. and Mrs. Edwin  Corneille, Kenoza Lake, June 18, a daughter.

A son arrived at the home of Fred Hornung of Buck Brook on Monday of last week.

BRISCOE – Miss Anna Segar left Monday to take a position in J. Redington’s boarding house at Liberty.

NARROWSBURG – Huckleberries are beginning to come in at 10 cents a quart.

The show that has been playing here for the past week is stranded. J.G. Gutheil, proprietor of the Arlington Hotel, Narrowsburg, attached the client and baggage for board and lodging.

120 Years Ago - 1906

Chris Gilbert has sold his farm near Callicoon Center to his brother William.

Will McDermott was badly poisoned by the sting of a honeybee on his chin while striving to hive a swarm at Gus Neuberger’s.

Mrs. C.E. Brand spent last week at Hessinger’s at Callicoon Center. Aunt Em has to come around every so often for a change of pasture but she is good company and always welcome.

George L. Hubbel of Hobart has been appointed deputy grand master of Free Masons for the Sixteenth District, Sullivan and Delaware counties by Grand Master Townsend Scudder.

Confidence is a useful thing: fakers don’t work without it.

ADV. – “Two-seated surrey for sale. Apply to George C. Lixfield, Jeffersonville”

Fred Stucker of Cleveland, Ohio, is initiating a model Swiss goat farm at Loomis Sanitarium. He went to the mountain regions of Switzerland, secured 35 of the finest specimens ever found, bringing them here at a cost of $50 each. These goats will be kept for their milk which is sometimes said to be the most efficacious remedy known in science for all lung trouble.

110 Years Ago - 1916

The safe in William  T. Reilly’s grist mill back of the station at Cochecton was blown open by burglars Saturday. Only about $10 was in the safe.

Masonic Hall was open to motion pictures last Saturday night with a great show from the land of snow. “The Shooting of Dan McGrew.” As a synopsis to the drama, Clarence A. Royce read the poem by  Robert W. Service from which the photo play was written.

Miss Lillie Thorwelle of Callicoon was graduated this week from the Oneonta Normal School where she completed her course last February.

Ninety-five attended the second annual convention at Monticello of the Sullivan County Branch of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Party.

Druggist William Becker, eldest son of druggist William Becker of Jeffersonville, has enlisted in the Navy.

Comrade Metzger of Jeffersonville will leave Saturday night for Detroit where he accompanies E.H. Nichols of Liberty to bring back two Hudson cars from the factory.

One hundred forty chicks belonging to John Miller of the Beechwoods were burned to death on Sunday when the colony house caught fire from the oil lamp used to warm it.

The marriage of Miss Lillian Strumpf, daughter of Christine Strumpf of Callicoon Center, and Henry F. Gardner, son of William Gardner of Hortonville, took place at the parsonage of St. Paul’s Reformed Church at Callicoon  Center Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Brand of Jeffersonville have issued invitations to the marriage of their daughter, Hazel Viola, to George C. Groth of New York for June 28.

100 Years Ago - 1926

Twelve are graduating from Jeffersonville High School, the largest class ever graduated. The graduates are: Louis Ernestine Fischer, Fosterdale; Elsie May Roemer, Alice Lillian Archibald, Marie Esselman, Henrietta Virginia Scheidell, Frieda Irene Rickrich, Rose B. Kaplan, Inez Idola Fulton, Kenoza Lake; Evelyn Elsie Seiner, Everett Clinton Segar, Allen Otis Segar, Otto Joseph Meyer. Henrietta V. Scheidell is valedictorian.

Jerry Wood has traded his new house on Jefferson Ave. in Jeff with Frank R. Kahl for the Kahl farm of about 50 acres on the hill between Jeff and Callicoon Center.

Governor Al Smith, with Cardinal Patrick Hayes, will participate in the ceremonies formally opening the new summer camp for boys near the Cardinal’s country residence on the Dominican Estate at St. Joseph’s, five and a half miles west of Monticello.

