110 Years Ago - 1910

A party consisting of Mr. and Mrs. W. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Gregg, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Valentine, Messrs. Mitchell, Tyler, Seipp and Smith journeyed down the Delaware River last week in a house boat. They left Cochecton Thursday morning and reached Easton Saturday evening, having visited several places of interest along the way, among them the Delaware Water Gap which is considered the prettiest place on the river. The party reached home Sunday coming by way of Jersey City.

Firemen's memorial services were held Sunday by the Callicoon Fire Department No. 1, Delaware Hose No. 2 and the Reliance Hook and Ladder Company, under the supervision of Chief Martin Hermann, and marched to the cemetery where services were held over the members of the department. Beautiful floral tributes were placed on the graves after which an address was read by James H. Curtis and prayer and benediction by the Rev. Frank Neal.

On last Friday after business hours, the officers and employees of the National Union Bank moved from the Mitchell building into their handsome new bank, and opened up for business there Saturday morning. The new building is up to date and is a much larger place. — Callicoon Corresp.

Assemblyman Evans' bill appropriating $10,000 for dyking the Delaware River at Barryville was vetoed by the Governor on June 18.

Assemblyman Whitney's bill abolishing the office of district superintendent of schools, was signed on June 23 by Governor Hughes. The superintendent is to be elected for a five-year term by a board of school directors, and to be eligible, must have a State teacher's certificate and must pass an examination prescribed by the State Commissioner of Education. The annual salary is fixed at $1,200 and is to be paid by the state.

100 Years Ago - 1920

Six students received diplomas last evening at the commencement exercises of the Callicoon High School at the Community House. This was the second largest class graduated from the school since it attained the high school grade some four or five years ago. The class consists of Anna Graebner, Pauline Hartmann, Merrett Hessenauer, Edwin Hoffman, Freda Hartz and William Metzger. Scholarship prizes were awarded in Foreign Language to Pauline Hartmann; History, Freda Stephens; Mathematics, John Traynor; English, Valleau Curtis; and Science, Anna Graebner. Livingston Manor graduated a class of six; Liberty one of 25 and Monticello 18.

Miss Anna M. Huff of Obernburg and Peter I. Roemer were united in marriage at St. Peter's Church, Bronx, June 16. Miss Agnes Huff and Wm. J. Roemer were the attendants.

June 21, Miss Adelaide Buch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Buch, were united in marriage with Albert Suhr, son of Mrs. M. Suhr, in a ceremony at the home of the bride. Rev. Kern officiated at the Narrowsburg ceremony.

John Wesley Darbee, 80, a Civil War veteran or Roscoe, is dead following an operation for hernia.

Wm. Kilcoin of near North White Lake was shocked and a calf in a flock he was feeding killed by a bolt of lightning Sunday morning.

Hazel Lawrence, 12, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eben H. Law­rence of White Sulphur Springs, was choked to death under the family Ford when it was overturned near Strongtown at 2 o'clock Friday morning. The parents were both pinned under but the mother was able to extricate herself and summon aid.

At the spelling bee contest in Long Eddy last week, the following won: Lawrence Vaughn of Long Eddy and Loretta Skinner of Basket; alternates, Frances Tobin of Long Eddy and T. Anderson of Basket.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Beck of Buck Brook returned Sunday from their honeymoon and were presented with an old-fashioned skimmelton.

Anita Stewart in “Mind the Bad Girl” at Starck's Modern Playhouse Saturday, June 26, at 9:00 p.m. (new time). Admission 15¢ and 25¢ includes Comedy and Pathe News on program. Tuesday evening, Marguerite Clark in “Rich Man, Poor Man.”

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg has installed a new lighting system. Six members were confirmed there on Sunday: Lillian Huebner, Oscar Rasmussen, Chas. Miller, Harold Perthour, Graham Stanton and Albert Stranahan.

90 Years Ago - 1930

Mrs. Lizzie Turk of Acidalia left early last week on the trip for Gold Star Mothers to France where she will visit the grave of her son, Walter Turk, who was killed in action and is buried in France.

