140 Years Ago - 1884

J.P. Bogardus of this village has a magnificent garden, especially a fine display of that aesthetic plant, the sunflower.

H.W. Wood, our stage driver, has a horse in his team that has traveled over 16,000 miles during the last two years, and is as good as ever. When let loose, it will play like a colt. How is that for endurance?

Gus Lieb and Rudolph Hammel of New York City are stopping with Fred Lieb of this village. We were pleased to receive a call from them on Monday at the Record office.

Along the Delaware: We all are very thankful to the superintendent of the Delaware division of the Erie R.R. for giving us a morning train. We now have the privilege as well as the pleasure of going to Port Jervis or any other place east of that point and returning the same day.

On Monday night last, the farm barn of John C. Scott (usually known as Irish John to distinguish him from neighbors of the same name) of Fosterdale was burned. The barn contained all his hay and rye, together with his farming tools, wagons, tanning mill and in fact everything that he had in that line.

130 Years Ago - 1894

An old frame house that has stood nearly half a century between Pleasant Lake and Thompsonville, and which was thought to be haunted by the ghost of a murdered peddler, was destroyed by a mysterious fire last  week. The property was owned by Martin Kerrigan.

The Attorney General has rendered an opinion which will cause sorrow among the deer hunters of New York State. It is to the effect that deer hunting is illegal, except between October and November 15 each year. Most of the sportsmen of the state suppose that the law relating to deer was not changed and that the open season is between August 16 and November 15.

Fosterdale: Born to Mr. and Mrs. Haas, July 18th, a daughter.

Kenoza Lake: At the school meeting held last night, Elmer Miller was appointed trustee and I hear Edward Neiger is engaged as teacher. No doubt this will give general satisfaction.

Balsar Urban, for several years with the Delaware House Livery, Callicoon Depot, has taken a position in the Ruppert Brewery, New York.

Henry Inderlied of Youngsville, who purchased a shore front lot at Lake Jefferson, has already placed a small cabin on his lot. He had this cabin on his place at Youngsville and last weekend moved it from there to Lake Jefferson. He will add to it as conditions permit and it will gradually blossom into a full fledged bungalow.

Beechwoods: A surprise birthday party was given to Mrs. Alfred Theis by Mrs. Phil Schaefer at the latter’s home Tuesday night.

Callicoon Center: Harrison Schuler and family of New York called on relatives in town one day last week. They are spending a few days with his brother at Fremont Center.

Miss Evelyn Weber of New Haven spent the weekend with her parents, the Harry Webers.

Miss Sarah Thompson, R.N., of New York, is a guest of her friend, Miss Katherine H. Scheidell at the Stratton farm.

120 Years Ago - 1904

The work of setting up the gas plant in this village is expected to be completed this week by Fred Buck of Binghamton, representing the gas company and tests will be made then, if the gasoline is here, ten barrels being required to load the machine. Several houses have already been piped for the gas, namely CA. Ranft’s, the Grishaber building, the Jeffersonville House and Wm. Bernhardt’s. The inauguration of the new light is anxiously awaited by all.

“Young” John Johnston of Livingston Manor, who is nearly 84 years old, is cutting his third set of teeth. He does not seem to fret and worry over it as most youngsters do when teething.

Edward O’Rourke, a horse dealer of Newark, has been camping the past week in Charles Scheidell’s yard in this village, accompanied by his wife, three children, and mother-in-law. Mr. O’Rourke goes camping through the country every summer, combining healthful living with pleasure and business. He buys, sells and trades horses and has with him seven or eight. The party moved on further Tuesday.

The building of St. Joseph’s College at Callicoon is progressing finally. The first section is nearly finished, it is five stories high, the front is of cut blue stone, the rest brick with iron girders. The entire building when completed will be 190 feet front and 97 feet deep, with a court between the middle building and the two end buildings. The chapel will be in a middle section and will have a tower and contain a chime clock large enough to be seen from the village. From thirty-five to forty-five men are constantly employed. When finished it will be by far the most expensive building in the county. Its cost is estimated at about $150,000.

110 Years Ago - 1914

A number of our people motored to Monticello on Thursday and Friday nights last week to attend the Masonic Fair in the Lyceum there. The parties were made up of Val Scheidell and wife, Charles Schmidt and wife, Fred W. Schadt and wife, Wm. Lieb and wife, C.A. Royce, Wm. Durr, Theo. Bollenbach, Ed Homer and Carl Dittmer.

