140 Years Ago - 1879

Wm. Relyea of Clintondale harvested over 6 tons of grapes, Concord variety, from 480 vines of 13 years standing.

North Branch — The North Branch School is to be taught the coming year by Mr. Sanford Calkins.

Youngsville — Henry Wood, who lately lost his barn by fire, is busily engaged in rebuilding another one in the same place… A.P. Bush has built a fine boat, which he intends to launch upon Sand Pond next season, for fishing purposes.

Mrs. Sarah Hardenbergh, aged 57, died at Liberty Falls, October 11th.

On October 21st, at the German Presbyterian parsonage in Jeffersonville, Andrew Kohler and Miss Magdalena Schlappi, both of Pike Pond, were married by Rev. A. Wetterstroem.

Mr. Louis Reichert has erected a cider mill on his premises.

Jacob Dietz of Callicoon Center, Democratic nominee for sheriff, favored us with a pleasant, but brief, call on Monday last.

August Grouten of Pike Pond is erecting a distillery at that place.

130 Years Ago - 1889

The mail service from Livingston Manor to Hardenberg, which temporarily during the past summer season was made six times per week, has been ordered continued throughout the year. The service from Beaver Brook to Narrowsburg has also been increased to six times per week.

Mary M. Fuhrer of Jeffersonville and Frank F. Jones of Scranton, Pa., were recently married at Conklin, NY.

There is a bitter fight going on among the Republicans of Delaware County. One Republican editor wants five hundred dollars cash to support the ticket, and if the money is not forthcoming, he will knock spots off the tickets in one week.

John C. Hall of Youngsville dropped in to see us Wednesday.

Mrs. G.M. Lawrence went to New York Monday and purchased a large stock of millinery goods.

Sophia Himmelreich, the Youngsville operator who has been visiting friends in New York City for a long time, has returned home.

Invitations are out for the wedding of Lawrence A. Huebsch and Lizzie Bietz to take place at the residence of the bride's parents in Jeffersonville on October 21st.

The fair at Fremont Center recently was considered a success.

We learn that the dwelling of Conrad Knack, a farmer residing near Obernburg, was destroyed by fire with most of its contents, on October 8th. The house was insured for $600 and the contents for $250.

120 Years Ago - 1899

At the annual meeting of the Roscoe milk producers, E.H. Rowe was elected president; Herbert C. Dodge, secretary; and Lewis Sipple treasurer.

The Sullivan County jail at Monticello contains five prisoners, a larger number than in a long time.

The annual metzel soup was held at Hotel Brandt near Hortonville on Friday. About 15 of that popular hotel's summer guests came from their city homes to enjoy the festival.

Lake Superior in the town of Bethel, together with 800 acres of land surrounding it, has been sold by R. Morrison of White lake to parties from Hoboken, NJ, for a price reported to be between $3,000 and $4,000.

There will be no Prohibition tickets nominated in the county this Fall.

Jacob Knight and George Robisch have declined the Republican nomination for collector and commissioner of highways in the Town of Delaware.

Although it looks like a tight race between Michael Scott and Louis Mall for highway commissioner in Callicoon, the odds favor Scott because the town is strongly Democratic.

George H. Smith, who has been renominated by the Democrats for County Judge, was only 29 years old when he was elected to the judicial position he has held for the last six years.

John Maroney of Cochecton has purchased from Valentine Schmidt of Jeffersonville, the hotel property at Callicoon Depot. A daughter was born October 21 to Herman Dingler and wife of Jeff.

Louis Mall Jr. furnished the music on his accordion for a dance held at the Mansion House last Thursday night by the younger folks.

Charles Wagner has leased and moved into the Fred Bietz house from the Brown place, which has been leased by Fred Hubert.

110 Years Ago - 1909

Rob Zabriskie Jr. of Jeff and William Pless of Kenoza Lake are on a week's deer hunt down in the wilds of Bethel.

Edwin F. Manny and wife drove to Newburgh this week and took the boat from there to New York, where they will spend a week.

F.T. Scheidell is able to be around again after having been laid up by cutting his leg with an axe.

L.C. Hunter has gone to the city to take a position as a photographer.

A company has been formed to supply Youngsville with water. It is intended to secure the supply from three springs on the farms of Miss Ella Keough, John Reinheimer and George Wood, and lead the water to town. On Friday Supervisor Lawrence McGrath of Livingston Manor computed the different altitudes to ascertain the best route to the village. It is intended to make the survey and lay the pipe this fall.

Rudolf Kimmes and Iva Benedict of Roscoe were married at Callicoon September 20th.

A son was born October 10th to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kosel of Pearl River at the home of Mrs. Kosel's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Wag­ner of the Spring Mountain House.

