130 Years Ago - 1895

The Erie depot at Narrowsburg was burglarized Thursday night. The thieves ransacked the ticket office, express office and freight depot, and even broke the weighing machine to get the pennies it contained. They secured but little booty.

Stock to the amount of $10,000 has already been taken for the bridge to be erected across the Delaware River at Callicoon Depot. The bridge, it is said, will not cost over $25,000.

There is not a town in the county where strong drink is so free as in the town of Callicoon. And there is no town in the county so free from the evil effects of strong drink as Callicoon.

Ed Brand, after running the Mabel Hotel at Kenoza Lake for a week, sold out to John Huggler of that place, who took possession Thursday. Ed will probably take charge of the new furniture store of Brand & Co. of Jeffersonville.

A trout measuring 17 1/2 inches and weighing two pounds and 2 ounces, was caught in the Callicoon stream near the Halfway House the other day by young Dannie Hogancamp.

Frost has done a good share of damage, and it is hoped there will be no more of it to interfere with the crops this year. Grapes and apple trees are injured to a considerable extent, and oat fields have also suffered badly.

In the case of McGrath & Sherwood of Livingston Manor against the O&W, in which the plaintiff recovered a judgment at the October term of County Court last fall for damages caused by the delay of a shipment of cattle, the General Term has granted a new trial, costs to abide the event.

By the many large additions and new summer boarding houses erected since last season, Liberty and vicinity can accommodate about 500 more people than last year.

120 Years Ago - 1905

The Roscoe Review says that the heaviest losers in the closing of the Wilcox bank there are those who could ill afford to part with their savings.

It having come to the notice of Commissioner of Highways Knemm of Jeff that parties are seeking to have the water destroy the stone bridge on the highway between Peter Menges and Miles Hardenburgh’s north of Youngsville, by removing stones from the abutments. He offers a reward of $25 for their detection.

Edward V. McDermott of this place finished his third term as principal of the school here last Monday. Instead of the customary cards, Mr. McDermott distributed fruit among his pupils, who as a token of esteem presented him with a rock, a fruit dish and a box of handkerchiefs.

The Delaware Town Board, at a meeting at Callicoon Depot, resolved to add $500 to the $1,700 already set aside for putting crushed stone on the highway leading from Jeffersonville to Kenoza Lake. Three miles of the road is to be completed this year.

Edward Killian recently bought the farm of 44 acres of his neighbor, George Schneider, two miles north of Youngsville. The sale includes the stock and farming implements and the price paid is $1,450.

Fishermen desiring some nice bait fish should call on Charles of the Eagle Hotel, who secured Homer, the good-natured proprietor through the unkindly office of Game Protector Neal Bensen of Neversink. Charlie sent his son and some boys out for bait fish for a fishing trip. The boys took a 12 foot net and went down to the Callicoon Creek as far as the cider mill. The game protector, on his way to Cochecton, apprehended the boys. Landlord Homer finally settled the matter, paying a $10 fine to Mr. Bensen.

110 Years Ago - 1915

The large and well appointed house on the estate of the former Police Captain John T. Stephenson, about two miles this side of Bethel village, was burned to the ground Friday morning by a fire supposed to have started from a defective chimney.

Arthur E. Luchs, a former Jeffersonville boy, engaged lately in the milk business in New York, has given up the great task of trying to remain neutral and has finally gone to the enemy. His captor, a charming one is, or was, Miss Josephine Carroll of New York City. They signed a double alliance at the Metropolitan M.E. Church, May 22.

A monster mass meeting was held at the school house in Delaware District No. 4 below Jeffersonville last night by those opposing school consolidation here. The meeting was attended by over a hundred men and women and is said by one to have been the greatest demonstration ever. 

The stork paid a visit to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Crien Schemering of New York on May 25 and left a bouncing girl weighing nine pounds.

The taxpayers of Sullivan County will now have a chance to step up to the captain’s desk for the present Republican state administration. This county will have to pay $12,257.13 into the state treasury this winter to make up the share of the $19,000,000 direct tax that Governor Whitman’s administration has saddled on the State.

On the Presbyterian tennis court Tuesday afternoon, Principal J.M. Paris and Clifford H. Allington of Jeffersonville High School defeated Rev. Guy King and Matt Y. Collins of a match at doubles.

