140 Years Ago - 1884

Henry DeWitt of this village has given his home a coat of paint which added neatly to its appearance.

George R. Trusdell (the dentist) will be as usual at Sherwood’s Hotel, Jeffersonville, on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of August.

An organ grinder, accompanied by his wife, was in town on Saturday last week. One cent thrown into the tin cup would buy the noise of hornpipes, waltzes, etc., for an all day amusement.

During the night of last Saturday, somebody wanted some apples. The orchard of Ed Fish of Jeffersonville was entered and four or five bushels of apples were taken. The loss of the apples is small, but the parties in fear and danger of being caught, like all thieves, did not wait to close the garden gate after entering. Ed’s cow, seeing the gate opened and taking advantage of the opportunity, entered the garden and destroyed the greater portion of the garden of vegetables. Boys, when out look in. But when you are in, look out.

Fred Scheidell of Jeff is giving his mill a thorough overhauling. He intends putting in a new wooden raceway and a solid stone penstock. The merry mill wheel will also receive an overhauling.

The steeple of the Dutch Reformed Church is completed and the weather vane reveals to the passerby the points from which the wind comes.

130 Years Ago - 1894

Alan Rue, son of Joseph Rue of Roscoe, has accepted the position of principal of the Roscoe School for the coming year.

Blackberries are small, sour and scarce generally this year. They are selling at eight cents a quart.

Monday was fishing day, being somewhat lowery, and many started out with their rods, among them being the Pinney brothers  – the captain and the dominie – each blessed with the patience of Job, and each possessing a storehouse full of entertaining stories that never grow stale.

E.A. Brand has been asked to officiate as assistant marshal at the coaching parade in Liberty, August 23. Liberty makes no mistakes. Busy, boisterous blushing bachelor, George Yager, the mineral water man, not only soft on beverages, but he is so soft on the girls – that is, what we mean to say is, that he has a tender spot in his heart for the fair sex, and never misses an opportunity to do the valiant. His latest effusions in that line were witnessed almost every evening at the merry-go-round where he dishes out tickets to grace and beauty with a recklessness that is only equaled by the frequent and familiar “gid-d-dup thar-r-r-r.”

Lava: There are two strangers working on a novel scheme in this neighborhood in order to have a cheap summer’s outing. They travel from house to house representing themselves to be the advance agents of a gang of forty men putting up a telephone line, engaging board for them wherever they can. Of course, the delighted would-be boarding housekeeper invites them to dinner, supper and to stay overnight, as the case may be. Of course, they would not charge the men for whom they have such a good thing and the agent goes on his way rejoicing. I understand that several men from the lower part of town went to Narrowsburg and laid in a sack of provisions so as to be ready when the gang comes along, and are now sitting at the windows all day trying to get a glimpse of the tops of the poles over toward Irishtown. Theirs will be a good place to visit after a day or two, if a man knows enough not to mention telephone.

120 Years Ago - 1904

Jeffersonville now enjoys the great convenience of a through-Western Union Telegraph wire to New York, installed last week. Telegrams may be sent from this office now at anytime of the day or night, Sunday included.

George Bohl has finally got his bakery going here, beginning operation last Monday. Mr. Bohl turns out fine goods.

Among the school teachers already engaged for the coming school year are the following: Edward McDermott has been re-engaged as principal of the Jeffersonville School with Grace Anderson as assistant. Fred Hust will teach in the Faubel District, H.G. Gobelman of Jeff returns to Hortonville; Bertha  Glassel goes to the Buck Brook District; Ralph Bird to Delaware District No. 4 below Jeff; F.H. Neuberger and Rose Wilfert to the Youngsville School and Mary Brown to the Quick District at North Branch.

A strong team composed of Phil and Henry Schmidt and J. Beck, and crack bowlers at North Branch, sustained their first defeat at the hands of Messrs.  Boemen, Helms and Lehnert, representing Peter Schutt’s Hillside Farm. The game was rolled at Kille’s Alleys at the Branch and was witnessed by a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Theron Potts and wife, who were visiting  his parents here for several weeks, left Sunday for their return to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Mr. Potts is principal of a school. He may decide to return here soon and resume the practice of law with his father, Judge Potts.

