140 Years Ago - 1884

Where is our January thaw?

The Jeffersonville Brass and String Band has four engagements this week.

Callicoon Depot, reported last week as being without a pool table, was a mistake.

The clothespin factory at Cooks Falls has added new machinery and is running with full force.

Rev. F.H. Barnhardt, the skilled evolutionist, will deliver another free lecture in the Presbyterian Church Sunday, February 10.

I am now closing up my mercantile relations in Jeffersonville and ask for a speedy settlement of all accounts. — Josiah Smith

The wedding of Miss Barbara Homer of Youngsville and John H. Kuhlmann of Ellenville took place at the home of the bride’s parents in Youngsville Monday, January 28.

James P. Bogardus, a well-known citizen of Jeffersonville, died Saturday after an illness of three weeks. Mr. Bogardus was one of the first citizens engaged in the mercantile business in this village 33 years ago. He was 63 years of age.

130 Years Ago - 1894

Allen’s New York Theatre Company, which is playing a six-nights engagement at Eagle Hall in Jeffersonville, is pleasing its patrons beyond expectations.

Fred Stengel, on Monday, bought a 12-year-old horse of Peter Dorrer of North Branch.

Dick Maffett of Liberty was in town Tuesday to engage Jeffersonville Orchestra to play at Liberty Friday night. But the orchestra as a whole is disabled at present by the illness of F.B. Ward.

There is on exhibition at Eagle Hall the skin of a rattlesnake nearly eight feet in length. The reptile was shot in Florida and was brought here by Louis Voegtli, who returned last week from working at a sugar mill in that southern state.

Youngsville — There is no school in our village this week because the teacher, Jane Keough, caught la grippe.

Mrs. Michael Heidt and Mrs. John Noll of East Hill have each, within the past few days, become mother to another son.

The Olmstead place, which was offered for sale at public auction on Monday, was bid in by Oscar Olmstead for $700.

Bethel — A young son of Hugh Townsend, who resides near Hurd, died Sunday, January 21.

North Branch — The basket party held on Monday was well attended and when suppertime came all enjoyed a hearty meal and others a hearty laugh as well.

120 Years Ago - 1904

Nothing to say about the weather  it just keeps right on in the same severe way in which it began some months ago. Some days it just gets a little worse for a change.

Two nice pickerel were captured in Kenoza Lake this week. Philip Barnhardt of Kenoza Lake took one weighing 4lbs. 8 oz. and John Erdman of Jeffersonville, the other weighing 4 lbs. 3 oz.

Our Kenoza Lake correspondent writes that Jacob Knell and Gene Sheridan of Jeffersonville have contracted to fill the creamery ice house there for $150.

The Court of Appeals of Albany has reversed the judgement of conviction of murder in the first degree in the case of Kate Taylor, convicted of murdering her husband, Lafayette Taylor, near Centreville Station, Sullivan County, on the grounds of improper exclusion of evidence and has ordered a new trial.

Miss Minna Happich of North Branch, for the past term a student in the Liberty High School, has been engaged to teach the Willowemoc School.

A.C. Wilcox & Co. of New York who conducts banks at Jeffersonville and Roscoe, have recently opened banks at Montgomery and Central Valley, Orange County, and will also establish one at Monroe.

110 Years Ago - 1914

Fred Esselmann, who bought the Van Buren Borden farm on Sixteen, slipped on the ice between the house and the barn last week and fractured his left leg near the ankle.

Ed Schultz, the Callicoon mail carrier, was driving down the hill at the Catholic Church Monday noon when his sleighs skidded around on the ice and his front bob, striking a stone, was flattened out, landing his load in a ditch. Miss Ruth Brown, the only passenger, escaped injury.

P.J. Hust fell on the ice Monday and sustained an injury to his hip that will lay him up for several days.

At the annual congregational meeting Monday, P.J. Hust was re-elected elder and William Kohler  and Andrew von Bergen, trustees.

Al Nicol, a young man who has been coming to Youngsville the past few years, died suddenly of heart disease at his home in Hoboken, N.J., January 18, at the age of 28 years.

George Bernhardt and Miss Lillie Bauer, both of Kenoza Lake, were married at the Presbyterian parsonage here last evening by the Rev. J.K. Stadelmann.

One by one the electric light is being installed in the business and other houses in Jeffersonville.

