140 Years Ago - 1881

A post of the G.A.R. has been organized in Woodbourne.

The compensation of Supervisors is now fixed by law at $3 for every day of actual service.

If the person who took a package of coffee from the wagon of George Lawrence, while it was standing in front of Val Schmidt's on the 3rd does not settle the matter, we shall be obliged to publish the color of the clothes he had on.

On Tuesday and Wednesday thermometers in the village of Jeffersonville marked 90 degrees in the shade.

130 Years Ago - 1891

On Saturday, May 9, a son was born to Jacob and Sophie Menges of Youngsville.

The forests about a mile and one half west of Callicoon Depot have been on fire since Sunday.

Clarence Roth, the wide awake blacksmith of White Sulphur Springs, contemplates building a house this summer.

Florence Snyder of Youngsville was married on Saturday last to George Laidlow of Livingston Manor.

The Excelsiors will soon come out in their baseball suits. The trousers are to be of black and striped cloth, white caps and shirts, the latter with a breastplate bearing the letters — Excelsiors.

School in this village closes in the large departments today, completing another term of successful instruction by R.C. Maltby.

120 Years Ago - 1901

Philip Fritz and Mrs. Mary Fowler of East Hill were married May 15. He is 70 years old and she is 69 years of age.

A son was born of Mr. and Mrs. William Kohler of this village on May 15.

Lewis A. Goldsmith and Miss Sadie M. Kinne, both of White Lake, were married at the Methodist parsonage at Monticello, May 8th.

John W. Poley, a son of the late Philip Poley of North Branch and Bertha J. Ballard of Callicoon were married on May 12th.

William Kothe Jr. has sold the Globe Hotel at Callicoon Depot to Victor Persbacker.

110 Years Ago - 1911

Otto Hillig of Liberty was driving his Haynes car home Thursday when it caught fire, through the gasoline tank leaking, and the car was quickly burned up to the frame.

A Holstein heifer belonging to Andrew A. Abplanalp of Swiss Hill gave birth to twin calves, a rather unusual occurrence.

Robert B. McGinn, a lawyer of Syracuse, has opened offices in the building occupied by the late Judge Potts.

Mrs. M. Bird went to the city to attend the graduation of her daughter, Hermine, as a trained nurse from the Cumberland Street Hospital in Brooklyn.

Miss Clara Viola Beck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Beck of Jeffersonville, became the bride of Benjamin Jacobs of New York.

The Dairy Products Co. of New York, of which Val Scheidell and Guernsey Myers of this town are stockholders, have commenced the construction of a new creamery building at Kenoza Lake, to replace the one recently destroyed by fire.

100 Years Ago - 1921

With a change in ownership, the Maple Grove Hotel at Youngsville goes under a new name, Youngsville Villa. The new proprietors are David Lampert and Nathan Norman.

Jefferson Avenue is the name of the new street to be opened through the property of Charles Schmidt and on which two new cottages are being erected by William Kohler, the lumber dealer.

A fire at the Livingston Manor Lumber Company caused damage to lumber and machinery amounting to $10,000.

The body of Henry Roosevelt Neuberger, aged 23, who died at an Army Hospital in Touel, France, on November 29, 1918, is being brought from France and is expected to arrive at Hoboken on May 21st.

Miss Mabel Elizabeth Huebsch of Beechwoods and Arthur Edward Totten of New York were married on May 15th.

The horses of Butcher Mauer of Liberty ran away on Wednesday with a loaded wagon.

90 Years Ago - 1931

Frank Laufersweiler sold his property on Maple Avenue to William L. Huff.

Albert Ackerly, aged 30, died at the Liberty Hospital of wounds received when his twelve gauge shotgun was accidentally discharged.

The Jeffersonville baseball club is planning a benefit dance at the Kenoza Lake Lodge.

Lightning struck the barn of George Westervelt at Fosterdale and the barn, wagon shed and silo were burned.

