100 Years Ago - 1920

Surrounded by their children, grandchildren, other relatives, friends and neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gerhardt on Monday celebrated their 50th anniversary of their marriage and the 83rd birthday of Mr. Gerhardt, at their home in Fremont Center. The Gerhardts were married October 18, 1870, in a double ceremony with her brother, John Bayer and his wife.

Wirt and Wilmot Moulthrop found a bee tree in the latter's woods last week which yielded 90 pounds of fine honey. — Kenoza Lake Corresp.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Beesmer, October 12, a daughter, Ida N. The Beesmers reside in Equinunk, Pa., Born October 15 at the Montclair Hospital, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Peterson. — Equinunk Corresp.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Keesler of Swago Lake, a daughter on October 16.

The bans of matrimony of Mary Sweeney of Islip, LI, and Leo Kenney of Long Eddy were published Sunday at St. Patrick's church, Long Eddy.

The 33rd Annual Convention of the W.C.T.U., held at Rockland, saw the election of Miss L.B. Barnes of Stalker, Pa., as president; Mrs. May M. McKoon, who was the county leader of the W.C.T.U. from its organization in 1887 until she resigned in 1918 when she was made honorary president for life, spoke at the opening of the convention, recalling some incidents of the first convention held in 1888 in Rockland, and spoke of the changes brought about since that time.

Following an operation at the Deerpark Sanitarium in Port Jervis, Mrs. Irving L. Sparling of Callicoon died of heart failure there on October 15, aged 44 years. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ross of Callicoon.

Shortly after she and her daughter had returned home Sunday evening from a walk to Hortonville, Mrs. Franz Hilberlings was stricken with apo­plexy and died half an hour later. The Hilberlings came from New York City, buying the Wagner property above Hortonville which they transformed into a private school. Five years ago the large building was completely de­stroyed by fire. The Hilberlings did not rebuild, but abandoned the school and devoted their attention successfully to the development of the farm.

90 Years Ago - 1930

Sunday, October 19 — Conrad Graebner was united in marriage with Ethel Gaston in the M.E. Church in Callicoon. Peter Graebner and Mrs. F.W. Stine were witnesses.

Lt. Frank L. Bock of the U.S. Army spent the past weekend here with his parents before departing for a two-year assignment in the Hawaiian Islands on December 1. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Bock of Callicoon.

Miss Edna Mauthe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mauthe of Mileses, and Rudolph Lindberg of Brooklyn were married in New York recently.

Newly appointed officers for the Epworth League to serve six months are: President Jennie Keim; 1st Vice President Mrs. F.W. Stine; 2nd Vice President Muriel Bullis; 3rd Vice President Marion Baum; 4th Vice President Roberta Molusky; Secretary Myrl Bennett; Treasurer Frances Persbacker; Organist Elaine Dodge.

Lowest priced Six in all Nash history - $795; Only Twin-Ignition, Eight at its price - $1295; all prices f.o.b. factories — Edwin C. Hermann, Dealer, Callicoon. - ADV.

Disclosure of a white slave ring in Sullivan County which may solve the disappearance of twenty Bronx school girls during the summer resulted from a raid conducted by Sheriff Benjamin Gerow and state troopers on a Rock Hill roadhouse last Saturday night. Detectives said today it was almost certain that information gained from the raid would disclose a score of missing school girls as a result of the wholesale arrests. The ring is thought to be the largest uncovered in New York during the year.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Miss Delma E. Thomas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ario E. Thomas, Lake Ariel, Pa., became the bride of Claude V. Eldred, son of Mrs. Minnie Eldred, West Damascus, Pa., on October 15 at the Presbyterian Manse in Honesdale, Pa.

Charles A. Brind Jr., director of the law division of the State Education Department, and Col. M.E. Gilmore regional director of the WPA at New York, were the chief speakers at the formal dedication of the new $460,000 Roscoe Central School last night. Designed to house approximately 350 pupils, it contains twenty-five classrooms, including shops and laboratories. It also houses the village library. A unique feature of the plant is a swimming pool, situated on a large athletic field purchased from the Roscoe Athletic Association.

The Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heins was celebrated October 12 at the Hillside Inn in Narrowsburg by a reception and luncheon given by their three daughters, with seventy-four guests.

Harold, son of Mrs. Susie Turner, Callicoon, and Irene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Buddenhagen of Welcome Lake, Pa., were married October 17, at the Narrowsburg parsonage by Rev. Viggo Swendson.

Ground was broken this week for the new garage of Charles H. Engert on a lot next to Ohls' Hatchery building. The exterior of the Milton Keim home is about completed. Workmen are now completing the interior of the Frederick Starck house and it is expected that it will be ready for occupancy within the next month. These three new properties will be a fine asset to our village.

Francis Hartmann, staying with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Hartmann, at East Cochecton, suffered injury recently when a portion of a .22 calibre lead bullet ricocheted and became imbedded in his left eyeball just below the iris. Francis fell with a .22 calibre rifle in his hand and the bullet was discharged. He was unaware of the injury, thinking that perhaps he had hurt his eye by falling on a stubble. Dr. E.T. Rumble advised treatment by a specialist in Middletown and there the lead was discovered. Francis will suffer no ill effects, it is believed.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Miss Gladys Marie Heib became the bride of Harold Corwin Maas of Cochecton on October 15 at the Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville.

According to the contractors erecting the new Delaware Valley Central School, 90 percent of the steel has been fabricated at Binghamton. The remainder will be shipped from Bethlehem, Pa., next week and erection is expected to commence within three weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Conklin of Callicoon are the parents of a son born Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. John Eschenberg of Callicoon are the parents of a son, born October 26. Both born at the Callicoon Hospital.

Congratulations to Joan Dickhut of Unity Grange who was chosen as one of the attendants to Wayne Co. Agricultural's Queen, during the Pennsylvania Week celebration in Honesdale last week. — Galilee Corresp.

The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Al Meyer was baptized Ann Edna on Sunday at the Sacred Heart Church in Hankins.

Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Kohler celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on October 12… A son was born last week to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Seaman (nee Shirley LeRoy) of Kingston… About 1000 suppers were served by the Jeffersonville Firemen Saturday. More could have been served but the turkey ran out. — Jeff Corresp.

Franklin Pomeroy, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Pomeroy, fell while playing, injuring his back and legs and suffering a fractured skull. He is in the Callicoon Hospital.… Supt. of Schools, C.E. Button, Principal William Jones, Ronald Albee and Irving Burnham left on Sunday for Syracuse to attend the State School Boards Association meeting until Tuesday. — Roscoe Corresp.

60 Years Ago - 1960

“They're hanging from the rafters,” stated principal Charles E. Lewis when queried this week about overcrowded conditions at Delaware Valley Central School; 586 pupils are housed in a facility intended for 450. Recent board meetings have been given to discussion of this serious condition.

A son was born Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bauer of Hankins; a daughter, Saturday, to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kautz of Callicoon Center; a son, Saturday, to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Rosenberger of Callicoon RD; and a daughter, Thursday, to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Casterline of Cochecton Center.

Miss Wilma, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Mauer, was married October 15 to Richard Persh­ken at the Callicoon Methodist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Keeler (Frances Kohl) of Middletown announce the birth of a son, Stephen Frederick, on October 16, weighing 6 lbs. 10 oz.

Nial Sherwood, Liberty engineer, has donated a plot of land in his Fairway development near the Liberty golf course for a new Masonic Temple. The lot is located on Eagle Drive.

On Friday, October 14, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Henke, Callicoon, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hahn of Callicoon Center celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary on October 12.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Craig returned home Tuesday after an eight-week vacation visiting relatives in the British Isles.

Mr. and Mrs. David Buddenhagen of Hortonville and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Buehl have recently moved into new homes. The Buddenhagens built and the Buehls remodeled a home purchased from the Webers in Hankins.