Mr. and Mrs. John Gorr of Callicoon announce the marriage of their daughter, Marie, to Wm. Grimm of New York City on June 7.

Residents of Hancock and the surrounding territory have petitioned the State Department of Education to establish a Central Rural School District there.

A betrayal spiral of smoke ascending from a one-story building two hundred feet behind Resnick's Sunshine Lake View House at Harris and nearly opposite the Methodist Church led to the discovery of a 60-gallon still in operation, three 5-gallon cans of alcohol and 21 barrels of mash this week Monday night by Sheriff Benjamin Gerow and Sergeant T.J. Mangan who had called at Resnick's to serve some papers. No arrests have been made.

Miss Beatrice Caffrey entertained at her home Saturday six of her school pupils. Those present were Lillie Keesler, Alma Lord, Emily Blair, Elsie Walker, Alice and Adelaide Rose, all of Abrahamsville.

Kenneth C. Fuller, physical training teacher at Jeffersonville, Youngsville and Callicoon schools, and Miss Alta Young of Youngsville school faculty for the past several years, will be married in August. Although they are both from Gouveneur, they did not become acquainted until they met down here. — Jeff Corresp.

Mr. and Mrs. Ezell White slipped back quietly from their honeymoon trip and Mrs. White and Miss Ruth Barnes slipped away just as quietly to State College, Center County, Pa., at which place they will take a brief course in certain forms of agriculture to be of use to them in their profession. — Damascus Corresp.

From the June 25, 1930 issue of the Sullivan County Democrat: Earth dwellers will probably be able to travel to the moon and to communicate with their terrestrial home by telephoning over a beam of light in another 120 years, Dr. John Q. Stewart, associate professor of astronomical physics at Princeton University declared recently at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Doctor Stewart declared that the one theoretically feasible method of journeying to the moon that has been suggested is a vehicle propelled on the principal of the rocket. Such a ship, he believed, would be spherical, perhaps 110 feet in diameter. Projecting from it in all directions would be a dozen or more cannons. When one of those was fired the ship would be propelled in the opposite direction. The ship would weigh 70,000 tons, of which 28,000 would be shot from the guns to give propulsion. The crew would number about sixty and a dozen passengers might be carried on a two month's cruise. He believes the trip will be a possibility in the year 2050.

Due to the lack of seats in the auditorium, graduation was not held in Long Eddy this year. Eighth grade students who completed the work were John Billings, Elmer Bullis, Fred Eickhoff, Ernest Gorton, Josephine Johnson, Edwin Vaughn, Freda Rickard and Margaret Werner. In the upper grades and high school, five pupils earned certificates for perfect attendance: Margaret Rose, Estelle Kenney, Isabelle Gorton, Ernest Gordon, and Elmer Bullis.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Meckle of Narrowsburg are the parents of a girl, Judith Clare, born June 14.

The 13th child, a boy, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Gries at their Damascus home on June 25. The family now consists of nine boys and four girls. Russell, aged 33, is trouble shooter for the Western Union at Callicoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zetzman of North Branch have announced the engagement of their daughter, Erika, to Arnold Euker, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Euker of North Branch.

Three small children of Section Foreman Smith of Hankins were saved from drowning Tuesday afternoon by Chapell Peake Jr., aged 11, and Vilho Makela, 12. The children had been rowing in the Delaware River near Theo. Weber's when their boat became filled with water and sank. The two boys, rowing nearby, noticed their plight and succeeded in hauling them from the water.

The first annual commencement of the Delaware Valley Central School was concluded on Tuesday night when 28 seniors received their diplomas from F. Willard English, president of the Board of Education. He had awarded four diplomas to the Long Eddy seniors the previous evening. Twenty-seven seniors received their diplomas at the Jeffersonville Central School on Monday evening, June 24.

Engagement of their daughter, Myrtle Wright, to Howard Wehner of Shandelee is announced by Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Wright of Liberty.

