140 years ago - 1881

We are reliably informed that owing to the fear of spreading the smallpox through the town, the schools and churches of Obernburg and Fremont Center are closed for the present.

Lou German, Callicoon tinsmith, has closed up his business and will move his family to Millington, N.Y.

John P. Kenney and Emma Corbey, both of White Lake, were married on February 23 by Rev. Barber.

Eggs are 20¢ a dozen in this fire-cursed town, Liberty.

The noblest gift God ever bestowed on man was the liberty to work out his own salvation.

A new Griffith's “combination” billiard table has been ordered by Schafer of Liberty to replace the one so long used in his saloon.

The other day a rifle ball was fired through the cab of Fire Engine #373 attached to train 43 as it was passing through Hankins station. The bullet passed through the clothing of Engineer J.L. Smith.

Do not forget to attend the Grand Social Hop at Eagle Hall next Tuesday. This gathering will be the most complete and enjoyable one of the season and you should not miss it. The music will be furnished by the Jeffersonville String Band.

130 years ago - 1891

Mr. Chas. Scheidell of Jeffersonville is buying cattle to ship to the eastern market. For a number of years during the latter part of the winter and extending through the spring months and the forepart of the summer, Mr. Scheidell has bought and shipped large numbers of oxen and cows. His enterprise in that direction makes a good home market for the surplus stock of the farmers in this vicinity.

Cochecton — Alexander Irvine, aged and respected citizen, died at his home February 7, 1891. He was the father of ex-sheriff Vail Irvine... Prof. Bigoloof, Mount Pleasant, has organized a singing school at Damascus, to be held in the Delaware Valley Academy every Thursday evening... Mrs. Michael Mague died at her home in Damascus after a lingering illness February 9, aged 70 years... Peter Burke has shipped several carloads of fat cattle to the city.

Spring Brook — Snow in this section was two feet deep up to the recent rain... George Gage has had the leading boarding house at the Brook this winter. He made it very pleasant for his people.

J.C. Smith, veterinary surgeon, will be at Kenoza Lake March 13 and at Jeffersonville March 14 prepared to cut ringbone, spavins and splints on horses. He is also to dress and extract horses' teeth in a workman-like manner. — ADV.

Mrs. Ferdinand Hahn of Callicoon called on us Tuesday.

We are pleased to see our friend, Will Lieb, in town again though we regret to say that ill health is a cause of his appearance. The city doesn't seem agreeable to Will's health.

Marie Neumann, aged 70, died at Callicoon February 13, 1891.

Wm. N. Mitteer died at his home on Saturday last. He was a man well-known throughout the county, and an influential and prominent citizen. He leaves a large amount of property.

120 years ago -1901

Jeffersonville is greatly in need of a good system of water works not so much for household purposes, as for protection from fire.

It may be well to remind the driving public that the law requires every sleigh to have bells on it, a warning to pedestrians and other travelers on the highway. There ought also to be a law requiring all conveyances to carry a light at night.

Fosterdale — Two sows belonging to Adam Bernhardt broke through the ice in the outlet of the pond on his place, where they had gone to drink. Mr. Bernhardt, with the help of Mr. Diehl, got them out of the water and drew them to the barn on a stone boat. All efforts to save them failed. They lived only about an hour.

William Knell of Brooklyn was in town last week, having come to see his father, Simon Knell of Youngsville, who is in very poor health.

Louis P. Faubel and William Bernhardt went to New York City on Sunday for a few days' stay.

George Hembdt of the Halfway House near Kenoza Lake, last week bought the Wilson Bottling Works at Monticello for $775 and will take possession on the first of March. It is rumored that John Keim of Jeffersonville will go into partnership with Mr. Hembdt.

Oscar Schaefer of Cadosia was in town the other day negotiating for the lease of the Jeffersonville House. He is the son of John Schaefer, formerly of Jeffersonville.

The Henry Brown place at the lower end of the village, consisting of house and barn and 28 acres, has been sold to the heirs of John von Bergen, formerly of Jeffersonville, who has been conducting the Western Hotel stables at Callicoon Depot for the past few years. The price is $1625.

The Union Sunday School has purchased a building lot on the north side of Orchard Street of Gus Neuberger and will build a chapel there in the spring. The lot is 40 x 100. The price is $175.

John Beck has opened a tailoring business in his store, employing Ulrich Juergens.

110 years ago - 1911

After a busy legal career of half a century, Alpheus Potts, former judge, district attorney and legislator, died at his home in Jeffersonville Tuesday afternoon, after a week's confinement due to blood poisoning. He was 73 years of age.

