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Down the Decades

February 23, 2021 Edition

Compiled by Lee Hermann, Muse, & Ruth Huggler
Posted 2/23/21

140 years ago - 1881

Short time ago eggs sold in this place for thirty-five cents a dozen.

Senator Madden has introduced a bill to divide this county into two school districts. The Callicoon …

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Down the Decades

February 23, 2021 Edition

Posted

140 years ago - 1881

Short time ago eggs sold in this place for thirty-five cents a dozen.

Senator Madden has introduced a bill to divide this county into two school districts. The Callicoon Depot stage did not attempt the return trip from the place last Saturday, owing to the wretching conditions of the road. As a result, Saturday's mail did not make its appearance here until nearly noon on Sunday.

Bethel dogs have taken to killing sheep. A little hot lead, if properly administered, would cure the dogs and save some mutton.

The people of Fosterdale are talking of building a church this summer. Such an institution should be just the thing for them as they are a church going people.

The roof of the Liberty House horse shed gave way this week from the pressure of snow on it. It fell upon and demolished a wagon.

The farmers in this section are much interested in the question: “How to preserve our forest?” and at the same time are cutting them down as rapidly as possible, drawing the wood to Hortonville and selling it for $2.50 a cord.

130 years ago - 1891

Sleighing during the week was as fine as at any time this winter.

John Huff of East Hill lost a horse one night last week. The animal became tangled with its halter and strangled to death.

Jacob Steinhower and Casper Girard of Callicoon are making preparations to build large additions to their house, preparatory to the opening of the boarding season.

A deer was found frozen in the ice of the Delaware, opposite Mongaup one day last week. It had probably attempted to cross the river during the break up in January and became entangled in the floating ice.

There will be a Grand Masquerade Ball at the Mansion House all on Friday evening, February 27. Music by the famous Jeffersonville orchestra. All are invited.

White Caps have notified a Hardenburg young man that if he does not treat his parents better, he will have a visit from them and that he can not expect any mercy.

Casper Stumpf of Fosterdale was in town the other day, selling cigars.

On February 2nd at their home in Brooklyn, the wedding of John Holpp, formerly of Long Pond, and Miss Katie Briner, was celebrated.

Livingston Manor — George L. Atkins has opened a boot and shoe shop in the basement of J.G. Stephenson's hardware store... Ben Frey has opened a meat market at this place ... The L.M. Mfg. Co. have a large gang of men at work, getting out hard maple roller blocks... Sleighing is getting very thin in many places hereabouts.

Buck Brook William Huff and P.T. Mauer, who have been drawing logs for Walter Peak at Peaksville, returned home last week. Mr. N. sold his team while there... Phil Huff has more logs at his mill than he had at any time in ten years. It is mostly custom work. Phil shipped a carload of hardwood lumber last week... Wednesday, February 11, was a great day for the school children from this place (Jeffersonville), Petersburg and North Branch. The three schools, headed by the North Branch Corner Band, went to Callicoon Depot. The procession numbered 14 teams, mostly two horse rigs. They all had a good time.

Kenoza Lake — Mr. T. Moulthrop, who has been very sick, is improving... Our debating society is thriving. It consists of twelve members and Lila Tetley is president... Helen Gedney is around again, after a bout with the grippe.

120 years ago - 1901

Lee Lyon died in the Town of Bethel, aged 90 years. His father passed his long life in that town. At the time of his death, he was the oldest man in that section and the oldest member of the M.E. Church at Hurd.

Newell Marsh, a lifelong resident of Callicoon Depot, died of congestion of the lungs, after an illness of one week, on February 12, aged 68 years. Squire Marsh was born in Callicoon Depot. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of the Hammond Post G.A.R. of Centerville Station.

Michael Huebsch, an old settler of Beechwoods, died of dropsy, February 15, aged 81 years. He was buried in the Beechwoods on Monday with Rev. S. Muery officiating at the funeral. Born in Germany, Mr. Huebsch came to America when a young man and reared a large family. His wife and ten children survive.

