150 Years Ago -  1873

The Fremont Union Schuetzen Verein will meet at Fremont Center on Wednesday, September 10. This society already musters  60 members and is now very popular in this section.

Fears are entertained that when our tannery ceases to operate, the village of Jeffersonville must suffer in consequence. Such fear is utterly unfounded and is a poor compliment paid to the ample resources of our flourishing village. Buildings are being erected and improvements are being affected on every hand which is proof that the existing idea is an erroneous one. Captain Pinney has the material on hand for the purpose of building a law office on the lot of neighboring Faubel’s saloon; Ed Ranft has purchased a piece of land near the Eagle Hotel and is about to build himself a home; John Baum has secured the vacancy opposite the Jeffersonville House and a harness store will soon be forthcoming; Frank Laufsweiler has built an extension of still greater length than his name to his snug little home up town; Mrs. M. Bogardus is to build a large addition to the Variety Store; Mr. Alpheus Potts has purchased the Pendell property on the “island.” All these things are happening in the face of the disastrous (?) event of the tannery closing.

140 Years Ago - 1883

Fremont Center has added to its convenience a new store where general merchandise is offered. George Yager conducts the new enterprise in connection with his cabinet shop.

The first postal note issued by our postmaster, John Beck, was for the sum of $1.00 and given to S.W. Miles of Fremont.

A special meeting of Frasier Post 362, G.A.R. will be held at their room on Monday afternoon at two o’clock at which important business is to be transacted.

Frank Harding left for Binghamton on Monday last to engage in legal business. He opened a law office in that city.

 G.W. Sipple of the Hankins cooperage called on us yesterday. He is now taking orders for apple barrels.

The Knights of Honor Clam Bake at Callicoon Depot on Thursday, September 13, promises to be a gigantic affair. Music will be by the Deposit Cornet Band of 13 pieces and Senger’s Orchestra for dancing.

A hindquarter of beef, weighing 200 pounds in New York, costs nine cents a pound or $18.00.

John C. Geer, the rattlesnake man of Long Eddy, had an order from New York for three snakes. He went out one day and picked up three snakes which measured 13 feet.

130 Years Ago - 1893

A platform dance will be held in Union Park, Jeffersonville, every Saturday evening. Music by the Jeffersonville orchestra. Everybody cordially invited to attend. Philip Bietz.

The apiary of Charles Quick at North Branch has produced 2,400 lbs. of white clover honey this season.

At a special meeting of the Town board of the Town of Delaware a resolution was adopted by a vote of 66 in favor and 48 against to compromise the suits brought by John Townsend as administrator, ests. of Joseph Townsend and Elizabeth Townsend, if same can be compromised for $5,000 and interest from November 9, 1892. This claim grew out of an accident in which Mr. Townsend’s parents lost their lives when the bridge collapsed under them in a flood. (The bridge is the one on Lauer’s Flats near Byrd Long’s place.)

Messrs. Ward and Abplanalp of the Jeffersonville Orchestra assisted the Monticello musicians at the firemen’s dance at Jeffersonville Friday evening.

R.C. Maltby and Miss Louise Lober of Jeffersonville have been engaged to teach school for the coming term.

The Monticello citizens at the annual school meeting voted 127 to 18 to appropriate $70,000 to erect an addition to the school building to accommodate a union free school.

120 Years Ago - 1903

J.M. Schmidt & Sons, the well-known fruit buyers of North Branch, now have a force of men at work erecting a fruit storage at Callicoon Depot. The building will be of ten thousand barrel capacity and will be completed for this fall’s business.

Prof. Pease of Hallstead, Pa., has resigned his position as principal of the Damascus High School which seriously inconveniences the Board of Directors.

Florence Oliver will have charge of the intermediate department and Pearle Turner of the primary.

110 Years Ago - 1913

Thomas Dawson, a foundryman at Livingston Manor, has filed a petition in bankruptcy with liability of $11,741 and assets of $8,205.

Dr. Frank T. Laidlaw of Hurleyville, Bull Moose candidate for coroner, has declined the Republican endorsement and the Republicans have endorsed the Democratic nominee Dr. Cauthers of Monticello.

H.A. Meyer and sons will close their store at Kenoza Lake and concentrate on the management of their store here. Jos. H. Meyer will come from Kenoza Lake and help manage the store in Jeffersonville.

