110 Years Ago - 1915

Some time ago, Supt. Chas. Hick inaugurated a series of spelling matches between the pupils and schools of his district. Recently at a Grahamsville match at which Mr. Hick pronounced the words, Alice Moore won over a class of 18. Her standing was 95.

Milanville, Pa. — While cutting acid wood last Monday, Marvin Conklin cut four of his toes on his right foot so badly that he has to use a crutch to get about. Dr. McCrea is treating the injured digits.

Clarence Gordon of Rock Hill killed a large wildcat on Monday in the Mullock Swamp and took it to Monticello on Tuesday to get the $1.50 county bounty. The cat weighed twenty-five pounds.

The barn and home of John Brucher of Bethel, together with all the contents, were destroyed in a fire on Friday night. Mr. Brucher had spent the night with the Lilley family and when he went to his place to do the chores in the morning, discovered the loss.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Sommer of North Branch, a daughter, Dorothy Grace, on March 8.

In an article on the history of the Callicoon Post Office, it is stated that there are three rural routes which cover sixty miles six days a week and in the summer there are four star routes covering eighty-four miles. The three routes include No. 1 which covers the Beechwoods route and is driven by Irving Sparling who has not lost a day in the seven years last November that he has driven it. RFD No. 2 is the Fremont route which Frank Hartz has driven for the past four years. RFD No. 3 is the Pennsylvania route and is driven by Charles W. Bock who took it over February 1 last from Major Rose.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Because of the rule adopted by the Regents at the January meeting, the Callicoon High School will require a librarian who is trained in the work. After September 1, 1926, any school having an academic enrollment of over 70 and less than 100 will also be required to have a trained librarian.

At a meeting of the Accredited Herd Association in Liberty Monday, Dr. F.P. Hust of Jeffersonville was appointed county veterinarian. He will begin his work April 1. The supervisors have appropriated $3,500 and 25¢ a head to finance the testing. Retesting in the towns of Delaware, Bethel and Liberty will be completed first, and then townships that have signed up 90 percent will receive the initial test … August Beckman and Paul Hartman of East Cochecton are assisting Supervisor H. Tyler in getting signatures for the cows’ TB test.

J. William Ohlsen, owner of the Pine Grove Poultry Farm in Lava, died suddenly on Saturday morning. Henry Flage, caretaker of the farm, and Mrs. J. Bodens and daughter Gertrude, all of Lava, attended the funeral in Brooklyn.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The George Edelmann home at the Fosterdale four corners was burned to the ground Sunday about noon. All of the furniture was removed from both the first and second floors. The building could not be saved. It is partially covered by insurance.

Supervisor George H. Raum of the Town of Delaware has been appointed as Postmaster at Kenoza Lake, thus settling a bitter fight in which nearly a score of Kenoza Lake residents sought the job.

Wm. Haegele of Elizabeth, N.J., has sold his poultry farm at Callicoon Center to Frederick and Caroline Schuler of Callicoon Center and possession is to be given at once.

The ice moved out of the river below Cochecton on Tuesday. No damage was done and the danger from ice is over for another year. The jam at Skinner’s Falls began to move about noon Tuesday and in a short time many Delaware Valley residents were on hand to watch the majestic sign of moving ice. At Narrowsburg several jams occurred during the afternoon but all proved of short duration and before nightfall the river was running clear.

Kenneth C. Botsford is making repairs in the Dycker Shoe Store which will be vacated soon to make room for the Bennett Bros drugstore which will be moved to that location about April 1.

Cecil Abraham, Russell Welsh and Orasamus White returned from their Western trip last week Wednesday night about midnight. The carload of draft horses which they purchased in Iowa reached Cochecton Friday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Schlumbohm, who spent the past two and a half months with her parents in Iowa, returned with the above mentioned party to the home of his uncle, C. Schlumbohm.

The bogus nickel mill and three prisoners were seized by secret service agents in a raid on an abandoned farmhouse near Goshen. Three hydraulic presses, which are said to have stamped out 1,000,000 counterfeit nickels during the past year, were found.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Reichmann of Callicoon are the parents of a baby girl born Wednesday; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Tyler of Milanville, Pa., are the parents of a baby boy born Tuesday, both at the Callicoon Hospital.