North Branch — Miss Rose Dorrer has gone to the city for the winter… The work of macadamizing the road here has been discontinued for this year, and we now have a fine hard road all the way from here to Callicoon… Otto Hornung has returned to Liberty to help Wm. F. Mauer in the butcher business.

The Callicoon National Bank has received its supplies for the interest department and is now preparing to serve the public in that direction.

100 Years Ago - 1919

An appeal has been made by Mrs. George W. Ostrander, president of the Liberty Chapter of the American Red Cross, that everyone answer the Third Roll Call of the Red Cross.

Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Wilkins and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Knell attended an Eastern Star meeting at Livingston Manor Tuesday night when the Mystic Tie degree was conferred on the grand and past officers in that order.

The town of Mamakating has filed a petition to vote on a local option at the coming election.

Mary Lotz, wife of T. Augustus Neuberger, died Wednesday morning at her home in Jeffersonville, following an apoplectic stroke on Sunday evening. She was the eldest daughter of the late John Lotz, and the former Anna M. Eierdanz, natives of Germany, who settled on a farm just north of the village of Jeffersonville, where Mrs. Neuberger was born on July 28, 1856. She was married to Mr. Neuberger at her home on September 13, 1879, by Rev. August Wetterstroem of the Presbyterian Church. They later bought the Willi property and erected a new house there, having lived for three years on the place now occupied by J.H. Glassel.

Mrs. Barbara Mann, widow of Ernest Mann, formerly of Callicoon Center, died at her home in Fremont Center last Saturday, aged 80 years.

A double wedding took place at Honesdale, Pa., on October 2nd, when two young couples surprised their relatives and friends. One was the wedding of Miss Helen Hust, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Hust, to Fred Esselman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Esselman. The other was the marriage of Franklin Ersema of West New York, NJ, now living on a farm at Shandelee, to Helen Schulter of Freeport, LI.

In other recent marriages, Frieda Emily Boettiger of the lower Beechwoods, was married on October 11th to Henry A. Reiners of West New York, NJ; Stanley Minckler of Fremont Center and Miss Ida Holpp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Holpp of Tennanah Lake, were married on October 21; and on October 12th, Sadie Quick and George Felske were married in Binghamton.

90 Years Ago - 1929

The telephone lines from Swiss Hill to Kenoza Lake are being rebuilt with a new cable line and heavier poles.

Mrs. Hannah C. Dietz, widow of Jacob Dietz (once Sheriff of Sullivan County) died at her home at Callicoon Center Wednesday, October 16, aged 88 years. Interment was made in St. Paul's Cemetery.

A daughter, Marion Anna, was born to Officer and Mrs. Wm. Archibald on October 21.

Hawk's Nest Road will be built next year says the State Commissioner. It will be expensive.

Callicoon Center school is to form an orchestra under the direction of Miss Topliffe.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Fremont Center will hold their services of rededication on Tuesday, October 29. They have been conducting worship services and the Sunday School has met in the Ladies Aid Hall for several months during which time the interior of the church has been repaired and renovated.

According to legal notices now being published, a stock fire insurance company, known as “The General Sullivan Fire Insurance Company” will be formed very soon. The names of the founders are: Herbert C. Persbacker, Otto W. Hornung, and William H. Zabriskie of Callicoon; Lewis C.W. Schneider, Ludwig G. Gebhart and Norman G. Persbacker of Narrowsburg; Elias A. Sheen and Arthur C. Toaspern of Barryville; Earl O. Barnes of Milanville, Pa., and Wallace A. Barnes of Beach Lake, Pa. One half million dollars in stock will be sold before the company will begin to write insurance. Shares are listed at $10.00 par value, but will be sold for $21.00.

On Sunday, October 20, at high noon, the marriage of Clara Augusta, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gorr, and J. Vance, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Blake Hunt of Callicoon took place. Miss Ruth Aldrich and Audley Dorrer were honor attendants at the ceremony performed by Rev. F.W. Stine at the bride's home.

The card party and dance held Monday, October 14, at the Western Hotel for the benefit of the C.H.S. Alumni Association was a grand success. Prizes were won as follows: Ladies first prize in pinochle, Dorothy Graebner and Ruth Aldrich, tied, each winning six out of seven games. Dot won the cut of the cards, receiving a handsome bronze metal traveling clock. Ruth received two packs of quality bridge cards. Alice McClernon of Monticello won a Waterman Lifetime fountain pen for ladies' first prize in bridge. Men's first prize went to Edgar Hermann. Combining a birthday party and card party in one evening, Edgar fared pretty well. He received a billfold made of genuine leather. Bob Dering stepped into the limelight by winning a Ronson DeLuxe lighter as his reward for being the best player at bridge. Booby prize went to “card shark” Ed Molusky.

Cochecton — Al. Henneforth is slinging the pigment at some rate we'll say. When he finishes the Canfield home, he will redecorate the interior of the Conklin Hill Church, surface the exterior of T.D. Gregg's home and the Damascus M.E. Church is awaiting an exterior lick of his brash. His work must give good satisfaction or his services would not be in such demand.

