130 Years Ago - 1895

The German Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville celebrated the 15th anniversary of its existence this week. The beautiful little church was not large enough to accommodate all the visitors. Pastors from out of town and area churches participated in the services.

A. Stadler of Narrowsburg, while eating his dinner in his stone quarry the other day, glanced up in a tree and was not a little startled to see a large wildcat perched on a limb with his ferocious eyes fixed upon him. Of course, Mr. Stadler lit out of there as quick as possible.

Jack Frost visited many sections of Sullivan County on the night of August 21. Buckwheat and corn in many places are injured severely.

The Record (Sullivan County Record printed in Jeffersonville) this week enters upon the twenty-eighth year of its existence. The Record is one of the oldest papers in the county.

As a team of horses driven by Henry Eller Jr. was fording the Delaware River at Callicoon Depot on August 18th, a large tree fell in front of them. It took two men some time to remove the obstruction with an axe.

Henry Mall shot a monster crane last week and sold it to Dr. Maasch and friend, who have been looking around here for a week for something to shoot at. These two sportsmen will take the bird to the city with them and it will no doubt be very interesting to hear them tell their friends how they shot it.

John Luchs of New York, a former Jeffersonville boy, is negotiating for the purchase of the Democrat at Callicoon Depot.

120 Years Ago - 1905

 The marriage of William Geib, son of Philip Geib of Jeffersonville, and Miss Neumann of Callicoon is to take place September 6. Both of these young people have been in the city for some time.

The barn of Philip Bernhardt Jr., near Kenoza Lake, was struck by lightning Thursday and burned together with all the contents.

J.S. Diehl, who bought a lot on the terrace and is now excavating a cellar, will put up a 26x38 house with all modern conveniences.

Hanofee and Stratton of Monticello have purchased the cigar store of B. Nassauer in Mrs. Clarence Masten’s building in Liberty, and have also leased the building. They will occupy the store with an undertaking establishment.

Henry Graff has nearly completed a fine new barn 30x62 feet, with underground stable under all, at a cost of about $1,000. Mr. Graff means to have things in good shape and convenient.

Amid the blasts of tin plates, the clanging of dinner bells, the waving of flags and the cheers of pretty girls, the annual baseball game between the guests of Heidt’s Valley View House and Miller’s Lakeview Cottage took place August 23rd at Gempler’s field. The Lakeview team won the game.

H.L. Goubelman of Jeffersonville has been engaged as principal of the Rockland School for the coming year.

110 Years Ago - 1915

The Pauli house and lot in Delaware was sold by Referee Henry H. Gardner under foreclosure proceedings to Louis Mall.

James Robisch, a well-known resident of Beechwoods, lost his  arm on Friday by getting it caught in a threshing machine while assisting at threshing oats at P.P. Justin’s.

Before a capacity house at Masonic Hall Friday night, “The Blundering Mr. Brown,” blundered through three acts of sparkling comedy in the full delight of the audience.

Frank E. Lapham, special officer of the O&W R.R. at Middletown, was in Jeffersonville Tuesday on business relating to the accident of the Strongtown crossing last week in which Thomas E. Flanagan, driver of a Ford car, was killed. Mr. Lapham says the Record had the best account of the accident and it was through this paper that he located the most important witness in the case, W.V. Hofer of Jeffersonville, who approached the crossing when Flanagan was struck.

Miss Katherine H. Scheidell of Jeffersonville, a trained nurse in the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, will give up hospital work and do private nursing.

Frank Breakey and wife, who recently sold their home at Hurd, left Monday for Lawrence, Kansas, where they have a son, George, and where they will make their home.

It was thought a good joke when it was proposed that all women should stick to their homes for one day to answer the argument against equal suffrage that a woman’s place is in her home.” Now that such a “strike” has been decided upon, the joke threatens to become a near calamity. For in New York City alone there are 600,000 women who work outside their homes, and in the whole country there are 8,000,000 women wage earners.

100 Years Ago - 1925

The interior of the new post office building at Lake Huntington, built three years ago by the owner, C.D. Babcock, was ravaged by a fire of unquestioned origin last Friday night.

Frank Nuss, who came from the city eight years ago, bought the old Dietrich house, moved it across the road and remodeled it, has sold the property to Jacob Von Bergen, a Kenoza Lake farmer, who will use it for a winter home.

The Jeffersonville Athletics took an interesting game last Sunday from the Riversides of Edgewater, N.J., one of the fastest teams that ever played here.

Robert Metzger of Jeffersonville has won a $100 state scholarship awarded to students with college entrance diplomas having the highest averages in their Regents examinations.

