110 Years Ago - 1912

One of the largest fires which have occurred in Sullivan County in many years happened in Mountaindale early Saturday morning. Fire was first discovered in Kettler and Co.’s shirtwaist factory and owing to the poor facilities of the village for putting out fires, it soon consumed the shirtwaist factory and then ate its way directly through the village, destroying everything in its path, including the general store  of James Carden and a half dozen other buildings, including the creamery. The loss is estimated at $55,000.

Henry Rowe and Fred Donahue have purchased the Roscoe Bottling Works and took possession on Saturday.

A daughter was born to Thomas Fitzpatrick and his wife of Swiss Hill on October 8.

At the 39th annual October sale of the Crawford Furniture Co. in Middletown, a 9x12 Axminster rug can be purchased for $16.50; lace curtains are priced from 29¢ to 12¢ a pair. In the crockery department, a 100-piece set of china dinnerware is priced $11.

Clarence Fortnam of Wayne County has been elected a director of the Wayne County Fair Association.

In the last issue attention is drawn to the fact that the state of Pennsylvania is to build a macadam road from Honesdale to Narrowsburg. This calls to mind that about the time the Erie Railroad was opened through from New York to Lake Erie, in 1848, the country was passing through an epidemic of plank roads. As Narrowsburg was the nearest and most convenient point at which Honesdale could connect with the railroad, a plank road was constructed between the two points, over which a line of four-horse Concord coaches made daily trips.

A South New Berlin farmer has served notice on the Unadilla Valley Telephone Co. to remove their poles from his land and also adds as a postscript — “I also give notis you must move holes also offen my land.” — Downsville News.

100 Years Ago - 1922

Miss Nellie Vaughn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Vaughn of Long Eddy, and F. Wiegel of Port Jervis were married October 9.

Twins, Henry and Helen, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ingals of Binghamton, October 13. The mother is the former Stasia Peake of Long Eddy.

Miss Mariette Hessenauer of Callicoon has been elected president of the Soangeta Debating Club, a student organization for young women at Taylor University.

William L. Jackson and his wife, the former Lydia Canfield, marked their 50th wedding anniversary October 15th in their home in Tyler Hill, Pa.

Herman Everett Twiss reached the century mark on October 9 with a dinner at the home of his son, Willis, in Rockland.

G. Howland sold two 1923 Ford touring cars yesterday. Floyd Deighton of Hankins got one and Harry Steffens of North Branch, the other. Fords dropped $50 October 17.

W.H. Stengel, the Callicoon grocer, and Miss Norma H. Thompson of Scottville, Columbia County, a former high school teacher here, were united in marriage on October 8 in Scottville. They will live in Callicoon.

The busy corner store in Rural City, where Mrs. M.A. Bush for several years conducted a general store, is now under management of a new firm, Hull Bros., owned by Wesley and John Hull.

90 Years Ago - 1932

The highway committee of the Board of Supervisors came to Callicoon yesterday morning with the plans for the acquisition of land necessary for the building of the viaduct and approaches over the Callicoon Creek on Route 3-A. Plans call for the purchase of 14 parcels of land ranging in size from .93 acres to .01 acre. The span over the creek and roads is to be 1,055 feet long.

Work was started this week on the Olympia Hotel which will be enlarged to contain 25 rooms. Repairs to the building following a fire last April were completed with the rebuilding of the first floor. The new repairs call for a 1 1/2 story addition which will contain 12 rooms and hallways. The rooms to the rear of the hotel will be renovated as well.

Marie Lillian Heins of Narrowsburg and Nathaniel Rutan Feagles were married October 15 at the Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg. The bride’s father, a Baptist minister performed the ceremony.

The body of a man, apparently Italian but yet unidentified yesterday, was found sprawled under a thicket on the banks of Swan Lake Sunday by Louis Stephenson, a hunter. A bullet wound in the left side and another in the left temple, either of which would have been fatal according to physicians, established the case as a murder. The body was across the road from an abandoned farmhouse and barns allegedly owned by Michael Tratsky, where federal prohibition agents were reported to have seized a 1,000 gallon and a 500-gallon still in a raid on September 20.

Miss Evelyn Ann Frey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Frey of Youngsville, was married in the Jeffersonville Reformed Church Saturday to Trooper Frank C. Storm of Sidney.

Vincent N. Elwood of Hancock was elected to the office of Associate Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of New York, Order of Eastern Star. He was installed Thursday.

80 Years Ago - 1942

Mrs. Amanda Stewart, postmistress at North Branch, announces the engagement of her daughter, Wilda, to Corp. Albert Priebe of Big Springs, Tex.

A Holstein cow in the herd of Carl Mohn at Cochecton Center recently gave birth to an extra large calf, weighing about 130 pounds.

Mrs. Louis Boettger of Beechwoods and Mrs. Floyd Allgeier of Hortonville were surprised last Sunday when they received a visit from their brother, Earl L. Blarcom, whom they had not seen or heard from since World War I days. The family was separated when young as their parents died when they were all small. Strangely enough, Mr. Blarcom is employed in Arkville, in a chair factory.