This year, after four years as business man in Monticello, Walter Weiss has returned to his farm on the North Branch-Callicoon Center road to live. Mr. Weiss has gone in for modern farming and has stocked the farm with registered Guernsey cattle. The farm is fenced with electric fencing. The Weiss home is no less modern than the farm and its equipment. The modernized kitchen is done in white tile and Mrs. Weiss enjoys cooking and baking with gas and electricity.

The relatives of Miss Ethel Brey gave her a bridal shower at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Brey, Kenoza Lake, on Friday evening of last week… Herbert A. Hassis was appointed a village policeman for the summer months, to start July 1st. — Jeff corresp.

70 Years Ago - 1950

At the Callicoon Hospital it was a son for Mr. and Mrs. Howard Fink of Hortonville on June 22; a daughter, Sunday, for Mr. and Mrs. James Noble of Lackawaxen, Pa.; a daughter for Mr. and Mrs. David Weber of Eldred on Tuesday.

Joseph McCoach of Fosterdale had five cows and a bull killed by lightning on Saturday afternoon. He estimates their value at $1,500. Lightning struck the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Engert in Callicoon Saturday, ripping a hole in the roof, following a BX line to the living quarters where it played havoc with the switch boxes and fixtures and then evidently grounded on the water line.

Miss Helen Wilcox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Wilcox of Roscoe became the bride of Kenneth Stewart Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Stewart of Roscoe RFD, at a ceremony performed at the Fremont Methodist Church on June 25. Rev. Herbert Livingston officiated. Miss Rose Wilcox was maid of honor. The flower girl was Ruth Freidenstine. Jacob Wexler was best man and Harry Wilcox and Wm. Friedenstine were ushers.

Richard Morris of Andes and Leonard Dauch of Roscoe were killed at Lew Beach early Friday when a six-ton boulder fell on them in a tunnel at the foot of the 603-foot Shaft One on the New York City aqueduct project.

Earl Stratton, South Fallsburg banker who has been reported the GOP choice for Assembly nomination, definitely will not be a candidate, he declared last week. He gave “press of personal business” as the reason for his decision not to run.

Invitations have been received to the wedding of Miss Ethel Switzer of Auburn and Wilbur Sipple of Roscoe on July 8 in Auburn.

60 Years Ago - 1960

As the District office of the 18th Decennial Census closed in Newburgh on Friday, Mrs. Anna S. Deane released figures pertaining to population for the 28th Congressional District. Sullivan County shows a gain of 4,321 residents in ten years with Monticello having the biggest increase. A total of 45,052 was recorded for the county.

Monticello Raceway got off to a tremendous start Thursday with the biggest opening night crowd since the track was opened June 27, 1958. A total of 6,545 fans pushed $274,135 through the pari-mutuel windows.

Miss Maureen Roche, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Roche, Hortonville, was married June 18 to Anthony Knipp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Knipp of Chester, at Holy Cross Church.

At the Callicoon Hospital it was a daughter Friday to Mr. and Mrs. George Dudley Jr. of Callicoon; a daughter Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. William Schultz of Callicoon.

The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene M. Hanofee of Liberty was christened Sunday afternoon by a family friend, Rev. Henry B. Crussa, who was assisted by Rev. Clifford Rhode.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Gerow of Liberty quietly observed their 60th wedding anniversary on June 6. Mr. Gerow is a patient at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital and a small local family gathering was held in his room.

50 years ago - 1970

Fifteen graduates received diplomas from St. Joseph's Franciscan Seminary, Callicoon, in ceremonies held Sunday morning. The festivities marked the 70th year of operation for the Franciscan high school seminary.

William Jones, principal of Roscoe Central School, is retiring the end of this month. Dr. W. Eugene Ross, in a surprise announcement at the graduate ceremony at DVC, made known his plans for retirement in October, from his position as District Superintendent.

At the Liberty-Loomis Hospital, it was a baby boy to Mr. and Mrs. Alberto Rizzo of Liberty, on June 13; a girl to Mr. and Mrs. George Popet of White Sulphur Springs on June 14; a girl, June 16th, to Mr. and Mrs. Ted Coleman of Livingston Manor; a girl, June 18, to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Skelly of Callicoon Center; and a girl, June 19, to Mr. and Mrs. Grant Hammer of Woodbourne.

