140 Years Ago - 1879

Valentine Huff is erecting a distillery near his cider mill two miles north of Jeffersonville.

George Miller of Briscoe has been engaged to teach at the Youngsville School District.

A young town of Callicoon resident, Howard Pinney, has been engaged to teach school at Pike Pond during the winter term, which commences next week.

Mrs. Phillipine Rheinheimer died at the age of 44 at Pike Pond on October 20th.

Archie Voorhees, aged 20, son of John L. and Julia Voorhees of Bethel, died on October 14th.

The office of president of the Callicoon Mutual Fire Relief Association has been vacant since the latter part of August when the directors elected A.E. Wenzel president. Mr. Wenzel tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and John C. Mall was elected to fill the vacancy, but has refused to accept the position. A special meeting was held October 25th at John Boldt's hotel in Callicoon and Mr. Wenzel was persuaded to take the presidency by his friends. The saving to the farmers of the western towns who have insured with the Association has already been considerable, and the business is steadily on the increase.

While driving home at night from Callicoon Depot after delivering some import freight recently, Michael Leins inadvertently allowed his horse to take a wrong road at Hortonville. After discovering his mistake and when trying to turn about to recover the right road, he drove over a precipice. The horse miraculously escaped uninjured, but the wagon was demolished and Mr. Leins lies in precarious condition at Robisch's Hotel at Hortonville. Dr. George Schon­ger, called to attend him, regards his condition as critical.

130 Years Ago - 1889

Last Monday Miss Eugenie Lamoreaux and James A. Hill were married at Mongaup Valley.

Richard Wood, 70 years of age, dropped dead while cutting wood at Liberty for C.M. Bunnelo on October 28th.

Michael Boehmer, aged 71, died on October 24th. Interment took place at Hortonville.

Jeffersonville and Callicoon have been made the polling places for Callicoon on Election Day.

George Knell will move into the rooms occupied by Peter Lahm, as soon as Valentine Baum gets ready to take possession of the saloon.

Cranberries are an immense crop at Cochecton this year.

Charles Curtis' store at Callicoon Depot was again burglarized recently. A lot of ready-made clothing was stolen.

I. Sipple, well-known Roscoe cooper, met with a mishap recently, that may prove fatal to him. He makes large quantities of cider which he stores in a barn some 30 rods away from the cider mill. While crossing a bridge that separates the two places, the bridge gave way and precipitated a team and wagon with six barrels of cider into the stream below. Mr. Sipple was badly hurt.

Charles S. Bonney of San Francisco, Calif., who had been here calling on friends, returned to his western home Saturday. Mr. Bonney first left Youngsville about 12 years ago.

Louis Faubel, our cigar maker and for several years the Western Union operator in Jeffersonville, left Monday morning for Austin­ville, Va.

120 Years Ago - 1899

“It is the duty of every man to vote! It is the duty of every voter to cast his ballot for the candidate best fitted for the office. The partisan is justified in standing by his principles which he believes are involved, and providing the men nominated for the purpose are competent to carry out those principles.” — Sullivan County Record, Nov. 2, 1899. William Lieb, Publisher.

A party was given by Miss Nellie Tygert to a few of her friends last night in honor of her 17th birthday.

About 50 people gathered at the farm of Eugene Sheridan last Thursday night, and in an hour and a half husked 200 bushels of corn, cleaning up the whole farm. Gene had provided plenty of good old “crathure” to keep the boys working and the effect was marvelous. The job was finished up so quickly that he was sorry afterwards that he had done any husking himself. People were there from North Branch, Youngsville, Liberty and several loads from the village of Jeffersonville. Supper was served, after which there was a good social time.

110 Years Ago - 1909

Mr. Stewart, a New York architect, has purchased 63 acres of land from Fred Baumann, formerly the Elisha Tyler property, two miles west of Livingston Manor and will take immediate possession and repair the buildings.

Albert C. Luchs of New York City, formerly of Jeffersonville, and Lilyan Von Weissenfluh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Von Weissenfluh, were married October 16 at Lake Sheridan, Pa., at the home of the bride's parents. Mr. Luchs is manager of the Harlem branch of Clover Farms Dairy Co.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, the North Pole discoverer, expects to visit Callicoon, his old home and birthplace, the latter part of November after his return from a western tour. He will lecture while here. A committee of businessmen at Callicoon are making arrangements to give Dr. Cook a royal reception.