George Schleiermacher of Callicoon Center has brought an action for $10,000 damages against Wesley M. Dorrer of Hortonville for personal injuries sustained in the accident resulting from the collision of Schleiermacher’s team and Dorrer’s auto stage on the road between Callicoon Center and North Branch on the night of July 24, 1912.

Oscar Eggler, driver for Fred Duttweiler, was arrested in Liberty last week for blowing his auto horn and causing a runaway. The complainant is George Segar whose horse was killed in an accident he attributed to the blowing of the horn.

Elmer H. Bryan and Miss Julia Vallertson were married yesterday morning at the Presbyterian parsonage by the Rev. K. Stadelman.

Stephen J. Maltby, who formerly conducted a blacksmith shop at Kenoza Lake, removed to his father-in-law’s (William Neumann) farm near Fremont Center where Steve is now making a specialty of raising Golden Italian honey bees. He exhibited a hive of these bees at the North Branch Fair on Monday.

The annual reunion of the Pinney family was held at the John W. Miller residence in Briscoe on Saturday. Only one of the original Hervey Pinney family, George C. Pinney of Cochecton, was there.

100 Years Ago - 1923

H. Clifford Allington and little daughter spent the weekend at the home of his sister, Mrs. V.P. Scheidell. Cliff plays ball in the Banker’s league in and around New York City, and played with the Jeff Athletics Sunday and Monday. He was a former member of the Jeffersonville Braves.

Officer Edward Dollard of the Monticello police force, was shot and killed about three o’clock on Wednesday by three men he caught robbing the Reo Auto Company store in that village. He leaves a wife and four children.

Wanted: Pianist for moving picture house Maple Theatre, Jeffersonville, N.Y.

Mrs. Milliman, who left Callicoon Center fifty-three years ago, returned for a visit Saturday. She is 85 years old.

Bennett Bros. will close their drugstore in Jeffersonville for the winter on Saturday. Their prescription trade will be taken care of by the Callicoon store.

90 Years Ago - 1933

Former Lieutenant Governor Jeremiah Wood of Lynbrook, L.I., who has relatives and a summer home at Youngsville, with eleven other officers of the closed First National Bank of Hempstead, has been named defendant in a depositors suit. The plaintiff is Charles A.C. Kelly who sues in the name of the depositors for $870,000 claiming an illegal act on the part of the directors when they loaned $135,000 to one of its number. The bank failed to open after the bank holiday.

Mrs. Margaret Fuhrer, a native of Canton Berne, Switzerland, died at her home in Swiss Hill September 6. She was the daughter of John Moore and Margaret Fischer, and came to America with her parents when she was 22 and settled on the farm now occupied by the Pesci family. A year later she was married to Casper Fuhrer of Switzerland. They settled on their present home 68 years ago. She is survived by four daughters and three sons.

Wm. Beiling Sr. died September 1 at the Callicoon Hospital. He was born in Youngsville, a son of Andrew Beiling and Mary Schmidt and was married to Louisa Welds, a native of Germany.

Mrs. Eunice Bury, approaching her 85th year, died at her home in Fremont Center. She was born in Obernburg, a daughter of George Smith and Olive Cannon. Ten children were born to her, six of whom are still living.

The flood last week in the Delaware River washed out six or eight eel racks between Deposit and Port Jervis.

Phil and Rudy Hust left by car to resume their studies in the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

80 Years Ago - 1943

Fred A. Hust, who taught for many years at Kenoza Lake until that school was closed and has since taught a year in Jeffersonville, has gone on the retired list after thirty-five years of service.

Corporal Robert Flynn has been moved from Roscoe to the State Police Station at Deposit and promoted to Sergeant.

Postmaster Williard C. Schadt, together with Oscar Schaefer and Wesley Newham, have been called to Liberty for blood tests, preliminary to reclassification under the new draft. All three are married. Newham has a child.

John Beiling, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Beiling of Liberty, according to a telegram from the war department, lost his life in the line of duty. Burial was at sea with full military honors.

Two years ago, Charles Stewart offered his farm and chattels near Hortonville for $10,000. Last Thursday he disposed of his chattels at a cash auction that amounted to the neat sum of $12,000. He still has the farm.

Walter F. Stapleton, 49, of Monticello, who enlisted in the Navy last year, died of a heart attack while on duty at the Newport, R.I., Naval Station. His son died in the sinking of the USS Sturdevant in April 1942.