Mrs. Frank Neuberger and Mrs. Ed A. Brand and daughter, Jeane, are at the Branch home in Jeffersonville for a month. Lady Stanley Hilson of Bristol, England, who was a guest at the Brand home here for a week, returned to New York yesterday.

A terrific explosion, followed by fire, entirely destroyed the Benj. Zieres home on the Lakewood Road near Roscoe last Wednesday morning and as a result Mrs. Zieres is seriously ill from shock and burns and her husband is suffering from burns also.

Fremont Center, May 11 — A.J. Scherer has sold his place to Jos. Gamrock of New York who moved his family here Sunday. …Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kellam last Thursday, May 7, a daughter, Eleanor Evelyn. The young lady is in good health.

80 years Ago - 1941

Miss Dorothy Theiss of Jeffersonville Central School won second place in the annual state typewriting contest held at Syracuse University.

Dorothy Specht of Acidalia and Harry Steenrod of Livingston Manor were married April 27th.

Miss Madeline Hick of Callicoon Center and Francis Temple of Rockland were married on May 10th.

Ralph E. Fries of Shandelee has enlisted in the Army for three years.

Clifford VanWert has been appointed acting postmaster at Bethel.

Clifford Lehman has signed the bill changing the name of the State School of Agriculture at Delhi.

You can't shock the younger generation until they get some children of their own.

Max Odrezin of Brooklyn spent Mother's Day with his mother, Mrs. Reuben Cohen.

Miss Jeane Deckelman will be home for the weekend from Cornell.

After many delays over a period of more than two years, voters of the Delaware Valley Central School district will again have an opportunity to express themselves on sites for schools for pupils of the district. Recommendations on sites were made by the State Department of Education following an inspection on March 31. As soon as the Reichmann site can be surveyed notices calling the vote will be published. A definite date has not been yet determined. To vote, if and when called, will ask the approval of the voters for the Reichmann site on Route 97, two miles west of Callicoon, for a central school building, housing grades kindergarten through 12, and the present Long Eddy school building be completely renovated and arranged so that it would be suitable for use as a six-grade school building.

Miss Patricia Baer is assisting at the home of her sister, Mrs. J. Hubert, in Fremont Center. Mrs. Hubert and infant son recently returned from the Roscoe Hospital.

An explosion in the storage plant of the H.G. Cleaves Asphalt Co. in Liberty early Wednesday and fire which followed, caused damage estimated at $6,000. Cause of the explosion was unknown. It was the second time in ten days that the plant had been damaged by an explosion. Ten days ago accumulated gases under the roof were ignited, presumably by a truck, and blew a ten-foot hole through the roof.

Mrs. Emily L. Cuccia, the school nurse, has been offered a scholarship for a six-week course at New York University by the United States Public Health Service.

70 Years Ago - 1951

On Sunday, May 6th, Miss Doris Holt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Holt, became the bride of Ernest Yurgel of Woodhaven, L.I., in the Methodist Church with Rev. Lee VanSickle performing the ceremony.

On Monday evening, the John Gemplers gave a surprise shower for the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Thony, in a party that broke up in the wee hours of that morning.

Philip Schaefer has sold his farm in the Beechwoods to Andrew Kurzweil of Astoria, L.I. The Schaefers will move to their home in Jeffersonville. Mr. Schaefer took the farm over from his father, Fred Schaefer, 28 years ago. It has been the Schaefer homestead for over one hundred years.

Pierced through the heart by a bullet from a rifle accidentally fired by his younger brother, Barry Woda, nine, of Swan Lake, was instantly killed Saturday night. The boy and his brother, Ronald, four, had been playing in the yard of their father's summer resort at Swan Lake, when the fatal accident happened.

Leonard F. Hartmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Hartmann of Cochecton, has been promoted to Assistant Engineer at Boulder Dam, Nevada. He is a graduate of the Callicoon High School and attended Cornell University in the early 1920s.