Mrs. Elizabeth Gabel, widow of the late Henry Gabel of Milanville, Pa., died of kidney and heart trouble at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. Abersold, at Kenoza Lake, Tuesday. She was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, 80 years ago, and came to this country with her husband about 58 years ago.

Hazel, the daughter of Edwin A. Brand, is attending a boarding school in Kingston.

Conrad Metzger of Beechwoods has gone to Elizabeth, NJ, to take a position with the Singer Sewing Machine people.

Frank Neuberger is making blocks for a concrete porch and pillar which he has contracted to put up at the large boarding house of J.R. Armbrust at Kenoza Lake.

100 Years Ago - 1919

The week of November 2nd to 11th has been announced by the American Red Cross as a nationwide campaign to be known as the third Red Cross Roll Call. The Jeffersonville branch of the Liberty Chapter of the Red Cross, which includes Kenoza Lake and Youngs­ville, will have solicitors out calling on everyone in the area. At Kenoza Lake, the campaign will be in charge of Harvey W. Meyers, and at Youngsville, Edward J. Schroeder will be in charge.

The last three weeks of evangelistic services held at the Meth­odist Church came to a close at Fosterdale last Sunday evening when Rev. Herbert E. Wright, D.D., superintendent of the Newburgh District, preached to one of the largest congregations ever assembled in the church. The church was packed to the doors and there was not even standing room.

While Attorney Guernsey T. Cross of Callicoon, the Democratic candidate for Assembly, was flivering toward Jeffersonville yesterday, the radius rod gave way and he and his car turned two somersaults. Mr. Cross was once a Cornell football player, and a little thing like a rough and tumble with a Ford couldn't phase him, so he went back to the depot, got another car and went merrily on.

The Freemasons of Delaware Lodge at Callicoon want to start a Royal Arch Chapter at that place and have applied for a charter. The Masons at Livingston Manor, it is said, are also contemplating constituting a chapter there.

Frederick, the year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Miller of Beechwoods, was christened at the regular services at the Lutheran Church last Sunday.

90 Years Ago - 1929

The interior of the Fremont Center M.E. Church has been renovated and remodeled with paneling and memorial windows in the style of the Kenoza Lake Church, the work being in charge of the same men: William Kohler, architect, and L.J. Dietrich, contractor, both of Jeffersonville. The church was rededicated Tuesday with services in the afternoon and evening and a supper in the church hall by the ladies. Rev. F.W. Stine is the present pastor of the church.

Miss Gladys Eleanor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hauser of Callicoon, became the bride of Lloyd W. Stengel of Brooklyn on October 26, at a ceremony performed at the bride's home by Rev. F. W. Stine.

Hon. George L. Cooke, County Judge of Sullivan County, was elected president of the Sullivan County Council of Boy Scouts of America at a meeting in the Court House at Monticello on October 25.

80 Years Ago - 1939

Shirley Marie, 11-month-old daughter of George F. and Mabel Neumann Kohl of Callicoon, was christened in the Lutheran Church at Jeffersonville by Pastor Foerster Sunday. The sponsors were Mrs. Henry J. Neumann, grandmother, and Lawrence Milk, uncle of the child.

Charles Jeorgle of Jeffersonville and Miss Dorothy Stewart of Kenoza Lake, will be married at the Kenoza Lake parsonage next Sunday.

October 3rd marked the 57th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Link. Although he is 81 and Mrs. Link is 76, they are still active and in good health, maintaining their own home until last June when it was destroyed by fire. Since then they have made their home with their daughter, Mrs. George Reichmann, at the Maple Hotel in North Branch.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Huter were united in marriage October 5, 1884, in New York, thus allowing them to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary at their home in North Branch.

James C. Hull, 78, died at his Galilee, Pa., home October 28, following a two day illness of heart failure.

Mrs. John Wagner and infant son were discharged from the Callicoon Hospital this week.

Edward Dermody, supervisor of Cochecton for the past ten years and dean of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors, dropped dead suddenly last Monday afternoon while conferring in the headquarters of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee. Charles J. Keesler has been chosen to succeed him in office.