Mr. and Mrs. William Kohler of this place announce the engagement of their daughter, Evelyn M. to Ralph Stratton of Monticello.

M.D. Vrooman of the State Department of Farms and Markets last week appraised eighteen more cows in this town that have been condemned because of bovine tubercular tests made by Dr. Floyd Hust.

Supts. Charles Hick and Frederick Lewis held the annual county spelling bee at the county fair in Monticello yesterday with 31 contestants. Sheldron Solomon of Liberty won the first prize.

The Ku Klux Klan held a large meeting at the Union Chapel in this village last Thursday. It is said that about one hundred were initiated, all from other places.

90 Years Ago - 1935

Charles Foos Jr., the 24-year-old Bridgeport bridegroom who accidentally shot himself, died Saturday night at the Liberty hospital.

A careless tailor left an electric iron turned on when he quit work Monday evening in the Merlin Cleaners in Liberty and the hot iron started a fire which did several hundred dollars worth of damage before it was discovered and extinguished.

Reuben Cohen, Jeffersonville horse jockey, won a verdict for $45 against Clarence Abplanalp of Briscoe.

While boating on Lake Jefferson with Max Odresin and Gerson Polikoff, Miss Ruth Libermann of Brooklyn stood up in the boat, lost her balance and fell overboard. The two men saved her.

Jack Frost has been sulking around here during the past few nights and looks like he’ll soon be sitting pretty on the pumpkin.

Jimmy Walker, who ran away to Europe, is coming back, he having been forgiven by politicians. But decent minded people will think differently about it.

In order to forestall a plea of insanity the Orange County authorities have procured from physicians testimony of the sanity of Mrs. Dorothy Sherwood of Newburgh, the 27-year-old woman who drowned her 2-year-old son.

On August 6, a son, Garry George, was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Rosenberger of Hortonville. A daughter, Janet, was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Rosenberger of Hortonville on August 11th.

80 Years Ago - 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brownstein, who sold their Delaware Inn to James Manzolillo, have contracted for the purchase of the Ranft building at the junction of South and East Main streets at the confluence of the Callicoon and North Creeks.

Mrs. Walter Scardefield Jr. of Jeffersonville and Mrs. Walter Scardefield Sr. of Kenoza Lake, had a six minute telephone talk with their husband and son, Walter, from London. He is with the army of occupation in Austria and flew to London on a week’s leave.

Coroner J. Cameron Gain of Jeffersonville was called to Long Eddy Saturday morning in the accidental death of John Kellam, a farmer and sawyer, who was almost instantly killed when he fell against the rapidly revolving circular saw in the O’Connor mill. He bled to death in a short time.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mages of this village received a letter from their son, John, dated August 15, stating that he was leaving Germany for France where he would try to get a plane for home.

Governor Thomas E. Dewey was the guest at a dinner sponsored by the Republican County Committee at the Laurels Country Club which was attended by about 400.

Due to war contract cancellations, the Scintilla plant at Sidney temporarily suspended operations last week and laid off more than 4,000 men and women.

Sgt. Perry E. Burlingame, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Burlingame of Jeffersonville, has been promoted to the rank of staff sergeant recently for outstanding performance of his duties.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Between 30 and 40 envelopes containing jewelry and cash amounting to $37,000 and belonging to the guests of the Concord Hotel, was reported stolen from the hotel safe.

Six new teachers will join the faculty of the Jeffersonville Central School. They are Henry Emilio, grade five; Edward Gessler, Industrial Arts and Driver’s Training; Mrs. Patricia Gessler, second grade; Margaret Powell, commercial subjects; and Mrs. Harriet Prince, grade one.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Roeder of Hortonville who celebrated their 25th anniversary on August 31.

A son was born Friday, August 26, to Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mayenzet at their home on East Hill.

Scheidell and Schmidt, Inc., report the sale of the following properties in this area: The James Malliceio property at Youngsville to Sidney Cooper; the Ed Frazer property at Cochecton to Robert Staib and the Nagy property at Swan Lake to Dimitri Chraban.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Peters of Callicoon Center have announced the engagement of their daughter, Carol Elizabeth, to Michael Luciano of Astoria, L.I.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fisher on their 39th wedding anniversary,

Herbert Taberoff, a 1955 graduate of JYCS, will enter Albany State Teachers College this Fall.

Randolf Noetzel celebrated his 2nd birthday with a party at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Noetzel in Callicoon Center.

The Gordon property in Youngsville, adjoining the Joe Pammer house and a lot of Arthur LeRoy, was sold to Mr. and Mrs. William Schumacher of Long Island City.

