130 Years Ago - 1896

Blair & Loomis of the  Roscoe-Rockland Review have dissolved partnership. W.L. McPherson has purchased Mr. Loomis’ interest.

Henry Nixton, a farmer living near Narrowsburg, did a very profitable bit of plowing the other day, having turned up a tin can containing nearly $100 in gold and silver coins.

Henry Reinheimer Jr. of near Youngsville has taken possession of the Steenrod House at Liberty for the coming year.

The convention of the Delaware Valley Musical Association, held in the M.E. Church at Callicoon Depot on May 5-8, under the direction of Prof. J.A. Sophia of Susquehanna, Pa., was a grand success from beginning to end. The members of the association comprise the best musical talent along the Delaware Valley from  Hancock to Lackawaxen.

The change in the school law requiring that all teachers shall have arrived at the age of 18 years before being eligible for a certificate, and prohibiting trustees from contracting for the service of teachers under 18 years, will cause a scarcity of teachers, as many 16-year-old girls have been employed.

120 Years Ago - 1906

A new highway to run on the west side of the Ontario & Western railroad at Livingston Manor, and which will do away with two crossings, will be begun June 1 and will cost $18,000.

Addison Applegate of Liberty has perfected a machine to manufacture concrete blocks and has applied for a patent.

The marriage of Miss Bertha, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Glassel of Jeffersonville, and Ralph P. Bird, also of Jeff, took place yesterday at the Presbyterian parsonage in Liberty.

The house and barn of H.W. Seiffert, formerly the property of Henry Wolf, above Callicoon, were burned Sunday morning about 9 o’clock.

One of the most interesting meetings of Callicoon Lodge in a long time was held at Masonic Hall Saturday night when Edward F. Homer and Dr. W.H. Archibald of Jeffersonville and Theron T. Taylor of Kenoza Lake rode the Masonic goat, for the third time. About 40 members of the fraternity were present. At the close of the meeting, Bro. Homer invited the brethren to the Eagle Hotel where a splendid supper was served to and greatly relished by the hungry craftsmen.

Our bowling boys journeyed over the hill to North Branch Thursday night to tackle the Branch boys for the second time on Link’s Alleys and were walloped three straight.

110 Years Ago - 1916

The Presbyterian Willing Workers scored their greatest triumph in drama and comedy at Masonic Hall Monday night when they produced the five-act society drama, “The Fruit of His Folly,” to an audience that overtaxed both the seating and standing capacity of the hall. Walter J. Neiger and Mrs. Conrad Metzger played the leads in the heavy roles. Ray Bohler and Miss Florence Rapp portrayed the young lovers in excellent style. Edwin Weber, as the sporting man of the world, played an important part with good effect.

During the storm which visited this section last Sunday afternoon, lightning killed three Holstein cows belonging to  Sidney Brown between this place and Youngsville.

Last Saturday, at 5 o’clock, Long Eddy was the scene of one of the greatest fires ever witnessed in this section of Sullivan County. The conflagration started in Gould’s Mill near the business section of the town and swept down the right hand side of the main street, threatening destruction of every building in its path. In all, eight buildings were burned. The aggregate loss is estimated at $25,000, including about $15,000 worth of machinery in Gould’s Mill.

Kohler & Hess, dealers of this place, have sold a Pullman car to A.L. Whitcomb of Youngsville, taking a Ford in on the deal.

The Callicoon Center Dramatic Club will present their play, “The Country Minister,” at Durr’s Casino, Youngsville, Friday night.

Miss Edna Wilcox and Joseph Herbert of Fremont were married on May 4. A double wedding took place at Obernburg May 10 when George Fink and Miss Elizabeth Schick and Joseph Schick and Miss Marian Gunther were married.

100 Years Ago - 1926

Twins, a boy and a girl, arrived two weeks ago at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Kaplan of Long Eddy, formerly of Jeffersonville.

Miss Lulu F. Stewart of North Branch, and a sister of Mrs. Frank Hess of Jeffersonville, was graduated from the Roosevelt Hospital School for Nurses in New York Tuesday evening.

Max Roth has returned from the city and has taken charge of the bakery again.

If you must be critical, make yourself the first target.

John Wolfgang Wilfert, an old settler in Jeffersonville, died of old age at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Brisco, in Liberty on  May 7, at the age of 80 years. He was born in Germany of Bohemian parentage in 1846, and came to America as a young man. In 1868 he was married to Anna Eggler, a native of Switzerland. Mrs. Wilfert died in 1913.

Ernest C. White, 65, of Callicoon, died at Wayne Memorial Hospital in  Honesdale, Pa., on May 6th.

Fosterdale, May 10 – The annual school meeting was held Tuesday of last week. William Kabat was again elected trustee.

