150 Years Ago - 1873

The youth of Hurd Settlement have of late manifested a very commendable desire for education. Quite a number have entered the Eureka High School in Mongaup Valley for the purpose of further enlightenment.

Mrs. Sherwood, 75, a married lady with an arm 20 inches in circumference and a waist which exhausts a seven foot tape to measure, was recently one of the attractions at the Dutchess County Fair.

140 Years Ago - 1883

The Damascus and Cochecton Cornet Band will assist the Jeffersonville Cornet Band at their entertainment at the halfway House on Washington’s Birthday. Don’t forget you can ride free of charge from Pike Pond to the band for their entertainment and dance at the Halfway House on Thursday night, February 22.

Gen Hartmann, the North Branch enterprising young cigar manufacturer, has lately taken a partner for life.

Geo. H. Carpenter, Esq. of Liberty visited the office of the Sullivan County Record on Friday.

S.W. Miles of Fremont was in town last week.

All those having not received an invitation to the Band Entertainment and Dance at the Halfway House between Pike Pond and Jeffersonville, Phillip Hembdt, proprietor, are hereby cordially invited. First class music for dancing will be provided and a grand supper will be served. All are welcome.

At Pike Pond, by Rev. J.H. Lane, February 3, 1883, Henry Ebert was married to Mena Rose, both of North Branch.

Stoddard Hammond is doing a rushing business at his Debruce tannery this winter. He thinks he will get all his bark drawn in on sleighs this winter.

At a session of the German Methodist Sunday School of this village, a collection to aid the sufferers of the recent floods in Germany was taken and resulted in $10.25 and has been forwarded to the proper authorities.

We have five printing establishments in this county which in  politics are Democrat, two; Republican, one; Greenback, one; and Independent, one.

The County Judge receives $1200 per year and fees in doing surrogate business; the treasurer, $1,000; the clerk and sheriff certain fees for certain acts.

130 Years Ago - 1893

Messrs. Bietz and Ward of the Jeffersonville Orchestra assisted the Waverly Orchestra at their ball held at “The Club,” Monticello, on Monday night.

William F. Grimm and Charles Leich of Fremont Center were in town last week after the scenery of the Jeffersonville Dramatic Co., which they will use in a play soon to be produced in that place.

Those horrid hoop skirts which Paris fashion started out some months ago, have recently “broke loose” in New York City and we may soon expect to see them spreading themselves out upon our streets, unless the bill introduced in the State legislature Monday, making it a misdemeanor to sell, give, furnish or wear hoop skirts or crinoline, becomes a law.

Capt. John T. Stephenson of New York sued James Depew, who was formerly employed on the captain’s farm near Bethel. Mr. Stephenson claims he gave Depew $60 to take to his (Stephenson’s) wife and Depew failed to deliver the money. The jury brought in a verdict of grand larceny.

120 Years Ago - 1903

A brass band has been organized at Sand Pond under the leadership of Charles Zahoric. The instruments have been purchased, rehearsals have already begun and it is expected that the members will be in trim by next summer.

A bill has been introduced in the New York legislature to impose a tax of $50 on all bachelors over 45 years of age and $25 on all spinsters of the same age.

The Bethel Cooperative Creamery property was sold at auction sale Tuesday and was struck off to Edward Walker of that place for $830. The Monticello bank held a claim of between $600 and $700 on the property and after that is paid the farmers will have less than $200 remaining from their investment of $3,600 in the creamery.

110 Years Ago - 1913

Floyd Hust of this place, Harvey Myers of Kenoza Lake, William Deckelman and Jack Schick of Obernburg left yesterday for Ithaca where they will take in Farmer’s Week at the State College of Agriculture. Later on Mr. Hust expects to take a course of study in veterinary medicine. Superintendent of Schools Charles S. Hick accompanied the boys.

C.G. Yager is hauling logs from the Bardenstein lot on Sixteen to Kohler’s Mill for rough lumber for the new house he is about to build on Center St.

Will Menges, employed at the Mansion House, went to his home in Youngsville Tuesday suffering from grippe.

Floyd Scheidell of Jeffersonville is quarantined in his room at Syracuse University where he is a student, because his roommate has scarlet fever.

County Bull Moosers Active — At a recent meeting of the Progressive county committee, the resignation of Nial C. Currey of Liberty as chairman of the committee was accepted and Dr. Luther Payne of Liberty was elected to fill the vacancy. The  advisability of putting a county ticket in the field next fall was discussed at some length. Only three of the number present were against – the rest were strongly in favor of it.

