130 Years Ago - 1894

Indications point to an early freeze on the ponds, say the weather prophets. But sleighing will come first.

Kenoza Lake — There is a rumor here that the Cook Brothers of near Callicoon Depot are soon to erect a building – the exact locality hasn’t been learned – a sort of milk depot where the milk brought in from the surrounding country can be placed in cold storage until taken to the creamery.

A grand vocal and instrumental concert, the entire proceeds of which are to go towards the purchase of street lamps for the village of Jeffersonville, will be given at Eagle Hall on Monday evening by Hans Schmidt of Liberty.

A project is now afoot to build an electric railroad through the Neversink Valley in Sullivan County to Grahamsville, and from Fallsburg to Monticello. According to the newspapers, the right of way is being looked after and a site has been secured along the Neversink River to erect a dam for water power.

The Board of Supervisors of Sullivan County passed a resolution last week to have the county jail at Monticello reconstructed and made a contract with the Pauley Manufacturing Co. for new cells. It is the intention to tear out the old cells and put in new steel cells of modern style.

The Rockland Town Board made a contract with an iron company for a new bridge over the Little Beaverkill River at Morsston to replace the one which recently collapsed. The cost of the bridge is to be $950.

120 Years Ago - 1904

The local telephone wires have not yet recovered from the snowstorm of last week. Every telephone seems to be on the same line. The wires are crossed somewhere, and consequently there are many cross words being transmitted by the users.

E.A. Brand, who sold his house last week to John Ludwig, will dispose of most of his household goods at auction tomorrow and move his family into rooms in Peter Wagner’s house until he builds another home on the lot adjoining the house he sold. The cellar and foundations are now being prepared.

John Seibert will erect a turning mill in Hurleyville and expects to begin the manufacture of wood souvenirs by January 1. Bruce Reynolds will assist. Both men were formerly employed by Edward Hope before the destruction of his turning mill on October 29.

Those in this vicinity who formed a stock company and bought a Belgian stallion of Western dealers recently met at the hotel of Philip Behrman at Kenoza Lake and elected the following officers: President Joseph O. Layman, Secretary Philip Behran, Treasurer J. Fred Schaefer, Trustees Charles Homer, Peter Mathern, Joseph Welch Jr. George Just and John Myers.

Large quantities of apples and potatoes are being shipped to the city markets from here this week.

The marriage of Anton Bossley of Briscoe and Miss Edna Pintler took place at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Pintler, near Stevensville Sunday, November 20.

110 Years Ago - 1914

Those interested in educational matters at Youngsville are agitating the question of consolidation of four of the adjoining school districts with Youngsville district and establishing a union free school, with high school and agricultural subjects also taught. The enlarged district would be assured $2400 state aid each year. Four teachers would be required.

Floyd Scheidell, who was employed as foreman on the state road work between Monticello and Wurtsboro, has returned to his home here, the road work having been suspended. Floyd, who is a graduate of Syracuse University, will locate somewhere in a law office.

Three of the four children of Frank J. Allgeier, on the Callicoon state road below Kenoza Lake, are afflicted with a mild form of scarlet fever. The place has been quarantined.

Commissioner L.P. Faubel has fixed the tax roll for the Jeffersonville lighting district, calling for $448 to pay for our street lights for a year from the time they are turned on. The rate of $100 of valuation is 75 cents. The commissioners figure on running the lights 1800 hours during the year. This will permit six hours of illumination each night for 300 nights.

Happy Otto Hillig, the Liberty photographer, passed through town last night with seven Liberty school marms who he was treating to an automobile ride to Callicoon.

It has been arranged to have an extension school in home economics at the time of the agricultural school in Jeffersonville. It is particularly desirable that the school should be considered as a community affair, and that village women as well as farm women attend.

100 Years Ago - 1924

Martin Weyrauch, son of Henry M. Weyrauch of Liberty, is city editor of the new illustrated daily. The Graphic, the daily, was recently started in New York by Bernard MacFadden.

Clarence Mall of this town was one of the 250 men graduated from the police training school at the 69th Armory, New York City, on Friday, November 28.

Miss Marion DeLap, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George DeLap of Kenoza Lake, was united in marriage with Joseph Wasner of Oyster Bay, L.I., at St. James Episcopal Church in Callicoon.