Carl Heidt, who has been county investigator for the Welfare Department and resigned a year ago to take over his father’s farm, has taken a position with the New England Dairies, starting October 1. The family will be moving shortly to Orville, Vermont.

70 Years Ago - 1953

Cora Bogert, wife of Jacob Sander, died at her home in Callicoon on Monday at the age of 83. She was the daughter of John Bogert and Amanda Hogencamp and was born March 17, 1870 in Youngsville.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Robisch of Jeffersonville announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathryn Marion, to Fred J. Robertson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Robertson of Youngsville.

The ninety-foot tower at Camp Mohap, Glen Spey, collapsed last Saturday at about 10 p.m. No injuries resulted from the accident.

William LeRoy has entered Clarkson College where he will study engineering. . . Caroline Westervelt will enter State Teachers College at New Paltz, and Audrey Schmidt enters Albany State College to study teaching.

Future nurses are in the making as Barbara Lott enters training at Newark Presbyterian Hospital and Audrey Hauser of Callicoon Center goes to Benedictine Hospital in Kingston.

Richard Clifford has entered Albany State College for Teachers and Wanda Bekarciak is going to Hunter College in New York City. Frederic O. Kron has enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

60 Years Ago - 1963

The Sullivan County Civil War Centennial Commission has initiated a promotional campaign for its forthcoming “Brass Buttons and Leather Boots,” the story of Sullivan County and the Civil War. Chairman Manville B. Wakefield reports the gold embossed hard cover book of 98 pages will be released for the public about November 1.

Barbara  Spangler of Kenoza Lake became the bride of Ronald Frisbie of Elbridge on September 1 at the Kenoza Lake Methodist Church.

With the opening of the new $3.2 million junior-senior high school in Liberty, five years of split sessions has come to an end.

A 17-year-old youth, Michael J. Kelly of Valley Cottage, arrested Sunday, admitted he had committed 40 burglaries and stolen five cars in the county since mid-July.

Reconstruction of a 7.2 mile stretch of Route 17B has been assured with the announcement from Albany that bids will be opened October 24. The portion of the road to be worked on is from the intersection of Route 17B and 52 at Fosterdale eastward to a similar intersection of Route 55 and 17B in White Lake.

The Sullivan County Conservative Party this week attacked a directive of the State Education Commissioner that there be no prayers offered or Bible reading in area schools.

Monticello Raceway’s second day-night doubleheader program of the season last Saturday proved another rousing success as two more records fell by the wayside.

50 Years Ago - 1973

Dr. Ralph S. Breakey, who had practiced medicine 55 years of his 82 year life, died in Monticello Community General Hospital August 29. He was a dedicated medical practitioner and a modest man. Dr. Breakey had served as Sullivan County Coroner for 40 years.

The Hankins United Methodist Church will mark its 50th anniversary of the building of its house of worship on September 9.

Frederick J. Lewis, 93, a former school superintendent and a longtime educator, died at Doctors Sunnyside Hospital in Port Jervis on August 29. He held the post of district superintendent of the First Supervisory District in Sullivan County from January 4, 1912, until his retirement in 1950.

The engagement of Helen Norden to Timothy V. Mullally has been announced by her mother, Mrs. Anna Norden. An early fall wedding is planned.

40 Years Ago - 1983

Doug Immoor awoke early Wednesday morning to what he at first thought was a morning rain. He looked out the window and found that the barn next to his house was on fire. The blaze completely destroyed the barn and more than 1,000 bales of hay. Three registered pigs were the only animals in the barn at the time of the fire. It is thought that the electrical wiring located in the right hand corner of the barn, which runs to the hot water heater, was the cause of the fire. Mr. Immoor estimates the cost of rebuilding to be between $30,000 and $40,000.

Actual construction of a $4 million Town of Liberty sewage disposal project started Tuesday. John Bernas is the contractor.

The Richard and Hollye Schulman Poultry Farm in Cochecton and the Hector & Son Dairy Farm in Swan Lake, owned by Georgia and Howard Hector, will be the scene of Down on the Farm Days in Sullivan County September 10. Refreshments will be served by Miss Sullivan County Dairy Princess Heidi Ferber of Hortonville, and her court, at the Hector farm.

Many stores have already placed the “returnable containers” with the  “N.Y. State 5¢ Refund” on their shelves before the mandatory deadline of September 12. The law went into effect on July 1, 1983, but distributors have until September 11 to comply.