Emmet S. Casey, who was born about 45 years ago at Hortonville, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in New York. He was the son of Thomas Casey, one of the pioneer settlers of Hortonville who was engaged in the leather tannin concern of Horton and Clemens and after a partner of Henry Gardner & Co., manufacturers of straw paper and general merchandise at Hortonville. The Casey family left Hortonville about 30 years ago, going to Middletown.

100 Years Ago - 1923

About 175 men and women attended the annual Lincoln dinner at the Liberty House last Saturday night. Congressman Ward of this district, who was scheduled to speak, did not appear. L. William Hones of Roscoe, who started and conducted the Lincoln dinners for 10 years, was toastmaster.

Declaring that New York City will need a new water supply in 1933, the Merchants Association decided to present to Governor Smith a request for an investigation by New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania of the Upper Delaware River as a feasible source.

Ira Peet, age 76, was found dead in his home at East Branch. Mr. Peet was a blacksmith and the son of Ira Peet who many years ago conducted a blacksmith shop in Jeffersonville.

L. William Hones, editor of the Sullivan County Review of Roscoe, will speak on “Germany” as seen by a County Editor at the forum meeting of the Middletown Chamber of Commerce next Monday evening. Mr. Hones made an extended sojourn in Germany last year.

Another thing, boys: Don’t worry about room for your horses, as arrangements have been made to accommodate all.

Charles Wilfert, who maintains a government weather station here, has measured 65 inches of snow thus far this winter. The heaviest fall was Monday night when five inches fell.

Harry Schuler will hold his opening dance at Tumble Inn at Callicoon Center with the fire department dance on February 22. Billy Abplanalp’s double orchestra will play for dancing. Clam chowder supper will be served.

Lawyer Eugene H. Bouton of Livingston Manor has purchased the interest of the Charlotte V. Livingston estate in the property which includes the Sherwood Island Park in that village.

90 Years Ago - 1933

Mrs. Fred Stewart of Kenoza Lake has brought suit for separation from her husband on the grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment. He owns a farm and is said by neighbors to be an industrious and thrifty man. She departed for her former home in Galilee a couple of months ago.

Mrs. Philip Heuchert of Fremont Center has abandoned her separation suit against her husband and the two are reunited and again living together. He claimed he could not afford to pay her alimony and would have to go to the poor house.

Mrs. Minnie Putterich Werner, who runs the Hotel Porter at Long Eddy, has obtained a separation from her husband, Max Werner. She sued for a separation but Werner settled out of court. He is now making his home at Lackawaxen.

Mrs. Chase said that most of the 350 teachers in the county get between $1100 and $1400 a year and pay $10 to $12 a week board for ten months of the year. About 50 teachers receive more than $1800 a year. It is likely that the pay axe will fall on most of them owing to widespread demand for tax reduction.

Mrs. A.F. Schafer died at her home in Yonkers on February 10. Her husband died January 30.

Norman Secord, a native of Youngsville, died on January 5 at the age of 81 at Dobbs Ferry where the greater part of his life was spent. He was one of 12 children born to his parents on the Noll farm.  A brother, Morris, married Miss Elizabeth Martin of Jeffersonville.

Joseph Ulrich Sr. died at his home near Briscoe Tuesday at the age of 85. Mr. Ulrich, whose wife was murdered by Jack Allen, the drunken ex-sailor, many years ago at her home, lived alone near this village.

80 Years Ago - 1943

Corp. Warren Hess, who was inducted in the Army 14 months ago and after four month’s training in the states went to Yukon, Alaska, 10 months ago to work on the Al-Can highway, arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hess of Jeffersonville at 2 a.m. Saturday after traveling six days and six nights. From his camp he traveled 200 miles by truck to the Northern Pacific Railroad at Dawson Creek. In South Dakota the train was stuck 24 hours in snow. At Chicago, he boarded the New York Central for New York. There he took a bus for home. He will return February 27 by the same route. Warren is a cook with his outfit. They eat plenty of wild game and dehydrated food. Their milk and eggs are powdered. Plenty of coffee but no beer. They slept in tents with mercury 40 degrees below zero until barracks were built. The only amusement they have where they are located is playing cards and shooting crap. He is almost 100 miles from Ed Neuberger. They write to one another but have not met.