Henry Bird and son Howard motored from the city  Saturday and were accompanied home Sunday  by Mrs. Bird who spent a week here with Grandma Bird.

90 Years Ago - 1936

Many from Jeffersonville will attend the wedding of Miss Helen  Abel and Robert Kaplan at the Hotel Lorraine, Lake Huntington, next Saturday night. Preparations are being made for 350 guests.

A son was born June 17 to Simon and Ruth Leave Sattinger of Jeffersonville.

John W. Murray last Thursday sold his well known pharmacy to Theodore G. Rittershausen, who has been the efficient clerk for the last four years. Mr. Rittershausen is very popular here and success should crown his launching into business for himself. He will retain Jess Abel as helper.

Robert Denman, brother of Dr. Denman of Livingston Manor and a former teacher, and William Elliott of Roscoe have been appointed to the State Police force.

Philip J. and Rudolph Hust, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Hust of Kenoza Lake, have received B.A. degrees from Alabama University. They have completed their fourth year of college work and their first year of medicine.

80 Years Ago - 1946

The Misses Effie and Sadie Tuckfeld have sold their homestead near North Branch to Rudolph Graef of Pennsylvania, who will engage in raising chinchillas and other furs.

The Edward Hermann bungalow at Hortonville has been sold to  Arthur Heisler of Callicoon.

Mrs. Ellen Duerr is in high glee, having struck a water vein giving 25 gallons of pure cool water a minute, after drilling 119 feet on her property, the former Hauschild place on the Briscoe Road.

Charles Wilfert, 77, was stricken down while at work in his shop in the rear of his home on Mill Street, Monday morning. He was born in one of the tannery houses in the east end of this village on May 11, 1869, the son of John Wolfgang Wilfert and Anna Eggler. He married Minnie Eggler on April 16, 1903.

Charles Peterson was discharged from the Navy at Lido Beach, L.I., this week. Ensign Jack Swords has just received his release from the Navy.

70 Years Ago - 1956

Adele C. Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Brown of Kenoza Lake, became the bride of Michael Erlwein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Erlwein of Callicoon on June 17 at St. Joseph’s  Seminary in Callicoon.

Over 300 people attended the 4th annual Father’s Day Dinner at the Hotel Lorraine in Lake Huntington sponsored by the Lake Huntington Chamber of Commerce.

Blickle Ford in Liberty invites the public to an open house on June 24 with entertainment by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, and Jimmy Dorsey.

Bill Mauldin, Pulitzer Prize winning writer and Democratic candidate for Congress, will be the featured speaker at the 9th Annual Dinner of the Town of Delaware Democratic Executive Committee to be held at  Valley View House in Kenoza Lake.

60 Years Ago - 1966

John Hector, son of John Hector of Bethel, drove his “48 Jr.,” named after his father’s “48” to the Sullivan County Soap Box Derby Championship. Other local entrants were David McCoach, Richard Komancheck,  Henry Stiene, Robert Hanson, Lance Sturdevant, David Robisch, George Deckelman and Charles Deckelman.

A new 50-bed hospital is planned for Callicoon when it was learned that the present wood-frame structure may not be approved for Medicare patients. Both  Dr. George R. Mills and Dr. Edmund T. Rumble have been instrumental in organizing the move for a new hospital under the Sullivan County Comprehensive Master Plan which calls for a central hospital and two community hospitals in the fringe areas of Sullivan County. Dr. Mills suffered a heart attack on Friday, June 10, and will be unable to participate as fully as he has in the past in the work of planning the new hospital.

The State University Board of Trustees on Tuesday unanimously rejected the Bethel site as a permanent home for the Sullivan County Community College on grounds that it was too far from the center of population in the county.

F/A Arthur J. Flynn left Kennedy Airport Monday, June 13, en route to California where he will be taken to meet his ship, the U.S.S. Intrepid, for sea duty. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome  Flynn of North Branch.