John L. Roesner has leased the Eagle Hotel barns and will run a livery there.

On February 1, Eugene J. Sheridan, who has been the mail carrier on the rural route from Livingston Manor over this way since it was started a few years ago, will exchange jobs with Frederick H. Whittich, a city carrier from the general post office in New York.

M.F. Ernst, who has run the Yager store on Maple Avenue the past year under lease, will quit the store and return to his farm on Sixteen.

On account of the rain last Saturday the horse races on the ice at Lake Huntington were postponed until today.

Rev. Conrad E. Metzger, formerly of Jeffersonville, who has been pastor of the M.E. Church of North Blenheim the past couple of years, has been transferred to the M.E. Church at Oak Hill, Greene County.

Elijah A. Anderson, who died last Wednesday, was buried in the Methodist Cemetery here Saturday.

Mrs. Andrew Yager of Livingston Manor, died at her home last Tuesday at the age of 58 years. She was a cousin of M.F. Ernst of Sixteen.

100 Years Ago - 1924

The Daniel J. Poellman property on Lake Street above the depot at Liberty, has been taken over by the Maimonides Hospital Association of Liberty and the building will be reconstructed and fitted up to receive patients this spring.

The Lutheran Church council installed Fred Miller, John Fuhrer and Charles P. Curr.

The State Tax Commission, under date of January 5th, has sent a communication to the Board of Supervisors and town assessors of Sullivan County, reproaching them for the low assessed valuation of property in this county.

Dr. S. Andral Kilmer, discoverer of “Swamp Root” and founder of a sanitarium for treatment of cancer at Saratoga Springs, died last week at his home in Binghamton, age 83 years.

An Italian physician recommends the eating of garlic to relieve high blood pressure. But think of the odor.

Mrs. Mary A. Calibreath of White Lake, the last survivor of the Erie railroad disaster which occurred in 1846 between Monroe and Turner’s (now Harriman) died January 13 at the home of her daughter in Colorado. She was born in Middletown.

The price of gasoline has gone up. It is time for John D. to pay his income tax, you know.

American cities are reported to be living beyond their incomes. In that they have nothing on most of us.

We are pleased to announce that beginning January 1, 1924, interest is credited on all accounts in our Interest Department at the rate of 4 percent. — Callicoon National Bank.

90 Years Ago - 1934

The firemen’s supper and dance at Lake Jeffersonville Hotel last Saturday night was another big success and the boys will clear about $400. They fed 500 at the supper.

Arrangements are completed for the Lutheran Brotherhood banquet at the church next Tuesday evening. The speakers will be Clarence A. Royce of Jeffersonville and Rev. Mr. Schroeder of Narrowsburg.

According to the United States Bureau of Education, the average salary of rural school teachers for the current year will be $750. The average salary of city teachers is given as $1,416.

Philip Gottschalk of Hankins was located a few days ago by members of the Honesdale State Police near Prompton, Pa.

Neil J. Tobin, extra operator at the Hancock Erie Station, has been given the appointment of agent at the Hankins Station.

Death — Mrs. Lena Huggler, widow of Peter Huggler of Youngsville, died January 20 at the home of David Boxburger in Youngsville.

Mrs. Anna Bertha Vakiener, aged 29, of Youngsville, died at the Callicoon Hospital, January 19; Mrs. Julia Anderson, 79, died at her home in Highgate Center, Vermont, January 22. She was born in Beechwoods, the daughter of Joseph Layton and Mary Haus; Magdelena Kurtz, wife of Philip Hornung of Hortonville, died last week, January 18; John W. Rosenberger, age 72, for over thirty years welfare officer and for more than twenty years sanitary inspector in the Town of Delaware, January 23.

A son, Donald Herbert, was born January 19 to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hauschild of Jeffersonville at the Liberty Hospital.

Callicoon, Jan. 23 —Mr. and Mrs. Rathgeb of this place celebrated the golden jubilee of their marriage at Holy Cross Church here Monday morning.

80 Years Ago - 1944

Iverwood Garrison, an employee  of the Markson Trucking Company of Middletown, was killed in the company’s garage in Middletown last week.

Miss Dorothy, only daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Conrad E. Metzger, was united in marriage to PFC Wayne E. Spath of Philmont, N.Y., on January 13. The ceremony was performed by the father of the bride who is minister of Trinity Church in Philmont.

