140 Years Ago - 1880

September! Autumn Leaves! Apple cuts next. Cider mills are in full blast. Potato bugs are now migrating.

Butter, the best, is selling in this place for 20¢ a pound.

The “hunters” of Beaverkill re­cently startled a large buck, which ran from Pull Hair to Pork Island in the river. It was shot at seven times, but escaped un­harmed.

The walls of the Sabbath School and vestry wings of the new Episcopal Church at Monticello are completed.

We see it stated that Col. Thomas Johnson, formerly of Callicoon, this county, has moved to Butternut Grove, Delaware County, and is there erecting a circular saw mill.

Our village school opens next Monday with Mary Potts as teacher. Charles Armstrong has been appointed postmaster at Long Eddy.

The bridge across the creek at Lieb's blacksmith shop is torn out and the new stone abutment is being laid.

The Jeffersonville grist mill has opened under the new management of L. Mall, who has had charge of it for the last three years.

Mr. Joseph Stall, an aged resident of Fosterdale, died at his residence there on Tuesday morning at the age of 82.

There was a grand temperance picnic on the shores of Sheldrake Pond last Saturday with two bands of music, and several speakers.

Liberty — Martin Dwyer, son of William Dwyer Sr., has received the appointment for the free scholarship to Cornell University… John Wales, the hardware merchant, lately burned out here, sold his building site to Sarle & Purvis for $500… A.J. Clements is a permanent secretary of the Greenback State Committee; thermometers registered 90 in the shade Saturday.

North Branch — John W. Peters has already sown seven acres of rye. Now is the time for the trustees of the school districts to put their house in order, preparatory to the winter schools. We would also recommend that they secure a copy of Quinlan's History of Sullivan County before the edition is entirely exhausted.

130 Years Ago - 1890

William Hogencamp and Mary Tremper, both of Youngsville, were married August 29, 1890, by Rev. H. Hansman at the Jeffersonville Presbyterian parsonage. Also married there were Luther Campbell of New York City and Anna C. Weisenfluh of Youngs­ville. On August 30th, John Wilfert of Jeffersonville and Lena Dootweiler of Swiss Hill were married at Kenoza Lake, and on September 1, Rudolph C. Reichmann and Helena Gross were married by Rev. S. Muery.

The Youngsville Brass Band went over to Rockland to play at Rev. F. Forscythe's baseball picnic on Thursday.

A twice-blessed man is Jerry Lindsey, the stone man of Roscoe. He is the happy father of a pair of twins presented him by Mrs. Lindsey last week.

W.C. Brand wants an apprentice to earn the harness making trade.

The residence of John Puerschner, where a number of city people found shelter for recreation for several weeks, has been christened “Chautauqua Cottage.” The name was suggested by a lady boarder.

The wife of George Roser Jr. of Hoytville, Pa., died at her home last Monday. Mr. Roser is a son of George Roser of Sand Pond and was married last spring.

120 Years Ago - 1900

George Ringman of New York and Miss Rosie Hubbert were married at the home of her parents near North Branch last Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. William Meyer of the Jeffersonville M.E. Church with about 100 guests present.

William J. Grishaber, our young tinsmith and plumber, and Miss Clara, daughter of George J. Yager, the Maple Avenue merchant, were married at the M.E. parsonage Tuesday morning.

Among the Grand Jurors selected to serve at a term of Supreme Court, starting September 24, at Monticello are: Bethel, L.P. Royce; Callicoon, Henry Krenrich; Cochecton, R.B. Heinle; Delaware, Fred Schaefer, Frederick Schmidt, Philip Hembdt; Fremont, Anthony Manny, George Emrich, Peter Wagner, G.B. Calkins, and Henry Ashton; Liberty, Joshua R. Gerow; and Rockland, H.J. Russell.

A total loss of over $3000 was suffered when, on Tuesday afternoon, the buildings at the junction of East and South Main Streets, owned by Charles Scheidell and occupied for many years as a blacksmith shop by Fred Lieb and as a wagon making shop by William F. Miller, the building used for the fire engine and Mr. Scheidell's storage house, were burned to the ground. No one seemed to know how the fire started. It took from 4:30 to 7 o'clock to bring the blaze under control and save nearby buildings. The shops had occupied the site for many years. Mr. Lieb had worked there for 36 years. This is the first fire of any consequence Jeffersonville has had since 23 years ago when Charles Scheidell's large barns were struck and burned by lightning. The total loss suffered in Tuesday's fire was not so great, but that the village got off so cheaply is short of a miracle, and it has given a scare, which it is hoped will be of benefit to us in the future.