110 Years Ago - 1914

Wm. C. Fuhrer has sold his meat market in Jeff to Louis Winands of New York, formerly of Beechwoods, who will take possession September 1 and move his family into the rooms over the market now occupied by Mr. Fuhrer, who will return to the Osterhout place in Kenoza Lake. L.B. Goodman, who has been with Mr. Fuhrer, will remain with Mr. Winand in the business.

The winners of the high score prizes at Schmidt’s bowling alley last week were Simon Paddock of New York, at Glassel’s, Jeffersonville, with a score of 249 and Mrs. Beyer of New York at the Diehl Cottage, with 138. Mr. Paddock’s score is now the highest yet made on the alley beating by one pin the score made by Wm. Lieb last winter.

The state highway department is oiling the county highway through the village, from Tieman’s place at the east end of the village to the Delaware town line at Bietz’s Cafe. Heavy oil is used and covered with fine crushed stone. Patrolman John H. Wagner has charge of the work. It is not known whether the work will be extended into Delaware or not. This ought to settle the dust nuisance here for some time to come.

The Dr. Kemp drug store at Callicoon has been sold to Reuben and Henry Bennett, graduate pharmacists and sons of L.F. Bennett of Claryville. Reuben, who was employed in Brochu’s Pharmacy in Liberty, has with his wife, gone to Callicoon and taken charge of the business. For the present Henry will remain with Patterson and Schoonmaker Druggists in Ellenville.

100 Years Ago - 1924

Joergle & Buddenhagen, the Jeffersonville masons, are constructing the new building for the Hankins National Bank, the building being of concrete. William H. Snyder of Fremont Center, son-in-law of the late Mart Smith, has been chosen cashier of the new bank.

The cornerstone of the new M.E. Church in Jeffersonville will be laid at the services of Sunday, August 24, at 10 a.m., with Rev. Dr. Herbert E. Wright of Newburgh, district superintendent, in charge.

For seven innings here last Sunday, Southpaw “Bing” O’Neil of the O&W team of Middletown, held the Jeffersonville Athletics scoreless with one lonely clean hit. Then in the eighth, “Bing” suddenly lost his stuff – his hypnotic hold on the ball – and bing! bing! bing! bing! bing! bing! – out went six slashing singles and doubles to all corners of the lot and five runs rolled over the pan. Then as suddenly the O&W firemen recovered his staff and fanned two of our heaviest hitters and retired the third on an easy pop-up. But the battle was lost and his fine work of the seven innings was for naught.

North Branch: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kollmar, daughter Mildred, and infant son, Elmer, of Lakewood, Ohio, and Mrs. E. Lamb of Buffalo are visiting the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Schmidt for a few weeks.

90 Years Ago - 1934

Clinton Stalker of Rockville Center is vacationing among relatives in this section.

Miss Helen Keeser will quit her position in the bank September 1 and on September 15 will enter into a contract for a life job with Joseph Klein of Richmond Hill, “for better or for worse.” They will be married at the Catholic Church. Mr. Klein, who is in the employ of the Standard Oil Company in Long Island City, has been spending his vacations at the Peterson farm, where Miss Keeser was raised.

The Connors acid factory at Long Eddy, which has had a seasonal shutdown of about a month and a half, will open full time late this month. About twenty-five heads of families are employed in the plant. These men are now employed on highway work in this town.

The clambake under the auspices of the Jeffersonville Baseball Club at the Delaware Inn Park last Sunday was pretty much damaged by the rain, which made it necessary to serve the bake in the dance hall and kept many from attending. The boys broke about even on the bake and they are just where they started.

Carl Stecker, one of our most intensive farmers, and an officer in the Sullivan County Cooperative Dairy Association, has started work on a new modern dairy barn to stable forty cows – which shows that he is optimistic regarding the future of the dairy industry. Mr. Stecker will do most of the construction work himself, as he has had considerable experience in the building line. In addition to operating a large farm, he and his family also do quite a successful summer boarding business. Mr. Stecker knows the right remedy for farm relief.

