110 Years Ago - 1912

William Gorton of Hancock was accidentally drowned in Pea Brook at Long Eddy sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, having walked off the road near the Chemical Co.’s works. Falling into the shallow water face downward, he was unable to help himself and drowned. Eleven people have been drowned in the lakes and ponds of Sullivan County during the present year.

Foreman John Traynor of Delaware Hose No. 2 has received a new combination spraying nozzle for use on their cart, and it is a big improvement over the old style nozzles which have been used, more especially when used inside a building.

J.H. Woodman, who last summer purchased th grist mill of Fred Freyberger at Hortonville, has been making a great many improvements to the property, practically rebuilding the mill, putting in a new dam and also a new sluiceway.

It is rumored around Capital Hill that the undersheriff will be Howard Beecher of Monticello and the deputy sheriff will be Richard Hall of Narrowsburg.

A certificate of incorporation has been signed for the establishment and maintenance of a home and a county sanatorium for worthy, aged and sick members in good standing of Monticello lodges, to be built at Monticello.

The marriage of Miss Edna Bauernfeind of the Beechwoods and William Eller occurred at the home of the bride’s parents yesterday at noon.

Work on the drilling of the oil well near Honesdale is progressing favorably and a depth of over 1,500 feet has been reached. This is within about 400 feet of where the bit was lost in the other well.

Clarence Roth of White Sulphur Springs will hold a New Year’s Ball in his casino on the evening of January 1.

100 Years Ago - 1922

W.J. Skinner was overcome by gas from the stove Monday night during his sleep and did not wake until nearly 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Unable to move, he thought he must have had a paralytic stroke. Because Mr. Skinner lives some distance from the road, no one knew of his critical predicament. He collapsed again and did not revive until Wednesday morning. With great difficulty, he crawled out of the house and by great effort summoned Dick Dexter who was passing from the creamery. At present he is recovering under a doctor’s care. — Milanville Corresp.

Eight years ago, Frank Stabbert of Obernburg concluded it would take a long time to make a million dollars as a dairy farmer and began to concentrate his efforts upon poultry. He now has 535 single comb White Leghorns of his own breeding and as of the end of December has harvested 10,386 eggs for a average of 335 a day. He gives good care to his poultry and in the winter time uses artificial light to keep his flock in the pink.

Dr. and Mrs. Wm. W. Appley very quietly celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home. Friends and relatives came to wish them happiness and a prosperous New Year. — Cochecton Corresp.

Wednesday, the state granted a charter to the Clarke Water and Power Co. in Jeffersonville. The capital stock is $30,000 consisting of 1,000 shares of preferred stock, $100 a share, and 1,000 shares of common stock, having no par value. The directors, J.C. Gain, Conrad Metzger and Samuel Shapiro, have each taken 55 shares.

90 Years Ago - 1932

No positive identification has been made of the abandoned car found near Summitville last week.

Mrs. Nellie Stabbert has been elected as matron of St. Tammany Chapter OES for the coming year.

Paul M. Hartig and Ruby C. Ebert of Livingston Manor were married on Christmas Day at the Callicoon Center parsonage by Rev. John E. Straub.

The Wendell Ormston family will return to Monticello next month. Mr. Ormston has been engaged at Kingston in telephone work and will take the place of Arnold Horning who is to be transferred to Monticello.

Helen J. Raichle of Bergenfield, N.J., became the bride of George E. Nober of Lake huntington on Thanksgiving Day.

Dr. Jackson H. Becker, 65, native of Jeffersonville, died December 22, in Newark.

William Jr., 2-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Dirie of Beechwoods was seriously injured when he stepped into a pail containing scalding water on December 24. Mrs. Dirie was engaged in plucking the Christmas goose when the mishap occurred. Dr. Mills was summoned and the child is recovering rapidly.

Leakage of water from the Youngsville water plant was reported by Nial Sherwood, Liberty engineer, who conducted an examination recently. The water loss daily is estimated at 42,000 gallons, not counting the loss in the reservoir.

Jesse L. Walthart, a former principal of the Callicoon High School 1906-1914, died in Ovid, December 10.

Arthur C. Kyle Jr. and his associate, Frank Anderson, two young Monticello law students, have purchased the Wurtsboro World from Harry Northrup, Wurtsboro postmaster, who started the paper several years ago.

80 Years Ago - 1942

Following the ringing of Christmas bells, it will be wedding bells in the near future for the following newly engaged couples: Mrs. Cora Mercer of Deposit announces the engagement of her daughter, Leola, to William Fink, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fran Fink of Hortonville… Mr. and Mrs. John Bossert of Cochecton announce the engagement of their daughter, Barbara, to Louis Komencheck of Bethel… on Christmas Day, Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Milligan announced the engagement of their daughter, Jeanette, to Frank Jirinec Jr. of Bellerose, L.I.

The second bi-weekly meeting of the Delaware Defense Council was held Sunday afternoon with rec­om­mendation from the council that the names of Paul Schwartz, Jeffersonville, Raymond C. Tate of Hortonville, and William H. Nudorf of Callicoon be forward for appointment to the tire rationing board.