Albert Hallenbeck of Livingston Manor appeared before Justice Millspaugh in that place August 29 and pleaded guilty to exploding dynamite in a nearby trout stream. He was fined $25.

George Koll of near Livingston Manor entered ten full blooded registered Cottswold and two common sheep at the Sullivan County Fair at Monticello last week, all of which took premiums.

A large force of men are to work erecting an iron bridge to replace the wooden one across the Delaware at Narrowsburg.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hessinger, who died at Callicoon August 27, was in her 73rd year. She is survived by three sons, Fred and William of Callicoon and George of Emmons­ville, and by 22 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Postmaster Metzger was at Syracuse this week as a delegate to the Republican state convention.

110 Years Ago - 1910

Wm. Kohler and wife of New York are guests of his parents, John N. Kohler and wife.

Wm. A. Lixfield has placed a concrete walk in front of his place, and Mrs. Louise Grishaber is also replacing her stone walk with concrete.

A son was born on Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Gareiss of New York. The mother is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Diehl of Jeffersonville.

C.G. Yager and W.J. Grishaber have split up their partnership holdings in the automobile business, Yager taking the big car and Grishaber the smaller one.

The Catholic Church people are planning to build a new church edifice here to accommodate the increasing summer attendance.

The Presbyterian Church of Monticello, the first church established in that part of Sullivan County, will be 100 years old September 5.

Mileses, Aug. 27 — The donation at Kessler's Hall for the benefit of the Lutheran Church, despite the inclement weather, was a grand success in every way. The membership of the church has increased considerably, and the pastor, Rev. John A. Straub, has become a general favorite with his flock… John Bohn is building a belfry on our schoolhouse… Anthony Sator is busy erecting a bell on our schoolhouse. He is a trustee for the district.

Beechwoods, Aug. 29 — A surprise was given to Henry Gabel Sr. in honor of his 70th birthday on August 23.

Birch Ridge — Mrs. Ed Riemensnyder has returned to the city after spending several weeks with her parents.… Theron Taylor with his gasoline engine is threshing in the Beechwoods… Mrs. Cora Schwartz is home from the city.

Mrs. Elizabeth Huebsch, widow of Michael Huebsch, died at her home in Beechwoods Thursday night. She was born in Germany and resided in Beechwoods over 50 years. Her husband died 9 years ago. Eight sons and three daughters survive.

100 Years Ago - 1920

The preliminary report of the 1920 census of Sullivan County shows that in only 4 of the 15 towns - Liberty, Thompson, Fallsburg and Tusten - is there an increase in population over the census of 1910. In the last ten years, the town of Callicoon has lost 320 and the entire county is 645 behind.

Mrs. Charles P. Durr is ill of typhoid fever at her home in the village of Jeffersonville. Miss Katherine Geib of Callicoon is the nurse in attendance.

Philip P. Justin has sold his farm in Beechwoods to Ernest Mueller of New York City.

Otto W. Meyer has purchased on speculation the old store building on East Main Street belonging to the Meyer estate.

School will reopen here next Tuesday.

John L. Schmidt has the frame of his new house on Center St. nearly up.

Miss Carrie Huff has engaged to teach the Briscoe School.

A fire which started at the top of the building about 11 o'clock Friday morning, destroyed the Lancashire Inn of Liberty, one of the largest frame buildings in the county, and for many years one of the most widely known summer resorts in this part of the state. For the past year or more the building has been conducted by Albert Eggler as a home for convalescent disabled soldiers. It was built in 1894. It is not likely that the inn will be rebuilt since it is estimated that it would cost over $100,000. The inn was insured for $20,000 and the loss is a severe one for the Egglers. Mr. Eggler is a native of the Six Thousand Area Tract, between Briscoe and Youngsville. He formerly owned the Junction House, this side of White Sulphur Springs, and he also had conducted the Piney Woods Inn at Liberty.

Summer friends summering in this vicinity surprised Mr. and Mrs. William von Berg at their new home on the hill last Thursday and gave them a house warming, bringing along lots of eats and good cheer in bottles without labels.