50 years ago - 1970

The referendum for the Board of Cooperative Educational Services to buy property and erect two buildings near Loomis on Route 52 was passed last Thursday, October 15. The total vote of the nine school districts was 2554 for the proposal and 1966 against the program.

Cindy Buddenhagen, 9-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Buddenhagen, Hortonville, is one of the happiest children in this area these days, as she enjoys the Chevy Junior she won at the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck the latter part of August. Cindy's Dad is the local Dodge dealer and in order to keep up with the competition, he and Cindy visited the Chevrolet display of a dealer from Red Hook at the fair. Everyone who visited this exhibit was given a chance on the little gasoline driven car, and you guessed it, Cindy won. The car was delivered to Cindy on Friday of last week.

Services were held Monday for Charles E. Koberlein, 22, a petty officer third class in the Seabees, who died October 9 in Vietnam from injuries received September 29 when a landmine blew up a truck he was driving. He is the son of Ernest and Ruth Misner Koberlein.

Miss Renae Leonardo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Leonardo, Kenoza Lake, and Harry Bishop, son of Mrs. Helen Bishop, Roscoe, were married October 10 at the Fremont Methodist Church. Rev. Donald Walter officiated.

40 Years Ago - 1980

The many Sullivan County friends and co-workers of J.J. McGough and Mrs. McGough “Jimmy” of Yulan are keeping their fingers crossed for the safety of the popular couple whose plane is believed to have crashed while they were flying to Greybull, Wyo., where their son, John, has a ranch. They had refueled and took off in their single engine Mooney aircraft from Rapid City, S.D., at 9:53 Friday morning and were heard from again by radio at 12:05 at which time they were “over the top” - and the cloud cover above the southern end of the Big Horn mountains, at 12,500 feet. They asked for weather reports and indicated no trouble. Their flight radio was not heard again. He is a former Sullivan County Commissioner of Public Works and is presently chairman of the board of United National Bank and operates an engineering firm in Liberty. He is also the unpaid manager of the Sullivan County International Airport. Mrs. McGough is a member of the Citizens Advisory Council for the Upper Delaware River.

Fred W. Stabbert, publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat announced today that the newspaper will be publishing two editions a week on a permanent basis. The Earlybird Edition will be published on Tuesday of each week; the Weekender Edition on Friday.

Father Stephan Kleparchuk was honored Sunday on his 60th anniversary as a Ukrainian Catholic Priest. He is 90 years of age.

Christina M. Wallace and John J. Lack were married October 4 at an outdoor wedding at King's of Livingston Manor. The bride is the daughter of Margaret Wallace of Rock Hill, and the groom is from Kingston.

Rhonda Sue Gibson and Stephen F. Sullivan were united in marriage at the Callicoon United Methodist Church on September 27. Students of the nursing program at Broome Community College in Binghamton, they are making their home in Windsor. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hermann of Callicoon. His mother lives in Floral Park, L.I.

Cathleen Doyle Tonjes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Tonjes of Callicoon, became the bride of Donald Severino, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Severino of Dobbs Ferry on October 11 at St. Columba Church in Chester.

Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Schill­inger of Grahamsville were given a surprise party at the White Sulphur Springs fire hall on October 12 in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary with 125 guests attending.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Businessmen from Rock Hill had their fears allayed Tuesday night when Frontier Insurance Chief Executive Officer Walter Rhulen assured them he had not changed his plans to build a 70,000 square foot office building in their community. Concerned that recent controversy, including a law suit in federal court against Town of Thompson officials and others, may have dissuaded Rhulen's plans for the office complex, about 80 members of the Rock Hill Business Association gathered to hear Rhulen address their regular meeting. “He's there,” said a triumphant Paul Walsh, past president of the association, “and we told him to come on down to Rock Hill, we'd welcome him with open arms.”

Taken from “Lifelines” by Kathy Werner in the October 19, 1990 issue of the Sullivan County Democrat:

Don't Stay Away From Church

- because you are poor. Admission is free.

- because you are rich. We can remedy that.

