130 Years Ago - 1893

A meeting of the people of Jeffersonville and vicinity will be held at the Mansion House, Jeffersonville, on Saturday evening, December 16, to take steps toward securing the construction of an electric trolley railroad way between Jeffersonville and Liberty. Prompt action, if at all, is necessary now, and the road will be built as soon as the frost is out of the ground, and in running order by June 1 next.

Maurice Borden has returned to his home at this place for the winter. He has been painting for the past summer in Liberty.

Mrs. Halliday, held in the Monticello jail on triple murder, was almost successful in an attempt to take her own life. She had broken a window in the rear of her cell and with the broken glass had attempted to cut her own throat. She had her throat fairly opened in the attempt when Sheriff John Beecher discovered her covered with blood. Dr.
Cauthers was called and dressed her wounds. The sheriff has securely handcuffed her to prevent her from further injuring herself.

W.H. Valleau, a native of Cochecton, for many years a resident of Decorah, Iowa, and one time its mayor, has recently been quite seriously injured in a railroad accident. Mr. Valleau is a brother of Mrs. C.T. Curtis of Callicoon Depot, and a brother-in-law of R.H. Wales of Kenoza Lake.

120 Years Ago - 1903

The heavy snowstorm on Wednesday, December 9th, did not in the least interfere with the happy event at Peter Dorrer’s Ridgewood House, North Branch, when Mr. and Mrs. Dorrer’s daughter, Lillian H., was married to Theodore Bauernfeind at 3 o’clock by Rev. Muery. Miss Carrie Kautz, a niece of the groom, was the bride’s maid of honor, and the bride’s brother, Otto Dorrer, was the best man. The arrival just before the ceremony of Capt. Louis Wendel of The Rough Riders of the First Battery National Guard of New York, was a pleasant surprise.

The toll gate on the turnpike at Maplewood was burned on Thursday night. The building caught fire about eight o’clock. It was occupied by Mrs. Hall, who is the gatekeeper.

Clarence, the 11-year-old son of George Kurtz, fell on some ice while playing at school Monday and cut a gash a couple inches long in his leg. Dr. Rice stitched up the wound.

Fred Justin of Beechwoods killed a year and half old hog which dressed 250 pounds.

Mrs. McGinnis Lawrence, whose husband was killed not long ago in falling from his wagon, received last week from Youngsville Tent of Maccabees a draft of $1,000 covering the life benefit which Mr. Lawrence carried in that order.

The stork left a baby daughter at the home of Supervisor and Mrs. Val Scheidell last Saturday.

110 Years Ago - 1913

Henry C. Merritt, former supervisor of Eastchester, is dead, according to the belief of his brothers-in-law, Charles Dusinberry and A.H. Seaman. They testified last week in Yonkers concerning Mr. Merritt’s bankruptcy, as the funds of Eastchester, $60,000, disappeared with the missing supervisor.

Schools will close tomorrow for two weeks over the holidays. Principal John M. Paris will go to his home in Amsterdam.

For Christmas: Ribbon Candy and mixed candy, 5 lbs. for 60¢; New mixed nuts, 18¢ lb., for sale at Anderson & Eickhoff, North Branch.

Miss Hazel Hessinger, who was employed at Martin Hermann’s at Callicoon, has gone to the city to take charge of Mr. Hermann’s office there.

C.G. Yager, Undertaker and Embalmer, Jeffersonville, N.Y. (Adv.)

Farmers, we can supply you with lime and fertilizer. B.L. Stoddard, Youngsville.

100 Years Ago - 1923

Lebuse Emr, the 11-year-old daughter of Thomas Emr, who was severely hurt last June, has returned home from the hospital. It will be recalled that the girl’s hair caught on a revolving shaft in her father’s button factory and the entire scalp was torn from her head. A wig now takes the place of her lost hair.

Casper Girard, aged 82, a resident of Callicoon Center, took his life by sending a .22 calibre rifle bullet to his head. Mr. Girard was born in Switzerland. He served in the military in his own country and later enlisted for two years in the Swiss Guards of the papal states. Fifty-two years ago he came to this country. Forty-six years ago he came to Callicoon Center and followed the trade of shoemaker.

Mrs. Lucy Wagner, a former resident, died of acute asthma at her home on North Main Street, Liberty. Mrs. Wagner was a daughter of Peter Gettel and Catherine Becker and was born on the Gettel farm between Youngsville and Livingston Manor.