Miss Patricia Lasquier swam the length of Tenannah Lake, which is about two miles long. She made the swim in about an hour.

“Summertime” with Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi is playing at the Maple Theatre.

Two additional cases of polio have been reported in Sullivan County during the past week. One is a six year old boy from White Sulphur Springs and the other an adult woman from New Jersey.

60 Years Ago - 1965

As he slipped into his longjohns this week, Lou Boettger commented that this past week was the coldest spell he had since “Hector was a pup.” August rainfall continues with few warm, sunny days this week. Total rainfall now exceeds eight inches in most areas. Today skies are overcast and thunder showers are predicted.

A certificate of incorporation of the Jeffersonville Volunteer First Aid Corps was filed at the County Clerk’s Office at Monticello Thursday of last week. Directors until the first annual meeting are Edwin Chellis and Winifred Mullally, both of Jeffersonville, and Cecil Bryan of Youngsville.

The field day of the Hortonville Fire Company on Sunday was somewhat less of a crowd than other years, due mainly to cooler temperatures and gusty winds. The firemen used their new building for the first time and report that it soon will be completely finished, inside and out.

One of Roscoe’s newest businesses is the Roscoe Pharmacy, owned by Warren Doetsch and Edwin Hoffman. The new business has been operating since June and Roscoe people are pleased with the new store.

The duplex bungalow of the Knights of Pythias Camp at Glen Spey was destroyed by a five p.m. fire Tuesday. The Lumberland Fire Department, under chief Gordon Worzel of Pond Eddy, fought the blaze.

50 Years Ago - 1975

James Burbank of Narrowsburg, a man of many talents, the creator of Fort Delaware, an original trustee of Sullivan County Community College and life member of the Sullivan County Historical Society, died Sunday, August 31, 1975, at the Honesdale hospital. He was 75.

A barn full of hay, belonging to George Kent on the Esselman Road, north of Jeffersonville, was destroyed in a blaze  on Monday afternoon.

Jim Henke was proudly displaying a five pound, 22-inch long, brown trout which he caught on an old-fashioned lure — a worm. Jim is an avid sportsman of the area and usually can come up with a “biggie.”

Kathy S. Kerbs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kerbs of Narrowsburg, became the bride of Edward S. Ambrozevitch of Madisonville, Pa., on August 16 at the Methodist Church in Narrowsburg.

Monticello Masonic Lodge #532 will have a Sojourners Night when members who live in Florida, but are vacationing in the area, will be special guests.

On September 12 the Galilee United Methodist Women and Unity Grange will sponsor a “Helping Hand Shower” for Mr. and Mrs. William Bennett whose home was struck by lightning on July 24. Despite efforts of local firemen the house was severely damaged and little of the contents could be salvaged due to fire, heat,  smoke and water damage.

40 Years Ago - 1985

When Delaware Valley Central School opens its doors on September 4, students will be greeted by a new face and a new administrator, Superintendent Charles Kozora II. A native of Long Island, he came here from a recent superintendency in Vermont because it would be closer to his and his wife’s families who live in the New York City and Long Island areas.

The new Social Security building in Monticello was dedicated in the presence of Lawrence H. Cooke, retired chief judge of New York State, and Representative Ben Gilman who assured the audience that Society Security is on “sound footing” with no reduction in payments. Cooke said that the dedication of the new building marked the beginning of a new period of our civic and social welfare life.”

Woodridge businessman Darryl Kaplan was endorsed by the Fallsburg Democratic Committee in his bid for Supervisor of Fallsburg. According to Chairman Murray Gaiman, “Kaplan is more qualified than any other candidate because of his business background. The town needs someone who can manage things and keep things under control. Darryl Kaplan has credentials worth considering. The people of Fallsburg want someone who is reasonably progressive,  Mr. Kaplan is that man.”

The August 25 first annual Railway Festival in Roscoe included vendor displays and slide shows of the history of the Roscoe Express and the Scranton Division of the NYO&W railway. The museum is located in a caboose in Roscoe.

Judith Darbee, daughter of the late Elsie and Harry Darbee of Livingston Manor, became the bride of Matthew Vinciguerra on August 10. They will live in Livingston Manor and Pleasantville. 

Deborah A. Lufkin of Schenectady became the bride of Kevin Baxter, son of Dwight H. and Ruth K. Baxter of Mountaindale on August 4.

Grahamsville took the Eastern Sullivan Firemen’s League championship in a 15-3 win over Woodbourne to sweep the best-of-three series. Grossman’s Tires captured the Liberty Men’s League “B” Division Slo-Pitch Softball championship on Thursday night.