Burns & Hammond of Monticello have rented a part of the Dunbar store to James Kelly of Waterloo, N.Y., who expects to open a confectionary store there shortly. John Walker of Middletown has rented the other half of the store to open a retail cigar and tobacco store.

Mrs. J.D. Osterhout recently sold her farm of 50 acres at Woodbourne to Irving Misner for $1000.

Michael Casey and Daniel Bosch of Eldred have enlisted in the regular Army.

The Stevensville grist mill has been compelled to shut down for lack of water.

The well-known hostelry, the Jeffersonville House in the village, is advertised for sale by the proprietress, Mrs. C. Grouten. It is the largest hotel building in the area, 31 x 64, 3 full stories, with a two story kitchen, 22 x 22 feet. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Grouten has been compelled to place the barroom and stables under outside management. This has not been satisfactory. If she can sell the place, she will remove to the city to live with her daughters, Misses Emma and Minnie.

A son was born to George A. Wood and wife of Briscoe on February 14 and to W.H. Lixfield and wife of Jeffersonville on February 16.

The Liberty Herald, published by Martin J. Weyrauch, formerly of Jeffersonville, made its first appearance on February 14.

Contractor Will Kohler is having the lumber hauled from Callicoon Depot for J.G. Tonissen's new house on the Moore place.

Lent began yesterday, Ash Wednesday. Good Friday is on April 5 and Easter Sunday is April 7.

110 years ago - 1911

Tessie, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Margaret Smith of Youngsville, was married February 11 to Henry Huber of New York.

Miss Emma L. Luchs of Jeffersonville and Henry Miller of Hammondsport, N.Y., were quietly married January 31 by Rev. Fred H. Bosh of the German Lutheran Church in New York.

Miss Hattie Wagner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Wagner of Jeffersonville, was married on January 4 to Amos Hamilton of Willowemoc, who is an employee of the Liberty House livery.

On Thursday night, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hubert Jr. and on Monday, a daughter was born to Postmaster and Mrs. Conrad Metzger. On Tuesday, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Soule.

About $10,000 has been subscribed to the building of a new hotel in Monticello through the efforts of the Businessmen's Association.

The new chapel and hall of the Roscoe Presbyterian Church, just completed, was dedicated on February 12, with services both morning and afternoon.

The Republican Lincoln Dinner on Monday night at Liberty was attended by 160. Editor Hones of Roscoe was toastmaster.

Among the recent real estate transfers is one from Christina Baum to Wm. H. Lixfield for $2800 on property in Jeffersonville.

The first good fall of snow this winter came Tuesday, when nearly a foot came down.

Peter Mootz and C.O. Segar bought 3 acres of hardwood from Fred Hubert's land, which they are cutting down and hauling home for fuel.

Mrs. Val Scheidell went to the city Thursday to attend the burial of Frank Scheidell, returning home Saturday.

The Jeffersonville firemen intend to hold a dance at the Mansion House on March 17.

Franklin A. Neuberger, who is teaching the North Branch school, brought his pupils, three loads, over here (Jeffersonville) for a sleigh ride Friday afternoon and en­ter­tained them for an hour or so in Union Chapel.

100 Years Ago - 1921

Fred H. Duttweiler of Jeffersonville received word yesterday that he had been awarded the contract for carrying the mail on the Jeffersonville-Liberty route for a four-year term, beginning July 1. His bid was $1525. The contract calls for a daily round trip between the two places and an extra daily round trip between Liberty and Youngsville.

There is an epidemic of measles around Lake Huntington.

While Charles Robisch of the Beechwoods was helping unload logs at the Kohler mill the other day, he got his left hand crushed between logs. A spike entered his hand and one of the bones was splintered.

Two new cases of scarlet fever are reported at Cochecton Center. One case was reported in Youngsville two weeks ago.

Lewis DuBois, native of Stevensville, aged 27, was mortally injured last Monday when he stepped in front of a locomotive on the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Bayonne. He was a railroad employee. He was born on a farm near Stevensville and was married about 14 years ago to Miss Ella VanKeuren of White Lake.

Farmers continue hauling logs to the Kohler mill yard, which is getting pretty congested. Many of these logs were cut last winter, but the snow was so deep that the farmers could not get them out of the woods. The greater part of the timber from these logs will be hauled home by the farmers for building purposes.

