130 Years Ago - 1896

The 32nd Sunday School convention of Sullivan County was held at the Presbyterian Church, Roscoe, on October 6th. The association elected the following officers for the year: President Dr. J.P. Scott of Monticello, Vice-President Rev. W.J. Carter of Roscoe, secretary M.M. Gillespie of Mongaup Valley, Treasurer George E. Waller of Monticello, Executive Committee John Waller and Mrs. L.K. McMillen of Monticello, L.J. Reinhart of Mongaup Valley, William Feitner of Liberty, and W.E. Sprague of Roscoe. The convention for 1897 will be held in October at the Baptist Church, Liberty.

Mrs. H. Himmelreich of Youngs­ville has just returned from New York with a large stock of millinery goods and ladies trimmed and untrimmed hats in the latest styles, which will be sold at very low prices.

The remains of Henry A. Schneider, who died at Oneida of typhoid fever October 6, were buried at Fremont Center Friday.

The marriage of Policeman Philip Schmidt of New York and Miss Carrie L. Hemmer took place at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hemmer, near North Branch Sunday afternoon. Rev. G.A. Godduhn of Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church performed the ceremony.

120 Years Ago - 1906

The Monticello citizens who two years ago bought a French coach stallion for $1,200, have sold the horse for $300; he was not a profitable investment. Each stockholder was compelled to pay $130, which included the expenses incurred during the two years.

The large farmhouse together with the entire contents and adjacent barns on the James Crowley place west of Monticello were burned. It is thought to be the work of an incendiary on Wednesday night of last week.

Mrs. Emily Beaumont, widow of the late Charles Beaumont, died at Washingtonville, Sunday, aged 67 years.

Mrs. Regina Kleinberger died at her home in Jeffersonville Saturday night, aged 32  years.

Arthur Brandt, proprietor of the well-known Hotel Brandt near Hortonville, died Saturday night after a brief and unexpected illness. He was born in Germany seventy years ago, came to New York 45 years ago and was married in 1864. After two years in Hoboken, he came to the farm near Hortonville 28 years ago. He followed his profession as veterinary for a time but later devoted his whole time to the hotel and summer boarding business, his guests being principally well-to-do residents from Newark and New  York who sought the hospitality of the Hotel Brandt year after year. He served as a second lieutenant in the Civil War.

Mrs. Katherine Calkins, a lifelong resident of Callicoon, died recently at the age of 75 years.

Burr Sherwood, son of  J.J. Sherwood and Nellie, daughter of James Yorks, both of Livingston Manor, were married at the Presbyterian parsonage there September 27.

Walter Gaebel, son of William J. Gaebel, and Miss Lizzie Weiss of Callicoon Center were married at the parsonage there by Rev. J. Straub last evening.

110 Years Ago - 1916

The effects of the prohibition act went into effect in the town of Rockland October 1. Two of Roscoe’s leading hotels, H.W. Berringer’s and William Kenner’s, have closed up tight and refuse to serve the public in any way. Mrs. Charlotte Faubel is keeping the Faubel House open for the accommodations of permanent and transient guests.

George Albee, a former well-known citizen of Jeffersonville, died at his home in Susquehanna Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 78 years old. Many years ago Mr. Albee was engaged in painting, stage driving and the proprietor of the Jeffersonville House.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles O. Wilkins left in their car Sunday for New  York where they are attending this week the annual meeting of the State Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Wilkins is the matron and representative of Lincoln Chapter in Jeff and Mr. Wilkins is to be installed as assistant grand lecturer for the Twelfth District, Sullivan and Delaware Counties. The Wilkinses were accompanied to the city by Mrs. Phil Schmidt, Mrs. J.C. Beck and Mrs. Louis P. Ranft.

A.B. Thony of Swiss Hill is still unable to step on his left foot over which his wagon, with a load of hay, passed six weeks ago, when the horses suddenly started up and he was thrown off the load and under the wagon wheel.

At the county spelling contest at the teacher’s conference in Monticello, first honors were won by Gladys VanTuyl of Bethel and second by  Marion Brown of Youngsville.

A branch of the Dairymen’s League has been organized in Bethel township with 28 farmers signed up, representing 264 dairy cows. Ex-Assemblyman Calvin Millen is president; Ex-Supervisor John Townsend, secretary; and Timothy Driscoll, treasurer.

100 Years Ago - 1926

School is closed this week and our teachers left to attend the state teachers’ convention in New York City. Among those who took advantage of the opportunity to visit the city were Mrs. E.V. McDermott, wife of the principal, Mrs. William Deckelman, Mrs. Edwin Weber who goes for a two-week’s vacation to her old home and Mrs. Fred Hust of Kenoza Lake.