Miss Wilma Rosencranse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Rosencranse of Beach Lake, Pa., and Nicholas James Diehl, Seaman 1/c, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Diehl of Narrowsburg, were married March 14, by Rev. Ray Walker at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., where the bride’s mother is a patient and on that account the wedding was solemnized at that place.

Jay Dreher, a prominent merchant in Roscoe, dropped dead in his store on March 14.

Walter Baker and Charles Wilcox, both of Abrahamsville and serving in the armed forces, have been cited for bravery. Walter received the Purple Heart some time ago and now the Bronze Star medal.

From the Victory Chain, Inc., food store in Callicoon, the weekly ad includes Potatoes, 50 lb. bag, $2.17; Ivory soap, laundry bar, 3/29¢; Crisco, 3 lb. jar, 68¢; Porterhouse steak, Grade A, 49¢ lb.; Fillets of Whitefish, 25¢ lb.; Blue Stamps X5, Y5, Z5, A2 and B2 expire March 31.

Civilians at War

The government needs and asks its citizens in this 171st week of the war to:

1. Take advantage of mild days by conserving fuel. Future allotments may be lower.

2. Donate magazines, books and games to your local Red Cross. They will be appreciated by the boys in the veterans’ hospitals.

3. Cancel all plans for pleasure travel. Demands for Pullman cars to move military casualties are five times greater than six months ago.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Buddenhagen of Hortonville celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary with dinner at the home of their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Buddenhagen, whose son was also celebrating his 20th birthday.

A son was born Friday to Rev. and Mrs. Peter Bult of North Branch; a son on Friday to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Heinrichs of Swan Lake; a son, Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. James Freer of Jeffersonville; a daughter, Tuesday to Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ray of Hankins; and a daughter, Tuesday, to Mr. and Mrs. James LaBarr of Narrowsburg, all at the Callicoon Hospital.

Lawrence A. Mauer was re-elected chief of the Hortonville Vol. Fire Co. at their annual meeting on March 3. Wm. H. Dirie was elected assistant chief and William N. Fink will hold the office of secretary/treasurer.

Ice storms in the Thompson, Bethel and Fallsburg areas Friday and Sunday crippled utility services and did thousand of dollars worth of damage to trees. Friday’s storm started in the early morning hours and made driving hazardous. Sunday’s storm started with rain which froze later in the day. Traffic was pretty well tied up from Masten Lake to Monticello Sunday night. Monday and Tuesday the wind blew quite hard which damaged trees more … The Big Eddy Telephone Company had about 100 customers’ phones out of order. Linemen and an extra crew of men worked Saturday and Sunday in an effort to get service restored. The damage was estimated to be about $2,500 according to General Manager W.C. Dillmuth.

60 Years Ago - 1965

The sum of $5,000 was appropriated by the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors for further municipal airport site studies. The Town of Bethel offered the old Camp Israel site and is one of three being considered by the committee. The others are the Liberty Airport near Grossinger’s and the south of Wolf Lake site. The Bethel site is about 7 miles either way from Liberty or Monticello.

Announcement has been made of the engagement of Miss Leilani Farr of Tampa, Fla., to A3c John T. Kitson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Kitson of North Branch. A September 25 wedding date has been set.

Ellis Terrell of Galilee, Pa., was killed instantly on March 6 while cutting timber near his home. Mr. Terrell was alone when a limb sheared off a tree he was felling, striking him on the head, and killing him instantly. When he did not return home, his son, Edwin, began a search and finally located his father’s body.

One of the big races at Monticello Raceway during the 1965 season will be the Monticello leg of the Harness Tracks of America Trot Saturday, June 26. The purse is $10,000. The series winds up at Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, July 23, for $50,000.

Jeff-Y defeated Narrowsburg in a Western Sullivan League championship game on March 2, played at the Delaware Valley Central School, defeated Tuxedo and Jeff defeated Florida for another tie.  The playoff Friday, March 12, was won by Narrowsburg, 75-73.

Railroad Avenue in Roscoe, locally called Poverty Road, has been cleared of 10 buildings north of the Roscoe House, to make room for the construction of the new by-pass.

50 years ago - 1975

Sixteen persons were left homeless as the result of a fire Monday afternoon at the Red Barn Motel in Swan Lake. The Red Cross sheltered the homeless in a Liberty motel and is looking for apartments to accommodate from one to five persons.