Mrs. H.E. Ohls has received a supply of Red Cross wool for knitting for the Army and navy. All work has to be completed by January 1. Volunteers can call at her home for the wool or she will deliver it to them.

A ripe apple with three apple blossoms on an adjoining stem was exhibited by Mrs. Otis Turner of Callicoon last week which she found on the Phoebe Tyler farm.

70 Years Ago - 1952

Sullivan County Judge William Deckelman was officially notified of his nomination by the Republican judicial convention on August 28 as Justice of the Supreme Court in Third Judicial District. Installation  ceremonies were held at the Ten Eyck Hotel in Albany last evening.

Rose Marie Wormuth of Lake Huntington became the bride of George B. Bolton of Barrington, R.I., at the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church on October 11.

Robert F. Wagner Jr., Manhattan Borough president, was guest speaker at the Liberty Democratic Dinner held at the Grossinger’s Hotel Thurs-day evening.

Arthur Hassis, R.D.S.N., arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hassis, Saturday after completing maneuvers known as “Operation Mainbrace” in the North Atlantic, since August.

60 Years Ago - 1962

Mr. and Mrs. Grant Smith of Youngsville celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary at the Youngs-ville Firehouse on September 29.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Henke of Callicoon celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on October 14 with a Mass of Thanksgiving.

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fulton of Kenoza Lake have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jean Alice, to Roy Hoffman of Tremper.

Plans are nearly completed for the 3rd annual Horse Show to be held at the Delaware Youth Center on October 23, under the sponsorship of the Callicoon Kiwanis Club.

The contract for the Roscoe segment of the new Route 17 will be let early in 1963. The road will virtually follow the old O&W Railroad bed.

Edward Barley of Monticello celebrated his 85th birthday Saturday. He and his wife will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary next January 17. Mr. Barley still continues to work every day as a carpenter at the courthouse saying, “You don’t know how well I feel.”

The new arrival at the Thomas Kilker home in Jeffersonville has been named Joan Marie.

In the vacation contest held by Carl’s Motor Sales in Callicoon, John Gnan of Swiss Hill was the lucky winner. He and Mrs. Gnan plan to visit their son and daughter-in-law in Ohio in their new car. Roger Brey was another lucky winner with a trip to Atlantic City.

50 Years Ago - 1972

Over 350 persons from every section of Sullivan County life gathered at the Villa Roma in the Beechwoods on Saturday night to pay tribute to Bethel John Justice Stanley Liese for his many years of service to his community. Max Yasgur was chairman of the affair.

Mr and Mrs. Vernon Whitmore held open house Sunday afternoon and evening, welcoming relatives and friends to a tour of their new home.

Dave Bertholf of Livingston Manor was among those members of the class of Future Farmers of America who flew to Kansas City to attend a meeting of the FFA.

Miss Nancy Sue Todd became the bride of William Grimes at Holy Cross Church on Saturday, October 16.

The Liberty Lions Club and their guests will observe the 40th anniversary of their organization with a banquet to be held at King’s Restaurant in Liberty.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hubert of Mileses were honored at a surprise 40th wedding anniversary party at the Youngsville Firehouse.

At the Liberty Loomis Hospital, it was a boy September 29, to Mr and Mrs. Richard Dutcher of Livingston Manor and Mr. and Mrs. Jose Morales of Liberty; October 1, a boy to Mr. and Mrs. Irving Dermer of Liberty; October 4, a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Schmidt of White Sulphur Springs and Mr. and Mrs. John Everitt of Jeffersonville; October 6, a baby girl to Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton of Youngsville.

Mr. and Mrs. Christian Fischer of North Branch have announced the engagement of their daughter, Meta Ann Rood, to Alfred Sorge of Ridgewood. A spring wedding is planned.

40 Years Ago - 1982

Ann Coleman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Coleman of Kenoza Lake became the bride of Freddy Sparr of Flushing in a recent ceremony performed in Hanofee Park, Liberty.

Mr. and Mrs. William Danzer of White Sulphur Springs will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on November  6. They are the parents of four sons, two of whom are still living…Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Eggler of White Sulphur Springs celebrated their 50th with a party at the firehouse on Sunday.

The Catskill Chapter of Business and Professional Women have named Susan Keiser of Livingston Manor as their Woman of the Year.

Several thousand New York State School Boards Association members will be welcomed by Isabelle Bernstein of Bradley, president of the Sullivan County group and members of the Tri-Valley Central School Board, when they convene at the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake this weekend. Both Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Mario Cuomo and Republican candidate Lew Lehrmann are scheduled to present their campaign arguments to the delegates.

On Sunday, October 17, Yeshiva Gedolah-Zichron Moshe in South Fallsburg held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new residence hall. Named the Louis and Mildred Resnick Residence Hall, it will accommodate 100 students.

Christina Driscoll, daughter of Nancy and John Driscoll of Kauneonga Lake, and Richard G. Benson, son of Raymond and Nancy Benson of Rock Hill were married September 18 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Kauneonga Lake…Marianne Edwards and Walter Norris were married at the United Methodist Church in Liberty on September 25.

