140 Years Ago - 1884

Hank Smith is the funniest looking object we have seen in a long time. A hurricane seems to have blown his mustache clean off.

If anybody wants to see a McDonell Odometer, a little instrument that will indicate the number of miles you travel with a horse and wagon, just call at the office and we will show one we have on exhibit here.

The Watchman of last week tells of an interesting murder committed in Monticello which resulted in the knock down of the price of coffee to 12 cents per lb., single harness, $7, carpet 24 cents per yard, and other things accordingly.

The question is are we going to celebrate the coming 4th of July in Jeffersonville. If so, the time is here for making preparations. Let some of our citizens call a meeting and give their opinions as soon as possible. We think this place is well able to pay $3.75 commission to a New York acrobat to send “tumblers” or a “rope walker” on the 4th.

Michael Sullivan of Parksville keeps his cows, twenty-eight in number, in the stables every night. This is an old notion, and we doubt its expediency. “Everyone to his taste,” but under his circumstances, we would either keep less cows or get more pasturage. We can’t understand how he can make it pay to keep cows up and feed them this time of year, at prevailing milk prices, but Mike appears to be a good farmer in other respects, and there may be some secret about his method.

130 Years Ago - 1894

Through a correspondent of the Ensign, Livingston Manor, we learn that a lodge of female whitecaps have been organized near DeBruce and is administering its medicine to some of the gentlemen in that section. If this is the case, it behooves all the gentlemen over there to move out, or else join ranks of the ungentlemanly, for we have not heard of any of the latter being molested.

Neighbors and friends gathered at the residence of Louis Roegtle, formerly of the Phillip Dorrer place, Sunday afternoon and evening to celebrate his birthday and to get on the outside of two kegs of beer which the host had ordered for the occasion.

Casper Fuhrer, our Swiss Hill butcher, is laid up for repairs, and Hank Wagner has been running his meat wagon since Monday. While Casper was coming to the village to make his route on that day, the horse took fright at an umbrella near Mrs. Moore’s and he and his boy were thrown out of the wagon, injuring them to some extent. No other damage was done.

The dwelling house of W.J. Donaldson, Bethel, was consumed by fire. The fire started from the chimney in the attic, and the latter was all ablaze before the fire was discovered. It was with great difficulty that Mr. Donaldson made his way through the dense smoke and rescued his three children from the upper story bedroom. 

A clairvoyant from an eastern city, who bears a high reputation to her magic art, visited the scene of the murder of Jacob Moore and Mrs. Raymond Moore at Bushville. It is said that her services were procured and paid for by two well-known citizens of the county.

A good suit of clothes can be bought of us for $5, which is worth $8. Young, Messiter & Co., Liberty.

120 Years Ago - 1904

W.J. Grishaber, the tinsmith, and his brother-in-law, Chester Yager, merchant, went to Norwich last week and contracted for a 600 light Springfield gasoline machine, which they will install in Jeffersonville and expect to have in operation in July. The plant will be located on the lot which Mr. Grishaber recently bought on Center Street and pipes for supplying gas for the village will run along Main Street.

Youngsville — Roadwork is finished. The road shows marked improvement in some places. Had the work, however, been directed as smoothly as the roads were made in the upper end of town, the controversy carried on between the master and men Thursday afternoon would have sounded more harmonious to those  within listening distance.

Nicholas Gebhardt, son of blacksmith Philip Gebhardt of Narrowsburg, fell from an Erie railroad bridge at Tusten a couple of weeks ago and broke both arms and wrists. He was employed as an Erie bridge carpenter. He was taken to the hospital at Port Jervis and his right hand amputated. He died on May 22 of shock.

The trial of Mrs. Taylor created little interest in this part of Sullivan and little or no sympathy was felt on either hand. It is generally felt that Lafe Taylor met his just desserts, but regretted that his wife did not rid the community of herself at the same time, and by a similar “accident” and thus save the county the great expense and unenviable notoriety of a double rehearsal of this barbarous tragedy.