80 Years Ago - 1939

Callicoon Center — Miss Louise Veyhl and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Buss spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Veyhl. Mrs. Veyhl Sr. remains to spend a few weeks… Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Schick returned home Friday after a week's visit with relatives and friends in New York City… Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Skinner and two daughter of Delmar, NY, called on Mrs. M. Yager and the Baldwins last week. Mrs. Egbert Skinner is a granddaughter of the late John Yager.

Briscoe — A McCrea family reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Norris last Sunday… Mr. and Mrs. George Segar and son, Andrew, spent Sunday with relatives in Cortland.

Youngsville — Mr. and Mrs. Henry Berberich and Mr. and Mrs. Al Berberich spent Friday visiting the World's Fair… Attorney Charles F. Kaiser of Ellenville, formerly of Youngsville, is again running for supervisor in the town of Wawarsing on the Republican ticket. He lost out two years ago… Mr. and Mrs. Richard Todd have returned from a trip to Niagara Falls and Buffalo.

Fosterdale — Miss Hannah Calkin and niece, Jean Calkin, are spending a few days in the city and attending the fair… Miss Esther H. Abplanalp of Cedar Grove, NJ, is on vacation at her home here… Louis Komancheck of Washingtonvillle spent the past weekend at his home here.

White Sulphur — Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joyner returned from their honeymoon Thursday eve­ning and on Monday night were royally serenaded at their home, then escorted to the firehouse, where there was dancing and refreshments… Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bossley are expected home from their honeymoon this week.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Denner of Obernburg are the proud parents of a baby girl born Thursday morning. Discharged from the Callicoon Hospital this week were Mrs. James Roche and infant son; Mrs. Claude Woodruff and infant son.

Elverta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Boehmer of Callicoon, and Osmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Fink of Hortonville, were united in marriage Sunday morning at Holy Cross Church. They were attended by Miss Bernice Boehmer and Howard Schmidt.

Saturday morning, October 21, in the presence of their parents and his sister, Florence E. Inderlied, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Inderlied of Youngsville, and William C. Girard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Casper Girard of Callicoon Center, were united in marriage by Rev. John Straub at the parsonage. Jean Inderlied and Adolph Wachman were honor attendants.

70 Years Ago - 1949

Through the efforts of the Kenoza Lake Chamber of Commerce, the State Highway Commission has placed signs through the village limiting speed to 30 miles per hour.

The First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville was the scene on Saturday of the wedding of Miss Della A. Judson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis M. Judson of Briscoe, and Harold A. Menges, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Menges of Youngsville.

Mr. and Mrs. James Manzolillo's up and coming son, Libby, local amateur boxer, received a jacket this week from the local Lions Club.

Three local hunters, Roy Williams, Ed Loughrey and James Kohler will leave Sunday for Maine where they will try to get some venison.

Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Sander (Isabelle Graham) of Youngsville are the parents of a daughter born on October 24th at the Liberty Hospital, weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 oz.

60 Years Ago - 1959

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Brey are the parents of a daughter born October 4 at Liberty Loomis Hospital.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Keller on the birth of a son Friday at Liberty-Loomis. They now have three boys.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Schaefer who celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary; also to Mr. and Mrs. August Schmidt on their 23rd.

Youngsville firemen and auxilians are busily engaged in making preparations for their supper and dance to be held October 31 at the Youngsville Inn, with dancing to follow in the Odd Fellows Hall.

The County of Sullivan is in excellent financial condition, according to a report received by the Sullivan County Planning Board from its consultant, New York University.

At the Callicoon Hospital it was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meola of North Branch on Monday; a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Mueller of Callicoon Star Route, on Wednesday, and a daughter, Thursday, to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Doetsch.

The Town of Callicoon Democratic Club Dinner will be held this Saturday, October 24, at the Lake Jefferson Hotel. Toastmaster will be former Assemblyman Jim Lyons and principal speaker will be George Rosen, Monticello attorney. All county and town candidates will be present including Fred Schadt, running for Special County Judge; Ralph Coddington, Democratic nominee for Sheriff; Oscar Will, incumbent supervisor running for re-election on the town ticket.

This year's annual Jeff Firemen's supper broke all previous serving records when over 1500 persons attended.

50 years ago - 1969

Damage estimated at about $10,000 was caused by fire at the new dormitory on the grounds of St. Joseph's Seminary Sunday. Callicoon and Hortonville Fire Departments were able to contain the fire to the second floor of the building. About 90 panes of glass were broken or cracked by the heat on the second floor which accounts for a major portion of the damage.

The family of George and Mabel Kohl of Callicoon were guests at a surprise dinner party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Finerty at Chester on October 5, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Kohl.