At a special election, held by the fire commissioners at the firehouse last Monday, two propositions were submitted to the voters: No. 1 – to raise $1000 by tax for a new fire hose and maintenance; No. 2 – to raise $4000 by tax ($500 each year for four years) to enlarge the firehouse. Not much interest was shown in the election as only 34 voters were out. Proposition No. 1 was passed; No. 2 was defeated.

The local Grange and Home Bureau unit will hold a community festival at the Grange Hall next Tuesday night.

A week ago last Saturday, Fred Duttweiler of the Jeffersonville Transportation Co., with his wife and four children were involved in an auto accident above East Branch. The Duttweilers’ six-year-old daughter, Mildred, was the only one injured in their car. Her collar bone was slightly fractured.

90 Years Ago - 1934

At the turkey shoot and dance at Bucky’s Inn Saturday, held by the American Legion Post, E. James Brand won the biggest turkey in the lot – a 20-pound gobbler, but when the Legion boys went down to the cellar to get the gobbler, it was gone – someone had stolen it.

The official canvass in Sullivan County increased the plurality of District Attorney Deckelman to 2560, a gain of 176 votes. He received the largest number of votes cast for any candidate on either state or county ticket.

Fourteen state road crews of five men each will be on duty this winter to keep main traffic arteries free from snow and ice for motorists.

Some of the youngsters with BB rifles are amusing themselves by shooting out electric street light bulbs. Linemen had to replace a half dozen lights the other day. If the youngsters are caught, it won’t be so funny for them, we reckon.

The International Production Co. of Groton, N.Y., through its representative, K.F. Rushey, is planning to put on a play entitled “The Trial of the Century,” at the school hall here. Prominent citizens are being solicited to take characters in the play.

Work on the new post office building in Monticello is progressing and it is expected to be ready for occupancy in May. The building is being constructed of brick.

80 Years Ago - 1944

Much snow fell in this section this week and the hills are quite covered, although it is melting and the traveling has been sloppy in some places and icy in others.

The bungalow colony at Kenoza Falls, two miles below the village of Jeffersonville, was sold last week by the estate of the late William J. Grishaber of Jeff to Mrs. Mae Greenberg and Mrs. Rose Schneckman of Brooklyn.

Gerald Hick, who spent a year or more with a contracting firm in the Yukon, signed up to go with another firm to Arabia, but was finally ruled out because of a physical condition that rejected him from the Army.

Miss Edythe Beiling, R.N., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beiling, has enlisted in the Army Nurses Corps and will report to Atlantic City for basic training.

Fred Meyers of Lake Huntington has sold the former Frank Pfandler farm of 100 acres in the Town of Cochecton to Otto Haase and wife of New York with possession given this week.

A father and son banquet was tendered by the Board of Education Tuesday night at the school in honor of the football team, which last week closed a victorious season in the Western Sullivan League coming out not only champions, but also undefeated.

Deer hunting has been somewhat retarded due to the recent rainy weather and yesterday’s heavy snow. Among the lucky hunters to bag a buck are Milton Erdman, Leonard Hess, Oscar Will, Clinton Segar, Louis Mall and Elmer Van Keuren. A party of hunters from Hortonville bagged a large bear and a buck deer Sunday in the vicinity of Petersburg.

70 Years Ago - 1954

Miss Joan E. Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Anderson of Brooklyn, became the bride of John K. Paulus, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Paulus of Westwood, N.J., on Saturday, November 20, at the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. John is a graduate of Jeffersonville Central School and Chicago Technical Institute. He is employed in New York as a draftsman.

Miss Evelyn Kohler of Jeffersonville and David Laverty of Youngsville flew to Las Vegas, Nev. Sunday and were married there Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Laverty plan to make their home in Jeffersonville.

Fred Zieres of the Tegeler Insurance and Real Estate Agency, reports the sale of the property of Mrs. Charles Hahn located on Main Street in Callicoon Center, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schmidt of Callicoon Center.

George N. Hembdt, a native of Jeffersonville and former sheriff of Sullivan County, passed away at the home of his daughter in Cleveland a short time after arriving in Ohio, October 13. He was 79 years of age last Sunday.