Dr. James S. Smoot, vice chancellor for Employee Relations and Educational Services at State University of New York in Albany, was chosen to invest Dr. John Walter as president of Sullivan County Community College in ceremonies held at the college on Sunday.

30 Years Ago - 1992

Alice Walter of Loch Sheldrake was the recipient of the DeWitt Clinton Award, the most prestigious award of the Masonic Order for community service by a non-member, at a recent meeting of the Fallsburg Masonic Lodge.

The Class of 1932 of the Callicoon High School recently met at a 60th class reunion at the Huff House in Roscoe. Coincidentally, all four of the class members attending grew up in North Branch. Attending were J. Christopher  Bauernfeind and his wife, from Gainesville, Fla., Harriet Stewart and her husband, Howard, of Callicoon, Thomas Kilroy and a friend, of Oceanside, N.J., and Harriet Knopsler and her granddaughter, of Chester, N.J. Mrs. Robert Hogencamp of White Sulphur Springs, a niece of Mr. Kilroy, also attended. 

Delaware Valley Central School will move forward with a $1.18 million construction project following a positive vote Tuesday by taxpayers. District residents voted 266 to 176 in favor of a bond issue, designed to bring the school building into compliance with state safety codes.

Tri-Valley School hosted two unusual events last week. “Discovery Days” was a science exploration program with the help of several senior high school physics students and ideas from the BOCES science department. Also at the school, was the first round of the countywide Academic Olympics, which was hosted by the Sullivan County Interacademic League. Students from all ten Sullivan County school districts took part in the opening games, a mock presidential election, complete with nominations, campaign strategies, television commercials and elections.

20 years ago - 2002

Top names in Sullivan County and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) turned out en masse Sunday evening for the annual ADL awards dinner at Kutsher’s in Monticello. County businessman Lew Klugman and former FBI Director Louis Freeh joined Congressman Ben Gilman in being honored for their efforts.

As expected, Town of Liberty Supervisor Richard Martinkovic was named Sullivan County Fire Coordinator and the Director of Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness on Thursday, October 17, stepping in for Harold “Iggy” Kronenberg who retired recently after 50 years of fire service to the county.

Last month, a former student at Stagedoor Manor, a summer camp for kids interested in a career in the performing arts, returned to his boyhood alma mater to make a film about a fictionalized theatre summer camp in the Catskills. The film is titled “Camp,” and was filmed over a 24-day period at Stagedoor Manor. At the age of 14, Todd Graff started taking performing arts classes at Stagedoor Manor before the internationally known summer camp for show biz kids relocated to Loch Sheldrake. Along with Graff, Stagedoor Manor has helped the likes of actor Robert Downey Jr., teen rock star Mandy Moore, actress Natalie Portman and Josh Charles of “Sports Night” perfect their chosen craft under the lights. Stagedoor Manor is owned by Carl Samuelson. 

DeHoyos Park in Monticello was officially rededicated Sunday after an extensive overhaul by members of the local Sullivan Renaissance group.

Monticello resident Rudy VanDunk rolled his first-ever perfect 300 game at Kiamesha Lanes on October 12.

10 years ago - 2012

Could Monticello become the Bagel Capital of the World? That’s what the Monticello Business Association (MBA) is aiming towards, said member and Broadway businessman Jeff Siegel. He appeared at Thursday’s County Legislature meeting asking for a resolution naming the county seat the “bagel capital” in preparation for the village’s first-ever bagel festival next summer. Beyond the beloved Monticello Bagel Bakery, Sullivan County has another tie to this staple of breakfast, lunch, even dinner: Hurleyville native Abe Lashinsky invented the original bagel-making machine, said Siegel. He explained that the multi-day festival, scheduled for next August, will feature sculptures, celebrities, food and events, all focused on the eponymous ring-shaped roll. Since Woodstock’s 44th anniversary will be around the same time, there’ll also be some cross-promotion. “We are going to make the largest tie-dye bagel ... and the largest bagel chain up and down the street [Broadway],” Siegel predicted. He’s angling for 50,000 visitors and is already making pitches to brand-name corporate sponsors.

For the men enlisted in the 143rd NY Volunteer Infantry, the greatest challenge (150 years ago) began this month, leaving the comforts of home to engage in conflicts yet to be seen. “The 143rd left the state on October 14, [1862] proceeded to Washington and remained on duty in the defenses of the capital until April, 1863, when it was ordered to the Department of Virginia...” (From “The Union Army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65, Records of the Regiments in the Union Army,” Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II.)

After three consecutive big (and much needed) wins against quality opponents – Liberty was a prime candidate for a letdown against lowly Onteora Saturday afternoon in a game that would ultimately decide its [football] playoff fate. Onteora was in the spoiler role, as a victory combined with Burke Catholic’s big win over Dover Saturday would have  eliminated Liberty from the Section IX playoffs. Liberty continued its stellar play over the last five weeks thoroughly dominating Onteora 60-6 and clinching the No. 2 seed in Class C Division 1. The Indians will now play Division 2 champion Millbrook on Friday at Kingston’s Deitz Stadium at 4 p.m.