Sunny Terrace Spectacular, a female bassett owned by Joan Elmore, Damascus, won the Best Adult Award at the Patroon Bassett Hound Match Show at Liberty on June 5. Sunny Terrace Timmy placed first in the field trial class at the same show.

Controversial Daytop Village, a narcotic rehabilitation center, is located at Paul’s Hotel on the 170 acres in Swan Lake by official announcement made on Monday. According to Fr. William O’Brien, president of the Daytop Board, the project may eventually see a total of 200 residents.

50 Years Ago - 1976

Lori Grupp and Ginny Brown of JYCS have been chosen to spend the summer abroad and become a part of another culture. Lori will go to Paraguay and Ginny will spend her time in Brazil.

The Damascus High School Class of 1966 held a tenth year reunion on June 5 at Woodloch Pines, with 20 members attending.

Maryann Garcia has been notified that her poem, “In Tune With America,” won the bicentennial contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. She will receive $25.

Mr. and Mrs. James LaBarr of Narrowsburg announce the marriage of their daughter, Janet L. LaBarr to Don R. Bertholf, son of Marvin and Florence Bertholf of Livingston Manor. The couple exchanged wedding vows June 19, 1976 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Narrowsburg at 1 p.m. A reception followed at the Rosemary Inn in Narrowsburg.

40 Years Ago - 1986

Fred H. Starck, a native of Callicoon and a member of the founding board of trustees of Sullivan County Community College, serving as chairman from 1966-69, died in Sarasota, Fla., on June 10, 1986. He was 77 years of age. The grandson of Martin Hermann, founder of the  Hermann Lumber Co. in Callicoon, he became owner of the company before his retirement. Mr. Starck was the son of Frederick Starck Sr. who was instrumental in bringing movies to Sullivan County and who built the bowling alleys and theatre in Callicoon.

Carl Worsoe of Obernburg, a member of the North Branch Fire Department, died Tuesday, June 10, at the age of 86. He helped organize the Sullivan County Fire Police Association and was its second president.

Dr. Steven Schiff, son of the late Dr. Sydney Schiff of Liberty, who died last July, and a 1974 graduate of Liberty Central School, has the unique distinction of a second Doctorate which he earned from Duke University Graduate School. He completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy last October but official ceremonies are held just once a year in May.

Amy Furman of Grahamsville was crowned Sullivan County Dairy Princess Saturday night by the outgoing princess, Dina Hillriegel of Callicoon. Christine Hillriegel of Callicoon was named alternate.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hartmann were guests of honor at a 50th anniversary celebration held at the home of their son, Robert, in Kenoza Lake on Saturday. Their honor attendants, A. Byrd Long of West Yarmouth, Mass., and Dorothy Rampe of Callicoon were in attendance. They are also the parents of Helene Bennedum of Balston  Spa. Both were employed at one time by Hamilton Avenue Hospital in Monticello.

Thomas W. Fluhr of Liberty (the third recipient) has been presented with the James Hall Medal (first state geologist who served 1836 to 1898) by the New York State Geological Survey group in recognition of his significant contributions to the earth sciences in New York. He was responsible for mapping the geology of over 140 miles of water supply tunnels in southeastern New York. He also did the geologic work for many of the bridge and tunnel crossings in New York City, including the Verazzano Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Whitestone Bridge and Throgs Neck Bridge.

30 Years Ago - 1996

F.I.R.E. ‘96, the Fire Industry, Rescue and EMS Expo sponsored by the New York Association of Fire Chiefs for the 31st year at the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake seems to have set some records for participation – at least 25 percent more than 1995.

After a lengthy presentation in executive session, attorney William Rosen convinced the town board of his right to separate counsel in the Joe DeFalco-Town of Delaware RICO case.

“Fact or Fiction: Forgery in the Life of Stephen Crane” will be the subject of a presentation June 18 at the Crawford Library in Monticello. Paul Sorrentino, professor and assoc. chair of the Dept. of English at Virginia Tech University will be the presenter.