Long distance lines between Middletown, Albany, Port Jervis, Monticello and New York were put out of order due to hunters’ bullets last week. A total of 30 lines were affected by a rifle bullet found in a cable near Wurtsboro.

A surprise shower for Miss Carol Howard, art teacher at the Jeffersonville School, was given by Mrs. Edna Clark and Mrs. Katherine Robertson on Monday evening. Miss Howard will become the bride of Allen Newkirk in the near future.

Miss Winifred Hessinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Hessinger, arrived home from Germany where she has been stationed.

A list of 36 trial and 24 grand jurors were chosen for the term of Supreme Court opening December 1.

The $50 merchandise winner at Amber’s this week was Doris Brey of Kenoza Lake.

Students home for the holidays are Herbert Hassis, Robert Knack, William Leroy, Sondra and Jay Epstein and Frank Pecsi.

60 Years Ago - 1964

Monticello, Nov. 23 — Continued drought and good weather this Autumn has been disastrous for farmers and water sources, but it put the county welfare department in the black for the first time in fifteen years.

Firemen from five fire companies battled a stubborn smoky blaze at the Larry Batinkoff poultry farm between Kauneonga Lake and Swan Lake on Friday morning, holding loss to the huge building still under construction to a minimum.

Sullivan County’s first hunting death was recorded early Sunday afternoon when a Yonkers man died of a heart attack while dragging a deer from the woods to Route 97 in the Town of Cochecton.

The Monticello Community Center was jammed Sunday afternoon for the funeral of Arthur Winarick, 75, owner of the Concord Hotel, who died November 20.

John Gabel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Gabel of Youngsville, completed boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and is stationed at the Naval Air  Station in Memphis, Tenn., where he will attend electronics school.

Lucky winners of turkeys Sunday evening, November 22, at the Arden Theatre were Duane Misner of Callicoon Center, Edward Peake of Long Eddy and W.H. Wahl of Jeffersonville.

Tim Robisch bagged a spike, his first. Postmaster William Bergner shot a 5-point buck.

50 Years Ago - 1974

Governor Wilson is expected to confirm the nomination by the Sullivan County Republican Committee of Joseph Purcell of Narrowsburg to succeed the late Francis “Stretch” Hanofee as County Clerk.

Sullivan County Election Commissioners Mildred Millspaugh and Michael Reddy last week released the official canvass of the November 5th General elections which showed the very commendable results that 76 percent of local voters – 24,347 out of a potential 31,797 – cast their ballots in marked contrast to the national turnout which showed that only 38 percent of eligible voters went to the polls.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fitch of Jeffersonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan, to Glenn E. Ahnstrom, son of John F. Ahnstrom and the late Frieda Ahnstrom, also of Jeffersonville.

George McClain of Liberty was presented with a plaque by the Sullivan County Chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy Association honoring him for his efforts as coordinator of the Walk-a-Thon which was so successful last April.

40 Years Ago - 1984

The New York State Power Authority’s controversial Marcy South line got the go ahead signal from the New York State Public Service Commission Tuesday for their double circuit line in a 4-2 vote by the six member commission. Although the final route of the line won’t be decided until December 5 (the date of the next meeting of the PSC) at the earliest, the line, which will run from Marcy, located near Utica, to Fishkill, has been all but assured of being a two circuit line. There has been no change in the route as far as Sullivan County is concerned. According to authorities, “Passage of the Marcy South Line through Sullivan County townships will be a windfall of sorts for the towns.”

Artist Kristian Kodet of Callicoon will be on hand at the Oxford Room in the Hotel Warwick for an exhibit and sale on  Wednesday, November 28.

Lyman and Diane Bauer of Mileses are the parents of a son, Norman Anthony, born November 13 at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. He weighed 10 lbs. 10 oz. and measures 21 inches long.

Special belt buckle awards were presented to archery hunter safety volunteer instructors Loren Rosencranse and Dennis Day at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County.

The New York State Board of Regents recently approved a proposal to establish a two-year nursing program at the Sullivan County Community College. The first class will be enrolled for the September semester.

Engaged: Donna Dailey, daughter of Mrs. Ruth Dailey (and the late George Dailey) of Lake Huntington to Douglas Ackermann, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Ackermann of Mueller Road, Cochecton... Susan Imlay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cummings of Jeffersonville, to Donald Lake Jr., son of Donald and Lois Lake of Narrowsburg.