The Erie’s move in hiring men to count tie lines along the lines is open to the question of economy in view of the expense-reducing discharge of employees. The information about the ties could be obtained much cheaper from the association of stranded actors, whose members have counted ties time and again.

110 Years Ago - 1914

Josh Alpy has withdrawn as machinist at Kohler’s Garage and has bought of George Schultz the Jeffersonville House barn and lot. Mr. Alpy, with his brother from White Lake, also a machinist, will start a factory for the manufacturing of plaiting machines and also run a garage. 

A party of Misses Gertrude Goodman, Mildred Kocher, Emily Scheidell, Gertrude Kohler, Raymond Kohler, Fred Seibert and Earl Allington spent Decoration Day fishing. The girls had great difficulty getting ready at 6:30 a.m., some of them carrying powder boxes and mirrors. The girls proved to be the best fishermen. Mildred Kocher landed a three lb. pickerel which took the prize at the lake for the day.

There seems to be a gasoline war on here between Standard and Tiona companies and as a consequence, the price has dropped several cents per gallon. Let the good war go on.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Neuberger of Jeff. The new arrival has been named Frances Adele.

Eloise Christine, the five-week-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kramp, was christened in St. George’s Church last Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Hick were sponsors.

Dr. Frank M. Woolsey of Hancock, president of the Livingston Manor Electric Co., was in town to see about installing street lights. An appointment was made with the town board here and it is expected that a contract for the lights will be made. Mr. Woolsey says they can put the lights up in twenty days after receiving the contract.

The Court of Appeals has affirmed the judgement secured in the Supreme Court at Monticello last June by James Manion against Loomis Sanitarium for damages sustained in a collision.

100 Years Ago - 1924

Referee R.J. Cooper of the State Compensation Board awarded James Fulton of Jeffersonville $203.85 for 100 percent disability of the left little finger, due to injuries sustained while working in Wm. Kohler’s Lumber Yard.

The farm of the late Theodore Gutman at Cochecton Center was sold by the executor Wm. Bollenbach to William Lindt of Monticello.

Jimmie Brand, son of Ed. A. Brand of this village, is receiving much recognition in his chosen field of drama. An article written in a New York paper praised his ability and stated that he is destined to reach stardom in the silent drama.

The building committee of the M.E. Church have given the contract for the foundation of the new church building to Frank Nuss and for the carpenter work to Charles Wilfert, both of Jeffersonville. The work is to be completed about September 1.

The movement to establish a “chair of jazz” in the American Academy in Rome would meet wide approval if it was made for an electric chair.

The proposal to cut 25 percent off of our income tax sounds good because it will give us more money to buy tires and gasoline and thus contribute more tax to the government so that we will get more back the next time there is a government melon.

The Jeffersonville Athletic Club opened their 1924 baseball season with an easy victory of the Narrowsburg team 15-4. Nearly 500 fans from near and far gathered to witness this opening game. Members of the Jeff team were Fitch, Myers, Ames, Tyler, Stephenson, Thompson, Hassis, Hunt, Will, Mandel and MacIntosh.

90 Years Ago - 1934

Sullivan has a Lindbergh in the person of Abe Strong, son of Harry Strong of Cochecton Center, who after working for three years on a monoplane of his own construction, made a successful maiden flight last Monday morning.

Austin Fries, aged 31, of Shandelee was mortally injured while he was engaged in fixing a flat tire on his car on the Lew Beach Road a mile or so from Livingston Manor. A car came along and hit him. He was taken unconscious to the Liberty Hospital where he died two days later.

The state highway department completed the new bridge over Jones Brook at the Allgeier place between Jeff and Callicoon, and did a very fine job. The large viaduct at Callicoon has also been completed and thrown open to traffic, although Route 3A turning south from the viaduct is still under construction and not very favorable to traffic.

Ray Calahan of Monticello, formerly manager of the A&P Store in Jeffersonville, has leased the Ropke store and gas station in Youngsville and has opened up a sweet shop. He and his family occupy rooms in the rear of the store.