The creameries of Canno Bros. on the Briscoe road just east of Jeffersonville and at Briscoe were closed last week, because the farmers refused to deliver any more milk. The creamery, which always paid every two weeks, is a month behind with its payments. The patrons are now taking their milk to the Jeffersonville and Kenoza Lake creameries, owned by the Sullivan County Creamery Co.

The attention of parents who have children of school age is called to the fact that there is a compulsory law requiring that all children shall be vaccinated before they can enter school next month.

Coaching in Jeffersonville last Monday was an unexpected success from a decorative point of view, but the rain early that afternoon no doubt kept people from coming to town for the event. The attendance was very large notwithstanding.

100 Years Ago - 1924

William F. Heib, son of John Heib of Cochecton, and Miss Anna Vetter, daughter of Mrs. Christina Vetter of Lake Huntington, were married at the Presbyterian parsonage in Jeffersonville at 3:30 yesterday by Rev. A.A. Casper. They were attended by Charles Fahrenz and Miss Dorothy Adams.

Mrs. John W. Armbrust of Honesdale, formerly of Kenoza Lake, was in town last Thursday, visiting. She was accompanied by her guest, Mrs. William Barkley of Casey, Ill., who left Jeffersonville in 1880 at the age of 16 and was married four years later in Cincinnati.

Kenoza Lake: H. Brueckmuller, the New York sport who is spending the summer on Hust’s Lake, feels that he has been slandered by the Record which stated that he was trying to catch bass. The Record is asked to qualify that statement by saying that Mr. Brueckmuller is not merely trying, but actually catching them and has landed about twenty of the game denizens so far this season.

Youngsville: “Pop” Miller has left us. When we received the tip that the Lady with the Velvet touch was to make her appearance in Youngsville shortly, he struck his tent and like an Arab in the night silently stole away. We are sorry he has gone for we miss his bright and smiling countenance around the post office; also his bundle of phony money.

North Branch: A daughter was born August 1 to Mrs. J. Powers of New York City, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Hess, where she is stopping for the summer. Mr. Powers spent the weekend with her.

Those sections of Sullivan supplied by the Livingston Manor Electric Co. are now receiving a much improved serve. The hydro-electric plant at Mongaup is furnishing the “juice.” The plant at the Manor has been closed and connecting lines built. A third line from Jeffersonville to North Branch is building.

Miss Annie Huff of New York and Christina Tuttle and son, Floyd, and little Donald Huff of New Haven are at the Huff homestead.

90 Years Ago - 1934

Mayor William L. Huff, who has been considering the matter of an additional water supply for this village, has come to the conclusion that the cheapest and best way out of it is to build another reservoir above the present one on the Seibert farm on the same creek. This would do away with the mud and flood trash in the present reservoir and also give us the advantage of two reservoirs and thus no shutoff of water in case of repair to either one. The cost, Mr. Huff thinks, could be eight or nine thousand dollars, one third of which is expected to be a federal contribution. The Mayor would like to have the people consider this proposition and give their opinion. Something should be done to protect our water needs and no time should be lost.

There was a rather hectic game here last Sunday with the Hillburn Giants finally winning out by the much booed score of 12 to 10 — there were 12 errors. The game was a half hour late in getting started because a number of players failed to show up and a conveyance had to be sent for them.

Sullivan County still has 238 heads of families still employed under the TERA, according to checks for county Treasurer Roy C. Johnston. The number employed is only ten less than the week before and practically the same as a month ago.

About forty men and women attended the annual school meeting here Tuesday night which adopted a budget of $27,220 for the coming school year. C.O. Wilkin was chosen chairman and Luther Potts, clerk of the meeting. Wm. von Berg and C.M. Peterson were appointed tellers. The annual financial report for the year ending July 31 was read, showing total receipts of $28,138.36 and disbursements of $27,984.66, leaving a balance in the treasury of $153.70.

A daughter, Nancy Graff, was born July 27 at Callicoon Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Reum of Beechwoods.

Decker M. Chaffee of Loomis, one of the largest farm owners in Sullivan County, and Miss Ethel J. Brewster of Middletown, teacher for the last five years at Valley Cottage, Rockland County, were married Saturday, August 4, in Washingtonville in the presence of a small group of friends and members of both families.