Charles Specht of Roscoe, who operates the movie projector at the Maple Theater in Jeff, became snowbound on his way late Sunday night and with his party was compelled to spend the night at Eddie Mall’s place on the North Branch road. The party was able to get home Monday after the snow.

A daughter was born recently to Mr. and Mrs. John Rooney of Bayonne, N.J., the former Myrtle Moran.

Lester Houck, manager of the Jeffersonville Victory Chain for about six years, has taken a defense job in Rome and was here at the weekend to close up affairs and to arrange for moving his wife and daughter shortly. Edward Steffens, clerk, is the new manager. Mrs. Catherine Cucci goes on today as clerk. John Hessinger of Callicoon, butcher, is here in the meat department.

One of the worst storms blew through Sunday and Monday with thermometers ranging from 20 to 25 below zero. Water pipes and pumps were frozen.

70 Years Ago - 1953

Miss Margaret Grafmuller, daughter of Mrs. Mary Reimensnyder and the late Joseph Graffmuller of Youngsville and Marshall Cowan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Cowan Sr. of Melford, Mass., were united in marriage by Father Theaphane of St. Francis Church, Youngsville, Sunday afternoon.

Adam Hauser, 79, retired Callicoon Center farmer, died last Saturday in the Liberty-Loomis Hospital.

Miss Betty Bowers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bowers of Roscoe, fell while playing basketball in school Friday and was brought to the Twiss ambulance to Dr. Miller’s office for X-rays, which disclosed some bone injury. She is confined to bed at home for several weeks.

Miss Eileen Alzman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Alzman of Loomis Village, near Liberty, and Fred Gustafson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gustafson of Jeffersonville, were married at St. Peter’s Church in Liberty on Sunday, February 1. Rev. Clifford Smith performed the double ring ceremony.

Mrs. Margaret Crandall has sold the gas station property across the street from the bank to Wm. F. Knief, who has rented the station for the past year or more. Mr. Knief came here from Fosterdale and has proven himself to be an obliging and alert businessman.

William Menges, who recently enlisted in the Navy, has been called and sent to training at Bainbridge, Md. His brother, Ronnie, has just completed training there and is waiting for his new assignment.

County Judge William G. Costa has appointed Fred H. Durland of Hurleyville as foreman of the February Grand Jury and Mrs. Teresa L. Godess of Monticello, assistant foreman. Mrs. Godess is the first woman in the history of Sullivan County to be named a jury official.

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Sedletsky announce the engagement of their daughter, Frances, to Robert J. O’Connell of the Bronx.

60 Years Ago - 1963

Mr. and Mrs. Emmet Dailey of Cochecton Center will celebrate 50 years of marriage with an open house at the Fosterdale Grange on February 8.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joyner of Bethel have announced the engagement of their daughter, Ronnie Mae, to Carl M. Poston Jr. of Columbus, Ohio. A March wedding is planned.

Joyce Benton of Livingston Manor was chosen Queen of the Ice Carnival held over the weekend. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Benton and is a junior at the Livingston Manor School.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a son, Saturday, to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Erlwein of Callicoon Center; a son, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. James Erk of Milanville, Pa.; a son, Tuesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Buell Bortree, RD 2, Callicoon.

Miss Grace Conklin became the bride of Lindsay Cole Jr. at the Cochecton Presbyterian Church on January 26.

Kenneth C. Lewis was honored for 20 years of service with the Prudential Life Ins. Co., when he was presented with a gold watch and a gold plaque. He and his wife, Roberta, were guests of honor at a steak dinner at Karten’s Inn, Port Jervis, on January 26 when he was presented an engraved leather briefcase.

50 years ago - 1973

The $142,000 shipment of the Sullivan County National Bank of Liberty, which mysteriously vanished between Liberty and Callicoon on August 6, 1959, has finally been solved. After fourteen years, it has been announced that the theft was the work of professionals.

August E. Andersen of Long Eddy was elected president of the New York Hereford Association at the recently held annual meeting in Syracuse.

Howard Bern, who joined the Grossinger staff 18 years ago as a room clerk and worked his way up the managerial ladder, has been named vice president of the Catskill Mountain resort. Bernard Roth has been named treasurer. This is the first time in the 59-year history of the resort that two non-members of the ownership-family have been named corporate officers.