Edith Gottschalk of Hankins was elected matron of St. Tammany Chapter, OES, at the annual meeting held last Friday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bischoff have announced the engagement of their daughter, Anna, to Frederick Langhorst. — Lake Huntington Corresp.

Work started last week at Walton on construction of a one-story manufacturing plant building for Breakstone Bros., Inc., whose plant burned to the ground October 27. From 100 to 150 persons are expected to be employed.

George Snow, 59, retired chief electrician in the U.S. Navy, died suddenly of a heart attack Sunday night. He is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Wehner; a daughter, Martha McGrath; two grandchildren; and three sisters.

John Eschenberg, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, arrived home Tuesday for a furlough at the home of his parents.

Mrs. Austin Gorton suffered a severe burn on her left foot and leg when a kettle of hot water accidentally spilled on her Monday morning. She is at home in Long Eddy, being attended by Dr. Mills.

70 Years Ago - 1952

Vernon, son of Mr. and Mrs. August Wahl of Callicoon, was one of the Young Cooperators to receive the American Agriculturist Achievement Award for outstanding leadership at the thirty-second annual Dairymen’s League meeting October 10 in Syracuse. Vernon organized a Young Cooperator group in Callicoon, and is now president of it.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Reeves of Narrowsburg are the parents of a son born Friday at the Callicoon Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Milton Stranahan of Narrowsburg are the parents of a daughter born Tuesday morning at the same hospital.

Abie Jacobs and Leon Greenberg, Mountaindale firemen overcome with carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust of firetrucks at the $50,000 Avon Lodge annex fire near Woodridge Wednesday night, were discharged from the Monticello Hospital. The fire ruined the 26-room building.

Mr. and Mrs. August H. Knack of Callicoon have announced the engagement of their daughter, Edith Geraldine, to James Brown of Mileses.

Fire, following an explosion, completely destroyed the new sawmill owned by Douglas McGraw and located about three miles southeast of Hancock on Route 97. Loss is partly covered by insurance and is estimated to be about $12,000. Mr. McGraw’s bro­ther, Clarence, attempted to start a diesel motor and apparently a short circuit caused it to explode.

60 Years Ago - 1962

A judicial robe of silk will be presented to Supreme Court Justice Lawrence H. Cooke at the opening of the January term Wednesday at Monticello. As is customary, another Supreme Court Justice will be there to greet the new justice and this is expected to be Justice William Deckelman of Jeffersonville. The county’s other member of the Third Judicial District bench.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sadenwater of Callicoon have announced the engagement of their daughter, Gail, to Thomas H. Jubar of Oneonta. A wedding date has not been set.

The engagement of Barbara Ann Salck, from Passaic, N.J., to Robert Hartmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hartmann of Cochecton was announced Christmas Eve. A spring wedding is planned.

The Christmas decoration contest in Roscoe was won by John Porter, 1st; 2nd place to Herbert Will; 3rd to Francis Tempel; 4th to Jan Amback; and honorable mention to Donald Albee, James Cain, Dan Foote, Arthur Geiselmann, Lavern Knickerbocker, John Mealie, Clifford Poley, Thomas Weeks, Harry Wood Jr. and Shirley Wood.

Attorney Jacob J. Epstein of Jeffersonville has been formally admitted to practice in the federal bar, U.S. District Court, Northern District.

Christmas bundles at the Callicoon Hospital: a son, Thursday, to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Hess of Callicoon; a son Christmas Day to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Hughs, Long Eddy; a son, Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hubbert, Jeffersonville; a son, Wednesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meola of Callicoon Center.

George “Doc” Abraham, whose Green Thumb column appears in the Democrat and nearly 80 other papers, has just written a 344-page garden book, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc.

50 years ago - 1972

The fifth graduation for the Sullivan County Program of Practical Nurses will be held January 7 at the Middle School, Monticello. Twenty-three students have been approved after they received acceptable grades in both classroom and hospital experience tests.

Robert E. Denman, the second highest ranking State Police officer, will return to private life with his retirement December 31. He and his wife, the former Helen Miner of Livingston Manor, are natives of Sullivan County. He was born in Livingston Manor.

Joseph E. Winkler, Town of Fremont supervisor, suffered a broken hip at his home on Christmas Day.

The main building of the Columbia Hotel in Hurleyville, for almost a century a county landmark and shuttered for the last three years, was totally destroyed on Christmas Eve in a spectacular fire, visible for miles.

Mrs. Edward B. Luther was guest of honor on the occasion of her 90th birthday, at a small party for a few friends at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Johanna Flaherty. Her husband will be 91 in January.

40 Years Ago - 1982

JNV Associates of Liberty, architects, have drawn plans for the restoration of the exterior of the Old Arlington Hotel in Narrowsburg, now owned by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. The DVAA recently received an $11,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts and it is their goal to return the 19th century frame structure very close to its original appearance.

Lillie Weiss of White Lake recently enjoyed the sights in Hawaii where she was guest of Avon Products for being their top sales achiever out of 850 salesmen.

Debbie (VanDeLinde) and Walter Yanacek of Abrahamsville, Pa., are the proud parents of a son, Walter John, born December 18.