80 Years Ago - 1944

PFC Earl M. Scheidell, son of Mrs. Ethel Allington Scheidell of 161 Helstead St., East Orange, N.J., and the late Valentine P. Scheidell of Jeffersonville, was killed in Normandy, France, on July 14, two days after his 22nd birthday, and one month and eight days after the invasion. His mother received the information from the War Department last week, while she was vacationing with her mother, Mrs. H.V. Allington in Liberty.

Mrs. Adam Bernhardt of the bank force has received the information that the wounds received by her husband in the invasion of France were to his right arm and leg. He is now in a hospital in England.

Harry Lott reports the sale of a Kenoza Lake front plot of 5,000 sq. feet to William Ruff of Warwick; also a plot of about 10,000 square feet to Ernest Eberhardt of Jersey City, who plans a summer home. The new road on the east shore of the lake is completed, opening up more attractive lots.

A daughter, Meta Anne, was born August 7 at Callicoon Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Chris Fischer of North Branch.

An exchange submits the following as proof that advertising pays. An Arkansas woman advertised for a husband and got one at the cost of $9. Within three months he was drafted, trained and taken into action, where he was killed. The widow received $10,000 insurance and a widow’s pension for life.

A leak in the water service line in front of the James Holmes residence necessitated a shutting off of the main line on South Main Street yesterday and today, until the break could be repaired.

Kenoza Lake: The contents of the building operated as a summer drug and novelty store here for a couple of years, were sold at sheriff’s sale today, under the deficiency judgment held by Wirt N. Moulthrop and wife, who took over the building recently at a mortgage sale. The Moulthrops bid in the goods today at $200 which does not nearly cover their judgment. The late owners of the store were city people who bought out George J. Miller and operated the store under the name of the Miller Drug Co. Mr. Miller was in no way interested in the sale.

70 Years Ago - 1954

This week’s merchandise winner at Amber’s was Mrs. Jack Schadt of Jeffersonville.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Hecker of Livingston Manor on August 6th at the Callicoon Hospital.

Abraham Goodman, 40, of Brooklyn, died last Thursday night at Mt. Sinai Hospital from injuries he received when he fell from a truck while assisting his brother, Nathan, in White Sulphur Springs on July 20th.

Army Sgt. Robert A. Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Davis of Callicoon, recently was awarded the Good Conduct Medal in Japan.

The ban on car washing, watering lawns and gardens is still in effect in the Village of Jeffersonville, according to William Huff, water and street superintendent.

The official opening of the new half-million dollar bridge at Narrowsburg will be held on August 31 at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.

Miss Marcia Traynor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Traynor, Callicoon, was in a group of student nurses of the Class of 1956 to receive their caps at Russell Sage College, Troy.

Two Puerto Ricans were stabbed in Liberty on Thursday night and a few minutes later Jose S. Salada, an employee of Grossinger’s, was arrested in Ben Miller’s on charges of second degree assault.

Andrew F . Gempler, 15-year-old sophomore student at the Jeffersonville Central School, died from accidental drowning on Monday in Lake Cool-Lea, as he was swimming with his cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Warren.

A son, Christopher Alvin, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Tonjes at Liberty-Loomis Hospital on August 8th.

Audrey J. Edwards, Beverly J. Meusegeier and Star W. Romer, all of Roscoe, have received their diplomas from the Albany Business College.

Thirty-six went from Draft Board 17 in Monticello to New York last weekend for pre-induction physical examinations. From this section were Charles Cutler, White Sulphur Springs; Henry Blake and Raymond Herrmann, Roscoe; Emerson Ebert, Callicoon; and Lester and Leland Finkle, Livingston Manor. Paul C. Krantz of Jeffersonville was among eight Sullivan County men who were inducted into the Army last week.

60 Years Ago - 1964

Leo C. Ellmauer, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Ellmauer of Youngsville, was promoted to specialist five July 29th in Germany where he was serving with the 3rd Armored Division. He is now spending a furlough at home before being reassigned.

The F.W. Woolworth Store in Monticello is closed because of a fire which broke out in the curtain section last Monday evening. Cause of the fire was not determined.

Mrs. Natalie Prattie, president of the Sullivan County Legal Secretaries Association, attended a banquet and convention of the National Legal Secretaries Association in New York City this past weekend at which she was presented with the charter for the Sullivan County Chapter.