A.A. Neuberger, collector, has the school tax roll and is ready to receive taxes. The amount to be raised this year is $8,406.94 and the rate per $100 of valuation is $4.50. The amount raised last year was $7,836.96 and the rate was $4.25 per $100 of valuation. The present assessed valuation of the school district is $186,810.

Philip Beiling of New York is spending some time at the home of his father, William Beiling, on account of varicose veins, for which he has been under treatment in the hospital for eight weeks.

Rev. Fred  Foerster of the Lutheran Church left on Tuesday for a trip to New York, Philadelphia and Richmond, Va. He will be absent during the next two Sundays during which Rev. H. Wasmund of Liberty will have charge of the church here.

Mrs. Walter Mall, who was Mae Crowley, is giving up her job as chief operator at the telephone exchange. Miss Carrie Townsend will take her place in the central and will be assisted by Miss Delma VanSchoick of this place and Miss Alma Townsend of Fosterdale.

At a recent meeting of the American Legion at Livingston Manor, it was decided that the post at Callicoon will be reorganized. The charter of the Callicoon Post had been surrendered two years ago. The county Legion will  hold their stag dinner at Jauernig’s Hotel at Shandelee on October 20th.

90 Years Ago - 1936

Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Schumacher of Montclair were hosts last Saturday evening to more than 50 guests at a “richter fest” at Tumble Inn, Callicoon Center, celebrating the completion of the super-structure of the new home the Schumachers are building on 68 acres of the Urban farm on the east slope and overlooking the village of Callicoon Center and the valley of the north branch of the Callicoon Creek.

Delaware County is now dry, the voters having voted no license last fall, and the licenses then in force having expired.

The Presbyterian Ladies Aid have picked December 8 for their annual Christmas sale and supper.

The 60-year-old will of William Jarvis of Fosterdale, Town of Cochecton, was offered for probate in Surrogate Cooke’s Court at Monticello last Thursday by Jarvis Neill of Fosterdale, great-grandson of the testator. The will was written in May 1876 and Mr. Jarvis died in February 1882, at the age of 86.

Rev. and Mrs. Charles W. McClure and son, Warren, arrived at Callicoon last week to make their home with Mrs. McClure’s mother, Mrs. Anna Persbacker, during the winter months.

Edward Knack and family have moved from the John Townsend house on Maple Avenue to the  Yager house on Chapel Street.

Business was pretty much at a standstill here during the World Series baseball games in New York. Among those from here who took in one or more of the games were Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Carpenter and Fred Wollmer.

The monthly Parent-Teacher meeting will be resumed next Tuesday at the Jeff School at 8 p.m. with President Joseph K. Strawbridge in the chair. Frank A. Bielec will provide the musical part of the program.

80 Years Ago - 1946

The Board of Education of the Jeffersonville Central School District last Monday night refused a request by 15 teachers for a raise and a cost-of-living bonus. Board President Charles M. Peterson told the “Record” that he and other Board members agreed that “our teachers are not overpaid, but for a town this size, the present salaries are the best we can do.”

Iola Reum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Reum of Beechwoods, became the bride of Warren Myers, son of Dr. and Mrs. Harvey W. Myers of Jeffersonville, on October 6th.

Dorothy Quirk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Quirk of Sixteen, near Jeffersonville, and William F. Mullally, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Mullally of Jeffersonville, were married at St. George’s Church in Jeff last Sunday, October 6th.

A solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday will highlight a three-day celebration by members and friends of St. Aloysius Church in Livingston Manor, commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the church, which was built in 1896.

The wedding of Jack Schadt of Jeff and Dorothy Wagner of Liberty will take place at St. Peter’s rectory, Liberty, next Saturday  afternoon and the reception will be at the Lenape.

Miss Anne Stabbert, daughter of Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred W. and Mrs. Stabbert, Callicoon, and Gerald Robisch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Robisch, Hortonville, were united in Holy Matrimony at the Callicoon Methodist Church on Sunday, October 6.

Miss Ruth Cargin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Cargin, Mill St., Binghamton (former owners of the Mileses Store) and Robert Wolford, formerly of Fremont Center, now of Binghamton, were married at the bride’s home on Saturday, October 5. The bride’s cousin, Miss Leota Deighton of Callicoon, and Harold May, former Fremont resident, now of Binghamton, were honor attendants.

70 Years Ago - 1956

Miss Barbara Lott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Lott of Jeffersonville and Dr. George Hahn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hahn of Callicoon Center, were married on October 7th at the First Lutheran Church in Jeff. The groom is associated in veterinary practice with Dr. I. Yasgur.

The Bar Mitzvah of Matthew Lewis Roth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roth, was held at the Jeff Synagogue on October 6th. A reception was held at the synagogue following the services, and in the evening the Roths gave a dinner at the Villa Roma in honor of their son.