Before Justice Murphy at Callicoon, Andrew Steiner, a farmer below this village, swore out a warrant for the arrest of Wm. Neagle and Otto Braun, neighbors, for petit larceny in taking a bag of seed corn from his premises.

100 Years Ago - 1925

L.V. Boyd of White  Sulphur Springs, employed by William Kohler, lumber dealer of Jeffersonville, was injured one day last week when the universal joint in the truck he was driving broke.

Sullivan County exhibition violators may soon feel the heavy hand of United States Attorney Buckner. Buckner ordered seventeen saloons padlocked in Kingston.

An Earl touring car, nearly new, was abandoned by two young men on the Moran Hill on the state road below this village. A call from an insurance office in Newark stated the car answered the description of one stolen there.

Charles J. Fisher of Callicoon has bought the roadhouse at Hortonville known as the Iroquois and formerly owned by Joseph Keller who died recently.

Only a poll tax will be levied in the incorporated village of Jeffersonville this year. This decision by the village trustees was made possible because of the fact that the village has already been taxed by the town for highway and street lighting purposes.

H. Blake Stratton of Monticello, driving his Ford in Maplewood Friday night, struck a horse owned by Robert Shapiro. The animal was grazing along the road and owing to the hard rain and the headlights of an approaching car, Stratton was unable to avoid the collision. The radiator and front fender of the car were broken but the horse was uninjured. A short while later the horse was struck again by Thomas Egan’s big truck and killed.

90 Years Ago - 1935

Supervisor Fred W. Schadt has succeeded in getting the Board of Supervisors and the county highway engineer to approve the county highway between Jeffersonville and Callicoon Center, via the “Sixteen” section for macadamizing this year, to be started this spring and finished by fall.

In the Supreme Court of Monticello last week the action of Paul Schwatz, the electric company’s line superintendent here, and his daughter, Miss Edith, against Charles O. Neill of Dumont, N.J., was tried. The jury on Monday returned awards of $1,000 to Mr. Schwatz and $1,250 to the daughter.

Advertisement: Same quality Froy-Joy Ice Cream approved by Good Housekeeping, now two dips on one cone for only five cents. — Murray’s Pharmacy.

Part of the road fill on the Youngsville state highway at the Neuberger place just east of this village was washed away last Saturday at a large spring which suddenly appeared and was not known to exist here before. Looks like they’ll have to put in a culvert there to take care of the water.

Capt. Lowell J. Dow, engineer officer at the CCC camp near Narrowsburg, who was injured in a car accident on Tuesday, was removed to the military hospital at Ft. Jay. He is still in a partial coma.

Postmaster General James A. Farley came to Monticello Monday afternoon and in a 30-minute address dedicated the new post office building here before a crowd of people rather below expected: there were not over two thousand gathered. Mr. Farley also attended the cornerstone laying of the new Monticello schoolhouse.

80 Years Ago - 1945

The fifty-third anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. P. Kautz (Anna Schmidt) was celebrated April 27 with a party of relatives and friends.

The Spielmann homestead of 58 acres and boarding house on East Hill, Youngsville, has been sold to Henry Schneiber of River Edge, N.J.

Alan Heyn of Callicoon, who left high school to enlist in the Navy, was in town this week. He was on the U.S.S. Juneau which sank in the Pacific and on which the five Sullivan brothers lost their lives. Heyn and one of the Sullivan boys sank from exhaustion, but Heyn was rescued.

A couple of weeks ago, Leland Klein, a farmer at White  Sulphur Springs, procured a 15-year-old boy through the vocational school at Industry, N.Y., to help on the farm. Last Saturday the boy “borrowed” Klein’s 1940 Plymouth and took “French” leave.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Dana Frank, 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Frank of North Branch was accidentally hit in the face with a bat while watching two other children at play last Sunday near his home. He was taken to Maimonides Hospital where several stitches were taken in his forehead and it is said he has a slight concussion.

William A. Meyer, serviceman in the Jeffersonville area, has completed  25 years service with the New York State Electric and Gas Corp.