Peter Fesser received a sentence of 20 years in state prison for the murder of Policeman Edward Dollard of Monticello.

90 Years Ago - 1933

Monticello Board of Education has made plans for a new school building to cost $327,000 and have a capacity of 700 pupils. Federal funds will be sought for the construction.

Martin Hermann, aged 78, prominent lumber merchant of Callicoon, died suddenly at his winter home at Miami, Fla., on December 12. Mr. Hermann was born in Beechwoods on August 31, 1855, a son of Martin Hermann and Catherine Haus, natives of Germany. In 1888 he started in the lumber business in Callicoon. In 1883 he was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Wizeman of Beechwoods.

White Sulphur Springs is planning a new school house. The project at White Sulphur Springs is promoted and pushed by a prominent farmer, Oscar Spielmann. At present White Sulphur Springs is a consolidated union free school but it is planned to organize it as a central rural school district.

County Judge George L. Cooke has voided a mortgage of $2,200 owned by Sarah E.S. Benton of Livingston Manor as usurious. He also ordered the foreclosure action dismissed.

Miss Mary Johnson of Livingston Manor has been engaged to fill the position of nurse in the Liberty School made vacant by the death of Miss Marion Brown.

80 Years Ago - 1943

William Kohler, Jeffersonville’s leading businessman, long a sufferer of diabetes, died in his 72nd year early last Thursday morning. He was a son of Melchior Kohler and Catherine Abplanalp, natives of Switzerland, who then lived in the village of Jeffersonville where the father was employed in the tannery. Later the family moved to the farm now owned by George Winkelstern and later moved to the Beechwoods farm known as the Weber farm in whose woods the famous Beechwoods picnics were held. In 1907 he erected a mill on the Holpp property which was the Henry Hick farm. Many of the fine homes in Jeffersonville and throughout Sullivan County were designed and built by Mr. Kohler. While not a registered architect, he had a talent for planning houses that were attractive and practical.

Louis P. Faubel, aged 81, passed away on December 7. Mr. Faubel was born in 1862 in the place now owned by Walter Neiger. In 1865, his father bought from Henry Thoefel, owner of the old Eagle Hotel. He ran a saloon and made cigars until 1911 when he sold the saloon to his brother and moved his tobacco and cigar business across the street. Mr. Faubel was town clerk for many years.

Sgt. Robert Flynn, recently placed in charge of the new state police post at Deposit, has been transferred to the Ferndale station.

Mrs. Hedwig Regina Westfall, widow of Anthony Westfall, old time residents at Shandelee, died in New York City where she was living with her daughter, Marie. In 1890, they came to Sand Pond and bought the farm of John C.C. Darling, the teller of tall tales, of Spencer Hardenburgh, who had acquired it on a mortgage.

Mrs. Caroline Enders, aged 72, the Hortonville resident who disappeared on December 5th, is still missing.

70 Years Ago - 1953

Melvin B. Kehrley, 46, foreman in the Breakstone Creamery, Youngsville, was stricken at his Briscoe home on Sunday and died on his way to the Liberty-Loomis Hospital.

In a ceremony arranged at the Benson Nursing Home on East Main Street, Jeffersonville, William T. Knell was presented with a pin marking fifty years of membership in the Masonic Lodge. Twenty members attended the ceremonies.

Several members of the local American legion and its Auxiliary attended a meeting in Monticello. Among those who went were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Layman, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Fimpel, Mrs. Mildred Sykes, Mrs. Christine Segar, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Tiemann, Erwin L. Baker, Frank Leonardo and Si Sattinger.

Jesse Brown, local farmer, was elected a director in the Sullivan County Farm Bureau at the meeting here last Thursday.

Father Cassian Kirk, president of St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, returned Saturday from a tour of Europe. He was accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Laura Kirk of Narrowsburg, and Mrs. E. Kelley. They visited France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, England, Ireland and the Holy Land.

Mrs. Cassie Lawrence, for many years a resident of Youngsville and then of Jeffersonville, will celebrate her 102nd birthday this week. She is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Linda Gaubelman of Bethpage, L.I.

Reports state that Sam Cohen is to be married on Saturday. The girl’s name is Arleen Caperalo. We haven’t much information but have been told that she is a teacher of physical education. That makes us suspect that it was a romance that developed at Cortland State Teacher’s College, where both were students.