Miss Harriet Lindke was given a surprise shower at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lindke. Twenty-two friends attended and the gifts were many and beautiful.

80 Years Ago - 1944

Loomis Sanitarium at Liberty, closed for two years, is to be reopened July 1 with Dr. Lee R. Tompkins of Liberty in charge, according to Bernard MacFadden, director of health resorts.

The Rev. Fred Foerster, pastor of the First Lutheran Church of Jeffersonville the past nineteen years, and also pastor of the Mileses Lutheran Church since 1941, announced his resignation last Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Keesler celebrated their golden wedding May 27 at their home in Lake Huntington, with nearly all their large family present. The Keeslers were married by Rev. Henry Unglaub at Callicoon Center. Fourteen children were born to them and 11 are still living. There are 26 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They received an electric refrigerator from the children and many other lovely gifts.

John Smith, native of Bethel, was in the graduating class at Annapolis Naval Academy last week. In 1941, Mr. Smith took a post graduate course at the Jeffersonville High School.

Youngsville — The American Legion presented one of the best parades and Memorial Day services this section of the country has enjoyed for a few years. Under the able direction and management of the Emmett Turner Post of Jeffersonville and favored by ideal weather, the people who waited along the line of march were well rewarded.

Archibald Freer, aged 75, of Ellenville, died of a heart ailment in the Veterans Memorial Hospital in that village after a short illness. Mr. Freer was born at Ellenville, son of Abraham and Anna Rilla Vernoy Freer, and spent all of his life there.

70 Years Ago - 1954

Leonard Toberoff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Toberoff of this village, will graduate from Syracuse University next Monday with a  Bachelor of Arts degree.

Considerable excitement was caused at the Callicoon Junior Prom last week when the electricity went off. The transformer had been knocked down in Mileses and the school was unable to get power. The boys and girls were perfectly happy though, with the barn lanterns and flashlights secured from here and there.

Mrs. Albert Hollander, the former Rose Brownstein, daughter of Mrs. Ida Brownstein of Jeff, won top honors in the mixed pair event of Bridge Tournament held in York, Pa.

The silver wings of a jet fighter pilot will be presented June 10th to Lieut. Arthur J. Ruppert, son of Mrs. Conrad P. Ruppert of Jeffersonville.

John B. Muth, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Nakao, and Jacob Epstein, son of Dr. Max Epstein of Jeff, were recipients of high honors at the St. Bonaventure University graduation last Sunday. The Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, was conferred upon John, and also the medal for Science Honorable Mention was given him in Senior Theology. John has maintained a straight A average throughout his university studies. Jay Epstein, who has just completed his sophomore year, was awarded a medal for public speaking. Awards for the most part are given to Seniors and Jay can be proud that the honor was given him so early in his college career.

60 Years Ago - 1964

J. Vance Hunt of Hawley, Pa., has been appointed state Masonic District Deputy Grand Master of Sullivan District. Mr. Hunt is a member of Delaware Lodge #561, Callicoon, and lived here many years. He has appointed Harold E. Deighton to be his assistant.

 Susan Frank’s presentation of her speech, The Harvest of Knowledge, won first place and the prize of $15 at the Joseph K. Strawbridge Memorial Oratorical Contest held for the first time on Tuesday at the JYC high school.

Representative Katherine St. George will be the guest speaker at the Memorial Day observance at Fremont Center on Saturday. In addition, the parade will feature the Sullivan County Dairy Princesses from whom will be selected the Sullivan County Dairy Queen at Callicoon later in the day.

White Sulphur Springs — A house on the hill east of the village, owned by Mrs. Harry Green of Liberty and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Glen Parks, was struck by lightning Tuesday morning at about 9 o’clock. It is said that Mr. Parks, who was sleeping at the time, was raised from his bed by the shock. Shingles were torn off the roof and it started to burn, but local firemen arrived within minutes and extinguished the blaze. As the sun was shining at the time, few people heard the thunder and, if they did, they thought it was a jet. Mrs. Parks and the children were unharmed.