Joseph Layman and wife, Louis Mall and wife and three little Malls, Phil and Clara Dorrer, Rudy Goldberg and Joseph Horn, attended the housewarming at Louis Layman's at Kenoza Lake last Sunday afternoon. Harry Layman served the ice cream and cake.

Albert Hauser of Cochecton Center and Kathleen Brucher of Bethel are new high school students in Jeffersonville. This makes 12 new academic students who have entered the Jeffersonville school during the last half of the term and has made it necessary to start new classes to accommodate them.

Wm. Ritterhausen of Youngsville is attending the Farmer's Week in Cornell, where his son, August, is a student.

Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Lindsley of White Sulphur Springs attended the Lincoln Dinner at Monticello Saturday evening.

Callicoon Center — Mailcarrier Wesley Dorrer's car and Will Latham's horse rig had a collision while the former was returning from Callicoon. The horse sustained a broken leg.

90 Years Ago - 1931

The new state prison which Sullivan was in hopes of getting will be located near Gardiner in Ulster County, on the Walkill River, where 100 acres will be used to care for the less desperate convicts of New York City and vicinity.

Henry Kraft, whose lumber mills and yard at Hancock were burned on February 7, will rebuild on the old site as soon as possible, and is now clearing away the ruins. He has 80 percent coverage on an estimated loss of $33,000. Mr. Kraft went to Hancock from Callicoon Center in 1910 and engaged in carpenter work and as a draughtsman. He made rapid progress in building and contracting, and in 1926 erected the mill. One of the buildings he erected in Hancock is the new Methodist Church, one of the finest and most modern church edifices in this part of the state.

Irving Markowsky of Jeffersonville, head of the Sullivan County Haulage Co., has handed a slap to Old Man Depression by making an important real estate deal this week. He has purchased the George Wind property on South Main St., paying about $4,500 for it. He will erect a fireproof warehouse and garage on the foundation, already built to store his trucks and the fruit and vegetables he wholesales in the summer months.

With eggs selling as low as 18 and 20 cents a dozen, chicken farming is not at present a very profitable business. Some farmers, who have quite a number of chickens are losing a dollar a day on their fowls.

Ernest Fimpel Jr. and Mike Bollinger of Brooklyn were here for the weekend and they were weak when they got in Saturday night, after being ditched twice in the snow banks between Liberty and Jeffersonville, and having to be hauled out both times.

Mrs. John Deckelman, son Francis and daughters, Theresa and Hilda of Obernburg, are stopping here with the former's son, Attorney Wm. Deckelman, for a while.

80 Years Ago - 1941

The first supper in the new American Legion home by the Auxiliary last Thursday evening was a big success. Over 100 were served goulash, noodles and other good things. Mrs. Mildred Sykes of North Branch was in charge. The waitresses were Mrs. Freda Hawerkamp of North Branch and Mrs. Blanche Hauschild and Mrs. Helen Lieb of Jeffersonville. The president of the auxiliary, Mrs. Winifred Joyner of White Sulphur Springs, was unable to attend because of illness.

Clifton Mathern of Jeffersonville was one of nine who left Monticello on Tuesday for a one year period of military training. On February 26, Liberty will send 15 more. Among them will be Burton Ralph Lindsley of White Sulphur Springs and Ernest George Schaefer of Livingston Manor.

Sixty-six schoolmen and guests attended the mid-winter meeting of the Sullivan County Schoolmasters Council at the Lenape Hotel, Liberty, Monday night. Principal E.L. Baker of Jeffersonville, presided as president.

Paul Markert, 67, died of a heart ailment February 18, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Carl Eltz, on Swiss Hill, where he and Mrs. Markert have made their home the past two years. He was born in Germany in 1873 and came to this country at the age of 18. In New York, he married Katie Heck, also of Germany, and on retirement from a shoe factory two years ago, the couple came to Jeffersonville to live.

Jane, wife of Forest Ranger William Morrisey of Beaver­kill, died at her home on January 30 after a long illness. She was the former Jane Johnston of Livingston Man­or, a school teacher and a nurse.