- because it rains. You go to work in the rain.

- because it is hot. So is the golf course.

- because it is cold. It is warm and friendly there.

- because of the hypocrites. You associate with them everyday.

- because of emotionalism in religion. How about the ball game?

- because of company. They will admire your loyalty - bring them along.

- because the church always wants money. So does your grocer.

- because you have time ahead later on for church. Are you sure?

Clifford and Catherine Korth of Fremont Center were honored with a plaque of appreciation for their many years of dedication and faithful service on the occasion of the Basket Historical Society's 10th anniversary.

An early 18th century log cabin in the Town of Forestburgh was discovered when a house was being torn down in 1982 on Bear Road. Demolition was halted immediately and the Town bought the cabin for $1,000. It was dismantled carefully and the logs were stored in the town barn. With funding from the New York State March South project, the building has been relocated opposite the Town Hall and will become a museum for the Town. A fireplace will be erected, as in the original cabin, with stone being donated from the property of Town Historian Elsie Winterberger, and as a personal touch, a piece of the Berlin Wall will be included.

For the second time in less than one week, tornado-like winds ripped through parts of western Sullivan County, inflicting heavy damage to personal property and trees in the Youngsville and White Sulphur Springs area. Route 52 was closed in Youngsville where trees were downed onto houses, cars and power lines. A huge oak tree hit the home of Jean Egan in Youngsville. There were no injuries reported.

20 Years Ago - 2000

Arthur Goldberg, the head of Park Place Entertainment, Inc. - the largest gaming company in the world - died suddenly and unexpectedly early Thursday morning at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore, Md. “They told us this would have no impact on Park Place Entertainment Inc.'s plans,” said Legislature Chairman Rusty Pomeroy. “They are moving ahead with their plans to build a casino at Kutsher's.”

The Village of Monticello wants Sullivan County Community College Dean of Students Richard Sush to be its village manager. Sush would like to accept the job. Sush would also like to retain his elected post on the town board. The village wants him to resign because they see it as a possible conflict of interest.

Sullivan West Central School board members and administrators were met by nearly 200 upset residents, employees and students at Thursday night's board meeting. One concern was the potential shifting of about 100 Narrowsburg 9th-12th graders to Jeffersonville-Youngs­ville and at least one DV grade level to a local community building to make way for renovation work, and the other was the negotiation regarding the contract of the faculty and staff at Sullivan West.

Jeanne Reneé Eschenberg and Jonathan Robert Sager were married Saturday, September 30, 2000 at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Franklin, Va. The bride is the daughter of Steven and Nancy Eschenberg of Callicoon. The groom is the son of Robert and Elizabeth Sager of Franklin, Va.… Caryn Michele Landau and Brendan Michael Heffernan, both of Flemington, NJ, were married May 20, 2000 at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge, NJ. The bride is the daughter of Robert and Martha Landau of Neversink. Carole Heffernan of Flemington, NJ, and Frank Heffernan of Bethlehem Township, NJ, are the groom's parents.

10 Years Ago - 2010

Come November, those familiar lever machines won't be waiting to take your vote. Sixty-three new Optiscan voting machines were unveiled and will grace the polling stations across Sullivan County this fall, starting on Primary Day in September.

Village of Monticello officials were elated to announce that months of hard work had paid off: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had signed off on giving a $6.44 million grant and a near-$8 million loan to the village to repair and upgrade its 25-year-old wastewater plant and the even older network of sewer pipes and pups. Turns out that $14 million package is the largest ever given to a municipality in New York State, according to Congressman Maurice Hinchey. Earlier this summer, it appeared Monticello might not get the federal funding or that it would have been split into two phases, but Hinchey went to the highest echelons of the USDA and convinced them the struggling village was worth the stimulus funds.

Andy Karadontes of Jeffersonville, who is known as the “Jeffersonville Jet,” recently celebrated his 506th career victory at Oakland Valley Race Park in Cuddlebackville. Karadontes has been racing motorcycles for more than 20 years.