80 Years Ago - 1944

Acting Principal Kenneth C. Fuller has returned from a summer course at New York University.

After a valiant fight, Supervisor Walter C. Weiss of the Town of Callicoon has succeeded in getting the Board of Supervisors to place the Youngsville-Shandelee-Livingston Manor road on the county highway system, removing it from the state highway system, where it has lain dormant and neglected for many years. The board adopted a resolution making the change on Tuesday this week.

August W. Rittershausen and family were visiting in town this week. Augie, who started out as a one-room school teacher from his home in Youngsville years ago, has been principal of Nyack School for a number of years.

White Sulphur Springs: Robert Charles Danzer celebrated his second birthday at his home here Friday evening. The guests were his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Danzer Sr., and Mrs. Wm. Danzer Jr., and daughter, Dianne, of Youngsville.

70 Years Ago - 1954

The sawmill at Mileses, which is owned by George Sipple, burned to the ground on Monday afternoon despite a three-hour fight on the part of three fire companies. Damage was estimated at $25,000. There was no insurance.

Mrs. Anna M. Widmayer, 96, a native of Youngsville, died August 12 in the West Side Hospital in Scranton, Pa.

Edna Lois Woodworth of Jeffersonville and Robert S. Clark of Swan Lake, were married in a double ring ceremony last Saturday afternoon. The maid of honor was the bride’s sister, Lila J. Woodworth and Miss Carol R. Howard, Jeffersonville Central School art teacher, was the bridesmaid. Donald Clark was best man for his brother and Alan Newkirk was usher.

The latest list of students accepted at Albany Business College for the fall term includes Kathryn Holpp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Holpp of Roscoe.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Cook of Hortonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lorraine, to Frank Muller of Shandelee.

The coming marriage on August 28 of Miss Betty Leist of Hollywood, Calif., and Donald V. Busing, whose parents have a summer home in Kenoza Lake since 1931, has been announced by the bride’s mother, Mrs. Amelia Leist of New Albany.

Richard Parks, 18, a sailor of Livingston Manor, was involved in a minor auto accident on Mussman’s Hill two miles east of Livingston Manor at 3:45 a.m. Sunday. There were no injuries.

60 Years Ago - 1964

Born at the Callicoon Hospital, August 3, a daughter, Barbra Dee, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hermann of Callicoon.

Carl Seelig, former blacksmith of Jeffersonville, died in Liberty-Loomis Hospital August 12, following an operation.

Fifty Little Leaguers from Jeffersonville saw Mickey Mantle hit the longest home run ever hit in Yankee Stadium (a 500-foot clout to the center field bleachers) on Wednesday.

Kenoza Lake: Heartfelt sympathy is extended to Mrs. Floyd Eggler and relatives on the passing of her husband, Floyd, and mother, Mrs. Carl Baum, both within a couple of days of each other.

“Two Sides Dept.” – “What platform will I take for Jeffersonville?” inquired the dear old lady. The porter replied, “Turn left and you’ll be right.” The dear old lady said with indignation, “Young man, don’t be impertinent.” So the porter shrugged and said, “Alright, turn right and be left.”

Callicoon: A triple celebration was held at the Cono Manzolillo home on Sunday in honor of Cono and his brother-in-law, William Forsbach, and the baptizing of Karen Ann, daughter of Joyce and Cono Manzolillo. Sponsors were the baby’s cousins, Janice Forsbach and Thomas Manzolillo.

50 Years Ago - 1974

Our mighty Cougars have finally bowed to the law of averages. Last Sunday they suffered their first defeat at the hands of Browndale by a  score of 8-6. Thus, their season record now stands at 11-1.

All of the patients at the Cochecton School and Camp for the mentally retarded were removed from the premises on Monday three days before the August 15 closing deadline and have been lodged in various other institutions. The school, which had been threatened with closing on July 2nd, had been operating under a reprieve after its co-owners and resident director were arrested for physical and sexual abuse of the patients.