North Branch — Those from this section taking part in Mrs. Gladys Bergner’s annual piano recital at her home in Callicoon on Saturday afternoon were the Misses Beth Priebe, Carolyn Sue Poley, Pamela Poley and Patti Lou Muller.

50 Years Ago - 1974

Susan Brown, daughter of Jeff-Y School Board President and Mrs. Robert Brown, was crowned Sullivan County Dairy Princess. Denise Barnhart of Lew Beach was first runner-up and Linda Ackerly of Grahamsville was second runner-up.

A flagpole at the Fremont Center firehouse, in honor of the late Edward Nelson, was dedicated during the Memorial Day festivities in Fremont. Former Commander of Allan Milk Post #7276, VFW, Edward Sykes, presented a flag to Charles Nelson and Mrs. Barbara LeRoy, children of Mr. Nelson at the close of the ceremonies.

Randy Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Mitchell, RD 2, Callicoon, and Miss Joyce Tyler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Tyler of Milanville, Pa., have been named valedictorian and salutatorian respectively at the Damascus High School.

Miss Leah Royce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Royce, Jeffersonville, and Edward Waldron, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Waldron of Cochecton, were united in marriage on May 18 at the United Methodist Church in Kenoza Lake. The double-ring ceremony was performed by Rev. Ralph Madill and Rev. Justin Eeles, OFM.

A surprise bridal shower was tended Miss Kyle Knight on May 16 at the United Methodist Church in Hankins. She will become the bride of Walter Haynes on June 8.

40 Years Ago - 1984

Miss Torill Hunsbedt of Burlingham was crowned Miss Sullivan County Teen for 1984 during a ceremony held at the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new Sullivan County Jail will take place on Tuesday, May 29, at the site of the new facility. (Editor’s note: In the next issue of the Sullivan County Democrat it is stated that the groundbreaking ceremony was postponed until Friday, June 1.)

A plaque was presented to Robert Intemann, Callicoon attorney, in honor of his late wife, Helen Intemann, a longtime dedicated teacher at the Delaware Valley Central School. During the evening, William Trivelpiece, chairman of the English department, said of Mrs. Intemann, “She was truly the most professional teacher I have ever known. She was competent, dedicated, enthusiastic and very influential with all the students in her classes. She was a teacher. She had the patience to insist that students learn and the perseverance to see that they learned.”

Unusually heavy rains pelted the Sullivan County area beginning late last week and continuing into the beginning of this week, causing streams and rivers throughout the county to rise near flood conditions. Approximately 6,000 homes were without electricity in the Eldred area as a possible tornado ripped through a section of the Town of Highland between Eldred and the Eldred Preserve. Memorial Day parades in Wurtsboro and Livingston Manor were cancelled and the parades in Roscoe and Fremont were postponed to Wednesday in Roscoe and June 2 for the 100th Memorial Day Parade in Fremont.

More than 12,000 fire officials and volunteer firemen from across New York state and many from adjoining states are expected to jam the hotels of Sullivan County June 17-21. Nearly 100 emergency vehicles are expected for the indoor display plus more than 300 vendors who will occupy booths in the Concord tennis courts.

The 200th anniversary of Methodism in the United States will be celebrated on June 3 at the United Methodist Church in Monticello. Included in the presentation will be a play directed by Mrs. Carol Furchak. Edward Furchak is in charge of releasing balloons commemorating the anniversary and it is hoped that many of those attending will be attired in period dress.

30 Years Ago - 1994

A public hearing on casino gambling was held at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello yesterday, hosted by Assemblyman Jake Gunther III (D/C - Forestburgh) and a panel of Assembly members. The panel heard over 30 speakers during the day.