70 Years Ago - 1951

Oscar Schaefer suffered a fractured skull on Saturday afternoon when the top of a tree which he was sawing broke and hit him in the head. The accident took place around 3:30 p.m., where he and his brothers, George, Clarence and Henry, and Bob Mann and Len and Jack Gohde were cutting logs in the Star Ridge woods near Narrowsburg. He was taken to the Callicoon Hospital where he is improving.

Edna Woodworth, English teacher in the Jeff School, entertained the following at dinner Saturday night: Carl and Norma Fredd, Herbert Hassis, Ed Schlott, Eugene Doetsch and Marlene Scardefield.

Dr. Archibald Freer, who has been veterinarian in Jeff for the past number of years, has sold his practice, his home and his equipment to Dr. Isidore Yasgur of Bethel. Dr. Yasgur has already taken over the practice.

The Sullivan County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs met at the Lenape in Liberty last evening to decide whether or not Sullivan is to have a doe season. The resultant vote was 8 to 8 and no further action was possible at the meeting. The Conservation Department is strongly in favor of such a doe season.

One of the county's landmarks, the Armstrong General Store in Long Eddy, built more than 100 years ago, was destroyed by fire on Sunday. The store was originally owned by C.C. Armstrong, present owner of the building. The building was leased to Burns and Sandomenico, who were operating the store at the time of the fire, the origin of which is undetermined at this time.

60 years ago - 1961

Rita P. Rasmussen of Beechwoods, Callicoon, a student at the Delaware Valley Central School, won a Regent's Scholarship. She received a mark of 247, second highest in Sullivan County. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rassmussen.

Heavy snow made it difficult for deer to feed normally and Supervisor Oscar Will, who heads the conservation committee, has purchased alfalfa and corn to be fed to the starving animals.

Assemblyman Hyman E. “Bucky” Mintz has started legislation rolling in Albany to start a study of tax exempt properties not only in Sullivan County but throughout the state.

50 Years Ago - 1971

Fred Hermann of Callicoon has sold his garbage business to John Cortese of Narrowsburg.

At the Victory Markets; Hormel Bacon, 4 lbs. for $1; Peter Pan Peanut Butter, 12 oz. jar, 37¢; crisp fresh Western Iceberg lettuce, 19¢ a head; baking potatoes, 10 lbs. for 69¢.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Pisik on School Street, Callicoon, is undergoing a complete rebuilding. The home was almost completely destroyed by fire several years ago. The upper stories have been eliminated and a modern one-story home is being finished off.

Accumulated snow and ice took its toll on Liberty's Mill St. when a supply shed of Jacobs Warehouse in Liberty collapsed under the weight.

40 Years Ago - 1981

The floods in Port Jervis and Matamoras, PA, were the cause of one death when Rose Devins of Matamoras, who was believed to be driving her car when the waters caused it to float and she attempted to get out of the car, was swept along by the flood waters and drowned. Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh did not declare the Matamoras area a disaster although it was hard hit in Thursday's flood. Red Cross workers surveying the damage said that over 600 homes in Port Jervis and Matamoras, PA, were damaged by the floodwaters and ice that rampaged through them. Volunteer firemen from Hortonville and Callicoon went to help pump cellars of Port Jervis residents. Port Jervis firemen often attend the field days in Sullivan County.

The waters of the East Branch of the Delaware River rampaged through Hancock last Wednesday and battered several residences. On Wednesday night, 166 people were sheltered in the high school. No casualties were reported.

Anthony Pagnucco was elected principal of the Liberty Elementary School to succeed the late Tom Nealon at a meeting held by the Board of Trustees on February 9. Mr. Pagnucco has been assistant principal at the school for about 2 1/2 years.

Miss Sylvia Prost, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jean Pierre Prost of Viry-Chatilion, France, became the bride of Donald Peters Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Peters, Callicoon, RD on January 17 at the Fremont United Methodist Church… Mr. and Mrs. Richard Layton of Equinunk, PA, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Barbara Dawn, to Robert F. Kimmel of Hawley, PA. A June 28 wedding is planned… Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Grupp of Jeffersonville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lori Ann, to Brian Edwards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Edwards of Rochester. A May wedding is planned.