An optimist is a man who believes the seasons are just like the almanac says they are.

90 Years Ago - 1936

The Willowemoc House, built more than 60 years ago by Robert Bloomer at the Eastern Entrance to Willowemoc River bridge in Livingston Manor, and owned since then by Thomas White, John and Peter Haddock, and lately by Harry Wolff, was burned early last Thursday by fire of undetermined origin.

The 10 x 12 brooder house of Philip Schaefer in the Beechwoods burned to the ground at 3 o’clock Wednesday morning and 500 three-week-old chicks perished in the fire.

Chairman James M. Kelly has announced the annual Jeffersonian Dinner for Thursday, May 21, at the Hotel Flagler, Fallsburg.

E.S. Ramburg, proprietor of the baseball bat factory at Hancock, has started another bat factory at Parksville, to use up any logs in that area.

E. Schwalbe of Secaucus, N.J., arrived here this week to reopen his photo studio for the season, and help the local sports gather in the fresh water fish.

In Japan, the politicians shoot bullets. In this country they leave off the last syllable.

Nicholas Martin, aged 76, and a lifelong resident of the Town of Callicoon, died suddenly of heart failure in the field a few hundred feet from his home on the Youngsville Road, at about 5 o’clock Monday, May 4.

Mrs. Maud Sherwood, aged 54, died Sunday, May 3, at her home in Callicoon, following a year’s illness.

Miss Dorothy Kohler, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Kohler of Jeffersonville, and Ralph Wormuth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wormuth of Narrowsburg, were married at the Presbyterian Manse in Jeffersonville by  Rev. G.W. Jung on Sunday afternoon, May 3.

80 Years Ago - 1946

Fred Miller’s Grand View House, between Jeff and Kenoza Lake, has been sold to Mrs. Fay May, who recently sold the former Charles Wilfert house on E. Main St. to Leon and Frances Rosen. The sale was made through the Tegeler Agency.

The Crescent Hill House and 27 acres between here and Kenoza Lake has been sold by Mrs. Thelma Neiger Wolmer to Morris Plotkin of Brooklyn, brother of Philip Plotkin and Kenoza Lake merchant.

The Village Board has designated Tuesday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 22, as clean-up days.

Miss Lois K. Tremper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Tremper, and Stephen Lewis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lewis, both of White Sulphur Springs, were married on May 2 in the First Presbyterian Church, Liberty.

The Jeffersonville Fish and Game Club reorganized last Monday night at a meeting held at  Bucky’s Inn. Officers elected were Henry Klaus, president; Albert Felske, vice-president; Dr. Jules Flax, secretary-treasurer.

Jack Schadt escaped the shot and shell of war during his couple of years with the Army in India, and returned home only to become a victim to Cupid’s sharp arrow – right through the heart. We have just received the startling news by wire that he has become engaged to Dorothy Wagner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wagner of Liberty. Jack is the son of Mrs. Anna Schadt and the late Fred W. Schadt of Jeff. The bride-elect’s father is the son of the late Charles Wagner of Jeff and Lucy Gettel of Youngsville. Her mother is Louise Ellmauer, daughter of the late Anthony Ellmauer of Youngsville.

70 Years Ago - 1956

Maurice Downing and Carol Stephenson were crowned king and queen of the Junior Prom at Jeffersonville Central School last Friday night.

Frank Nolde, J.C.S. graduate of 1955 and a student at Middlebury College, has been named first place winner in New York State in the national Piano Recording Festival sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers.

A drive got underway this week to support the newly organized Jeffersonville baseball team, the Jeff Boosters, who are starting their first season.

A minor operation forced Governor Averell Harriman to cancel plans to speak at the 40th annual Jeffersonian Dinner at the Concord on May 23rd.

The following piano pupils of Mrs. Ilse Glassel are entered in the national auditions: Patricia Candee, Howard Feigenbaum, Janet Flax, Joan Glassel, Evelyn Hoering, Nancy Lott, Carol Nolde, Harold Roeder, Louise Roeder, Anna Rita Rosenberger, Nancy Schadt, Frederick Schadt and Willard Schadt.

Charles Frederick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Robertson, and Allen Granville, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Newkirk, were baptized at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday.

At the annual meeting of the Sullivan County local of the Farmers  Union of the N.Y. Milkshed, held at Lake Jefferson Hotel on April 27, Raymond H. Knack of Hortonville was re-elected county president. Elected to the county committee and annual convention were Fred Hermann, Callicoon, secretary-treasurer; Oscar L. Grant, Liberty; David Jaffe, Glen Wild; William Nestel, Jeffersonville; Clay Amback, Roscoe; Alternates are Irving Kratz of Callicoon and Kurt Shilbury of Hortonville.