90 Years Ago - 1930

George Yager has sold his sodawater manufacturing business and plant to Otto Bollenbach and Supervisor Fred W. Schadt, who will expand the business. Mr. Bollenbach has been assisting Mr. Yager in the business for some time. Mr. Yager bought the business 35 years ago of the late Oliver Hofer and then moved the factory from the Mike Eggler property to its present location on Mill Street.

The mineral water manufactory was established about 60 years ago by Theophilus Bird and Dewey J. Boyce. Since then it has passed through a number of hands, Mr. Yager having had it for the longest period. Other owners were the Eggler brothers, Casper and George: Fred Buddenhagen, who removed from here to Sidney, then a new and growing point on the O&W railroad, where he established another bottling plant; Warren P. Coventry and John H. Glassel. In earlier years it was one of the leading industries here and served hotels and saloons throughout Western Sullivan.

The Town of Neversink Agricultural Fair at Grahamsville, one of the biggest annual events in Sullivan County for many years, will be resumed this year, after a suspension of a year on account of roads torn up by floods. The date of this fair is always on the last Wednesday in September.

It is said that the Catholics cleared $1500 at their bazaar and supper here last week.

Mrs. Catherine Leschorn, aged 75, and widow of John Leschorn, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Johanna Hust at North Branch on August 31. She was born at Obernburg, a daughter of Killian Bergman and Helen Ernst, natives of Germany. The family later moved to North Branch. After a long time there they moved to Livingston Manor where Mr. Leschorn died 5 years ago.

80 Years Ago - 1940

The central school reopened in Jeffersonville yesterday with 82 more students than last year. The total enrollment is 242 in the elementary grades, 136 in the high school, for a total of 378.

Joseph W. Bauernfeind, progressive Fremont farmer, has been appointed by the Board of Education of the Callicoon-Long Eddy Central School District to fill the vacant trusteeship caused by the resignation of F. Willard English of Long Eddy, who stepped out because of his job as rural mail carrier.

Hortonville, Sept. 2 — George W. Doetsch, member of Gustav Adolph Lodge of this place, has been appointed district deputy grand master of Odd Fellows for Sullivan County by the Grand Master, Shirland M. Bouton of Binghamton. The county has 7 lodges. The son of the late Herman Doetsch, a prominent citizen and tinsmith of Callicoon, Doetsch came to Hortonville 16 years ago after serving 20 years on the New York City Fire Department and bought the Rev. Samuel Muery home. Mr. Doestch succeeds G. Allison Worden of White Sulphur Springs.

Charles W. Morgan of Fosterdale has been appointed school tax collector for this year. Last year, the collector was Walter J. Neiger of Beechwoods.

The congregation of the four Methodist churches on the Jeff charge will hold a reception next Monday evening for their new pastor, Rev. Paul Billings, at the Kenoza Lake Church.

Miss Dorothy Magdalena Wilson, elder daughter of Mrs. Anna Wilson and the late August F. Wilson, of Sixteen, and Edwin Charles Wilfert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wilfert of Jeffersonville, were married September 2 at the Callicoon Center parsonage by Rev. J.E. Straub.

Among the local teachers who are teaching out of town again are: Miss Mildred Duttweiler at the Livingston Manor Central School, Miss Rita Hick in Liberty High School, Miss Winifred Luchs in Youngsville and Miss Marguerite Koenig at Howels, Orange County.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Enrollment in the Jeffersonville Central School has increased by 17, it has been announced by Principal Erwin R. Baker. The total is 519.

A 35-room guest house at the Anderson Hotel, two miles northeast of Monticello, was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon. Loss was estimated at $45,000 by Fire Chief Fred Maplehoram.

Leo Graham has been accepted for training camp the latter part of this month with a large contingent of Sullivan County men. He served in the Army for approximately a year in 1945.

The Liberty Baseball Club is dedicating next Sunday's game at the Liberty High School Field to Ken Fisk, popular curve-baller, who is also acting as pitching coach of the team. Ken has been playing baseball for over 25 years, having played in high school and then with various teams in Liberty and throughout Central New York State.

White Sulphur Springs — George Worden celebrated his 16th birthday on September 3 by having a party at his home on Sunday.

Callicoon Center — Leland Henry Jr. of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, is home on a 10-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leland Henry.