30 Years Ago - 1993

David Curry of Livingston Manor, Kjersti Nichols of Callicoon, Amy George of Tri-Valley School, Elizabeth Scala of Burke High School in Goshen, Erica Schatz of Callicoon, Tom O’Toole of Liberty and their chaperone, Raymond Curry, left on Wednesday for their first leg of the journey that will take them to Japan where they will participate in a student exchange program in Toyama. They will return home September 6.

Students from Liberty High School are building a Victorian home on West Lake Street in Liberty as a pilot educational-vocational program in conjunction with The Woolard Group of Ferndale. The home will be sold and the profits will go into constructing another house next year.

Barbara Pitnick of Dix Hills and Gloria Blank of Liberty captured first place in the women’s doubles competition of the Craig Seidler Memorial Tennis Tournament held at Kutsher’s Country Club.

Lieutenant Governor Stanley Lundine will be the keynote speaker at the September 12 dedication of the Rose and Sam Seelig Division of the Community General Hospital in Harris. The program will be held in the Woodland Wildings Gardens with a reception afterwards in the cafeteria.

The engagement of Cheryl Stauch, daughter of Roger and Betty Stauch of Callicoon, and John Schmitz of Liberty, has been announced by her parents. An April 29, 1994, wedding is planned... The engagement of Cheryl Salamon of White Sulphur Springs and Stephen Johnstone of Liberty has been announced by her parents, John and Janet Salamon.

Floyd Emery once called Jim Consagra “The Vince Lombardi of High School Football.” When Emery took over as head football coach at Liberty several years ago, he brought Consagra out of a brief retirement to be his assistant. By making such a move, Emery completed the cycle begun in 1956 when Consagra was his football coach at Livingston Manor. When his teachers and guidance teacher discouraged Emery from going to college and he was ready to join the Marines, Consagra encouraged him to go to school and made arrangements for him to enter Arizona State College in Flagstaff.

20 Years Ago - 2003

Rains that carried on throughout last week did the most damage in the early hours of Thursday morning, sending fire departments out to help guide traffic around dangerous spots. 

Callicoon resident Edythe Johson turned 100 years of age Saturday. It seemed the whole town turned out for her 100th birthday party Sunday afternoon – the open house was advertised in the Democrat so no one would be left off of the guest list.

Earle Poley of North Branch joined the fire department at 14, and now at nearly 90 years of age, he’s still a member. That’s 75 years serving the community, first as a regular firefighter, later as chief and commissioner. Saturday evening, the North Branch native received a plaque for his years of service – the most, department member Bob Theadore says, of any firefighter in the region. Poley is the son of John and Bertha Poley, and is married to Ellen Mae. The couple had five children, Kay Rosenberger, Bonnie Dimler, Jane Buddenhagen, the late Carolyn Sue Ebert, and Amy Poley.

Ed Korth, 84, of Livingston Manor, was one of the featured exhibitors at the first annual Livingston Manor Car Show over the Labor Day weekend. Sponsored by the Livingston Manor Rotary, the event attracted hundreds of car owners and enthusiasts. Korth brought his all-original 1951 Chevrolet Custom he’s had since 1970.

The Jeffersonville-Youngsville class of 1963 held a reunion weekend May 23-25 with the main event being dinner at Albert’s Liberty House on May 24 in Liberty.

The 6th annual Catskill Mountains Jeep Jamboree was held September 5-7 and attracted a diverse crowd of Jeepsters from across the region and beyond. 

10 Years Ago - 2013

Two tragedies in the Town of Fremont have left officials reeling – and confronted with complex, thorny issues. John B. “Jack” Niflot, a lifelong resident and a member of the town board for more than two decades, passed away unexpectedly in June. Then, just last Friday, fellow Councilman Paul Brustman unexpectedly died, as well. The personal loss is also a governmental one. Both men were up for re-election to a town board that now barely has a functioning quorum.

A $364,000 project to dramatically reconfigure the Delaware Free Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library came to a rousing close on Saturday, when more than a hundred people celebrated the “grand opening” of the new addition and the centennial of the building itself. The library’s home once housed a bank. For the last few decades, the library has been the tenant of this spot on Callicoon’s Lower Main Street. Having outgrown the basement and first floor, the library acquired the second floor last year and began renovating the space that formerly housed the local Masonic order.  Library Director Kristin White thanked a variety of supporters, particularly Val Reinhardt, husband of Board Chair Pam Reinhardt and a key “mover and doer” in the project.