The newly formed Women’s Community Club of Cochecton met at the Nutshell Hotel in Lake Huntington and elected Eva Palmer, president; Alice Stetka and Taddy Merkenschlager, vice-presidents; Joie Keesler, secretary; and Elizabeth Seipp, treasurer.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sykes of North Branch at Horton Memorial Hospital in Middletown on Thursday.

Twenty-seven members of the Delaware Valley Ladies Bowling League attended a banquet at Antrim Lodge, Roscoe. Prizes were awarded to Madeline Forsbloom for a three-game high; Marge Hillriegel for high over average game and Ella Popolillo, 2nd high over average game.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Eltz celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary May 7.

60 Years Ago - 1966

John Fisher of Lake Huntington caught a lake trout in White Lake that weighed seven pounds, 13 ounces and was 30 inches long.

Miss Mary Jane Joyner and Jack Howard Young were united in marriage at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joyner of Bethel.

Approximately ten thousand visitors, representing resort, institution, motel, recreation and vacation interests from all over the northeast, attended  the recently concluded 16th Annual Sullivan County Hotel Show & Exposition at Monticello Raceway.

The Columbia Hotel, Hurleyville, was the scene of a heart-warming testimonial given in honor of Miss Elizabeth E. Knapp of Bethel upon her retirement after fifty-two years of teaching in our area.

The kindergarten class of Delaware Valley Central School planted a tree Monday in memory of Emanuel Ferrara, mathematics teacher who died April 23. Wielding the shovel were kindergartners Martin Kitson and Holly Doetsch, among others.

The resurfacing of Route 97 from the Lake Huntington Road to Narrowsburg is set for this year and is most welcomed news to this area.

Army Warrant Officer John R. Nielsen of Neversink has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in Vietnam combat action while serving as aircraft commander on a low level armed helicopter mission last June near Tuy Hoa attempting to locate hostile small arms and automatic weapons positions. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Nielsen of Neversink. W.O. Nielsen and his wife, the former Darlene Garber of Bradley, have a son, Erik, who is 1 1/2 years of age. Stationed in Fukla, Germany, Nielsen has recently been promoted to chief warrant officer.

The cold weather prevails as we go into the second week in May. It seems more like March and the growing season is going slow. Rain continues to fall and promises for a good hay crop if the weather warms a little.

“Frosty and frigid, the flowers are rigid,” rhymes Lou Boettger in his weekly note. In very strange May weather, there has been a frost on several of the past days with the most severe one Monday with a reading of 21 degrees in Callicoon.

Jitka Klimchok of Callicoon has passed the test and received her license as a Real Estate Salesman in New York State. She will be associated with her husband in an agency in Callicoon.

50 Years Ago - 1976

An alleged mixture of alcohol and gasoline culminated in a two-car crash Saturday on Route 371, Tyler Hill, Pa., in which two teenagers were killed instantly and another was reported in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Wayne County Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, Pa. Killed outright in the Damascus Township tragedy were Don Kenneth Smith of Honesdale Star Route, 17 years of age, and his front seat passenger, Nancy Lester, 15, also of Honesdale Star Route. Fifteen year-old Darryl R. Ostrander is in serious condition at the hospital.

A special Mass of Thanksgiving was offered in St. Joseph’s Seminary Chapel, Callicoon, to commemorate the founding of the Franciscan Fathers’ Seminary 75 years ago - May 1, 1901.

A concert by the West Point Band and an exhibit of the students at Delaware Valley Central School was attended by about 400 people last Friday evening. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Bicentennial Flag by Town Historian Valleau C. Curtis, to Supervisor William Dirie.

Mildred Stanton of  Callicoon attended the 50th reunion of her graduating class at State University College at Oneonta on May 8. More than 30 members of the original class were present for the Alumni Luncheon.

Emil and Ann Steinhauer Pfeifer of Obernburg were honored on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary with a party at the North Branch Firehouse on May 1. Music was furnished by the Al Priebe band.

The annual State Convention for VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) was held April 28-30 at the Concord with about 1,500 people from VICA Clubs all over New York State attending.

Doreen Young of Livingston Manor and Airman Robert Gully of Washington, D.C., were married April 25 at the Livingston Manor Methodist Church.

40 Years Ago - 1986

Joseph G. Bekarciak, founder of Valley View House in Kenoza Lake, a well-known resort which catered to Polish people in particular, died unexpectedly Friday, May 9, 1986, at the Community General Hospital in Harris.  He built the business from a small farm house to a place in which they could cater to over 400 people.

Eight school budgets in the county were passed by voters with Fallsburg and Livingston Manor being defeated.

Timothy Hill has been named County Election Commissioner.

