140 Years Ago - 1885

On account of the numerous showers of late, the Delaware River is up to a rafting freshet.

The large barn belonging to Dr. Johnson of Barryville, was destroyed by fire last week. A fine horse, a pet of the community, was burned to death.

130 Years Ago - 1895

A Monticello correspondent says there is more than enough hay in that vicinity to supply the demand at 18 and $20 a ton. Eggs are 18¢ a doz. and new potatoes are 60 cents a bushel. Because of the scarcity of feed, horses and cattle are a drag on the market and can hardly find buyers.

“Old Acquaintance” is the title of a new and catchy march and two-step written by Henry J. Repp of Brooklyn and dedicated to Conrad Metzger Jr. of Jeffersonville of whom the composer is at present a guest. The composition is now being published for the piano and will also be published for brass band and orchestra. It introduces as a trio of “Auld Lang Syne” in a most pleasant manner and will become very popular.

A little dance, supposed to have been gotten up by a society known as the Dopy Club, composed of several gentlemen of leisure and wandering intellect about town, was sprung loose at Eagle Hall. It may be whispered right here that “Garde” Charlick, “Little Ed” Faulhaber, “Mac” Jantzen and “Billy” Moffitt are not distantly connected with the aforesaid club, with several residents as promising candidates on probation.

James McComb, the farmer who killed one and seriously wounded another bear tamer at Summitville, was taken to the county jail after the coroners jury had rendered a verdict of “premeditated murder.”

The automatic weighing machines at Loch Sheldrake and Hurleyville were robbed a few days ago and a reward of $35 is offered for the capture of the thieves.

The sum of $1,500 in shares of $50 each, has been raised for a telephone line from Roscoe to Lew Beach. The line will be built by a Delaware County company.

It is supposed that Jay Morton of Rockland will receive the bulk of the estate of his sister, Mrs. “Diamond Joe” Reynolds, which amounts to several million dollars.

120 Years Ago - 1905

Real estate deals — J.S. Diehl, who recently sold his boarding house on Maple Avenue, has bought a building lot of Charles Scheidell, the second lot of H. Berghofer’s residence. He will build a house this year. Philip Schmidt, a member of the New York police for twenty-one years, this week bought a lot of about four acres of Fred Yager on West End Avenue.

Martin J. Calkins has resigned the position of postmaster at Youngsville on account of poor health, and his successor will be appointed shortly. J.B. Lindsley, the deputy postmaster and Jacob Rogler and O.E. Inderlied are aspirants for the position.

The Arlington, a large summer boarding house at White Lake, with nearly 200 guests, was burned early Saturday morning with nearly all its contents.

The “graft hunters” in the Department of Agriculture might possibly come under the heading of scientific research. The administration intends to investigate the department “from the very bottom.” Perhaps it would be better to begin at the top.

Russia intimates that she may decide to have the war go on realizing that she has nothing more to lose by fighting.

Unless they quit showering attention upon him, Secretary Taft will have to come home and write to those Filipinos on the official business he went over to discuss with them.

At St. George’s Church in Jeffersonville, Father Kehr united in marriage Jacob Busch and Barbara Emanuel of Livingston Manor, recently of Germany. Miss Katie Yager, step-sister of the bride, was bridesmaid.

Swiss Hill — A daughter was born to John Eggler and wife on August 4th.

110 Years Ago - 1915

The most damaging storm in many years struck Western Sullivan last Sunday forenoon and this with the continued rains preceding, made raging, ravaging torrents of every brook and brooklet in these parts. Many bridges and culverts were washed out or made impassable and every highway immediately adjacent to a stream was badly washed out or filled with flood trash of stones and dirt. Buildings were undermined and wrecked, goods washed away or damaged, cellars inundated, gardens destroyed and fences and trees torn down.

Rev. E. Snyder, pastor of St. George’s Church the last four years, announced last Sunday that next Sunday would be his last service here, as he was transferred to Denver, Colo.

J.B. Staib has purchased a building lot off the Abbie Yager property on West End Avenue and will build a cement block bungalow on it at some time in the near future.

The new Hudson Six of Fred Duttweiler of Jeffersonville was badly damaged last Saturday when Fred ran it with great force into the rock ledge opposite the gristmill on lower Main Street, Liberty, to avoid a collision with a Ford car.