A tragic fire in Swan Lake early Tuesday morning destroyed the Swan Lake firehouse, both of the trucks and all of the equipment and also destroyed the 23-room Colonial House adjoining the firehouse. The fire started in the roof or upper portion of the building. Damage is estimated at $100,000 or more and included the destruction of a $25,000 fire truck which was scarcely one year old. County firemen have offered their aid to Swan Lake.

Robert Kispert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kispert, graduated September 28th as a radiographer from the New York  Hospital in New York City, which is affiliated with the Cornell Medical School.

Mr. and Mrs. William Durr are on a trip to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Dr. Jules Flax, August Segar and Ted Rittershausen are on a hunting trip to Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Krantz and Mr. and Mrs. John B. Krantz have returned from an auto trip to Canada.

Rose Kille of Obernburg and Frank Leewe of Passaic were married at St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg on Saturday.

Jeff firemen and the J.C.S. band were liberally soaked when rains all but washed out the Sullivan County Firemen’s Field Day in Liberty on Saturday.

Ben Isaacson, formerly of Monticello, is opening a kosher butcher shop in the Roy Williams building on Main Street.

Stephen Menges, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Menges of Youngsville, was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Heinrich are the godparents.

New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner will be in Sullivan County Saturday. He will dine at Grossinger’s and then make a whirlwind tour of the county in his bid for election to the U.S. Senate to succeed Herbert H. Lehman, who is retiring.

The attendance was so great at the Centennial Services at the Reformed Church in Callicoon Center on Sunday that it was necessary to have three sittings to serve refreshments. Saturday night, a “Community Night” was held and Charles  Hick gave a “History of Callicoon Center.” Families who settled there before 1840 included Hust, Hermann, Wagner, Kraft, Hahn and Seibert.

60 Years Ago - 1966

Mr. and Mrs. John May of Goulds were honored with a 50th anniversary party at their home. They were married October 4, 1916, in East Branch.

Mr. and Mrs. John Muir of North Branch observed their 35th wedding anniversary with a surprise party at the Hortonville Hotel, October 1. They were married in 1931 by Rev. John Straub.

Mrs. Fred W. Stabbert Sr. and Herbert C. Persbacker, both of Callicoon, were married October 2 by the Rev. Newton B. Ford at the Callicoon United Methodist Church.

Announcement was made this week that Dr. Edmund T. Rumble will give up his practice in Callicoon to accept an orthopedic association in California.

Obituaries were entered for Rosetta Batchler, 67, wife of Samuel, who died September 27, 1966; Mrs. Lena F. Chandler, 78, widow of Decker Chandler, Callicoon, who died October 1.

The Hortonville Presbyterian Church voted at a congregational meeting October 2 to accept the plans proposed by a special  committee and to proceed with construction of a manse on land across from the church. The Grover Hermann Foundation will contribute approximately $10,000 toward the cost of construction.

The Resort Motors Garage at Monticello was completely destroyed by fire on Tuesday afternoon. About 15 cars were included in the loss.

A daughter was born October 1 to Mr. and Mrs. Earl VanGinhoven of Long Eddy, RD; a daughter was born October 1 to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ferber of Hortonville.

50 Years Ago - 1976

Workmen have poured concrete for a new patio in front of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church on Broadway in Monticello. Reconstruction of the interior proceeds and it is expected that the church can be used for Thanksgiving Services. The reconstruction fund stands at $402,000, about $68,000 short of the estimated need to rebuild the church which was gutted by fire in 1975.

Darlene Minckler has been named Long Eddy Homecoming Queen 1976 and will preside at the First Annual Homecoming Day in Long Eddy on October 9.

A son, Aaron Keith, was born October 4 to Mr. and Mrs. Keith Houghtaling, RD 2, Callicoon.

Jeanne Manzolillo of Callicoon has been named Queen of the Canoe Classic Columbus Day weekend, according to Dave Freda of Callicoon. International Canoe Classics is promoting the Governor’s Cup Canoe Race scheduled for this coming weekend. Canoeists will represent Wisconsin (whose teams finished first, second and fifth in the recent challenge race at Jackson Hole, Wyo.); Governor Edward Herschler of Wyoming is sending his team (which finished second in the overall standings in the Labor Day race there) to compete with Maine, New York, New Jersey, Montana, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The North Branch Cider Mill is only one of three licensed hard cider producers in New York State. Adam and Joanna Giffard opened for operation on October 2 and will be open until November 21.

Mrs. Elizabeth (George) Bohl of Jeffersonville was guest of honor at a 90th birthday celebration held at the Huff House, Roscoe, on September 19. 

Mrs. Catherine Shook was guest of honor at a 90th birthday party  in her honor at the Cochecton Presbyterian Church Hall on September 18.

40 Years Ago - 1986

Eddie Fisher, renowned singer, pushed the detonator that helped bring down the old Grossinger Playhouse where he first started working in 1949. Tearing down the past and presenting the future was offered Tuesday by the new operators of the former Grossinger’s  Hotel, who unveiled a $300-million renovation plan for the world famous resort.

