130 Years Ago - 1895

Fauble Brothers have sold their livery at the Mansion House stables in Liberty to Gilbert Newkirk.

J.C. and George Young of Liberty have commenced work on their trout pond near Livingston Manor. The work of building this dam will be completed this fall. In the spring they intend erecting a fine clubhouse.

Both the Democratic and Republican candidates in Western Sullivan are residents of Callicoon Depot, and both are popular and well-liked in their locality. Charles F. Starck is running on the Democratic ticket and John G. Stenger on the Republican.

George Yaeger, manufacturer of that indispensible article, the ladies beverage or the tipplers chaser, had his second experience at riding a goat in the Odd Fellows Lodge at Youngsville Saturday night. There were two loads of brother Odd Fellows in from Monticello to see him do the act — the junior editor of the Watchman A.M. Scriber and A.E. Rudolph, a former Jeffersonvillian were among them.

120 Years Ago - 1905

Autumn Weddings — Theodore L. Maltby of Hurd and Miss Nellie May Ray of White Sulphur Springs were married October 25th by Rev. Meyers of Ferndale.

Edward McGuire of Hankins and Amanda, daughter of Casper Engert of Fremont Center, were married at St. Joseph’s College, October 25.

Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Frank Fried of Callicoon was united in marriage to William Bland of New York City.

Edmund Simpson of the town of Thompson who sued his former employer E.B. Silvius for $100 for procuring him a wife, won his case in justice’s court. It is said the case will be appealed.

Jacob Knell has gone into the contracting line. At the present he has the contract for digging and excavating for the new house of John H. Glassel, which will be 32 x 50 feet.

The ever alert  Monticello Watchman has learned of a Republican scheme to keep Democrats away from the polls next Tuesday. Two Republicans, says the Watchman, have been appointed in every school district in the county to hire Democrats to stay home or go hunting on Election Day. If they can buy two or three men in every school district to not vote, they argue that they can win the election. This is a scheme to defeat Charles Englemann for supervisor in Tusten and to reduce the vote for Judge  Smith. In Fremont, Delaware, Callicoon, Cochecton and other towns the same trick is being played.

North Branch — The writer had the pleasure of looking through J.M. Schmidt & Sons’ evaporator and last but not least their new home. About a dozen persons are employed at this factory. The new residence is built on the city style and is fitted with every modern  improvement.

110 Years Ago - 1915

Grover Martin Hermann Jr., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Grover M. Hermann Sr. of New York City, was christened on Sunday afternoon, October 24. Four generations were present.

George Herbert Decker, son of David and Elizabeth Decker, and Clara E. Fahrenz, daughter of Mrs. Jennie and the late Jacob Fahrenz, both of Cochecton, were married by Rev. George O. Read at the Kenoza Lake parsonage.

It is interesting to note that the total registration of our school is 150.

Herman G. Voll of Hoboken, who has been occupying the Archibald cottage here since spring, has secured a five-year lease of the Jeffersonville House and apartments connected there with Mrs. M. Gute, the owner, and which have been leased by W.J. Durr. Mr. Voll has bought the stock of goods of Mr. Durr and took possession of the cafe last Thursday.

We list below the itemized statement of expenses and the monies coming in to support the Jeffersonville School: Expenses - Teachers Wages $3140; Janitor $115; Fuel $200; Apparatus $150; Rental $100; Water Supply $100; Incidentals $100; Income– State Aid $2669; Bond Tax $175; Tuition (paid by parents) $75; Mortgage tax $30; Tax levy $1296.

The board of education has leased and fitted up a room in the Mayers store building for the use of the class in agriculture which numbers twenty.

A daughter was born October 23rd to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stalker of Hurd. Mr. and Mrs. George Schultz of Jeff became the parents of a son on October 24.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Edward and Ralph Neiger, formerly of Kenoza Lake, have bought a two-family house in Middletown where they have been engaged in business.

Rapid progress is being made in the construction of the big day of the Catskill Power Company, a subsidiary of the Orange County Public Service Corp., in the Black Lake Brook about two miles from Black Lake, and by this time next year what as been 835 acres of woodland and farmland will be a big reservoir for making of electrical power.

Charles and Roland Fuhrer of Roscoe have purchased the former Lathrop Pharmacy at Livingston Manor of Harry F. Maybee.

John T. Stephenson, retired New York police captain, is reported to have three fingers and a thumb taken off his hand while feeding ensilage into a blower at his farm near Bethel village.

A son was born October 19 to Mr. and Mrs. George Norris Jr. of White Sulphur Springs; a son, Wilbur, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Philip Kispert of Youngsville on October 21.

The emblem of the Independent Party in the Town of Callicoon this year is a rooster.

John Will of Callicoon Center is helping with the carpenter work on the new building his son, Oscar, is erecting here.

90 Years Ago - 1935

Dr. and Mrs. Charles O. Wilkin were hosts at a dinner at the Mansion House last Thursday to a number of friends to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.