Mr. and Mrs. Eben Hill quietly observed their 50th wedding anniversary at the home of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Burton Lindsley Sunday, May 8th.

A surprise stork shower was tendered Mrs. Roger Busing on Wednesday, April 27, at the home of Mrs. John Wunderlin of Jeffersonville. Hostesses were Mrs. Michael Antosh and Mrs. Wunderlin.

Liberato Sazziola, 78, of Bayside Hills, L.I., died suddenly at the home of his daughter Wednesday morning. He is the father of Mrs. James Manzolillo and one of 13 children. He leaves 45 grandchildren.

A testimonial dinner was given Blake Bates for 53 years as an employee of the First National Union Bank at Monticello, at the Concord Hotel. Mr. Bates, who is 81 years old, probably was the oldest teller in the county, if not the state. He is one of the charter members of the Monticello Citizens Bank, perhaps the only living member.

60 Years Ago - 1965

At a meeting held May 20, the Board of Trustees of Sullivan County Community College, adopted a resolution whereby the proposed gift of a site at Loch Sheldrake be accepted as the permanent campus of the college. The resolution was worded and introduced by Mortimer Michaels and seconded by Max Rubenzahl. Grover Hermann pledged a gift of $500,000 toward the new college.

Mrs. Jennie Grossinger is to deliver the graduation address May 28 at the Damascus, Pa., High School.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitmore of Callicoon RD 2 were honored with a celebration of open house on the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Orville of Callicoon RD #2 and Vincent of Callicoon.

The Sullivan County American Legion is awarding a citation to the County Veterans Service Agency Director Frederick F. Husch of Livingston Manor and State Veterans Counselor Glenn E. Young of Narrowsburg.

Judge Clarence Henry, State Masonic Grand Master, announced the appointment of Osmer R. VanSchoick of Narrowsburg to be the District Deputy Grand Master of Sullivan District.

50 Years Ago - 1975

Members of the  Community General Hospital board and the architects stood by as the last and highest steel beam was put into position at a ceremony on Thursday afternoon, May 22. Accompanying the steel beam to its lofty position was a U.S. flag and a small tree. The facility is scheduled for a late 1976 completion.

Everett Hawley of Equinunk, Pa., was winner of the $50 U.S. Bond in the Sullivan County Democrat turkey contest, with a bearded gobbler weighing 20 pounds. Second place went to John Turner, also of Equinunk, who took a 19 1/4 pound bird on Hawley’s land.

Gordus H. Evans, a resident of the Twin Pines Adult Home in North Branch, celebrated his 97th birthday May 26. He was the owner and operator of the Evans Bros. Ice Cream Co. in Hurleyville for many years.

 Mr. and Mrs. Russell Garrabrant of White Sulphur Springs will celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary May 31.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Superintendent John T. Hutzky of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreation River announced recently that the beginning of first phase construction activities on the historic Roebling Delaware Aqueduct/Bridge at Minisink Ford, Lackawaxen, has been started as scheduled. Contractors have set up their office trailers, a large crane and heavy equipment. They have been hiring people and renting office space in Lackawaxen. The bridge has been closed to all traffic since Monday, May 13, and will continue to be closed for the duration of the construction.

Brian Ingber, Supervisor of the Town of Fallsburg and chairman of the County Board of  Supervisors, announced Friday that he would not seek re-election to a 5th term of office, citing connection with the family business and personal reasons as factors in making the decision.

Sunny skies fell upon marchers at the 101st annual Memorial Day parade held in Fremont Center. The Third Libertonian was run on the Main Street of Liberty. Competing were Simon Gritty, driven by Alan Simon; Bobbie Marvel, driven by Lenny Segall; and Lt. Col. Joe, driven by Ed Maier. Liberty Village Mayor Pearl Bern placed the winner’s wreath on Bobbie Marvel. Memorial Day parades and celebrations were also held in Wurtsboro and Livingston Manor.

Several hundred visitors joined the WVOS staff at re-opening ceremonies following renovation of the facilities located in Liberty.

Donna Dailey and Douglas Ackermann were married April 20 at the Our Lady of the Lake R.C. Church in Lake Huntington. . . Shelly Anderson became the bride of Barry Bliden on April 20 at the Reformed Church in New Paltz.