Four relocatable portable classrooms have been moved onto the Loomis site of BOCES to house handicapped students and part of the ever-increasing enrollment.

The Sullivan County Scenic Coalition group appeared before the Sullivan County Board of Supervisor’s Physical Services committee Tuesday to voice their concerns about the condition of Route 17 and informed supervisors that they would like to consider a roadside wildflower program along Route 17 in Sullivan County.

Thymio Gilberg of Hurleyville, 11, caught an 8 lb. bass which measured 23 inches long on September  25 at Morningside Lake.

Sharon “Becky” Rexford and Joan Davis have been presented with Women’s International Bowling Council (WIBC) 700 Awards for high scores bowled during last year’s season in the Tuesday Night Ladies League at Liberty Lanes.

Despite poor field conditions, Eldred played their 53rd Western Sullivan League game without a loss, shutting out  Liberty on Friday, 2-0. The Lady Yellowjackets had 31 shots on goal compared to eight for the Indians... In a game called at the half due to poor field conditions, the league contest between Tri-Valley and Delaware Valley was ended with a score of 1-1.

30 Years Ago - 1996

With an amended delinquent tax recovery deadline less than a month away, Sullivan County has already recovered more than $4 million of the $38 million it is owed – $2.7 million in September alone. The hope is that millions more will be recovered in cash or by contract before the month is out.

Sister Kevin John Shields was presented with the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award Friday by The Recovery Center, Sullivan County’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

In humble fashion, Tom Hubers accepted the 1996 SYDA Community Service Award at a low-key ceremony Wednesday. Hubers is the co-founder of the Interfaith Outreach United (IOU) program and also runs a community food pantry.

Jeffersonville – Congratulations to Warren and Iola Reum Myers who observed their 50th wedding anniversary last week. Son, Lynn, of Placerville, Calif., and his sisters, Gale and Tracey, helped with the celebration.

Patricia M. Busing and Terry D. Mill were married on July 20, 1996 at the Cochecton Center Community Center in Cochecton Center.

Miss Beth Ellen Lindholm of Barryville and Alan Jay Schaeffer of Queens were united in marriage on August 17, 1996 at St. Ann’s Church in Shohola, Pa.

Callicoon – Two grandsons livened up the home of Mrs. Arthur Tenbus of Hortonville this past weekend. Drew Michael was born to Mary Ellen and Alan Tenbus of Huntington, L.I. on August 25th. Ian Arthur was born to Tess and John McBeath of Hortonville on September 28.

Clinton P. Tompkins, 75, the former owner of North Main Dodge in Liberty and a lifelong area resident, died October 10, 1996 at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.

20 Years Ago - 2006

The period for citizen comments regarding the Draft Environmental Assessment at the proposed Monticello Raceway Casino is coming to an end.

The year 2006 marked 40 years of celebrating a family reunion for the descendants of George and Annie Thone Daub on Sunday, September 3 at Lake Huntington. There were three weddings this year: Michael Walter and Kami Hiller; Jeremiah and Brandi Williams; and Brenda Fraser and Rudolph Brodowsky. One death was recorded, that of Clara Daub Meckle, on October 5, 2005.

On August 13, four generations and over one hundred Rosenbergers gathered in Hortonville for a family reunion. George Karl Rosenberger Sr. and Wilhelmina Shubert Rosenberger had seven children: Barbara Ryan, Olive Donohue, George Karl Jr., William, Leo, Annabelle Halblinger and Mae Kratz. The only surviving siblings are Annabelle, 97, and Mae, 95, both of whom attended the reunion. The general consensus was that this should be done more often as family got reacquainted and met new family.

10 Years Ago - 2016

There was a buzz in the air at the Second Annual Narrowsburg Bee Fest. People gathered from near and far in an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for number of people dressed as honeybees. At day’s end all “beed up” people and pets joined together to be counted and while the numbers came up short (at 1500!), there’s always next year.

Mary Alice of Liberty was judged the best of nine chili chefs competing during Saturday’s Catskill Chili Cookoff Contest, part of the 23rd annual Liberty Harvest Festival at the Liberty Museum and Arts Center on South Main Street. Alice’s vegetarian chili earned the Best in Show prize for its taste, improved by a “(not-so-)secret ingredient”: beer.  Winning for Best Meat Chili was Joe Manzi of Manzi’s Cafe, while Kitty Hendrix earned first prize for Best Vegetarian Chili.

Jeff Bank today announced that Director James M. (Mickey) Roche has retired from the board of directors of Jeff Bank and its parent company, Jeffersonville Bancorp after 37 years of service. Mr. Roche first became a director on October 9, 1979 and during his tenure he served on every committee of the board.