A local group is seeking to purchase the Monteco East Mall and to turn the vacant mall into a site for light industry. The mall opened in 1971 and closed in 1976.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Ross of Long Eddy announce the birth of a daughter, Emmylou, on Friday, December 18. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Neer of Long Eddy are the proud maternal grandparents and Mrs. Emma Staesser of Long Eddy is the great-grandmother. The baby has two sisters, Jessica and Casey, at home.

30 Years Ago - 1992

Newly elected County Clerk George L. Cooke recently announced that he will retain the two Republican deputy clerks when he takes office on January 1 rather than replace them with Democrats.

Luminaries accounted for 2,160 points of roadside light as one drove from Hankins to Mileses and on to Fremont Center on Christmas Eve. The annual custom  was begun ten years ago through the efforts of Charles and Jill Pinder who place 12 paper bags, with lighted candles inside, in front of their home. Donald Cooper asked if he could copy the idea and it was he who thought of using plastic milk jugs with a flap cut in the side to hold the candles. The project has been adopted by the neighbors and continues to grow each year.

About 30 people attended the Christmas Day turkey dinner at St. George’s R.C. Church in Jeffersonville. Tom Clifford was the cook in charge.

The engagement of Kristie Bartolotta to Scott Stauch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Stauch of Callicoon, has been announced by her parents, Mrs. Judith McCauley and Richard Bartolotta. A May 1993 wedding is planned.

Yvonne and Bob Rowan of Roscoe won the 1992 Chevy Blazer at the annual Rockland Chamber of Commerce raffle, held December 15 at the Rockland House.

The Reserve Senior Champion Heifer at the 1991 Eastern National Livestock Show was “Dunwalke Trans 91Y” owned and exhibited by Andersen’s Maple Farm of Long Eddy.

Louie Jodos of Pine Island, hunting in the local woods, brought down one of the biggest racks in the Democrat’s Big Buck Contest for 1991. It measured 70 1/2 inches and weighed 178 pounds, second to a 10-pointer that measured 71 3/4 inches and taken by Dave Barth of Livingston Manor. Although a bigger rack, the deer only weighed 121 pounds.

20 Years Ago - 2002

Noemi Agosto and Jason Watkins of Monticello are proud parents of the first baby born in 2002 in Sullivan County, a son named Marcus Watkins. The couple also have a daughter, Bianca, aged 2 1/2 years.

Jennifer Barkley and Brian Walrath were united in marriage on September 15, 2001, at the Cobleskill United Methodist Church. The Rev. James Bowen officiated at the ceremony.

Karen E. Connors, daughter of Brian and Mary Ellen Connors of Jeffersonville, and David A. Hook, son of Frank Hook of Roanoke, W. Va., and Linda Goetz of Woodbourne, were united in marriage on September 29, 2001, at the Eldred Preserve in Eldred.

Seymour “Sy” Cohen, MD, 80, of Monticello, a retired physician, died Saturday, December 29, 2001 at his home. He graduated in 1937 at the age of 15 as valedictorian of South Fallsburg School, and entered Cornell University at the age of 16 on a scholarship, one of the college’s youngest ever freshmen.

10 Years Ago - 2012

Monticello native Roland Paramore could tell you what President Barack Obama likes for a snack aboard Air Force One, or what President George W. Bush preferred for a pillow on overnight trips, or who President Bill Clinton invited to join him for dinner en route to a foreign country. He could… but even after retiring this year as an Air Force flight attendant, he’s a professional to the core. And that obligates him to preserve what little privacy presidents of the United States of America still possess. Senior Master Sergeant Paramore is headed to the White House this month—likely to be working closely once again with the nation’s 44th president. During his 27-year military career, having reached top-level proficiency as a supply support specialist and respect as a decorated officer, though, he had his choice of assignments stateside, and he chose to apply for duty as a flight attendant (or as the Air Force calls it, an “in-flight passenger service specialist”). That March, he earned assignment to the 99th Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington, DC—including stints on Air Force One serving President Clinton and his family. His service aboard the president’s plane turned permanent in April 2001, and over the next decade, Paramore rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the superintendent of the presidential flight attendants and President Obama’s chief attendant.

The final 2011 meeting of the Town of Cochecton Board was an occasion to do some fiscal housekeeping and plan the agenda for the upcoming reorganization meeting. It also gave the board an opportunity to thank two men whose contributions to the town were recognized. Jerold “Jerry” Yavorkovsky of the Youth Commission announced his retirement and received a plaque from Supervisor Gary Maas. Highway Superintendent Brian DuBois, who was defeated for reelection last November, received a clock from Maas in recognition of his 12 years as department chief.

Monticello Casino and Raceway Director of Human Resources, Eileen Cavanaugh is photographed with Toys for Tots Marine Corps League member Linda Kinney as she handed off the donated toys gathered by the casino for the program, with which it has long involvement. The mission of the program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. Once again the employees and guests of Monticello Casino & Raceway have been reaching into their pockets to donate money, or new unwrapped toys, to the Toys for Tots Foundation.