Seniors of the Year for 1996 for Sullivan County townships were: Delaware – Warren Miller, Bethel – Jane Gettel, Callicoon – Agnes Spielmann, Cochecton – Ethel Rohrmann Hulse, Fallsburg – Arthur Glueck, Forestburgh – Mary Case, Fremont – Virginia “Ginger” Rasulo, Highland – Elise Townsend, Liberty – Florence Christian, Lumberland – Arthur Wilcox, Mamakating – Mary Watterson, Neversink – Josephine Kuis, Rockland – Sam Frattarelli, Thompson – Lillian Goldberg, and Tusten – Lorraine Hofmann.

Two Sullivan County men, Bernard “Butch” Bantin of Woodbourne and Jim Coley of Livingston Manor, were honored by the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association for their heroic action in saving a California boy from drowning in Loch Sheldrake last July.

Charles Stackhouse, 11, a student at the Duggan Elementary School in White Lake, convinced his fifth-grade classmates to put on a talent show with 24 separate acts. Stackhouse was joined by fellow classmate Jennifer DeGraw, who helped co-produce the show and arrange the songs and acts in billing order. 

20 Years Ago - 2006

Representatives of Concord Associates, led by developer Louis Cappelli, went over their massive plans to redevelop the Concord Hotel on Tuesday in front of the Town of Thompson Board.

A brief history of the creation of the Ten Mile River Scout Camps was presented Sunday to visitors to the Sullivan County Museum in Hurleyville, organized by John Dowd, June Koester, Bernie Sussman, and David Malatzky. The Ten Mile River Scout Museum in Narrowsburg is open to the public in July and August and is operated by the Greater New York Council of Boy Scouts of America.

The Upper Delaware Council presented a $5,000 check to the Town of Fremont representing its share of Community Projects State Grant funding for the town, to fund the clean-up of two cemeteries in the Rock Valley area, the Basket Cemetery and the Fernwood Cemetery. This funding allowed the town to address longstanding maintenance issues at these two cemeteries that had been largely abandoned from care.

There will be a special tour of the Roebling Bridge given in honor of the 200th anniversary of John Roebling’s birth.

Kyle Anthony, a senior at Eldred Central School, took first place in the Division II long jump and triple jump competitions at the state track and field meet held Friday. Then Saturday he won in the long jump (22-10) and triple jump (47-2) at the Federation meet, which includes winners from public schools as well as the top athletes from private and parochial schools across the state. He plans to attend Bucknell University in the fall and compete for the Bison men’s track and field team.

10 Years Ago - 2016

Grandparents can serve as powerful allies in helping their grandchildren stay away from the dangers of drugs. Now Sister Dolores Gartanutti wants to mobilize grandparents as a powerful force to keep their grandkids off drugs. The special relationship young people have with Grandma and Grandpa allows the older folks, for instance, to say things parents can’t say. Sr. Gartanutti is a Parksville-based Dominican sister who has worked as a drug and alcohol counselor for years. 

The Sullivan County Legislature, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Chris Gibson, NYS Senator John Bonacic represented by Linda Cellini, and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther gave certificates of achievement to Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III at Thursday’s meeting in Monticello, on the occasion of the Democrat’s 125th anniversary. Founded in 1891, the newspaper has expanded over the years from a Callicoon-focused weekly to a countywide twice-weekly, under continuous Stabbert family ownership since 1927. Fred III thanked all for the recognition and recalled his late father, Fred Jr., and grandfather, Fred Sr., who established the pattern of community journalism and service that he follows to this day.

Hailing from Middletown and now residing in Massachusetts, Frances Brown who writes under the pen name Claire Gem, will be at the Sullivan County Historical Society Museum in Hurleyville presenting a book talk and signing of her novel “Hearts Unloched,” a romantic love story with a paranormal twist that takes place in Loch Sheldrake. It was chosen as the runner-up in the romance category at the 2016 New York Book Festival’s competition in midtown Manhattan.