From an editorial of the Sullivan County Democrat, May 17, 1951: The Time Has Come: In this era of greater clamor for greater government control of everything, the following little piece printed in a Minnesota newspaper seems appropriate. “The story of the creation of the world is told in Genesis in 400 words. The world's greatest moral code, The Ten Commandments, contains only 297 words. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is but 266 words in length. The Declaration of Independence required only 1,321 words to set up a new concept of freedom. The Office of Price Administration used 2,500 words to announce a reduction in the price of cabbage seed. No comment necessary.”

At Mother's Day services held in the Pea Brook church last Sunday, Mrs. Evie Baudendistel, with her family of fifteen, received the bouquet for the mother with the most children.

Cochecton, May 15, — Wedding bells rang over the weekend for Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bedford (the former Lee Essman) and Mr. and Mrs. John Jost.

Nancy Schadt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W.V. Schadt, broke two of her four front teeth last Thursday when she tripped over a ball in the gym class at school.

Miss June Krantz and Miss Barbara Peters of Callicoon Center are being trained as telephone operators to work this summer at the Monticello office.

60 Years Ago - 1961

Work is being pushed on the new County Road from North Branch to Route 52 in Jeffersonville. The road is principally in the town of Delaware, but Jeff and North Branch in the Town of Callicoon are the main beneficiaries.

Herbert Jacob Gute, New Haven, Conn., artist and educator, has recently been elected as an associate of the National Academy of Design. The recognition is a great honor.

Miss Helen Scardefield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Scardefield, Jeffersonville, has been engaged to teach first grade in the Livingston Manor Central School next year.

Last Saturday night, the officers and directors of the First National Bank, Jeffersonville, tendered a dinner to John Wohltjen, retiring cashier of the bank after 32 years of service.

Emil Thol, cashier of the First National Bank of Callicoon, has accepted the position of finance campaign chairman for the Lenape District of the Hudson-Delaware Council of the Boys Scouts of America.

50 years ago - 1971

On March 17, the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 580, Veterans of Foreign Wars, celebrated their 25th anniversary with a spaghetti dinner at the post home for members and their wives. Michael J. Reddy was first commander. Art Flynn, Vietnam veteran, is commander at the present time. Mrs. Vera Bernhardt was introduced as the senior vice president of the new auxiliary when it was organized in December 1946. Mrs. Sandra Flynn was installed as president for 1971-72. The first president of the auxiliary was Gold Star Mother Mrs. Gertrude Graham of Jeffersonville, now deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Reum were feted on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, April 24, at a small party at the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Krantz.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kutger of Youngsville were given a surprise wedding anniversary party by their daughters at the home of Mrs. Florence Boxberger on the 28th of April.

First class mail will require 8¢ per ounce and postal cards will be 6¢ effective May 16.

40 Years Ago - 1981

Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Keesler of Galilee, PA., recently received a telephone call from their son, Dean, saying he just received a promotion, having been advanced to Foreman of Radiologi­cal Control at Three Mile Island.

A formal dedication of the Paul Grossinger Dining Room was held recently at the Sullivan County Community College in the Hotel Technology Division. Grossinger was most instrumental in arranging the Startler Foundation grant that provided funding for equipment for the Hotel Technology Division of SCCC. The facility is widely recognized as one of the best of its kind.

Members of the Delaware Valley Central School boys and girls track team captured a first, second and fourth place finish at the Arlington Relays in Poughkeepsie on Saturday. Madeleine Wootan, a senior, threw the discus 114 feet, 3 inches to win the first place trophy. Tim Darder, also a senior, placed fourth overall in the boys' discus with a heave of 143 feet. He also took second in Class III, which is determined by the size of the school. Sophomore Michael Stauch placed second overall in Class III divisions to bring home the trophy. Unofficially, it was the fastest mile walk by a sophomore in the nation.

30 Years Ago - 1991

Four school budgets in Sullivan County failed to get public approval on Wednesday — Eldred, Fallsburg, Liberty and Roscoe. Delaware Valley's budget was approved on the initial ballot for the first time in five years.