Tom Hubers of Callicoon, founder of the IOU in Callicoon and  who helped establish the soup kitchen in Monticello, has been named Sullivan County Senior of the Year, representing the Town of Delaware. Other seniors of the year and the township they represent are: Bethel, Ann Lubniewski; Callicoon, Joseph Clifford; Cochecton, John McMonagle; Fallsburg, Sol Okun, Fremont, Thelma Herbert; Forestburgh, Margaret Abdoo; Highland, Joseph McDonald; Liberty, Henrietta Eronimous; Lumberland, Frank Gianatiempo; Mamakating, Phillip Thaw; Neversink, Barbara Wakefield Purcell; Rockland, Harold McClain; Thompson, Theodore Stroeble and Tusten, Susan Schalk.

JYCS and Narrowsburg Central School are engaged in informal talks about merging the two school districts. A new $5.6 million high school is now being completed in Jeff and according to NCS Board President Linda Pones, the Narrowsburg school would remain open as an elementary school with about 150 high school students in grades 7-12 to be transported to Jeff. Narrowsburg has also been engaged in talks of merging with the Eldred School District, but that has been nixed by Eldred voters. Because of over-crowded conditions at its present site, Narrowsburg is forced to look for other options. Renovations to the present building would cost about $1 million.

As of June 1, bicyclists under the age of 14 must wear helmets when riding or as a passenger on a bike.

Reilly’s Gallery and Ice Cream Parlor in Cochecton has been opened by Maryanne and Bob White. A former grocery store since the 1860s and unoccupied for the last few years, it will feature a fine collection of antiques and memorabilia of the area as well as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor with a train running along the ceiling throughout the whole establishment.

20 Years Ago - 2004

Rose Schwartz, a resident of the Skilled Nursing Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Schwartz, a former resident of South Fallsburg, is originally from Patterson, N.J.

Louis and Marie Boyd of Jeffersonville are the proud grandparents of their 16th grandchild. Charles Louis Van de Merlen was born January 20, 2004 to Therese and Chuck Van de Merlen of Ridgefield, Conn. He joins a brother, Scott, and a sister, Clara, at home.

Lynn and Thomas Osterhout of Hurleyville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jenifer, to James Cole Jr., son of James Cole Sr. of Ferndale. An October, 2004 wedding is planned.

Mannie Halbert, the man who helped build the Raleigh Hotel  into one of the great resort hotels of the county, died Saturday, May 29, 2004 at the age of 91. He is remembered as “a compassionate man who helped many people.”

Madeleine Kay, a 1963 graduate of the Fallsburg School, has announced the publication of “Living Serendipitously.” The book, written in 21 days after two years of research, is aimed at replacing those self help books that people underline and cross reference. Her book directs people to live in the moment, with wonder and joy.

The championships keep accumulating for Fallsburg senior Doug Novogrodsky, who edged Kingston’s Mike Tulacz on Wednesday, May 26 to win the Section IX boys’ golf championship. A week before winning the sectional championship, he captured the OCIAA golf title and Section IX Class C high jump and long jump championships. The state golf championship competition will be held this coming Sunday and Monday at Cornell University in Ithaca.

10 Years Ago - 2014

When Dafne Panayiotou told her husband she was going to throw a Greek Festival in Callicoon Center, he thought she was out of her mind.  But the part-time Youngsville resident remembers summers in her native Greece as a little girl, summers filled with festivals and communities coming together for food and fun. Panayiotou attends Sunday church services at Saint Nektarios, the Greek Orthodox Monastery at the top of Anawanda Lake Road, just outside Callicoon Center. She’s met many folks who have purchased homes locally because of the monastery, and she saw the festival as a way to help bring folks from the monastery and the community into one space, to let local residents know what the folks who have converted the old Huff House into a thriving monastery are all about. 

Catherine Peters of Callicoon, is spending four weeks volunteering in Zambia, Africa through the International Volunteer HQ Program. Peters, daughter of Gary and Nancy Peters, is currently seeking her BFA in Acting from New York University. Peters will be working with the IVHQ Zambia Childcare program to help care for children in orphanages. Peters says her inspiration for choosing the volunteer program was to do something that had nothing to do with herself or her own obstacles. She works three jobs while at school and two more during her summer break.