40 Years Ago - 1979

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kellam of Fremont Center celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 6 with an open house hosted by their children, Mrs. Harry (Eleanor) Wilcox of Roscoe, Harold Kellam of Liberty, Mrs. Ridrick (Ethel) Dressel of New Paltz, and Paul Kellam of Fremont.

Class of 1959 celebrated their 20th year reunion of graduation from DVCS with a gathering at the Hotel Jefferson on October 6.

Lisa M. Mullen and Al Atkins were united in marriage at a Nuptial Mass at St. Peter's in Liberty on October 13. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Mullen of Liberty. The bridegroom is the son of A. Atkins of Brooklyn and Mrs Anna Black of Medina, Ohio.

The establishment of the Community General Hospital Howard L. Bern Memorial Cancer Fund was announced jointly by hospital president Gordon Winarick and Pearl Bern, widow of the Grossinger Hotel executive.

Mike Comerford, 13, was first prize winner in the county Fire Prevention Week poster contest.

The Liberty Elks presented a new van to the cerebral palsy center last Sunday, Keith Hamlin is the exalted ruler for the club.

30 Years Ago - 1989

Diane Mall, a senior at J-YCS, has received a Letter of Commendation in the 1990 National Merit Scholarship Program based on her performance on the 1988 PSAT/NMSQT test.

The building which will house the new Tusten-Cochecton Libra­ry in Narrowsburg is nearing completion.

All proceeds received from the student dance at Narrowsburg Central School will be sent to the victims of the recent Hurricane Hugo which hit in the south. The inmates at the Sullivan County Correctional Facility contributed $656.50 to the relief fund. There is now talk of fundraising to help the California earthquake victims.

Liberty Mayor Robert Sherwood and Village Manager Donald Whiteman recently went to the Westchester Country Club in Harriman where they received the American Automobile Association's Pedestrian Safety Award in recognition of the village's no pedestrian fatalities in the past 15 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard DePuy of Monticello celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday with a gathering of friends and family at King's Catering House in Livingston Manor… Richard and Helen Guttzeit of Lake Huntington celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on October 14 at Pete's Pub.

The Damascus Volunteer Ambulance Corps celebrated 20 years of service to the community.

20 Years Ago - 1999

St. James Episcopal Church of Callicoon celebrated its 125th anniversary Sunday with a special service at the small parish mission church founded in 1874. The rural parish church was honored by the presence of the Rt. Rev. Herbert Alcorn Donovan, Assisting Bishop of the Dioceses of New York and New Jersey.

SullivanARC celebrated its 50th anniversary Sunday with the help of one of the nation's most well-known disabled individuals: Miss America 1995, Heather Whitestone-McCallum, the first - and only, so far - Miss America to be completely deaf.

Not long after Ed Kennedy's death last December, friends and colleagues of the longtime Monticello HS athletic director and coach felt that his achievements and character deserved some recognition. Thus was born the Ed Kennedy Memorial Committee, which has met on a monthly basis since April to plan a fitting tribute to the man who touched so many lives.

Sarah March, 7, daughter of Frank and Maryanne March of Swan Lake, took first place in a division of the Mid-Atlantic Figure Skating Championships in New York City recently. Sarah, trains regularly at Kutsher's Skating Rink under longtime instructor Celia Duffy.

10 Years Ago - 2009

After a few supply line delays, ETC's experimental wind turbine is finally taking shape near the Liberty entrance to Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake.

NYS DEC Region 3 Fish and Wildlife staff members set a culvert bear trap to capture a bear that was terrorizing a camp for Hasidic boys located off Anderson Road in the Town of Rockland. The bear was captured in the trap two days later. The large male bear, weighing 290 lbs, had a tooth pulled for aging, ear tags installed and was collared with a GPS transmitter. The bear was later released on site.

Gary and Carol Wootan of Callicoon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 8th. Carol has been a clerical office worker at Catskill-Delaware Publications in Callicoon since 1980. The couple celebrated with a quiet dinner for two at Peppino's Restaurant and Pizzeria in Callicoon, courtesy of a gift certificate from employees of Catskill-Delaware Publications.

The Sullivan County Long Beards held their first ever 50/50 competition shoot for adults. The weather was great and approximately 20 people showed up to shoot throughout the day and support the Long Beards. The winner of the open sight 50-yard shoot was Jim Shampine and the winner of the scoped 100-yard shoot was Bob Boddy. Shampine and Boddy each received 50 percent of the entry fees for the respective shoots and a trophy from Long Beards President Butch Kortright.

The Town of Liberty Supervisor, John Schmidt, announced the award of a grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal Small Cities program in the amount of $600,000. This is the second consecutive year that the Town of Liberty has garnered this grant. This grant will finance well head protection and replacement of outdated transit pipes that supply water to the White Sulphur Springs Water District.