Ellsworth Baker, attorney for the contestants in the William G. Pfeifle case, has just printed a large volume of 430 pages covering the trial of the contest before Surrogate Cooke last February; the jury’s verdict finding the testator incompetent to make a will and the court’s decision setting aside the verdict ordering the will to probate.

Births – A daughter, Elizabeth Wilfred, was born October 21 to Rev. and Mrs. Charles Harder of Grand Gorge, formerly of Kenoza Lake.

Fire damaged the  Theodore Townsend home at Hurd Monday. How the fire started is a mystery.

The negligence suit brought by Captain L.J. Dow, formerly of the  CCC Camp at Ten Mile River, against the Town of Tusten, has been settled out of court for $5,000.

At the Liberty movie – Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler in “Shipmates Forever” and Jane Withers in “This is the Life.”

Acting on orders from Washington, the personnel of the CCC Camp for nearly three years located two miles west of Deposit, moved last week to Elmsford, near White Plains, Westchester County.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Harry Kraft, native of Callicoon Center, who started in the lumber business in a barn in Hancock in 1920 and developed his business into one of the largest and handsomest lumber plants in the Southern Tier, sold out last week to the Martin Hermann Lumber Company of Callicoon.

The New York State Historical Association announced recently that the Sullivan County Record, published in Jeffersonville, has been awarded the first prize in the 1945 annual newspaper contest conducted by the association for the best series of articles published on state, county and local history in any weekly newspaper in the state. The articles were written by Charles S. Hick.

The one hundredth anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville started Sunday night with a program entitled “Ministry of Music” in which the pastor Rev.  Joseph C. Kovach presided and music predominated.

Melvin Kehrley, whose house at Briscoe was destroyed by fire recently, has begun to rebuild on the old foundation.

The Town of  Callicoon Democrat Club met at North Branch last week and elected Attorney H.C. Levine, Jeffersonville, president; Wm. H. Daniels, Youngsville, vice president; Jacob Neumann, Callicoon Center, treasurer; and Jacob Yager, Jeffersonville, secretary.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Fire of undetermined origin on Tuesday night destroyed the 50-year old barn of Wilbur Myers. The Myerses managed to save their 60 head of cattle and lost only a day-old calf. The firemen were able to save one filled silo and a new building being added to the barn, but much hay, feed and machinery as well as two silos, were lost.

Jeffersonville debaters placed first in the B Tournament of the 4th annual Lions Club Debate Tournament with a perfect 8-0 score. They placed fifth in the A Tournament with a 5-2 score.

Libby Manzo is booked to fight the semi-final bout of 8 rounds in Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Norris of Fosterdale celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at Flo-Jean’s in Port Jervis.

Bernice Carlson of Shandelee and Eugene Weissmann of Callicoon Center were married at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon on October 22.

Discovery of a large uranium deposit in Glen Wild was announced by two Brooklyn prospectors last Thursday. They believe there is a substantial body of ore, but need working capital and government cooperation.

On October 13, a large crowd gathered in St. George’s Church basement for a surprise party given Father Edward McGuire, O.F.M., in honor of his feast day. Highlight of the evening was a skit entitled “Life with Father,” presented by children of Our Lady of the Angels School.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Mootz of Callicoon Center are the proud parents of a girl born Friday at the Callicoon Hospital.

Barbara Brown of Devils Lake, N.D., and Richard L. Freer, son of Dr. and Mrs. Arch Freer, formerly of Jeffersonville, were married at St. Joseph’s Seminary by Father Edward McGuire, O.F.M., on October 13th. Both bride and groom are members of the U.S. Navy, stationed at St. Albans Naval Hospital, St. Albans, L.I.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Sullivan County Community College has received a donation of $5,000 from the Grover Martin Hermann Foundation for the special Library Fund Drive, which is an effort to secure voluntary contributions for the purpose of expanding the college library collection at an extraordinary rate of speed.

Twenty-five students and three faculty members from the Robert F. Simon School in New York City spent Wednesday visiting the Damascus Consolidated School. The visit was in connection with a cultural exchange program which has been developed between the two schools for the purpose of fostering greater understanding among students with different social and geographical backgrounds.

Cool, crisp, bright, clear– these words best describe the fall weather we are now enjoying. And with this fall weather comes the problem of burning leaves.

Last Sunday at 12:01 a.m. the Big Eddy Telephone Company cut-over its Galilee Exchange to dial operation, serving approximately 625 telephones in the Galilee, Lookout and Equinunk (Pa.) areas.

50 Years Ago - 1975

One man was declared dead in the Lido Motel fire on Dillon Road, Monticello, Monday. He had not been identified. Workmen had been renovating the former Washington Mansion Hotel where a fire several years ago drove guests out of the burning resort and leveled the main building.

Chances on guessing the weight of a huge pumpkin, grown by Howard Hermann, netted $147 to the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps this past week. The pumpkin, on display for four weeks at the Western Hotel, weighed 121 pounds, 8 ounces.

Laurie Theobald and Stanton R. Pratt, both of Honesdale, Pa., were married at Lake Teedyuskung, Woodloch Pines, Rowlands, Pa., this past summer. The young couple work in photography.