Irving Avery of Livingston Manor and Seymour Feldman received 45-year awards from the Hudson Delaware Council District Commissioners Tom Miller, recognizing their efforts on behalf of the Boy Scout movement in Sullivan County. The Boy Scouts of America Recognition Dinner was held at King’s Catering House.

Work has begun on the new ShortLine Bus Terminal on Sturgis Road near the Sullivan County Government Center.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Nearly 575 households, served by post offices in Obernburg, Bethel, Glen  Wild and Thompsonville, are threatened with the closing of these offices. So far no official notice has been received although the rumors persist.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new addition to Ross Industries in Liberty were held Friday on an 8,000 square-foot warehouse at their North Main Street location. Krum & Son of Youngsville have been sub-contracted to do the excavation work for Dan Gorton’s Design, Build and Construction Company, also of Youngsville, with Joseph Irace of Liberty providing the architectural design.

Marshall Machinery of Beach Lake, started in 1959, opened a new store on Route 6 outside of Honesdale which will offer a full line of Kubota lawn and garden equipment and compact tractors. The company has sold the Kubota line for the past 18 years.

Students of the Light and Life Christian School in Liberty enjoyed a free lunch and received T-shirts following a six-mile walk-a-thon on Saturday to benefit the school’s scholarship fund.

George and Yvonne Brustman of Jeffersonville celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg, followed by a reception, which they had never had, for about 90 guests. They were married May 19, 1945, in St. Julian’s in Le Mans, France, while he was stationed there with the U.S. Army. Friends and relatives of the couple held a reception at the same time in France in honor of the couple’s special day.

Nora Townsend celebrated her 95th birthday at the home of her son, Edward Townsend, in White Sulphur Springs on April 22. She is a sister of Gladys Spettigue of Narrowsburg. The daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Wood, she was born in White  Sulphur Springs, April 22, 1900.

20 Years Ago - 2005

The former Neighborhood Facility in Monticello was cemented as the new Ted Stroebele Recreation Center on Wednesday in a ceremony with well over 100 people in attendance. In addition, the Town of Thompson has named a road in his honor, Ted Stroebele Drive, located off Starlight Road in Swinging Bridge. The community center has been a centerpiece of village life since it was constructed during the tenure of former Mayor David Kaufman. Stroebele, the former highway superintendent for the village of Monticello, was affectionately recalled as an energetic and helpful individual, one of the founders of the Monticello Seniors’ Club and later its president. He passed away at age 96 earlier this year.

Hunters in Sullivan County accounted for nearly 10 percent of all black bears harvested in New York State last year and Sullivan was also the most prolific county of the 25 counties which reported harvesting bear in 2004. Archers accounted for nearly half the bear take in Sullivan County, harvesting 42.

Bailey-Richman VFW Post #9588 of Monticello recently presented Monticello High School Student Nicholas Burton with a first place District 2 plaque for his winning essay in the annual “Patriot’s Pen” contest. 

Sean Semenetz, who is a senior at Sullivan West Central School, won the Nike Tour Invitational Junior Golf Tour event at French Creek Golf Club in Elverson, Pa. He shot a 4-over par 146 to capture first place in the competition, which featured 43 golfers.

10 Years Ago - 2015

This month, construction is expected to start on a 109.8-kilowatt solar array at the Town of Tusten Highway Department, near 97’s intersection with County Route 25. Tusten Planning Board Chairman Ed Jackson affirmed, “We are the first town in Sullivan County going solar.” SUNY Sullivan and the county itself have already installed solar arrays powering some of their facilities, and cheaper prices and increased efficiency have spread photovoltaic projects around the country. According to Tusten Supervisor Carol Wingert, over the next two decades she estimates savings to exceed $600,000. Tusten officials have already provided advice and information to the neighboring towns of Highland, Bethel and Delaware.

RSVP Project Director Caryn Mathews praised the roomful of volunteers gathered at the Villa Roma in Callicoon last month for the 42nd annual RSVP recognition luncheon. Robert Grab Sr. of the Town of Highland was tabbed as the Sullivan County Senior of the Year. RSVP also recognized its two oldest retired members, 107-year-old Marie Zalesky and 104-year-old Mae Kratz.