Miss Maureen Dexter of Narrowsburg, RD 2, became the bride of Michael Bernitt at a ceremony performed at the United Methodist Church in Callicoon July 14.

Julie Winter of Holland-on-Sea, Essex, England, became the bride of Richard Long, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Long of Callicoon, in England on June 29th.

40 Years Ago - 1984

Dr. Pasquale Barratta is the new doctor at the Grover Hermann Division of Community General Hospital in Callicoon. He came to Callicoon with a two-year commitment to the National Health Service as part of their plan to attract new physicians to rural medically under-served communities in New York State. A reception in his honor will be held on September 19 at the hospital cafeteria, hosted by the hospital auxiliary.

Pete Feinberg, pitcher for Liberty Lumber, and Tim TerBush, shortshop for Liberty Lumber, won Most Valuable Pitcher and Most Valuable Player awards in the Fourth Annual Sullivan County Democrat’s Softball Tournament last weekend. Feinberg gave up only 18 hits over five games, while TerBush was flawless in batting .705, including two triples and a home run. Liberty Lumber took the championship played at White Sulphur Springs.

The Delaware Valley Job Corps in Callicoon has been the ground of a year-long dispute between the Town of Delaware and the federal Department of Labor regarding the Job Corps “fair share” of expenses in the proposed sewer project for the area. Congressman Ben Gilman’s office announced this week that a settlement has been reached.

For 3 1/2 days this week, survivors of the ghetto of Lodz, Poland’s second largest city during World War II, convened for the first time since the war, at the Concord Hotel. Approximately 2,000 of the 10,000 survivors began filling the lobby at the Concord on Sunday afternoon amidst a flurry of activity, last minute preparations and emotional reunions. “You cannot kill the feelings,” said Isaac Schlomkowitz who has currently retired to Florida and serves as the vice president of the Holocaust survivors of Florida. “I give lectures about the holocaust in schools,” Mr. Schlomkowitz said. “It hurts when it comes to my family. History is history but the personal feelings are terrible.”

30 Years Ago - 1994

This issue of the Sullivan County Democrat (August 12) contained a 20 page special section titled “Woodstock 1969-1994.” Photos showed the 1969 traffic jams, the crowded field above the outdoor stage, and several accounts of people who “were there.” Henry Diltz, the official photographer of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, was commissioned this year to document the Woodstock II concert in Saugerties.

Although Bethel ‘94 was canceled last week, still those who wanted to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the world’s largest gathering in one place, began drifting into the area.  Mike Harper of Chicago, Ill., “Mr. Puppet Man,” set up near the monument to perform impromptu  musical skits inspired by punk rocker Iggy Pop. Nearly 200 troopers have been assigned to the area in an effort to keep things under control. Although the concert has been relocated to Saugerties, it is expected that many will gather at the former Yasgur farm. After being “shot-down” by the Town of Bethel Board, Sid Bernstein is already making plans for a 25-plus-one concert next year in Bethel. From the August 16 issue of the Democrat: Arlo Guthrie and Canned Heat were among those who performed at the “unconcert concert” performed in the meadow of the old Yasgur Farm, the original festival site, when about 50,000 gathered in observance of the 25th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival. Firemen, EMTs and paramedics, ambulance corps and other local groups volunteered services and time, expanding their volunteerism as the crowd increased. “The Saturday night’s rain chant, the impromptu mud slides, the nonviolent atmosphere and caring behavior of both the campers and daytrippers were all throwbacks of ‘69,” said Wayne Wanat of Springfield, Mass., who actually had purchased tickets for Bethel ‘94 expecting to bring his wife, Elaine, to the site of an event that he said really opened his eyes to the world as a 19-year-old college student in 1969.  Many local people attended, camping out with their families on the hillside. A baby, Aleric Kaeran Longley-McHenry, son of Pamela Longley and Christopher McHenry of New Paltz, was born at 6:55 a.m. on Monday morning, approximately 40 yards south of the Woodstock monument along Hurd Rd. Paramedics assisted. The Woodstock II Concert, to replace the canceled Bethel ‘94 Concert, was held at the Winston Farm in Saugerties. “I Survived Woodstock II” is what the T-shirts should have said as the gathering of thousands was reminiscent of the original Woodstock Festival which was plagued by several days of rain and mud at the Yasgur farm and became a test of endurance and patience.