George Elbert, aged 76, who spent his boyhood in Jeffersonville, died in Chicago on October 24.

Mrs. John C. Luchs died October 27 at her home in San Diego, Ca. She was about 60 years of age.

Miss Iva Gross of Cornell University gave a lecture on courtesy at a meeting of Aimhy Girls 4-H Club at the school last night.

North Branch — Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Mootz won the 1st and 2nd prizes at the Grange Halloween masked ball Tuesday night. Mr. and Mrs. Mootz were dressed as Indians and Catherine had made the costumes herself. She was dressed in the traditional brown Indian jacket and skirt which was made of brown material with red fringe. On her back she carried a papoose, which was a little doll dressed in Indian fashion. Her hairdress was of jet black braids made of her own hair which she had saved when she had her tresses cut off and around each braid she had a green chicken ring. She also made a necklace of these green chicken rings for around her neck and had a large feather stuck in her hair. Mr. Mootz wore a brown Indian suit, trimmed with red fringe. His headdress consisted of a wig made from their horse's tail and tied in the back with a ribbon. Turkey feathers stuck out of his headdress in true Indian fashion. He carried a bow and a bag with arrows that he himself had made. He won a large smoking stand and she won a china dripolater.

70 Years Ago - 1949

St. George's R.C. Church in Jeff­ersonville was the scene Saturday morning of the wedding of Miss Joan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Weiss of North Branch, and George B. Redington, son of Mr. and Mrs. B.A. Redington of Liberty. Rev. Edward McGuire, OFM, performed the nuptial Mass and double ring ceremony. The bride is a graduate of the Jeffersonville Central School, class of 1945, and for the last four years has been working in the local office of the New York Telephone Co. The groom is a graduate of Liberty High School and of Fordham University.

Robert Intemann of Liberty, associated for the past year with the law firm of Deckelman & Schadt in Jeffersonville, has assumed the law practice of John Lynch in Callicoon. His partner in the law practice will be Frederick W.V. Schadt, but Mr. Schadt will remain at the Jeffersonville office.

The residents of the White Sulphur Springs fire district last week approved two propositions to acquire the White Sulphur Springs Sportsmen's Hall in that village and to rebuild the structure for a firehouse.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Peterson have moved from Liberty back to their house on lower Main St. in Jeffersonville. Charlie will continue working in Liberty and after November 15 will be em­ployed in the Public Service Garage. The Petersons have bought a lot of Mrs. Theodore Bollenbach on the former Philip Erdman place. The lot includes the barn and the creek in the rear.

A daughter, Kathy Ann, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas McCoach Jr., nee Jeanne Stewart, of Fosterdale, on October 27.

Libby Manzolillo won another ring victory at Kingston on October 27 when he stopped Willie Smith of Poughkeepsie in the 3rd round.

Miss Evelyn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weber of Jeffersonville, became the bride of Walter A. Anderson of Elmhurst, Ill., on October 22nd, at a church ceremony in Chicago.

Zabadee Asa Kelly, Sullivan County's oldest resident, died last week in the Liberty hospital, at the age of 99. Mr. Kelly was born in Dry Brook, Delaware County, June 13, 1850, a son of William and Susan Bellas Kelly. He lived most of his life on a farm near Lew Beach.

60 Years Ago - 1959

Shortly before ten o'clock last Friday night, Fred Schadt, acting chairman at a special J-Y school district meeting, announced that a bond issue not to exceed $657,000 to finance a ten-room addition and all-purpose room was passed by a 2-1 vote; of 1084 only 351 were negative.

Over 175 people thronged the dining room of the Lake Jefferson Hotel last Saturday night to make the sixth Annual Dinner and Dance of the Town of Callicoon Democratic Club a distinct success. All the local and county politicians were on hand, with a good sprinkling of county officials.

Jesse Brown of Jeff was elected president of the 45th annual meeting of the Sullivan Co. Extension Service Association held at the Jeff Firehouse October 22nd.

Thomas Manouse, 63, passed away at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital on October 25, following an operation.