Donald Tegeler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edson Tegeler, who served as an instructor with the Field Crewman’s Communications Course at Fort Dix, was returned to radio station WNEW as record librarian and music producer of the Bob Lander’s Show.

Preparations are being made for the 85th Annual Little World’s Fair in Grahamsville on August 22.

Camp Co-Chec-Ton, the only resident camp in Sullivan County serving mentally retarded boys and girls, continues to draw the attention of national and state level organizations for the outstanding contributions it is making in the field of mental retardation. The camp is under the direction of Harold Levine and Edward Kutzer and has a good program to help retarded citizens adjust to society, to mature physically, socially and emotionally and to become contributing members of society.

On Sunday, August 16, the Fifth Annual Sullivan County Hydroplane Regatta will take place at White Lake and it is expected that about 40 hydroplanes of the 145, 150 and 280 cu. inch classes, plus ski-boats will be competing. Trophies for the hydro winners in four classes will be presented by Sandra Bertholf of Divine Corners, Miss Sullivan County Catskills ‘64.

50 Years Ago - 1974

Sullivan County Dairy Princess Susan Brown of Jeffersonville was named alternate in the contest for New York Dairy Princess.

Michael Clifford, 19, of Jeffersonville, was killed when hit by an automobile after being thrown off his motorcycle on Sander Road on Saturday.

Miss Janet Korth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Korth of Callicoon Center, became the bride of William R. Eckhoff, son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Eckhoff, also of Callicoon Center, on July 20th at the Youngsville Community Reformed Church.

An estimated 18,000 people thronged to the Loch Sheldrake campus of Sullivan County Community College last Saturday to attend the Catskill Country Fair, part of the continuing Festival ‘74 program at the college.

Warren Seth Kuperinsky of Ferndale was one of 15 Sullivan County Community College hotel technology students to gain work experience during a just completed ten-day cruise aboard the Empire State training ship of the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, N.Y.

40 Years Ago - 1984

Firefighters from Wood-ridge, Fallsburg, Woodbourne, Rock Hill, Mountaindale and Monticello worked for five hours Friday and two hours Saturday to stop the flames at Fallsburg’s Olympic Resort. Because the blaze broke out at a time right before many people were due to check in, the resort was not at full capacity, according to Woodridge Assistant Fire Chief Frank Smith. As if the 5-hour bout were not enough, a rekindle called the firemen back for another 2-hour battle.

Martha Hatch of South Fallsburg played the role of Shaindel in the recent performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Forestburgh Playhouse and Tavern. The 1984 season marks the 8th year of ownership of the playhouse (established in 1947) by Gregg Harlan and Craig Sandquist who have added another 100 seats to the facility for a total seating capacity now of  300.

Kristt Company, supplier of office equipment, furniture and materials in a tri-county area for more than 38 years, has now expanded and remodeled its Monticello store.

Bert Feldman, Leni Binder, Arthur Schubert and Wayne Saward have led the effort which led to the erecting of a Woodstock monument at the corner of Hurd Road and West Shore Road in the Town of Bethel, just in time to mark the 15th anniversary of the “great happening.” Representatives from CBS, ABC, NBC and WPIX converged on Bethel this week, conducting interviews with residents.

Deputy Sheriff Glenn Hester performed his magic for youth attending the Sheriff’s Association of N.Y. State Summer Ranch near Norwich. “Magic Glenn” is known locally for his work in conveying a message that crime doesn’t pay, that police are friends and that good citizenship is important.

Edward Fink of Monticello was joined by more than a hundred friends and relatives in celebration of his 85th birthday at the Elks Club recently.

A group of local residents, including four from the Sullivan County village of Obernburg (Father Louis Foley, pastor of St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Margaret Tubbs, Theresa Schick and Veronica Denner) journeyed to Germany to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the parish of St. Peter and Paul in Obernburg, West Germany. The trip was planned since a resident of Obernburg, Germany, came to the United States two years ago to invite residents of the local Obernburg to the German town’s 1000th birthday celebration.