About 4 p.m. Monday morning lightning struck the large cherry tree at the front steps of P. McDermott’s house, splitting off from the trunk to pieces as large as fence posts. Splinters were thrown up to Mrs. Raum’s bungalow, several hundred feet. The shock shattered a dozen window panes in the front and rear of the McDermott house. The cherry tree was planted as a small sapling by Mr. McDermott’s mother, fifty-five years ago.

August Geissen, a retired saloon keeper at  East Rutherford, N.J., this week bought ten acres of land from the southern end of the farm of William G. Baumgart (formerly the Berghofer place), a mile north of Jeffersonville on the Callicoon Center Road. Mr. Geissen will erect a 6-room bungalow.

The work of widening the roadway and building concrete walks at the stone bridge on Main Street has been completed by the town and is a pronounced improvement, both in appearance and safety.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Wednesday afternoon last week, federal authorities raided the Erie Hotel of Ruben and Bass at Cochecton on the Delaware and secured $4,000 worth of alleged high power liquors, included in which was 18 half barrels of alleged high power beer.

J.L. Atkinson has traded his property in the Beechwoods to E.F. Kohler for two new closed cars and Mr. Kohler has sold the place to Arthur N. Hunt, who occupied the Ellmauer farm on East Hill for the last few years.

Twin boys were born recently to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schips of Port Chester. Mrs. Schips was formerly Miss Elizabeth Marks of Callicoon Center.

On Thursday, August 20, Miss Christine Huff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Huff, and Edwin F. Hornung, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hornung, both of Cook’s  Falls, were united in marriage at the home of the bride.

A charter has been issued by the secretary of the state to the Vibro Piano & Instrument Corp, Liberty, a new corporation which was formed to manufacture pianos and all other musical instruments. The firm capitalized for $250,000 and the officers are: A. Vrendenburgh, president; Hanna Beck, vice president; and Samuel Scherago of Monticello, secretary and treasurer.

The Anderson & Eickhoff store property at North Branch will be sold by Referee Wm. Deckelman on September 8th.

Don’t be too hasty to make your mark in the world, for you may have difficulty in erasing it.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The bridge across the Delaware River at Hankins, which was closed a couple weeks ago as unsafe for traffic, may be rebuilt if New York State authorities will put up the state’s share of funds.

Norman Borden of Liberty was quite severely burned last Saturday when the Shell gasoline delivery truck he was driving collided with a Hurleyville bakery truck.

It was reported here yesterday by telephone that the bank at Deposit had been robbed that day.

Under the new allotment the building of fifteen miles of road in Delaware and Sullivan counties to complete Route 3A from Hancock to Port Jervis, is eliminated as there is not enough relief labor in these counties.

Harry Green of White Sulphur Springs, who drives a coal truck for Stanley Lawrence, is spending ten days in a Pennsylvania jail rather than pay a $50 fine for driving an overload, according to word brought here by Mr. Lawrence, who went to Honesdale with an offer of bail.

Charles Foos, aged 24, of Bridgeport, Conn., stopping with his bride of four days at the John Hanofee farm at Aden in the Town of Neversink, was shot in the abdomen by a bullet from a rifle in his car which accidentally discharged when he reached either for the rifle or a camera in the car. Foos’ condition is critical.

Frederic Daub of Cochecton Center and Miss Mildred Fraiser of Caledonia, N.Y., were married at the bride’s home August 19th.

A daughter, Elizabeth Veronica, was born to Postmaster and Mrs. Charles Denner of Obernburg on August 14.

It is said that the United States covers the one spot on earth where outstanding tornadoes occur. This may be true, but she certainly has no corner on floods, as China’s history sadly testifies. Last week, one thousand persons lost their lives in Italy. Unable to hold the weight of the water resulting from mountain rains, a big dam near Ovada went out.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Since motor vehicles have taken over, a runaway horse team is a rarity. But we had a real old-fashioned one last Sunday when Selig Weinstock, on the former Durr farm on the hills, was hauling hay from the Ross Hill lot along the Swiss Hill road for E.V. McDermott. The horses, which have run away before, started to run again from the hayfield. The wagon was tipped over, the hay rigging fell off, and the team started for the village proper via Mill Street, with the wagon upside down. Russell Duttweiler stopped the frantic team.

Walter J. Neiger has declined the Democratic nomination for Justice in Delaware and Fred Hust has been named in his place.

Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Laufersweiler of Monticello announce the engagement of their daughter, Lucille, cadet nurse in Binghamton, to Sgt. John V. Taylor Jr., son of the Monticello newspaper publisher of the same name. The bride-to-be is the great-granddaughter of the late Frank Laufersweiler, a pioneer shoemaker of Jeffersonville.

Gordon Merklin of Jeffersonville, indicted by the grand jury for abandonment of his family, was released on $500 bail, provided by his parents.

The birthday anniversary of Philip Gorr was celebrated at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William H. Baum (Bucky’s Inn). Mr. Gorr is very active at 79.

There was no official or organized celebration here last week of the war’s end, notwithstanding that cities and many smaller places took the cue from unwarranted proclamations and put on celebrations.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Dennis Knack, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Knack of this village, won eighth prize in the Dash Dog Food 1955 “Name the Dash Hounds” contest. A letter from the company congratulated Dennis on his entry “Hads and Fads” and informed him he would receive a pair of Flying Scout Roller skates.

Oscar Brauer and family, who have occupied an apartment in the Adler building for the summer, have leased the Bucich home, formerly owned by George Schumacher on the Beechwoods Road.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kooistra on the birth of a daughter, August 18th.

Edwin Schwalbe, for 25-years a photographer in this village, will close up shop next Wednesday and retire to St. Petersburg, Fla.

Much excitement was caused here this week when reports in the papers indicated that several persons lost their lives in Canadensis, Pa., during the floods, as Nancy Schadt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W.V. Schadt of Jeffersonville, was staying at the Wildwood Manor Camp there. Nancy is fine, however away from the flood waters, with plenty to eat and fresh water to drink, although her camp is isolated. The Schadts made contact with their daughter by telephone.

The new Sears Roebuck store is expected to open in the Green building on Main and Chestnut Streets in Liberty during the latter half of September.

60 Years Ago - 1965

There was still no positive identification of the two men killed in the July 23rd airplane accident on the mountain between Youngsville and the Shandelee  area.

An estimated 10,000 total were at the 87th Little World’s Fair in Grahamsville, according to Robert Many, fair superintendent.

Last Sunday, the congregation of the First Baptist Church in Damascus, celebrated a happy and most joyous occasion when they broke ground for the new building to house modern Sunday School rooms, pastor’s study and nursery.

Rites were held in Liberty Tuesday morning for the second victim of the August 18 bus crash at Bridgeville, 15-year-old Suella Fierro.

Congressman John G. Dow has requested that Orange and Sullivan counties be made eligible for the purchase of federal surplus grain because of the extended drought.

50 Years Ago - 1975

With Republican Supervisor John Eschenberg retiring in the Town of Delaware, Highway Superintendent William Dirie became the first Democrat to toss his hat in the ring.

After being closed for two months, while the latest bowling equipment was being installed, Charlie Davies’ Callicoon Lanes on Route 97 are open for discriminating bowlers. Included in the new Astroline equipment are ten Brunswick lanes finished with Astroline 100 lane finish.

Liberty, both Town and Village, launched their Bicentennial program Saturday with flag presentations, parades and church services. A sign, featuring the official emblem of the Tusten Bicentennial Commission, Inc., has been erected outside the Burkle building in Narrowsburg where the commission office is located.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Hornung of Livingston Manor celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Wednesday with open house on Saturday, August 16, at the Livingston Manor Methodist Church. They were married August 20, 1925, in Cooks Fallsburg by Rev. E.G. Wahl. They were guests of honor at a dinner party following the open house.

Victoria Vogt of Smallwood is Miss Sullivan County Teenager and attended the four-day contest at Norwich which started last Friday. She is  the daughter of Mrs. Gloria Shapen and is a student at SCCC.

Stephen and Mary Ostrander are the parents of a son, Corey Stephen, both August 17. Mr. and Mrs. George Klinkewicz are rejoicing over the birth of their first grandchild.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Charles Morman of Loch Sheldrake, a retired Monticello police officer, died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, August 23. He was 72.

Rumors of a major federal investigation into fraudulent handling of Town of  Fallsburg sewerage construction contracts involving high town administrators came to fruition this past weekend. Town of Fallsburg Supervisor Brian Ingber, his brother, Howard, Service Scaffold project coordinator, Wayne Pirnos, project coordinator, and Thomas Peck, a construction equipment dealer have all be indicted on a variety of charges by a Federal grand jury.