Richard Lott Jr. of Kohlertown had a very bleak 13th birthday on February 12, all because he tried to help out his sister on the previous Saturday. Richard miraculously survived a 40-foot fall when he was planning a tree house for his sister, Lori, 11. A branch ten feet below his point of departure broke his drop somewhat but unfortunately it broke, letting him tumble 30 more feet to the ground. He sustained a broken leg, a bruised kidney and numerous bumps and abrasions which were treated at Liberty-Loomis Hospital.

Bruce H. Wells, editor of the Sullivan County Democrat, has been appointed publicity and public relations director at the Monticello Raceway to succeed Allen J. Finkelson. Mrs. Loretta Kratz of Callicoon, a longtime executive secretary at the track, has been promoted to Party and Special Groups Manager.

Sullivan County Democratic Chairman Fred W. Stabbert Jr. announced Tuesday that Governor Hugh Carey will be the principal speaker at the annual Jeffersonian Day Dinner which will be held June 6 at Grossinger’s.

Clarence Decker and Patti Maples are the new Scotch Doubles champions at the Liberty Lanes.

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Krantz of Jeffersonville and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Jay of Cochecton Center announce the engagement of their children, Karen to Thomas. A June wedding is planned.

Peck’s of Narrowsburg celebrated a grand opening of their new facility in Narrowsburg by advertising the following specials in their Narrowsburg and Callicoon stores: T-Bone Steak, $1.49 a pound; 10 lbs No. 1 Long Island potatoes, 29¢ with a filled super saver card; Indian River white grapefruit, 7/$1; Ground beef, 69¢ a lb.; and Sealtest cottage cheese, 39¢.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Studies have begun by the New York State Department of Transportation for preliminary work on re-routing traffic from Route 97 through the hamlet of Callicoon in order to reconstruct the viaduct overpass. Work on the viaduct is to begin next year.

The late Johanna McDermott of Youngsville, in preparing her will instructed her attorney to prepare a bequest for a percentage of her estate to go to the Sullivan County Heart Association. A check in the amount of $20,606.85 was presented last week to fulfill her wishes.

The Delaware Valley Central School cheerleaders took first place at the sectionals held in Middletown on Sunday. This is their 8th consecutive year of winning the first place trophy in the Class C-D division. Nancy Sandlas, coach, is assisted by Christiana White and Chris Pietrucha in shaping up the “winners.”

The New York State Ms. Senior American Pageant will be held May 8-10 at Brown’s Hotel in Loch Sheldrake. The winner of the pageant will receive an all-expense paid trip to represent the State of New York in the Region I finals to be held later in the year.

As a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Assemblyman Richard I. Coombe (R-C, Chenango-Delaware, Otsego and Sullivan counties) has been invited by President Ronald Reagan to attend an exclusive White House briefing on March 11.

The Monticello Volunteer Ambulance Corps is celebrating its 15th anniversary of organization this year. A salute to the ambulance corps and one to the Girl Scouts of America, who were celebrating their 73rd birthday, was published in the March 12 Sullivan County Democrat.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Village of Monticello Mayor Robert Friedland presented Joe Mineri with the Mayor’s Trophy after Mineri led his horse, Chairman, to victory over two competitors at the Monticello Crossroads Coalition Winter Festival Saturday on Broadway.

Susan Hemmer has been named mayor of Jeffersonville to take over for Frank Armstrong who resigned the position Wednesday, citing personal reasons and his increased involvement as a law enforcement officer in the Monticello Police Department for giving up the office. The residents will have an opportunity to vote for mayor on March 21.

The county’s supervisor of promotion and public information, Debra Conway, resigned after two months on the job, citing conflicts in being allowed to do the job as she was hired to do, citing in particular the means to keep the New York Fire Chiefs’ convention in Sullivan County. She will return to her job at the Times-Herald Record where she is a feature writer.

The Eldred Yellowjackets handed the Tri-Valley Bears their first loss this season when they defeated them 59-38. In pre-game ceremonies, Eldred Coach Al Wojtaszek extended his school’s congratulations to the Bears for winning the Sullivan Western League basketball championship.

The Lake Huntington Volunteer Ambulance Corps celebrated their 25th anniversary. Ethel Hulse is president of the 50-member corps who have responded to over 115 calls this past year.

The Eldred Lady Yellowjackets defeated the Delaware Valley Lady Eagles to capture their 15th Western Sullivan League title in a playoff Friday at the SCCC field house.