Iola Reum of this place won second prize at the annual American Legion oratorial contest at Roscoe last week.

Service notes — Pvt. Ralph Allgeier of Kenoza Lake, who went in the Army from the city two years ago, and is now at a camp at Tucson, Arizona, broke his leg at the camp December 26... Sgt. Richard L. Jauering of Shandelee is now in England... Staff Sgt. Max Odrezzin, with the ordinance department is now overseas... Corp. Harold J. Wohltjen at Camp Upton, has been promoted to Sergeant.

Franklin H. Neuberger Jr. of Endicott, while skating in Ideal Park there recently, struck a rut which threw him, causing a fractured hip.

Several million citizens have received their new income tax forms. A few have gone over them in a preliminary sort of way to discover what it will be necessary to do to fill them out.

Short Waves: It is claimed that all men are created equal, but you would never know it by watching the way some of them work.

Ma says Pop has exceeded his ration points on the number of nights out to which he is entitled.

70 Years Ago - 1954

Miss Rita Catherine Corey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Corey of Liberty, was united in marriage with Robert Draper of Middletown on January 10. Mrs. Jose Cucci of Liberty, sister of the bride, was matron of honor.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Peterson of Jeffersonville, announce the engagement of their daughter, Joan Emily, to William F. Engelbosch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Engelbosch of Massapequa, L.I.

Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Hescheles of East Rockaway, summer residents of Kenoza Lake, are parents of a son born this week.

Mrs. Kenneth Drake will open Virginia’s Beauty Shop on Wednesday this week. She is the wife of Kenneth Drake, mathematics teacher at the Jeffersonville Central School.

Robert E. Knack, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Knack of Jeff, was awarded a $100 scholarship from the American Foundation of Pharmaceutical Education for maintaining the highest average in his class at Albany College of Pharmacy. Robert is a junior.

Laura and Chester Stephenson celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on January 20th at an open house celebration.

The regular monthly meeting of White Lake Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held at the home of Mrs. Grace Weiss in Jeff.

Thursday night members of the Protection Hose company enjoyed a beefsteak dinner put on by the master chef, Joseph Forsbach of the Beechwoods.

60 Years Ago - 1964

“Critical, but satisfactory” were the terms used by a spokesman for the Albany Medical Center in describing the conditions of Sullivan County Assemblyman Hyman E. Mintz who was stricken with a heart attack early Wednesday and taken to the Albany hospital.

George A. Yaeger has resigned as vice-president of the Liberty Airport Authority. His resignation, effective immediately, was given, he said, because he could no longer sacrifice the time to do a satisfactory job.

President Lyndon B. Johnson and General Dwight D. Eisenhower sent greeting cards to Miss Mary Weyrauch who celebrated her 101st birthday on Sunday. She resides at the Sickmiller Nursing Home.

Frost-footed fishermen will be chopping holes in the frozen surface of White Lake looking for a bag of silver. The bag of silver, twenty-five dollars presented in a deerskin pouch, will be awarded to some lucky fisherman who comes up with the biggest catch in the White Lake area’s First Annual Ice Fishing Contest. Contest judges will be Charles Crist, popular Sullivan County outdoor writer; J. Vance Hunt, editor of the Pike-Wayne Eagle; and Fred Stabbert Jr., editor of the Sullivan County Democrat.

Alfred Hulse of Callicoon died Sunday at Liberty-Loomis Hospital, aged 88.

50 years ago - 1974

Lucretia Lake of Corbett and Vernon Wahl of Callicoon were united in marriage at a pretty candlelight ceremony on December 29, 1974, at the Colchester Community Church in Downsville. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Henry of Liberty, nephew and niece of the bride, were the attendants.

At the Liberty-Loomis Hospital it was a baby girl, Kimberly Joy, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Newham of Callicoon Center; a baby girl, Linda Marie, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baker of Swan Lake; a baby girl, Melody Lyn, to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Zieres of North Branch; a baby boy, Edward Joseph to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mall of Jeffersonville, all on January 13.

AT LAST — Callicoon has got its pharmacist. Art Peck, who is providing the space in his Main Street supermarket, announced Monday that Barry Becker of New Jersey will be moving into Callicoon shortly to launch his vitally needed service. Mr. Becker has purchased the former Pauline Kautz residence on Route 97 and will make his new home there.