DeDay Blume, building contractor of Livingston Manor, cut his hand severely and was taken to the Liberty-Loomis Hospital.

60 Years Ago - 1963

James W. Burbank, a trustee, and Paul Dominat, an artist from Callicoon, have designed the official seal for the Sullivan County Community College in a joint effort. On the physical outline of the county are the symbols of a gear (representing industry), an atom (representing the sciences), a book (representing the arts and letters), and an acorn (representing the seed of growth, youth and promise. The year the college was established, 1962, is on the book. The prize of $25 U.S. Saving Bond has been donated by the two winners to the college scholarship fund.

A car, driven by Mrs. Norma K. Hunter of North Branch, was completely demolished when it struck a run-a-way pony and horse Monday morning. Mrs. Hunter, a nurse’s aide at Liberty Maimonides Hospital, had her hand pinned to the wheel when the roof of the car was crushed down by the weight of the horses, which were thrown on top of the car.

The new wing of St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon was dedicated on Thursday, December 12th, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The new wing is a three-story edifice. The first level contains garages, students’ recreation rooms, and storage space; the second, students’ dining facilities; and the third a chapel and library for the use of the Franciscan priests and brothers at the Seminary.

A dinner at the Pine Grove Restaurant of Youngsville for family and godparents of Lynn Pearl, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Kautz, was held on Sunday, December 8th. Godparents are Mrs. Anthony Ingerto of North Caldwell, N.J., and Mr. Peter Benedict of Brooklyn and Callicoon Center.

Thomas W. Reynolds was elected Master at the elections of the Callicoon Lodge F.&A.M., held in Jeffersonville. Also elected were Warren W. Hess, Senior Warden; Joseph Abel, Junior Warden; Harry Williams, Secretary; and Worthy Cameron Gain, Treasurer. The Right Worthy Fred Miller was elected trustee for a term of three years.

50 Years Ago - 1973

Carol Rosenberger, president of the Delaware Youth Center, received a check from  Joe Freda, president of the Callicoon Kiwanis Club, in the amount of $700 to be used toward renovation of the skating rink, representing about one-third of the cost.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cox of White Sulphur Springs were guests of honor at a surprise party in celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary.

On December 16, David Fisk will be competing in the Divisional Championships in Atlanta, Ga. If he survives this bout it will be on to the Super Bowl at Houston, Tex., on January 13.

Richard P. Bihler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bihler of Kenoza Lake, was recently promoted to the grade of Major with the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Mrs. Edwin Forsblom of Hankins is spending some time in France, having gone there to attend the wedding of their daughter, Theresa.

Sullivan County Farm Bureau President John L. Ebert and his wife, Lorraine, attended the annual meeting of the N.Y.S. Farm Bureau at the Granit Hotel in Kerhonkson, together with Ed Ferber of Callicoon, a member of the State Resolutions Committee.

40 Years Ago - 1983

The Woodridge Village Board Monday night announced that its almost completed Neversink River sewage treatment facility would begin preliminary operations Tuesday morning. According to Superintendent of Water and Sewage Irv Newmark, the new facility will begin to treat sewage in one or two lagoons at its new plant located southeast of the village.

The State Farm Bureau has gone on record against the construction of the proposed New York Power Authority power line and legalization of any new forms of gambling except horse race simulcasts. Bureau delegates took the actions at the statewide convention at Kutsher’s Country Club Wednesday.

The Ms. Senior America Pageant will be held at Brown’s Hotel in Loch Sheldrake on May 16-18. Participants will be 60 years of age and older.

Shawn Fuchs, son of Ron and Carol Fuchs, attained Eagle Scout status in ceremonies held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg. He is a member of Lake Huntington Scout Troop  #934.

Jodi Makela of Hankins and Keith Peters of North Branch were married at the Hankins Assembly of God Church on September 17. 

State Police are investigating a recent incident at  Temple Beth Sinai in Kauneonga Lake in which Rabbi J. Samuel Fishbain returned home with his family to find the synagogue vandalized with many religious items, including the pulpit, knocked down and damaged. A reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest or conviction of any person(s) involved.