Sullivan County's spanking new $6 million international airport in Bethel formally opens this weekend with a dedication banquet at the Concord Hotel on June 26.

Miss Ruth Ellen Boyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Boyd of White Sulphur Springs, became the bride of Deming B. Lindsley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Burton Lindsley, also of White Sulphur Springs, at a ceremony performed June 13 at St. Francis R.C. Church in Youngsville.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peters of Jeffersonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Bettie, to Michael LaJoie of Dannemora. A November wedding is planned.

Mrs. Evelyn Banuat of Pleasant Valley (Callicoon RD) is retiring from her teaching duties at DVCS. In Roscoe, a retirement party at the Huff House honored Eugene Perretta, language in­structor 27 years, and Mrs. Ruth Coy, 6th grade teacher the past twenty-six years at RCS. They will be missed and remembered for their influence on our young people.

Miss Cheryl Luckey of Kenoza Lake was guest of honor at a bridal shower given her by the personnel of the Liberty-Loomis Hospital Wednesday. She will become the bride of Willis Armbrust of Fremont on July 11.

About 200 attended the retirement dinner of William Jones of Roscoe, held at the Campbell Inn June 12. He has been supervising principal of Roscoe Central School the past 5 years.The County of Sullivan will seek an injunction to stop the Mountaindale outdoor theatre and has a new local law controlling mass gatherings over 10,000. In a dramatic early Tuesday morning meeting at the County Courthouse, following a nearly three-hour public hearing on the local law, the supervisors finally adopted a resolution to seek court interference with the Mountaindale enterprise. Probably no issue since the community college site location had generated as much heat on the county board as the festival issue. Some 75 people remained for the final vote by the Supervisors Tuesday morning.

40 Years Ago - 1980

August “Augie” Lott, 72, a highly respected community leader and owner of the Ace Garage in Jeffersonville, died June 23 at the Horton Hospital in Middletown.

Wendy Leigh Muthig, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Muthig of Parksville, and James G. McCarthy, son of Mrs. Carol Curry of Grahamsville, were united in marriage May 17 at St. Peter's Church in Liberty… Bettie S. Sobolewski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sob­olewski of Highland Lake, and Kirk D. Meehan, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Zwisler of Glen Spey, were married May 25 at St. Anthony's Church in Yulan.

Burton Lindsley was honored at a retirement dinner in Livingston Manor after serving 30 years as a New York State conservation officer.

Fifty-one recipients shared $123,000 in scholarships from three funds at the Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon: $98,000 was distributed from the Charles P. and Pauline M. Kautz Foundation to 35 winners; 13 awards in the amount of $20,500 were made from the Charles Thorwelle Foundation; three winners received $4,000 from the Sawyer Foundation. More than 700 attended the 41st annual commencement exercises Saturday evening when 55 received diplomas.

Other graduations were held in the area with Eldred graduating 45 students; Fallsburg had 56 and in Honesdale, Pa., a tree was planted in honor of the 222 graduates who received their diplomas June 13. Liberty Central School graduated 117 and neighboring Monticello had 215 seniors who received diplomas. Saturday afternoon ceremonies were held for 53 graduates of the Jeff-Y School. Livingston Manor, 67 students received diplomas and Narrowsburg honored 22. Roscoe accounted for 33 graduates and Tri-Valley graduated 78.

Sullivan County's only “amusement ride” — the Mt. Coaster which has been installed at the Holiday Mt. Ski Area in Bridgeville — will be unveiled to the public starting June 28 and will be open daily throughout the summer.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Town of Delaware officials Wednesday afternoon made it official by awarding bids for construction of a collection system and sewage treatment plant for the hamlet of Callicoon to the low bidders on the project as follows: Vacri Construction Corp. of Binghamton for construction of the collection system, $1,521,000; Standard Construction for general construction on the treatment facility, $1,827,000; Harry F. Rotola and Son for construction of the electrical system, $225,530; F&M Mechanical for construction of the plumbing system, $47,000, and the same company for the heating, air conditioning and ventilation of the plant, $45,400.