The 14th Annual Doll Show at The Concord Hotel, sponsored by the Doll Artisan Guild of Oneonta, attracted more than 900 Guild representatives and over 600 “dollers” came to view the dolls and accessories made available at the show. The Guild has an international membership of over 12,000 porcelain doll makers and dealers.

Fire departments and ambulance corps volunteers from Liberty and White Sulphur Springs held their annual memorial service for members who have passed away during the previous year. John Burke, of Ontario Hose Co. #2, Liberty, tolled the bells in their memory at the service held at the First Presbyterian Church.

Katrina Mack of Monticello was named Class B co-player of the year for the 1990-91 season by the New York State Sportwriters Association. Mack scored 2,586 points in her high school career, fourth best on the state's all-time list. She will attend Penn State on an athletic scholarship.

The Sullivan County Information Center reopened for business Friday in Rock Hill and promptly served two county visitors, one who wanted to shop in the Apollo Mall and the other who wanted to know about the best trout fishing.

Elizabeth Ann Dinoto of Jeffersonville and John S. D'Agata were married April 13, 1991 in Lewiston.

Announcement has been made of the upcoming September 28 marriage of Alice Kirby and Silas R. Matthews, current pastor of the Livingston Manor, Parksville, Beaverkill and Lew Beach Methodist churches.

20 Years Ago - 2001

Each year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health promote a series of competitions to select the best tasting water in the state. A water tasting contest was held May 10 in the lobby of the Government Center in Monticello, sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension and administered by its water specialist Kyle Myers. In a two-hour span, 80 people sampled some of the water. There were six water districts represented in the competition: Town of Fremont's Long Eddy Water District; Town of Liberty's White Sulphur Springs Water District; Town of Rockland's Roscoe Water District; the Village of Jeffersonville; the Village of Monticello; and the Village of Liberty's Lily Pond Supply. First place was given to the Village of Liberty's Lily Pond Supply, which will now go on to the Regional Competition in Binghamton in July.

An official opening ceremony was held last Friday, May 4 for the Selma Ettenberg Regional Center for Women's Health behind Community General Hospital's location in Harris. The facility has been in use since January.

On Saturday evening, Beechwoods resident Tom Norden was featured on a “Looking Back” segment of Entertainment Tonight. Norden played a starring role as Bud Ricks in the series “Flipper” during his childhood.

Alicia Kays of Callicoon recently won a $750 scholarship from the New York State Guernsey Breeders Association in order to purchase a top-notch Guernsey calf from a farm upstate. She beat out 17 other entries statewide, and the 4-month-old calf nicknamed “Cupcake,” is now hers. The local effort was coordinated by Laurie Smith of the 4-H Youth Development Team.

10 Years Ago - 2011

Monticello Mayor Gordon Jenkins and his partner, Rochelle Massey pled guilty to five misdemeanors in their counterfeiting case, sparing them a trial and Jenkins a potential felony conviction that would have cost him his mayoralty. The duo pled guilty to five counts each of trademark counterfeiting in the third degree, all misdemeanors, for possessing and intending to sell fake Nike sneakers, including two occasions in 2009 and 2010 where they sold them to undercover state troopers.

Twenty-five cats rescued from a fire in an animal hoarder's home in Monticello have found a temporary haven in Joanne Gerow's barn after a desperate call to action from Village of Monticello Deputy Manager John LiGreci. With the help of Keith and wife Kimberly Anderson, a vet technician, who were visiting Gerow at the time of the call, the group set up what Dr. Andersen termed a “Mash Unit” after seeing the situation. Creating a sort of assembly line method of separating the cats by gender, taking blood tests for diseases, euthanize if necessary, give rabies shots as well as spay and neuter the healthy cats. It took eight and a half hours to spay thirteen females and alter twelve males. As of the article's writing, 14 cats had already found their forever homes.