Geraldine J. Vernon of Bethel and Frank A. Rasile of Staten Island were married at the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church on September 22... St. Peter’s R.C. Church in Monticello was the setting of the September 22 wedding of Peggy Suzanne Johnson of Monticello and Edward J. Benjet of Kings Parks... Dr. Susan G. Stuart of Liberty and Dr. Michael Arbige of Wakefield, R.I., were married September 29 at St. Peter’s R.C. Church in Liberty. They are both employed in California.

Betsy Johnson of Pond Eddy has been named the Midfield MVP during the Tar Heel’s triumphant win in the NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship. She is a student at North Carolina University.

30 Years Ago - 1994

Pat Gardner, 30-year children’s librarian at the Ethelbert Crawford Library in Monticello was presented a plaque to commemorate her devoted service.

About 35,000 cubic yards of material will be needed to fill in the washout on Route 97 between Barryville and Pond Eddy. Work is to be completed in December.

Joan Farrow has been named to replace Phil Tully as president of Community General Foundation, the foundation supporting Community General Hospital. Tully has been named an honorary trustee.

The Tusten Mission Baptist Church may get a new steeple as part of the restoration project now underway. The church, which is used once a year for a Memorial Day Service, is well preserved. Built in the 1840s, the main source of heat is a woodstove with a pipe running across the ceiling. The altar in the old church was placed there in 1864 by a John Potts of White Lake, perhaps in celebration of the end of the Civil War that had so divided the nation.

Deborah Minckler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Minckler of Long Eddy and Alan Arnold were married at the Acts 1:8 Church by Pastor Dennis Ubertini on October 1.  The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Aliberti, also of Long Eddy.

Billy Parker Jr. established a new track record for the most wins during a single season when he recorded 381 wins, one more than the mark that he set during the 1992 campaign, while also recording his 5,000 lifetime win.

Howard W. Travis, retired owner of Hall’s Jewelers in Liberty, died November 24, 1994, at the age of 73.

Harry Likel of Youngsville, the designer of the microwave transmission switch for Western Union, died at the age of 88 on November 23.

20 Years Ago - 2004

A Thanksgiving Day windstorm ripped through the Upper Delaware Valley, uprooting trees and causing 1,076 NYSEG customers to lose electric. The power outage started just before 3 p.m., and lasted until just after 7 p.m. Heavy winds knocked down trees in many locations in the Town of Delaware. Across the river in Damascus, Pa., Tom Kaufmann, a longtime Callicoon fireman, looked out the window at 9 a.m. and noticed whitecaps flowing upstream in the river. He looked out another window and trees were lying across three family vehicles. A shed was also missing.

Real property taxes in Sullivan County are set to climb approximately 4 percent, according to the 2005 preliminary county budget released yesterday.

The new face at the helm of the county’s Chamber of Commerce is a familiar one. The chamber’s board decided to stay in-county in choosing a successor for Jacquie Leventoff. Livingston Manor resident Jon Westergreen will assume the post next week.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Edward W. Waryha has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Thomas Waryha of Ferndale.

10 Years Ago - 2014

Forestburgh Supervisor Bill Sipos recently enjoyed a surprise 50th birthday party at Mr. Willy’s Restaurant in Monticello attended by nearly 75 family and friends. Bill thanked his family for their love and support through the years, especially his wife, MaryEllen.

Livingston Manor’s first annual “Hoops for Hunger” ladies basketball tournament kicked off the 2014-2015 basketball season last week with some pretty spicy competition among local teams from Livingston Manor, Liberty, Roscoe and Sullivan West. While the goal of the event was to raise food for needy families this holiday season, it also provided an early glimpse of the season ahead including some nail-biting competition for fans and players alike as Liberty and Sullivan West made their way to the championship game on Tuesday evening. In that title game, tournament MVP Karisa Yoli scored 18 points and eighth-grader Kelsey Morgans added nine points as Liberty outlasted Sullivan West 38-30. The Bulldogs led for much of the game behind the ball handling of Kelsey Grishaber and scoring of Ali Hemmer. But Liberty’s stamina and teamwork in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. Liberty (2-0) advanced to the final with an easy 33-11 victory over Roscoe.