Catherina Park, a graduate of Fallsburg High School, was the recipient Wednesday of the first Nancy Solomon Scholarship Award, given in honor of the late Nancy Solomon, a popular teacher at the Benjamin Cosor Elementary School. The Nancy Solomon Character Award was given by a visibly moved school principal, Norman Kowalik, to Tasheena Tompkins.

The National Council of State Garden Clubs has awarded a $500 check to be used for garden improvement to the Woodland Wildings Garden located at Sullivan County Community General Hospital in Harris. The garden demonstrates the use of natural boulders and plant material for mountain gardening. The award is the second national and third state recognition in the 10-year-old project.

Members of the Liberty Elks recently donated $3,454.23 to the Sullivan Diagnostic Treatment Center for construction of a therapeutic pool. The pool will service not only residents at the Center, but will be available for all Sullivan County residents in need of water therapy.

Members of the first class of the newly formed Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon held a 50th reunion at the Western Hotel in Callicoon. A total of 13 of the 28 graduates attended, together with their spouses.

20 Years Ago - 2000

June 11 was the 49th annual Knack Family Reunion held at the Hortonville Firehouse for the descendants of John and Eva Gildt Knack. Their 10 children were Susan Knack Wehner, Eva Knack Kappes, Fred Knack, Whilhemina Knack (Wilson) (Graham) Fries, Kate Knack (Goldstein) Greenshields, Mary Knack Kraft, Christina Knack Allgeier, Henry Knack, Louisa Knack Hess and Frank Knack.

About 80 people gathered on Saturday evening June 10, to say goodbye to the Reverends Martha and Bill Bonwitt. Hosted by the Episcopal Churches Martha ministered to locally - St. James, Callicoon and St. Andrew's, South Fallsburg - the gathering included parishioners and associats from Interfaith Outreach United, God's Outpost InterParish Council, and the Sullivan County Mission Task Force.

William and Geri Orr of Youngs­ville announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa, to Andrew Tanous, son of James and Deborah Tanous of Liberty.

James and Patricia Newell of Black River announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Anne Newell, to Douglas James Austin, both of Rochester. He is the son of Rosetta and Lemuel Austin of Loch Sheldrake.

Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Sullivan County presented the first-ever Morris Gerber Memorial Advocacy Award to Phyllis Gerber at its annual banquet last Thursday evening. The award was named in honor of the late Morris Gerber, Phyllis Gerber's husband, who passed away in August 1999.

10 Years Ago - 2010

Kevin Nicoletti is a senior at Sullivan West High School in Lake Huntington and as a project for his Participation in Government class he repaired and painted the “Welcome to Cochecton” sign (on 17B as you enter the town from Bethel). Nicoletti re-installed the sign with a flower box.

Monticello Mayor Gordon Jenkins pled not guilty to felony and misdemeanor counterfeit charges lodged against him by a Sullivan County grand jury and the District Attorney's Office. An investigation earlier in the year at his home and Broadway business, G-Men Beauty Supply, revealed fake Nike sneakers, pirated DVDs and a small amount of marijuana, according to DA Jim Farrell. Jenkins and his partner Rochelle Massey are accused of selling the Nikes and not collecting sales tax during the transactions, among other charges.

The American Competitive Trail Horse Association is attempting to make the Guiness Book of World Records. The Association has planned to break the largest trail riding event of all time with 63 rides held consecutively in all 50 states. One of the sites for the judged competition is in Sullivan County's Livingston Manor, at Willowemoc Wild Forest Preserve. 100 percent of the proceeds of the Livingston Manor ride are going to horse rescues and horse charities across the nation.

Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club celebrated its 100th anniversary, the oldest golf course in Sullivan County. A two-day celebration honored the century of business with a weekend full of live music, everything from face painting to free tennis lessons.