On Sunday last, Mrs. William Deckelman attended the 30th annual reunion of the Beers family at Bassett Park, Walton. There were about 70 in attendance. Her mother was a Beers.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wohltjen of Brooklyn are visiting relatives in Liberty. They will be in the vicinity for about two weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Schaefer, Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Kovach and Mrs. Philip Reum attended the state fair at Syracuse on Tuesday.

Franklin Neuberger and Ida Neuberger were in town over the weekend.

60 Years Ago - 1960

Robert Kennedy, campaign manager for and brother of U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, Democratic candidate for President of the United States, will tour Sullivan County on the afternoon of September 17th.

Announcement has been made by Rubin Katz that he has closed title on the Evening News and Liberty News. The seller was Lubin Enterprises, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Velten Sr. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 20th with an open house at the home of their daughter in Union City, NJ.

Army Pvt. John P. Bult, son of Rev. and Mrs. Peter Bult of North Branch, is receiving eight weeks of advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Okla.

The weather conditions on Sunday, August 28, played fair for the John Bauernfeind 49th annual reunion which was held picnic-style at Revonah Park in Liberty.

Erwin L. Baker of Jeffersonville was elected as vice commander at the New York State Convention of the American Legion at Buffalo on August 27.

50 years ago - 1970

BOCES staff and facilities are all set to receive their students when school opens this Thursday, September 10. A record enrollment of 225 students is expected in the Vocational Education programs and an enrollment of 155 students in the Special Education program. The Liberty town barns' site has been chosen for the proposed $2.9 million BOCES facility because it was equi-distant (in time) from the outlying schools among the nine central school districts in the program. The project will be voted in the nine central school districts (Fallsburg not included) on October 15.

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kelting in Hortonville were feted on September 6 in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gibson of Tuscaloosa, Ala., are the parents of a daughter, Sara Louise, born September 8, weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hermann of Callicoon are the proud grandparents.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Atkins of Catskill, formerly of Callicoon, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Linda, to William J. Oettinger II, also of Catskill. A July 10, 1971, wedding is planned.

The hand-hooked rug which was raffled off by Mrs. Eric Karg for the benefit of the Grover M. Hermann Hospital, was won by Joseph Freda, Callicoon. $205 was realized from the drawing.

Services were held Wednesday for Gerald Shaver, 69, of Roscoe, who died Sunday, September 6, in Buffalo. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two grandchildren.

Some 1,150 full-time and part-time credit students and 250 non-credit students will be enrolled at the Sullivan County Community College on opening day, September 10.

William J. Bower of Park Ridge, NJ, and Arthur N. Crossman of Williamson have been named supervising principals of the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central and Delaware Valley Central Schools respectively.

A highlight of the fall political social season in Sullivan County will be the appearance of Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller at the annual county Republican dinner September 29 at the Concord.

40 Years Ago - 1980

The Sullivan County Board of Supervisors unanimously ap­proved a resolution Monday at their regular board meeting that would refer all future administrative and political appointments through the Supervisors personnel committee prior to hiring.

Funeral services were held September 9 for Harold “Hud” Cole, longtime GOP Chairman of Sullivan County, who died Saturday morning at his home in Hurleyville. He began his political career back in 1928 when he was appointed as Administrative Assistant to State Senator Caleb H. Baums of Newburgh, who represented Sullivan and Orange counties.

The hamlet of Obernburg in the Town of Fremont is the home of the “oldest” and “tiniest” Roman Catholic parish. St. Mary's R.C. Church is the oldest in Sullivan County and the tiniest, not only in Sullivan, but in all the archdiocese of New York. The 65 families of the parish have joined energetic Father Demetrius O'Friel, pastor, in refurbishing the church, church hall and rectory in recent years. William Brustman, a retired Lt. Colonel of the U.S. Army, has seen to it that the church has flagpoles and flags on them.

Thirty-three in-county units marched in Saturday's Hurleyville parade, sponsored by the Sullivan County Firemen's Association.

Rose and Leo Rappaport of Monticello were guests of honor at a surprise party given in honor of their 40th anniversary… Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kelting were tendered an anniversary party for their Golden Wedding on September 6th. Coming from Germany in 1954, they became citizens of the United States in 1959. The entrance to the Kelting home was decorated by a wreath of evergreens with golden flowers and a gold “50” for the years. This is a tradition from Germany and was done by their two daughters, Karin Meyer and Antje Hellwig.