William Tegeler, 24, son of well-known real estate broker Edson and Mrs. Mary Tegeler of Jeffersonville, died suddenly at his home at 81 Carrier Street, Liberty, on January 21. He is survived by his wife, the former Glenna Poley; a daughter; two brothers; two sisters; his parents; and several nieces.

Rasmussen’s Furniture Store in Narrowsburg is constructing another addition to provide more warehouse and showroom space. This is the third addition to the company’s store which dates back to the original started by Niels Rasmussen on the other side of the tracks. They moved to their present location on Main Street in Narrowsburg in 1926 and put on the first addition in 1927.

Mr. and Mrs. William Nudorf of Callicoon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday. They were married in Johnson City on January 15, 1924. He is a retired Justice of the Peace and was a familiar face about the old A&P in Callicoon.

Mary Klinkiewicz and Stephen Ostrander of Abrahamsville were married December 31 in Seelyville, Pa.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rasmussen of the Beechwoods announce the engagement of their daughter, Virginia, to Eric Andkjar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Andkjar of the Beechwoods. No wedding date has been set. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Andkjar of Callicoon announce the engagement of their daughter, Elise, to Joseph M. Freda, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Freda of Callicoon. A summer wedding is planned.

40 Years Ago - 1984

Gary J. Moore of Cuba, N.Y., has been formally appointed to the $50,000-a-year post of District Superintendent of Sullivan County Schools, which includes the job of being the executive director of the county Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES). Mr. Moore succeeds retiring Rubin Pollack and will begin his duties February 1.

William E. Harkness will take over the duty of Deputy River Master upon the retirement of Robert Fish. The office of the U.S. Geological Survey is maintained in Milford, Pa. Mr. Fish has served in this capacity for the past 25 years.

A boy, David James Jr., was born to David and Renee Robisch on January 21, 1984, at the Community Hospital in New Port Richey, Fla. He is the grandson of Mrs. Anne Foland of Hudson, Fla., formerly of Callicoon, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Bassney of New Port Richey.

Mark A. Spina has joined the Spina Chiropractic family in Liberty following his December graduation from the Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, Ga. Also in the chiropractic field are James A. Spina II and James A. Spina.

Mrs. Clemence Frank of North Branch has been elected to the fourth term as head of the Community General Hospital Board of Directors.

Jay Cross of Monticello is an “honest lookalike” of Abraham Lincoln and enjoys playing the part while participating in parades, field days, etc. in the county. He said, “It’s nice to go in parades and bring back memories to people” who like to reflect on Lincoln. He has visited Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Ill., and was dressed in his Lincoln’s garb. As he walked up the stairs at Lincoln’s home, he said, a tour guide spotted him and was “speechless for at least a minute.” Cross said, “All I have to do is put on a top hat and I’m Lincoln. I have the same creases in my face and the same hands.”

Jess Abel and his wife, Esther, will have plenty of time on their hands for travel and things they like to do now that he has decided to retire. Working at the Jeffersonville Pharmacy since he was 9 years of age, Mr. Abel was the owner of the store for the past ten years. He is an avid sportsman and  fisherman. Jess has made a host of friends while giving “service beyond the call of duty” and is well revered by all in the area.

30 Years Ago - 1994

The third winter storm to strike Sullivan County since the beginning of the new year dumped 15 inches of snow around the area Tuesday, leaving the region in record cold temperatures of well below zero both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. More than 30 inches of snow has fallen in Sullivan County since the beginning of the year.

Fred W. Stabbert III of Liberty has been named publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat, the third generation to assume this position. His grandfather, Fred W. Stabbert bought the paper February 2, 1927, and ran the operation until his death April 28, 1963. His son, Fred W. Jr., took over and held the position for nearly 31 years before naming his son to continue the family legacy. In 1970, there were six employees at the local newspaper. By 1980, the publication had expanded to a twice weekly and the payroll included more than 20 employees. Discontinuing the use of hot lead during the summer of 1975, CompuGraphic computers were purchased and these were replaced in 1988 with a whole new Apple MacIntosh typesetting system. In the early-to-mid 1900s, there were more than 20 weekly newspapers printed in Sullivan County. The Democrat is Sullivan County’s last surviving “country weekly.” Among the Democrat features is a column, While the Kettle Boils, written for the past 60 years by Nellie Stevens Stabbert Persbacker, wife of Fred W. Stabbert. Her granddaughter, Kathy Stabbert Werner, also contributes a column, Lifelines, weekly for the newspaper. Fred III is District 7 Director of the New York Press Association (NYPA) which encompasses all of Sullivan, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties and serves as chairman of the NYPA scholarship committee. He and his wife, Regina, live in Liberty with their two daughters, Laura, 4, and Claire, 2.