Clemence Frank, a retired farmer and active in community affairs, was elected president of the Board of Trustees of Community General Hospital at the Board's January 14 meeting. She is a resident of North Branch.

30 Years Ago - 1991

George L. Cooke of Monticello, clerk of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors for the past four years, has announced his candidacy for Sullivan County Clerk in the upcoming November election. Joseph Purcell of Grahamsville is the incumbant clerk.

A 14-year old boy was killed Sunday morning in the aftermath of a structure fire when one of three chimneys left standing by the blaze toppled downward. John H. Hundley III of Willowemoc was killed just before noon Sunday after firemen extinguished an early morning blaze that destroyed the sprawling three-story Lake Rest Hotel on Route 149 in Shandelee…

A two-story building, housing a laundry, diner and three apartments on Route 55 in Kauneonga Lake was completely destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Kevin Primano pulled in a 5 lb. 24 inch pickerel to earn the “King of the Ice” title at Kauneonga Lake on Sunday. Swinging Bridge is the usual site of the event but because of the thinness of the ice, 500 participants and 1000 spectators moved to the Kauneonga site.

Former Sullivan County First Assistant District Attorney, a reservist and now Major Frank J. LaBuda, is serving in Saudi Arabia as past of “Operation Desert Storm.” In an advertisement in the Democrat, a special section on March 15 will be dedicated to those serving in this operation and a free newspaper of that issue will be sent to any serviceman or woman now serving the Gulf for free.

20 Years Ago - 2001

The Sullivan County Legislature held a special meeting of the Department of Public Works Committee to discuss the proposed visitors’ center. The “Welcome Center” has been discussed since 1997, and the purpose of the meeting was to try to narrow down the site location from the proposed four site down to two sites. Site A would be in the Town of Mamakating between Exits 111 (Wolf Lake) and 112 (Mountaindale/Wurtsboro Hills) on Route 17. Site D is also in Mamakating but would be near Exit 114 (Ellenville) on 17 West by Horton Road on Shawangunk Ridge. To officials, these seemed like the best choices.


A record $52,498 was raised at the 23rd Annual Heart-a-Thon held at Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello. The proceeds will be split evenly between the American Heart Association and the Cardiac Pulmonary Department of Community General Hospital of Sullivan County. This is the first year the 50 percent of the money will stay in Sullivan County.


The death of a three-year-old boy led to the arrest of a Town of Highland man. Following an investigation by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and the Sullivan County Attorney’s Office, David Allan Butler was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of three-year-old Jonathan Forester.

10 Years Ago - 2011

The Ellenville Blue Devils and Tri-Valley Lady Bears won the boys' and girls' divisions, respectively, at the Sullivan County Indoor Track Championships held in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at Sullivan County Community College. In the boys' division, Ellenville won with 96 points, Tri-Valley was second with 77 points and Monticello was third 72 points. T-V won the girls' division by totaling 160 points. Liberty was second with 64 points and Ellenville placed third with 51 points.

The closing of the Lutheran churches in Jeffersonville and North Branch area is a triple loss to the wider area as locals bid goodbye to Rev. Kit Robison and his family, who were anchors of the community, as pastor of the First Lutheran Church in Jeffersonville and Grace Lutheran Church in North Branch. The reason for the shuttering of the churches is the same double-whammy afflicting many Protestant and Catholic churches: declining numbers of active parishioners, which translates into declining revenue. “It's a horrible loss to the community,” said Pastor Kit of the closing of the churches. “These are people whose grandparents built these churches.” Robison has accepted the pastorship of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Baldwin, L.I.

Nearly 100 musicians spent a Saturday afternoon honing their jazz-playing skills under the tutelage of Freddie Jacobs, guest clinician, during the 15th Annual Liberty Jazz Festival. Jacobs, a professional trumpet player, composer, educator and producer, spent hours helping the jazz players of Liberty Middle School and High School Jazz bands as well as their counterparts from

Monticello Schools. Following the afternoon tune-up, the jazz band all joined together for a concert at night showing off their newly learned skills.

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