The Sullivan County Information Center reopened May 2 and will open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during May and June. Reappointments to the Sullivan County Publicity Promotion and Industrial Development Commission for three-year terms were: Milton Kutsher, Monticello; Doug Bury, Roscoe; and Marty Passante, Callicoon. Appointed to two-year terms of the Sullivan County Planning Board were: Woody Schlegel, Town of Cochecton; Thomas Eshelman, Town of Forestburgh; Gene Barbanti, Town of Liberty; and Merton Lockhart, Town of Neversink.

Residents and officials of the Town of Callicoon turned out Sunday to dedicate the new town hall and senior citizen center near the Lions Field in Jeffersonville.

Community General Hospital sponsored its Ninth Annual Volunteer Recognition  Ceremony Wednesday in the hospital cafeteria in Harris. More than 300 attended. Brenda Delade, Gloria Winarick and Rose Garfinkel were honored for over 4,000 hours each of service; Richard McCluney has over 5,000 hours; and Sylvia Sugarman was recognized for over 8,000 hours of volunteer service.

The new closed-in paddock, located in part of the grandstand and which will afford race fans a view through the windows, is nearing completion. Just another attraction at the popular raceway.

30 Years Ago - 1996

The Institute for the Development of Entertainment Arts (IDEA) in the Catskills is offering its Create-a-Tour bus packages starting June 1. A preview run was held Tuesday for members of the current hotel industry, the emerging Bed & Breakfast trade, and municipal officials and the media.

Woodstock Nation, the non-profit group based in Woodstock, N.Y., is attempting to raise $250,000 before the traditional August anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock festival to use as a down-payment on June Gelish’s reported $2.5 million asking price for the 38-acre property in Bethel.

Barry Foster, principal of the Fallsburg Junior-Senior High School, submitted his retirement letter to the school board Wednesday evening.

Willie Spellman was voted Athlete of the Year at the sports awards banquet at Sullivan County Community College last Wednesday. Spellman was recently picked a first team Division III basketball All-America and is in line for National Player of the Year. The Staten Island native, a 6-4 soph, copped MVP awards in the Mid-Hudson Conference, Region XV, and the Division III National Tournament in leading the Generals to their second straight national title.

Army Pvt. Donald R. Winters has arrived at Fort Sill, Okla., to begin basic military training as a field artillery cannoneer. Winters is the son of Donald R. and Pam G. Winters of Liberty.

The Korean and Vietnam Memorial Committee unveiled two new memorials at Veteran’s Park in Orange Square, Port Jervis on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18. Open house followed at the Roosa-Fleming VFW Post 161 and Tri-States Naval Ship Post 7241.

20 Years Ago - 2006

The Sullivan County Legislature approved a resolution to enter into a memorandum of agreement with The Gerry Foundation and the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development to beautify the 17B corridor. The agreement calls for The Gerry Foundation to match the $50,000 allotment from the County’s Planning and Development Committee during this fiscal year. 

Kristalyn K. Bodling and Kristopher M. Allison were married March 15, 2006 at the Sandals Resort on the island of Antigua. The bride is the daughter of Keith and Kathryn Bodling of Texas. The groom is the son of Carl and Patricia Allison of Hurleyville.

Pat and Gary Rogers are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Erin Anne to Scott Michael Allison, son of Donna Leiland of Ellenville and Carl Allison of Hurleyville.

This year’s Beaverkill Chapter of the DAR American History Essay Winner is Eldred 8th grader Kati Patterson.

Beginning June 17, the Barryville Chamber of Commerce will be starting a traditional farmers’ market located behind the River Market on Route 97.

10 Years Ago - 2016

The Sullivan County Democrat added two new staff members yesterday, Joseph Abraham and April Spruill. Spruill will serve as an advertising representative, while Abraham will take over as sports editor. The Democrat also welcomed Autumn Schanil to their staff full-time in February as a writer and photographer.

The Town of Delaware is moving toward a six-month moratorium on commercial solar arrays as the local market heats up. Town leaders reiterated they’re not against solar projects, including commercial ones. But they hope the moratorium will give them time to think through the impacts of an industry that appears poised to sweep across the county, with multiple companies interested in siting commercial arrays throughout Sullivan.

The Beaverkill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently inducted two new members, Mariann Cheney and her mother, 93-year-old Mary Izzo. Their patriot is John Cooper who fought in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. 

Seventh grade Tri-Valley student Alexia Cintula has found two things she’s very passionate about: her cheerleading and her academics. Alexia first came across the sport of cheerleading while attending school at Fallsburg. Alexia has been involved in Pop Warner Cheerleading for the last six or seven years. She is also a star when it comes to her academics. All her hard work has paid off – this year, Alexia was presented with the Scholar Athlete Award.