30 Years Ago - 1993

A capacity crowd attended the reception in the Paul Grossinger Dining Room at the Sullivan County Community College, prior to a presentation by former Beirut hostage and current state political reform activist Terry Anderson. He lives in Yonkers with his family. On December 4, 1991, Anderson was finally freed from seven years of captivity, the longest of any Western hostage in Lebanon.

Friends were invited to attend a 90th birthday party for Mildred Fisher on December 11 at the Hortonville Firehouse.

The Community Bank of Sullivan County had its grand opening on December 13. It is the first new local bank in 80 years in Sullivan County. Bank officials said a 24-hour automated teller system is planned and a system which scans signatures for verification is already in place. As each customer comes on line, the bank will maintain a complete, confidential computer file of each account. George Dunkel is president.

The annual Billy Moran Memorial Tournament was held December 13 and 14 at the Delaware Valley Central School gym. The tournament is a fundraiser to benefit a DVCS senior athlete.

A 10-point buck with a 74 3/4” rack was taken by Paul Gardner of Glen Spey and now puts him in the lead for first place in the Democrat’s Big Buck Contest.

Jennie Shaver of Lew Beach won the grand prize in the Roscoe-Rockland Chamber Raffle She wins a new Chrysler from Grieco Motors, a new GM from Kirchner Chevrolet, a Chalet shell house built by Roscoe Lumber Yard, all valued at $15,000 or $12,000 in cash.

Andrea Bailey won the BOCES spelling bee for 4th and 5th grades. She attends Eldred Central School. Second place went to Marissa Peluso of Monticello and third place was won by Jessica Matting of Tri-Valley Central School.

Jamie Meyer was named MVP after leading Narrowsburg to a victory in the Lady Wildcat Tourney. It was the Indians’ second straight Wildcat tourney win.

20 Years Ago - 2003

According to Sullivan County Public Health Nursing Director Carol Ryan, 18 people alone were diagnosed as suffering from influenza this weekend in the Emergency Room at Catskill Regional Medical Center. Included were a 3-month-old baby, a 6-month-old, a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old. 

Mildred Fisher, residing at Roscoe Community Nursing Home, will be celebrating her 100th birthday on December 22, 2003.

Monticello School District parents want to know why their children are not being picked up at their homes any longer. They feel the new bus pickups are a safety hazard. Children as young as eight must walk up to a mile back and forth to the new stops in conditions deemed unsafe by parents and bus drivers alike.

Members of Sullivan County Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society arrived at the Sullivan County SPCA Friday afternoon to donate bags of supplies for the dogs and cats being housed there. Manager of the non-profit shelter, Tammy Fis, said, “This really takes the financial strain off... we’re majorly financially strapped.”

Unlicensed, unregistered, and uninsured vehicles have been pulled over at a noticeably increasing rate over the last three years in Sullivan County. Sheriff Dan Hogue attributes the rise in uninsured automobiles to skyrocketing insurance premiums.

A total of eight area scholastic basketball teams took to the court on Saturday at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse in the annual Sullivan County Community College High School Holiday Tip-Off Tournament. The consolation and championship games in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions were supposed to be played yesterday but the storm that blanketed the county with several inches of snow forced the games to be postponed until this coming weekend.

10 Years Ago - 2013

Cub Scout Pack No. 87 in Grahamsville paid a visit to the Sullivan County Democrat office in Callicoon last week to get a tour of the building which has housed the Democrat offices for many decades. They learned about the operations of the office and the production and editorial departments. They looked at a page from a bound volume dating back to 1907 and were told how production has changed over the decades – examining remnants from when type was set in lead and also the era of wax and paste-up. Attending were William Rodrigues, Carsen Terwilliger, Noah Jucha, Nicholas Jucha and Justin Garlinghouse, with Webelos Assistant Den Leader Teddy Jucha, Webelos Den Leader Cassandra Jucha, and parents Sue and Mike Garlinghouse.

“Jeff-Net” recently went online, providing free wireless internet access along Main Street, in Jeffersonville. Wi-Fi capable smart phones, tablets and similar devices began to see an available access signal, named “Jeff-Net.” Over 200 devices connected to the internet over “Jeff-Net” during the annual holiday parade. “Jeff-Net” is a joint venture of TheTelescopicInvestor, Inc., the Jeffersonville-based investment advisory firm, and the Jeff-Nook, the computer repair and tech center located on Main Street.  “Jeff-Net” provides free internet access, as a community service.