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Miller were guests of honor at a surprise 25th anniversary party on  September 25. They were married October 1, 1950.

40 Years Ago - 1985

“The Subject Was Roses,” a play by Frank Gilroy, will be performed by the Forestburgh Playhouse at the Sullivan County Community College theatre on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, under the direction of Gregg Harlan.

The  Roscoe Blue Devils upset Tri-Valley, 28-20, in a Western Sullivan League game on Saturday. The victory, coupled with the Jeff-Y win, created a three-way tie for first.

The Bethel Youth Center, located in the recently refurbished old Town Justice Court Building, was dedicated Friday evening in Kauneonga Lake by members of the Lions Club and the Bethel Youth Commission. Nancy Driscoll is the Bethel Youth and Recreation Director. Some of the labor was provided by the prisoners at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility.

More than 250 students from six Sullivan County schools walked 10 miles Saturday to raise nearly $3000 for various projects aimed at curbing substance abuse in Sullivan County. Music and refreshments were provided by volunteers from Daytop Village.

Katherine Maria Karkkainen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Karkkainen of Long Eddy, was married September 6 to Brian Curtin of Rochester.

St. Tammany Chapter No. 492, Order of the Eastern Star, of Callicoon, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a dinner at the Wagon Wheel in Callicoon, followed by a meeting held at the Chapter rooms on October 25.

30 Years Ago - 1995

A Pennsylvania-based advertising executive has proposed a plan to buy the “Woodstock property” in the Town of Bethel. In the same issue of the Democrat, (October 27, 1995) a separate article tells of the plans of the Woodstock Nation to acquire the lands with a pledge to move forward with a “people’s association  to take responsibility for the site and administer it in the Spirit of Woodstock.” Abigail Storm is one of the group’s main spokesmen. Storm described their efforts as a “grassroots people’s defense of that site, having it as a planetary monument to peace and love.” She further said the nation’s premise is based upon “Back to the Garden...we are the flowers,  (but) thistles and thorns try to choke us out.”

After 55 years of standing next to the chair, Dr. Aloysius Cuyjet, a dentist in Lake Huntington, has announced his plans to retire. The 80-year-old says, “I leave with regrets but you know you have to retire sometime. I have had a wonderful time in my 55 years in practice.”

Running at the Mount San Antonio College Invitational in California last Saturday the Tri-Valley Lady Bear harriers placed third in their division, called the Division IV Sweepstakes. This was designated for the top California schools with 850-or-less students in grades 9-12. The Tri-Valley boys finished 13th but Theo Chewiwi had an impressive showing, taking fourth in 17:09.

20 Years Ago - 2005

The corner clocktower in White Lake was the scene of great celebration Friday as local, county and state officials gathered at the site of the old El Monaco’s  Restaurant to usher in the next phase of development at this major intersection of routes 55 and 17B. According to Mary Ann Dowling of the Woodstone Companies – Steve Dubrovsky and Howard Schoor’s business which owns the site – the significant acreage will someday host retail and commercial offerings. The clocktower is already drawing attention to the area.

Circle Park in Glen Spey in the Town of Lumberland was dedicated in memory of Elizabeth “Boo” Bisland on Saturday, October 22. Her parents, James and Tammy Bisland, helped cut the opening ribbon.

The Tri-Valley Bears captured the Section IX Class C regular season football championship with its victory over Pine Plains on Friday night.

In the final game of their inaugural season, the LMR (Livingston Manor/Roscoe) Devilcats couldn’t overcome a slow start in losing to Millbrook, 23-15. Before a homecoming crowd, LMR had a tough time trying to stop the bullish running attack of Millbrook.

10 Years Ago - 2015

Town of Mamakating Parks and Recreation Department held a Halloween Party at the Mamakating Town Park. Activities for children included a costume parade, hay rides, a visit through an inflatable haunted house, crafts, a pumpkin patch, refreshments, and live performances by the youth band, Breach the Barrier (Sullivan West students Reece Maopolski, John Muzuruk, Bryce Maopolski and McKinley Bernitt).

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, speaking in front of the Summitville Firehouse, announced that $112,000 will be coming local fire departments’ way. That’s $7,000 for each of 16 Sullivan County-based departments who responded to the massive wildfire which torched nearly 3,000 acres atop the Shawangunk Ridge in May. The funding comes from the NYS Department of State in the form of a reimbursement, meaning fire departments must first spend the $7,000 in order to receive a check. Some may apply it toward awareness efforts when there’s an outdoor burning ban – the violation of which was the cause for this past spring’s huge conflagration. “They can use it for whatever they need,” Gunther stated. “Your volunteerism is truly appreciated throughout the county.”

A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther has been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, allowing pharmacies to accept unused controlled substances and other prescriptions from customers. Previously, drug take-back programs were offered on an ongoing basis at local police departments, not a location that is visited frequently by the average citizen. A pharmacy, on the other hand, is easily accessible, Gunther pointed out, and is where prescription drugs are acquired  in the first place.