30 Years Ago - 1994

Sid Bernstein addressed a large audience at an emergency session of the Bethel Town Board Tuesday afternoon, and was preparing to pitch an alternative concert idea on Thursday night to the board after the Rhulen family of Shea Entertainment officially quit the original $5 million project on Monday. Proposed are less acts, spaced out on August 13 and 14, so that concertgoers could return to their own homes or lodging at night. Fleetwood Mac, Richie Havens, John Sebastian, Melanie and possibly Judy Collins would all be part of the gig, according to Bernstein. No mention of ticket prices was made. Bernstein claimed that his promotion would keep the audience at less than 10,000 people. (In the August 9 issue of the Democrat, a story tells that the Bethel Town Board turned a deaf ear to promoter Sid Bernstein’s last ditch effort to present a modified version of Bethel ‘94). . . Vacant store windows in the Village of Liberty will be transformed this week into an outdoor gallery depicting provocative “Images of Woodstock,” freshly created by local artists in a two-fold purpose of celebrating the 25th anniversary of Woodstock while dressing up downtown Liberty. The 50 submissions will grace approximately 20 storefronts through Sept. 11.

Two Livingston Manor Girl Scouts have been awarded the Gold Award, scouting’s highest award. Jennifer O’Leary and Amanda Marks were presented their awards by Debra Hevia of Amsterdam who received the award seven years ago as a member of Girl Scout Troop 97. The three girls are the only Gold Award recipients in the Sullivan division of the Sarah Wells Girl Scout Council.

Two members of the Twin Village Golf Club scored first-ever hole-in-one aces last weekend, both on the same 133-yard, par-3 fourth hole. They were Tim Gorton, 20 years of age, of Roscoe, who was playing Saturday with Harold Roberts and Bill Fredenberg. Tim is a substitute on the Monday Night Golf League. Ed Townsend, 59, writer of Bowling Highlights for the Sullivan County Democrat, was bowling with his Monday Night Gulf League partner, Ed Korth of Livingston Manor, when he earned his achievement.

The Hughson Dairy Farm in Jeffersonville (Swiss Hill) hosted the annual “Down on the Farm Day,” sponsored by the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Saturday, with well over 1,000 people attending.

James “Buddy” McGirt won a split decision over Pat Coleman during their welterweight bout at the Villa Roma Sunday.

20 Years Ago - 2004

Livingston Manor’s Renaissance group earned the largest award this year for building new sidewalks, replacing old trash cans, installing 16 cherry trees and lining Main Street with hanging baskets.

The 76th Annual Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Association Parade was hosted Saturday by Liberty Hose & Truck Co. No. 2.

The Lava Fire Department recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Obernburg is throwing a birthday party on August 29, five days before the tiny parish officially turns 150 years of age. The parish is celebrating the first Mass said on September 3, 1854 when Father Joseph Roesch was sent in to serve the Catholics in Obernburg, Callicoon, Jeffersonville and Narrowsburg. Residents of Obernburg, Germany are coming in for the celebration, and the entire community is invited.

Three people have drowned in the upper Delaware River this summer. All three deaths might have been prevented by the proper use of a life jacket.

Ken Cohen and Charlie Johnston are champions of the 23rd annual Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Ball Golf tournament. It is the second championship for Johnston and Cohen’s seventh in the last 20 years.

Brittney Gieger of Jeffersonville has won the title of Miss Sullivan Area Teenager. She is the daughter of Jacqueline and Michael Gieger.

10 Years Ago - 2014

Thanks to an effort to move the homeless into permanent housing rather than local motels, Sullivan County has seen its costs drop. Director of Temporary Assistance Giselle Steketee told legislators Thursday that housing someone in a hotel cost around $1,500 a month, whereas an apartment is costing taxpayers only about $600 a month. The numbers look good in terms of the homeless themselves, which appear to be at an historic low: 268 otherwise-homeless people were removed from hotels in the past year, of whom nearly 32 percent transitioned to permanent housing, while the remaining either failed to comply with county/state requirements or ended up heading elsewhere (and 11 percent had too high an income to qualify for assistance).

Citing falling enrollment and unsustainable expenses, The Family Foundation School of Hancock – now known as Allynwood Academy – will be closing its doors officially today. “The news [that it’s closing] is correct,” Michael Argiros, the son of The Family Foundation School’s founders Tony and Betty Argiros, said Wednesday. “Our facility is geared for 200 students and we hit a low point of 53 students.” Geared toward youth at risk, The Family Foundation School taught teenage children and was accredited by the State of New York to award diplomas. Argiros said the school was especially hard hit by the financial crisis of 2008 with enrollment steadily dropping the past six years.