Miss Robin Fiddle of Parksville, reigning Miss Southeastern New York Teenager, placed as first runner-up Miss New York State Teenager at the recent competition held in Norwich. She missed becoming Miss New York State Teenager by two points in competition with 63 other girls.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Members of the 143rd New York Volunteers Infantry re-enactors camped on the lawn of the Bloomingburgh Restoration Museum during the Stephen Crane Festival. They demonstrated living conditions in the Army camps during the Civil War. During the festival, readings from the works of Crane were presented.

Peck’s Market in Jeffersonville hosted a 100-foot Hoagie Day with the giant sandwich provided by Hatfield, milk from Crowley and Lipton Iced Tea. The company expected to be there about two hours, but the hungry patrons of Peck’s devoured the sandwich in 22 minutes.

Navy Ensign Sean Muth, son of retired Coast Guard Captain Peter Muth and the late Kathy Muth, recently graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and was commissioned at his present rank in the U.S. Navy. He will be stationed at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Fla.

Members of Our Lady of the Lake R.C. Church in Lake Huntington celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the church with a Mass, followed by a breakfast at Pete’s Pub on August 27.

The Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Crew finally accomplished a first-time delivery of a baby after 25 years of existence. A boy, William, weighing 6 lb. 9 oz. and measuring 19 1/2 inches long, was delivered at 2:51 a.m. on August 20 to Kenneth and Lucy Brenzel of Cochecton. Sally Darling, EMT, and Eric Bunch were on duty with Frank Leonardo driving the rig. All are reported to be fine.

A historical marker was set at the site of the old Monticello-Jeffersonville Turnpike during dedication cere-monies held Friday. The Hon. Lawrence Cooke was the guest speaker. Charles W. Heath decided to build a house on the Stevensville Turnpike and start collecting tolls from everyone (except churchgoers). The Heath House stopped collecting tolls in 1875 and is located on what is old Route 17 in Sullivan County. It linked up with the Cochecton-Newburgh Turnpike which is now Route 17B in Sullivan County and Route 17K in Orange County.

20 Years Ago - 2005

On Tuesday morning, most gas prices in Sullivan County were sitting around $2.69 for regular unleaded. By that afternoon, as news of the hurricane in Louisiana and Mississippi continued to ripple northward, prices rose another 10 cents. On Wednesday, they shot up to $2.99. By the afternoon, most gas stations were selling unleaded 87 octane for around the $3.21 mark.

Fifty years ago, on August 15, 1955, during one of the worst hurricanes of the season, Jacqueline Bredo and Johnny DiSimone eloped. John sold his rifle for cash and they were on their way. They returned to Monticello where they raised five children, Lori Nixon, John, Nick, Andrea Oldfield and Daniel. Jackie and John DiSimone celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Nardi’s on August 6 with a buffet and party hosted by their children. A highlight of the day was Jackie’s gift to John: she was able to locate the same model rifle that John sold to elope.

About 75 campers assembled at Camp Kennybrook in Monticello recently for the fourth year of Camp Haze, a week-long, free sleep-away camp for children who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks of 9-11. The event is named for Scott Hazelcorn from Hoboken, NJ, who lost his life on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center. Scott, who attended Camp Kennybrook for five years, worked for Cantor-Fitzgerald, the firm that suffered the most loss of life in the attacks.

10 Years Ago - 2015

On a late August morning  Sunday, a mix of 30 to 40 men, women, and children were “wowed” by a spectacular event in the Schwartz family’s backyard in Kohlertown. Pilots Glenn D. Horton and Taras Hrechniw gave free rides high up in the air in a beautiful and very large hot air balloon, named “Sparkles.” You may have seen the balloons in the last few weeks flying over Jeffersonville and the surrounding areas.

A friend once told Alice Elliott that you don’t find your subject, your subject finds you. The Callicoon Center Band didn’t have to do anything unusual to find the Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker. Members fill a small bandstand to capacity each Wednesday night in the summer months, play their hearts out for just one hour and then disperse. There’s magic in what happens in Callicoon Center on those Wednesday nights, Elliott says, almost a “mythical quality.” Elliott explores that in her new film, a documentary about the band that she began shooting in 2008. There are community bands left in America, Elliott has discovered in her research, but not like the one that’s celebrating its 81st summer in Callicoon Center. Most bands are paid and none have a leader like [Jim] Newton, who Elliott credits with being not just the man raising a baton at the front of the bandstand on Wednesday nights but for being the band’s protector and advocate.