Fifteen gallons of gasoline were spilled by a Griff Petroleum truck as the driver filled the underground fuel tank at the DVCS bus garage. Twenty-six students and a staff member reported feeling ill and were sent to the Callicoon hospital. An early dismissal was held at the school while volunteers helped contain the gas.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-26) announced this week that the Department of Transportation will award $500,000 in aviation grants to Sullivan County International Airport to rehabilitate the runway taxiway and aprons. The project is required because the pavements are experiencing a large number of shrinkage cracks.

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Van Houten of Divine Corners and James C. Cable of Stamford have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer, to Christopher Hermann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hermann of Callicoon. The bride-elect is employed by New York State Gas and Electric and the groom-to-be owns his own farm and is employed by Jim Hughson Excavating in Jeffersonville. A July wedding is planned.

Nathan Steingart of Steingart and Associates printed 20,000 postcards addressed to Gov. George Pataki free of charge for the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, to be distributed locally in support of casino gambling. The cards will be collected and delivered to the governor’s office.

“A Danish for Your Thoughts” will help determine the health care needs of Sullivan County and how to meet them. Community General Hospital is hosting a series of community input breakfasts, the first to be held on Tuesday, March 14, in the ambulatory services building board room in Harris. Other scheduled breakfasts will be March 15, March 22 and March 23, in Harris, and March 24 in the cafeteria of the Grover M. Hermann Division in Callicoon.

The 24th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in Yulan on Sunday. The winning float was a “Tribute to Disney,” awarded for its imagination and fun spirit. Tucked between 23 volunteer fire and ambulance service vehicles from Sullivan and Orange counties and nearby Pennsylvania, were bands, floats, veterans, scouts, school children and characters. The second place for floats was awarded to the Rustic Country Inn for its “Fine Kettle of Stew,” while the Colonial Family Restaurant won third for “The World’s Largest Irish Coffee.”

20 Years Ago - 2005

Town of Bethel Heavy Equipment Operator Jason Stanton was just doing his job on a snowy March 2 when things went terribly wrong. Inside a sand truck just south of Swan Lake, he spied a car coming in his direction as he treated Blanchard Road. Both he and the other driver maneuvered out of each other’s way on the narrow road, but as they passed, Stanton glimpsed a frightening scene in his rear-view mirror. “The last thing I saw was the taillights going over,” he recalled. Jumping out of his town truck, Stanton ran to the roadside only to see the car sitting on its roof in the West Branch of the Mongaup River. Trying not to fall as he made his way down the bank, Stanton knew there was at least one person still inside the car – and that meant getting wet. Stanton plunged into the icy water and found not one but two people hanging upside down, still strapped in their seats. And they were alive. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to see that face staring in the window,” recalled Gina Shultis, the car’s driver. “I didn’t think anyone saw me.” Stanton managed to finally help Gina and her young daughter out of the car. Stanton was honored Thursday by the Bethel Town Board and Highway Superintendent Lyndon Lilley for his heroic – and likely lifesaving – effort.

This year’s Weather Hazards Awareness Week is March 13-19. As in past years, it will include two emergency communication drills. These will be run statewide, simultaneously, each at approximately 1:45 p.m.

10 Years Ago - 2015

The Federation for the Homeless can tell you how rough this winter’s been – Director Kathy Kreiter and staff field calls daily about food, shelter, heat and clothing. Now the deep freeze and piled-high snow have dealt a brutal blow to the Federation itself. On March 4, staff opened the Federation’s Monticello headquarters and found pieces of the foyer’s ceiling on the floor. Trapped under ice and snow on the flat roof, water had seeped through vent piping and eaten away at the ceiling. Kreiter and crew did have to quickly move stores of winter clothing out of the way of falling water – and she’s afraid this won’t be the last time.

State Police at Wurtsboro are investigating an accident that left Susan McCormick, 56, of Rock Hill, dead during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rock Hill on Saturday.

Just 10 days ago, the only mounds that could be seen at SUNY Sullivan’s baseball field were snowdrifts burying the dugouts and home plate area. While last week’s warmer weather leveled the playing field so to speak, the ballpark is still a sea of white and the season’s opening home game on March 28 is in doubt. Meanwhile, the Generals embark on their southern trip tomorrow when they will play 16 games in eight days in Maryland and Virginia.