Amanda Ward, a silver medalist at the recent Junior Division of the U.S. Nationals, participated in the Rotary Ice Show at Livingston Manor, exhibiting her skating prowess. The 13-year-old is a student at the Fallsburg High School.

The 16th annual Heart-a-Thon is scheduled to be aired from Kutsher’s Country Club on February 5.

Andy Karadontes of Jeffersonville clinched the 400 CC Expert Class at the Indoor Pro Series at the Orange County Fair Indoor Arena. He has a big lead in the 250 Expert Class and could clinch that title in Saturday’s finale at Middletown.

Two promoters with very different versions of how to host a 25th anniversary Woodstock concert will take center stage tonight as the Bethel Town Board attempts to decide once and for all whose application to endorse on August 13 and 14, 1994. Robert Gersch, president and sole stockholder of Bethel Festivals Inc. (BFI), will tout “Yasgur Farms ’94” to the board at the Friday public hearing while Sid Bernstein, president of his self-titled company, will drum up “Bethel ’94.” Both rock festivals are slated for the same summer weekend, but with different sites and opposing formats. One source of contention between the promoters is the feasibility of controlling the intended crowds.

A metal roof on a 54’x121’ storage shed at Fosterdale Equipment in Fosterdale ripped in half Wednesday morning, causing the building to collapse and resulting in more than $20,000 damage to equipment stored inside the building, as well as the loss of the building itself. According to Lloyd Brucher, owner of the building, the collapse occurred when the building was unoccupied.

In a strong showing of community support, more than 250 of Sullivan County’s government, business and civic leaders attended a Monday night meeting to hear about the newly-formed Partnership for Economic Development.

20 Years Ago - 2004

The Mamakating Town Hall was packed once again on Thursday night for the final part of the Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing on the proposed Maitake Mushroom Plant. It has been more than two months since the first public hearing on the subject.

Nearly 100 firefighters from Monticello and many neighboring departments battled a stubborn blaze in sub-zero temperatures at Camp Shalva on the Thompsonville Road on Friday. The camp, which is closed for the winter, was unoccupied except for the caretaker who lives there year-round with his family. No one was injured.

DEATHS: Donna Brickner, 53, of Youngsville, a retired medical laboratory technician, died January 23, 2004 at her home... Richard Guttzeit, 81, known locally as “The Bear Man” of Lake Huntington, a retired industrial arts teacher and former print for the Sullivan County Democrat, died January 23, 2004... Arthur R. Tursi, 43, longtime resident and the co-owner of Thompson’s Pharmacy in Liberty, died January 24, 2004 at Albany Medical Center.

Four-year-old Joseph Decker of White Sulphur Springs caught a pickerel on January 21 at a private pond in his hometown. His father, Joe, helped him reel in the fish, which measured 24 1/2 inches long and weighed 4 lbs.

Heather Iatauro of Tri-Valley set a new mile record on Saturday at the New Balance Games in New York City with a time of 4:53.79. The time qualified her for the girls’ high school mile race at the Verizon Millrose Games, which will be held on February 6 at Madison Square Garden.

10 Years Ago - 2014

Art Peck took to heart that old admonition to “never stop learning” – and crafted a fulfilling “retirement” that can serve as a model to others. He built cars and boats, wooden clocks and rocking chairs, and was generous in sharing his knowledge with others. The founder, with wife Beth, of the grocery store chain that bears his name died on January 20 at age 82.

Tri-Valley School student 8-year-old Bryce Rogerson was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) before he was even born, after a routine ultrasound at 18 weeks picked up an anomaly. HLHS – a syndrome in which the left side of a child’s heart was underdeveloped – is one of the three most common heart issues a child can be born with, but it can be fatal if left untreated. By 2011, doctors told the Rogersons their best choice would be to put Bryce on the transplant list – for a heart. On January 14, the call came that a heart transplant was available at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City. Bryce will likely spend another month or so at the hospital in New York City as his body adjusts.