Laura Ann Spence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Draper of Long Eddy, was united in marriage with Roger Bauer,son of Mrs. Alfred Bauer of Hankins on Sunday, October 24, at St. Mary's Church in Obernburg. Rev. Father Vigil, OFM, performed the ceremony.

Edward VanFradenberg, chief of the White Lake Fire Company, presented an honorary firemen's pin to Frederick W.V. Schadt, Jeffersonville attorney, at a testimonial dinner of the company Thursday evening at White Lake.

The undefeated Roscoe Blue Devils defeated Delaware Valley last Saturday to clinch the Western Sullivan football title.

50 years ago - 1969

Western Sullivan League's leading J-Y remained unbeaten as they defeated Delaware Valley last Saturday.

It was a girl Thursday, October 23, to Mr. and Mrs. Giles Ebert of Callicoon at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital. Girls were also born to the Henry McClellons of Jeffersonville, Oct. 22; Mr. and Mrs. William Bagley of Liberty on the 24th — all at the same hospital.

Mrs. Margaret J. Robisch, 66, of Hortonville, became Sullivan's 24th highway fatality in an accident Friday when she was killed at the Callicoon railroad crossing. John Egan, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Egan of Youngsville, was killed instantly Friday morning when the car he was a passenger in careened into a tree near his home in the village of Youngsville.

Miss Ann T. Karadontes, daughter of Mrs. Christine Karadontes of Jeffersonville, and Joseph Maus, son of Mrs. Kathe Maus, RD Callicoon, exchanged wedding vows Saturday, October 19, at the Greek Church of the Assumption, Jeffersonville. Father Nicholas Sotero­poulos officiated. A reception followed at the Holiday Inn, Liberty.

A surprise stork shower was given Mrs. Barbara Long by her cousin, Miss Vicki Atkins of Liberty, at the home of Barb's mother, Mrs. George Theodore of Callicoon.

Miss Yvonne Brustman became the bride of William J. Stucker on Saturday, October 11, at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Obernburg. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Brustman of Jeffersonville.

About 25 riflemen turned out to shoot on a 100-yard course for the Fall Shoot of the Callicoon Center Scheutzen Verein on October 19. Ron Bowers shot a 26 out of a possible 30; 2nd place was Dave McCabe, scoring 25; 3rd, James Minous, 25; 4th, Mario Cina, 23; 5th, Russell Mootz, 22; and 6th, Peter Cumming, 22.

The last milestone on Route 52 from Callicoon to Jeffersonville has been restored and covered as a memento of the past, when one appeared along every mile of road. The stone on the John Gully farm, the former John Miller farm, is on its original location and is estimated to be more than 100 years old. It reads “9 miles to Callicoon Depot.” Restoration was achieved through the work of Mrs. Margaret Long, Grover Smith and the NYS Highway Department.

40 Years Ago - 1979

The Town of Fallsburg has received a $200,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for rehabilitation work in the hamlets of South Fallsburg and Mountaindale.

The grand opening of a Burger King in Liberty was held this week.

Jason Mitterwager, son of Beverly and Ken Mitterwager, Callicoon, took first prize in the Punt, Pass and Kick tournament in Newton, NJ, and finished third in the competition held in Montclair, NJ.

Fred Branning of Lookout, Pa., celebrated his 98th birthday on October 19.

Blake Norton of Cochecton RD was proudly displaying a 3 lb. 14 1/2 oz. Rainbow trout he caught in Lake Huntington recently.

30 Years Ago - 1989

Six women artists from the Mid-Hudson/Catskill area were presented with $100 awards by Show Chairwoman Donna M.S. Notar­stefano at the Sullivan County Cultural Center in Hurleyville on October 15. Included in the group were Gretchen Hermine of Woodbourne. Anne Maus of Callicoon for a stained glass piece “Dew,” and Sally Utley of Livingston Manor with photo, glass and enamels. Linda Slocum of Narrowsburg won with a mixed media tableau called “Track and Tunnel.”

More than 100 students, parents and other residents gathered in a cold drizzle Sunday for the annual Walk for Youth in Liberty. The nearly 9-mile walk began at Hanofee Park where the participants later returned for refreshments provided by the Salvation Army and Advocates for Super Kids (ASK).