Cost effectiveness of the manufacture of illegal drugs in secluded spots of Sullivan County may be the answer to a major federal, state and local authority drug raid near Callicoon Center over the weekend. It is the third laboratory raided in Sullivan County in the past several years, according to Sullivan County District Attorney Steve Lungen.

Andy and Carrie McCullough of Monticello celebrated their 60th wedding reception with a party following Sunday services at the United Methodist Church of Monticello. Both have been lifelong members and workers in the church.

Freelance writer John Conway of Rock Hill has been nominated for inclusion in the 1986 edition of “Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors and Poets.” He is the author of “Trifles and Poppycock” and has been writing professionally since 1976.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Sanford S. Black, a sculptor and painter of White Sulphur Springs, is donating his most recent art piece, entitled “Reaching for the Stars,” to the Shandelee Music Festival in hopes that it will inspire the students’ music aspirations much like the way that classical music inspired his art work.

The DVCS Class of 1980 held a 15-year reunion at the Fireside Restaurant near Honesdale, Pa., on July 2. Ten classmates and their mates attended.

The North Branch firemen have raised $15,000 to date toward the construction of a new firehouse, to be located around the corner from their present firehouse on County Route 122.

More than 150 quilts of all sizes were on display at the “Quilting in the Catskills” show of the Calico Geese Quilters, held at the Sullivan County Community College on Sunday. The club consists of 75 members from near and far who have been sponsoring quilt shows since 1989.  The show is the perfect opportunity to ask questions on quilting techniques and style development.

Nearly 150 firemen from Sullivan County and nearby Pennsylvania fire department battled a stubborn barn fire at the residence of Bob and Linda Kays near Hortonville. The barn reportedly had 11,000 bales of hay stored in it (three or four more loads and it would have been full). The 54 calves and heifers in the barn at the time were turned loose to escape the inferno. Mr. and Mrs. Kays were away for several days on a farm tour in Michigan when the blaze started about 6:30 p.m. while their son Adam was doing chores and his brothers, Jeff and Greg, were in the fields making hay. Two silos also tumbled, one three-quarters full of high-moisture corn to be used for feed. Another newly-constructed dairy barn less than fifty feet from the fire was saved.

Herb Alvarado of Roscoe has competed in the 60-64 masters age group in swimming competitions since 1990. At the National Senior Games in San Antonio, Tex., he garnered a silver in the butterfly, one fourth place  and two seventh places. At the New York State Senior Games in Cortland, he won three gold medals in the 50 and 100 fly, and the    200 individual medley. On August 4, at the Empire State Games, Alvarado placed first in the six events he entered, breaking the 60-64 group record in three of them. “I can still kick some younger butts in the water,” he joked.

20 Years Ago - 2005

The heat continued to rise in the Village of Monticello as residents grew more upset with their board for not passing a law to ban the expansion of the Sullivan County Landfill. The village had written a draft law last spring but declined to act.

Congregation Agudas Achim, the 82-year-old synagogue in Livingston Manor which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is currently in the midst of a gigantic restoration project as its members look towards its hundredth anniversary. Over the last 15 years, the congregation has blossomed into about 100 member families. In 1986, they transformed themselves from an Orthodox following to a Reform congregation. In 1994, Dani Maseng became their spiritual leader. For the next five years, his words, music and inspirational leadership helped them discover their spiritual nature and create the community they have today.

There’s not much there now, but bulldozers have already created a space for the new Town of Callicoon barn right next to the current barn on Wahl Road outside Jeffersonville. The nearly $1 million project will replace a barn officials say has outlasted its usefulness to the town highway department.

10 Years Ago - 2015

Truth Muller’s original goal for his Buddies for Bats project was to reach the ears of 200 people. Now, after the four-year anniversary of his project’s inception, Truth Muller has achieved an incredible audience of 3.2 million people worldwide as he teaches about bats and bat conservation through Buddies for Bats. Not only did Truth Muller surpass his goal, he did so at the age of 15. A trip to the New York State Fair and information from the NYS Wildlife Service provided Muller with the answer to the disappearance of the bats he regularly saw around his home. A deadly fungus, called White Nose Syndrome, had decimated the bat population of New York and by 2011, 93 percent of the state’s bats had been killed by the disease. The result was a project Muller termed “Buddies for Bats,” a public outreach program. The purpose is to inform people not only about the devastating fungus but also to teach about the vital significance of bats in the planet’s ecosystems, as they are one of the world’s most important pollinators.