At the Liberty-Loomis Hospital, a boy, Russell Kenneth, was born January 19 to Mr. and Mrs. Barry Klein of White Sulphur Springs; a boy, Jury Richard, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bertholf of Woodbourne, January 20; also a girl, Angela Mary, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Jamieson of Jeffersonville, and a boy, Chad Christopher was born to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Schaefer of Jeffersonville. January 23, a girl, Monica Beth, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Tinsley of Liberty.

John Amback, 54, of Callicoon Center, died January 2, in Liberty Community General Hospital, following injuries received a month ago in a fall.

40 Years Ago - 1983

Sullivan County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Ingber told members of the county Nursing Home Task Force Committee Wednesday that several members of the board are considering reviving the county’s application to build a new county infirmary. Last September, members of the board decided not to finance a multi-million dollar bond issue to build the infirmary in the Town of Liberty. 

On December 26, 1982, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fabers of Cochecton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a surprise party given by their daughter, Barbara Jane Hubner and granddaughter, Faith Hubner, at their home in Huntington, Long Island. On January 7, Rena Smith gave the Fabers a surprise party for neighbors and friends at her home.

Wondering why his wife, Carolyn, was preparing turkey on Saturday, Herman Krauspe was surprised and delighted hours later when relatives and friends called at his home on Old Loomis Road to extend happy birthday greetings for his 78th on the 22nd. — Liberty corresp.

30 Years Ago - 1993

Clifford and Louise Krantz of Jeffersonville were honored by their children at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration on January 2 with more than 50 relatives and friends attending.

Fred Gilbert and Carol Edwards of Livingston Manor are engaged and planning to be married sometime in June.

A boy, Travis Allen, was born December 21, 1992 to Thomas and Rebecca Van-Keuren of Neversink... A boy, David Allen, was born December 21, 1992 to Todd and Carmen Green of White Sulphur Springs... A boy, Travis Michael, was born December 23, 1992 to Patrick and Leah Calkin of White Sulphur Springs.

The founder of the Sullivan County Civic Association announced that he is resigning as chairman of the group, but said he plans to remain an individual voice for change in the county. Stuart S. Brown announced his resignation last week citing health reasons.

Sullivan County’s newest radio station, WPDA-FM, began broadcasting at 106.1 on the FM dial at noon Wednesday. The 6,000-watt radio station will simulcast programming from Poughkeepsie-based WPDH-FM.

20 Years Ago - 2003

Beth Bernitt, Jeffersonville salon owner of Mane Street Styles, held a “hair raiser” Saturday for Locks of Love, garnering 112 inches of local women’s tresses to benefit children suffering from cancer or alopecia. Karyn Malomas of Bloomingburg donated 20 inches of her hair, earning a $50 beauty basket from the salon.

There’s no time like the present to give blood. According to Dawn Ciorciari, Blood Services coordinator for the American Red Cross’ Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, blood suppliers have only a one day supply when they should have at least three.

On Sunday, Jane Geraldine Cole celebrated her 101st birthday at the Damascus Township Community Center surrounded by about 50-60 relatives. She was born Jane Geraldine Wright in Suffern on February 3, 1902 when the country consisted of 45 states.

Former Town of Cochecton Supervisor and tax collector K. Jean McCoach died Friday at the age of 78.

The Town of Highland will be celebrating its 150th birthday on December 17 of this year, and Supervisor Allan Schadt has formed a committee to begin planning for a townwide celebration.

The Monticello Rotary Club donated $2,356 recently to the Monticello School District to purchase a defibrillator for the district high school. Proceeds were raised from the 5K and 10K Monster Classic foot race event.

10 Years Ago - 2013

It was a packed house last Wednesday afternoon as District 19 Congressman Chris Gibson officially opened his Liberty District Office at 92 Sullivan Ave. Gibson and his wife Mary Jo got up very close and personal to virtually every county official during the open house. First elected to the 20th district in 2010, Gibson ran for the 19th – formed after the congressional district realignment following the 2010 Census – and defeated Julian Schreibman last November.

Fallsburg HS senior Matthew Bonnell received his Eagle Scout this past fall with a Court of Honor held at the Wallkill Community Center.  His Eagle project was to upgrade facilities at the D&H Canal campgrounds. He designed, raised the funds and executed the building and installation of two flagpoles and five new picnic tables. The project took just over 300 man hours. He is the son of Peter and Kathy Bonnell.