Rev. Martha Finn, spiritual leader of the Bethlehem Temple Church in Monticello, celebrated her 85th birthday at a testimonial to her 46 years of spiritual leadership in her church. Pastor Finn came to Monticello from Detroit in 1932 as a housekeeper. She worked as a cook in Hamilton Avenue Hospital for about three years and then began building a church on Fairground Road in 1938, which was completed and dedicated in 1939.

30 Years Ago - 1990

The new Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty is now expected to open early in January because of new state Health Department demands. It was to have opened on September 1.

Up until a week ago, the Sullivan County Community College program in Japan was a half a world away. Now, with the arrival of eight Japanese college students as of last Thursday, this new dimension to Sullivan County's small rural college life expands its horizons both mentally and geographically.

Debbie Brokow of Thompsonville, hearing impaired since birth, accepted a portable Minicom IV TOD unit from Town of Fallsburg Lions Club President Seymour Berenson, PDDG George Kaminsky and Hearing Chairman Barry Feldman at a recent presentation dinner held at the Eldred Preserve. The unit converts telephone speech to a visual readout for its user.

George Skizenski of Mileses retired from the Callicoon Post Office after 33 1/2 years of service with the Postal Service.

More than 300 aged autos, fire apparatus and single cylinder gasoline engines were on display this past Sunday at the Forestburgh Fire Department's annual show. Among the exhibitors was Richard Bader of Middletown who showed a 1 1/2 horsepower antique gasoline engine that was used as a corn husker. The Roxbury Fire Department had a 1917 Model-T fire apparatus on display.

Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Fulton of Narrowsburg were feted at a 50th anniversary celebration at the Lava Firehouse on August 12.

Lisa Hust became the bride of Roy Mayenzet on August 11. Both are from North Branch.… Rev. and Mrs. Paul Rothberg of Hankins have announced the engagement of their daughter, Dawn Christine, to Stephen William Stenros. A June 8, 1991, wedding is planned.

20 Years Ago - 2000

AIG Chairman and CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, a former resident of Swan Lake, was honored with the Anti-Defamation League's prestigious Americanism Award Sunday evening at a ceremony held at Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello. Also honored that evening was Raymond Kelly, commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, who received the ADL's William and Naomi Gorowitz Institute Service Award. Kelly was New York City police commissioner during the World Trade Center bombing [in 1993].

Sullivan Chapter #298 Order of the Eastern Star is planning a “Down the Decades Buffet” at the Masonic Hall in Livingston Manor. This buffet will feature dishes representative of every decade of the 20th century.

The Kenoza Lake Methodist Church will observe its 150th anniversary with a display of church photos and other memorabilia, and a special ceremony on September 17 at the church. It will be followed by a covered dish supper at the Kenoza Lake Firehouse.

A reunion of the grandchildren, their spouses, and two great-grandchildren of Phillip and Barbara Bayer Gerhardt took place July 29 in Parksville. Attending were Millard and Dorothy Gerhardt, Fred and Naida Baer, Albert and Betty Scherer, Lois Huggler, Ruth Huggler, Clem and Betty Balch, Barbara McDaniel, Ida Schultz and Barbara Christiansen. Barbara McDaniel traveled the farthest from California. The oldest attending was Ida Schultz who celebrated her 93rd birthday two days later.

10 Years Ago - 2010

The New York State Senate recently passed a bill imposing a moratorium on granting permits for hydrofracking until May 15, 2011. The bill was sponsored by Senator Antoine Thompson (D-Buffalo), chair of the Enviromental Conservation Committee and gives “the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Legislature and the incoming Governor time to enact safeguards to protect New York's water,” according to a release by Antoine. It passed by a margin of 48-9, with 15 of the 30 Republicans, including Sen. John J. Bonacic of the 42nd District, which included Sullivan County. The Assembly version of the bill may be voted on in September.

Merton Lockhart had a successful trip to the 2010 Empire State Games which were held from July 21-25 in Buffalo. The Grahamsville resident returned home with three gold medals. Lockhart participated in the Masters Division men's 80-84 age group and won gold medals in the javelin, shot put and discus events. Lockhart started his Empire State Games career in 1991 by competing in swimming events.

In a great display of stamina and golf, Liberty sensation Josh Goldstein has qualified for two impressive tourneys, The Metropolitan Open and the U.S.G.A. Amateur Championship. Goldstein will join 311 other amateurs at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in Washington for the week long event from August 23-29. He will have to miss the Met Open because of the scheduling conflict.