After going to the polls for the third time, voters in the Delaware Valley Central School District approved the three propositions presented to them — the school budget, the sports and extracurricular activities and school supplies asked for in the proposed budget. Students hung around after the polls closed at 9 p.m. for the result and were ecstatic when the results were announced.

20 Years Ago - 2004

The after effects of Hurricane Charley were felt as roads were closed throughout the county as rain pounded on the pavement from Thursday evening through Friday. The bridge which connects Narrowsburg to Pennsylvania was shut down for several hours because of the rising Delaware River, and State Route 52 in Kohlertown was almost impassable for much of Friday morning. The Gulf Road between Callicoon Center and Roscoe was shut down in the midst of the storm as well, and roads throughout the town of Rockland were hard hit. Hessinger-Lare, Dietz, Wahl, J. Young, Old Danzer, Mauer and Wegman roads in the town of Callicoon were impassable for part of the storm.

The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and the Livingston Manor Chamber of Commerce were on hand to welcome the newest literary addition to Sullivan County on Saturday, August 7 when Hamish & Henry Booksellers on Main Street in Livingston Manor opened its doors.

Famed Sullivan County District Attorney, World War II veteran, Sullivan County Judge and Surrogate Louis B. Scheinman was immortalized on Sunday when a park in Woodbourne was named in his honor.

Eric Berger spent some quality time with several family members on a recent visit to his grandparents’ home in Hurleyville. He is the son of Mitch Berger and Sandra Gather, whose maiden name is Wexler, both of whom grew up here and graduated from Fallsburg Central School. Eric could have entered the Major League Baseball draft in June; he opted instead to accept a baseball scholarship to the University of Arizona.

L & P Tree Service of Staten Island won all five games it played over the weekend to capture the 23rd annual Edward M. Collins Tournament Championship in Mongaup Valley. The tournament has been held each summer since 1982 to honor Collins, a 1970 Eldred Central School graduate who died in April 1981 from viral pneumonia at the age of 29. Due to heavy rain last Wednesday and Thursday, members of the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department spent virtually all day Friday pumping away about six inches of water that covered the infield and a good portion of the outfield to make the field playable.

10 Years Ago - 2014

Rafters were being lowered into place Tuesday at the coming Mamakating Library on Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro, even in the rain. The 4,800-square-foot building is expected to open by the end of the year, replacing the library’s old, cramped location just up the street. Despite the project’s $1.4 million cost, taxes aren’t expected to rise as a result, thanks to donations and grants. To learn more about all that’s offered at the newest library in Sullivan County (having been chartered just 10 years ago), visit mamakatinglibrary.org.

Reenacting is a fun hobby, but demanding of one’s time and finances. Just ask Dennis Bernitt of Hankins, a 1st sergeant in the 143rd New York Volunteer Infantry, named after a Civil War company from Sullivan County. No doubt one of the highlights of Bernitt’s career was when he, grandson Brett Michael Dirie, and Kolin and Tina Bothun of Honesdale, PA, were invited by the National Park Service to camp on the Gettysburg Battlefield during the 150th anniversary celebration, a rare honor. Brett, a corporal and son of Michael and Tanya of Hortonville, has taken enthusiastically and seriously to the reenactment life. Bernitt said he is still enthused about reenacting, but at 67, knows he will have to slow down. 

Numerous artistic metal sculptures that dot the county landscape are catching the curious eyes of onlookers. The man behind the metal is local sculptor Zac Shavrick, who works in the Flashburn Metal Studios in Ferndale  where he transforms scraps of metal into animate characters. Born and raised in Sullivan County, Shavrick took to metal sculpting at the age of three following in the footsteps of his father Barry, who began his own metalwork career nearly 40 years earlier cutting pipes in Israel.