The Carlton Hotel in Monticello, an alleged hangout for drug pushers and users, was closed this week by authorities and NYSEG for non-payment of a large electric bill and building code violations.

In a heavy voter turnout, voters in the Eldred Central School District defeated by 647 to 514, a $5.6 million building and renovation proposal on Wednesday. According to officials, a public hearing will be held to discuss the options.

An official Pennsylvania State Historical marker will be dedicated at a short ceremony on October 28 to mark the Zane Grey residence and museum on the shores of the Delaware River at Lackawaxen, Pa. The inscription reads: “Zane Grey 1873-1939. The prolific author of Western novels lived on the property 1905-1918. Among his books written here was the famed ‘Riders of the Purple Sage' (1912). He had a lifelong love for this area and his remains now rest within view of the house.”

20 Years Ago - 1999

Last week's decision by the Public Service Commission about dividing the 914 area code left State Senators John Bonacic (who represents Sullivan County) and William Larkin disappointed - and probably much of the rest of the general populace.

Tracy Irwin, who pleaded guilty in September to beating and torturing her 3-year-old son, Christopher Gardner, to death, was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday.

The Village of Wurtsboro was presented with the deed to the Blue Paradise Thursday evening. The former boarding house along the old path of Route 17 had fallen into disrepair and was one of the dangerous eyesores within the village limits following the death of its owner, George Zaharia, in 1992.

The Sullivan County Historical Society presented its annual achievement awards last Thursday at Bernie's Holiday restaurant in Rock Hill. The History Maker Award was presented to the late Walter Rhulen for his lifelong involvement in many philanthropic activities. The Stabbert family, which publishes the Sullivan County Democrat, was presented with the History Preserver Award, for 108 years of dedicated service to the community.

George and Joan Reddington of Jeffersonville celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home on Sunday. They have four children and six grandchildren.

Vernon C. Elmore of Cochecton, 91, a retired architect, died October 31, 1999 in Harris. The son of the late Ervine D. and Edna Calkin Elmore, he was born in Fosterdale.

John Raymond Harris, 81, the retired owner of the former Jack Harris Insurance Agency, died October 30, 1999 at Community General Hospital in Harris. He was born in 1918 in Harris, the son of Jay B. and Jennette Dunsmore Harris.

10 Years Ago - 2009

The National Weather Service facility in Binghamton, after studying the radar data and interviewing witnesses, determined that the storm which passed through the county in August did not produce tornados. Tornado warnings were issued that day, and cloud formations that could be precursors to tornados were observed. Instead, the NWS said mircoburts - seconds only to tornadoes in intensity - were recorded with maximum estimated winds of 80 mph in the Bushville area and Harris area.

Christopher Briggs was awarded his well-deserved Eagle Scout Court of Honor five years after earning his Eagle Scout pin in 2004. Due to Briggs' busy schedule after enlisting in the US Army made it hard to schedule this important event. In October, Chris, who is 23, will be deployed to Iraq, just outside of Baghdad. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and New York State Senator John Bonacic spoke on behalf of Chris, saying he “…[had] been chosen to be a hero in America.” “He does not set out to be a leader, he just becomes one. Eagles, they do not flock, you find them one at a time,” said Committee Chairman Larry Bracken.

Margaret “Peggy” and Timothy Sullivan celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 30 by inviting family and friends to Leonard's of Great Neck to renew their vows.

Amy Ronai cut the ceremonial scissors at the grand opening of her new store in Bethel, In2Retro. Husband Joe Kuperblum along with family and friends celebrated with her and celebrated with the Bethel Business Association and Town of Bethel officials. The store also raised $200 for the Bethel Volunteer Ambulance Corps during its grand opening.

Lucy Smassanow of Woodbourne and Dorothy Shapiro of Liberty are the two close friends and grandmothers who authored “Gramda Goes Green.” Dorothy admits Lucy was the inspiration behind the book because Dorothy's unofficial role as “Resident Recycler” with Sullivan's Department Stores, run by her late husband Irving. The two became friends more than a decade ago, and Lucy quickly discovered the secrets of Dorothy's neatly organized basement of recycled items. Dororthy who grew up in Ulster's County's Town of Wawarsing, was a pioneer in recycling, in fact, helping create the first recycling center in the state in Ellenville.