Alpheus Potts was born on a farm at Bethel February 6, 1838, a son of Samuel Potts and Louise Dabron, who were early settlers there. After attending the district school and school at Binghamton, he taught Liberty Academy and commercial school a couple of years at Fosterdale and Thompsonville. During the Civil War in the ‘60s, he entered the office of County Judge Isaac Anderson in Jeffersonville as a law clerk. Later he took up the practice of law for himself and continued steadily in the harness up to the evening of his final illness.

Judge Potts was a Republican and in his earlier life was prominent in the party affairs in town, county and state. He served as assemblyman for a term, and was appointed county judge and surrogate by the governor to fill a vacancy for a year.

Forty-two years ago he was united in marriage with Mary L. Dutcher, niece of Granville Porter, who was then proprietor of the Mansion House. They have since made their home in the house formerly owned by Judge Anderson. One son born to them, Arthur, was drowned in the Callicoon Creek at the age of 4 in 1875, when he fell off the porch of his father's law office. Surviving sons are Theron, superintendent of schools on the island of Puerto Rico, and Luther, who is in California.

A new Presbyterian Church has been organized at Lake Huntington. Henry Hordhausen and Charles Myers have been elected elders and John Brining Jr., George Henry and Fred Kaempf have been elected trustees.

Henry Leins of Callicoon Center and Miss Margaret Moore of near Roscoe were married on February 15.

100 years ago - 1921

Otto W. Meyer has sold the old store building next to the Mansion House to Abe Roth, the former Maple Avenue grocer, who says he will open a bakery there. Mr. Roth will renovate and improve the interior of the building, which was damaged by fire during its occupancy by Wm. Becker, druggist in 1918 after the big fire on South Main Street.

Wm. H. Knack has sold his farm of nearly 80 acres in Beechwoods to his son, Alfred. Mr. Knack, senior, retains the 56-acre farm of his father, the late Peter Knack, which adjoins.

Stanley Schoonmaker of Liberty and Ernest Kiel of Stevensville have had their herds tuberculin tested and all reacting animals are being disposed of.

Wm. Crary and Gaylord Hull of Liberty have filed applications for their herds to be tested by the state and federal authorities. Many other farmers are contemplating having their herds tested.

Miss Mildred Fitch, who has been employed at Binghamton, is spending the week here with her sister, Mrs. Wm. Deckelman. Miss Fitch will leave tomorrow for New York to take up a course in nursing at Bellevue Hospital.

The greatest surprise experienced here this winter was when our people awoke from their sleep Sunday morning and found a foot of snow on the ground, dispelling all thoughts of spring. It continued and reached an average depth of 14 inches. The big snow has persuaded Fred Siebert to come out with his fliver bobs.

Charles Reinhardt Schmin­ke, a summer resident of Kenoza Lake, died at his home in New York City February 17, in his 80th year. He was born in Sax-Meiningen, Germany, came to New York as a young man and for many years conducted a bakery on East Houston St., accumulating a fortune before retiring. For 40 years, he has been a summer resident in this area.

90 years ago - 1931

Accidents in Roscoe include the fall of Mrs. Gordon Schoon­maker when she slipped on the ice and crashed through the plate glass window of the Bennett Bros. Pharmacy, and Peter Wagner's fall on the ice when crossing the street from his place on the night of February 14 to the White House Restaurant, cutting a great gash in the back of his head.

The plumbing firm of Wm. J. Grishaber & Son has been dissolved with the father buying the half interest of his son, Herbie, who wants to make a change but hasn't determined his plans yet.

At Livingston Manor, the Many house and lot was sold under a mortgage held by Emma Mitchell of Callicoon whose claim was for $3600. She bought the property for $2100.

The big fight between the trustees of the Fremont Center School and the Commissioner of Education over the transportation of high school pupils appears to be over. Supt. Charles S. Hick has named Edward Emrich, Charles Becker and Peter Hibert as new trustees. They have contracted with Earl Smith to transport the six Fremont Center pupils to the Callicoon High School for the remainder of the term for $400. From Mileses, five pupils will be transported to Callicoon for $300.

Jacob Steinhauser, aged 68, of Callicoon Center, died on February 23 after an operation at Middletown. He was born at Callicoon Center, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Steinhauser, natives of Germany, and lived all his life there on a farm. His wife, three sons and five daughters, survive.

Miss Grace Gorr, daughter of Philip Gorr of North Branch and Ralph L. Mootz of Callicoon Center were married on February 11 at the Callicoon Center parsonage by Rev. J.E. Straub.

Assemblyman Whittaker of Sullivan County voted with the state Democratic organization for the repeal of prohibition when the bill came up in the Assembly the other day.

Everybody knows exactly how to raise children except the people who are raising them.

80 years ago - 1941

Clifton Mathern, the first boy to go into military service from Jeffersonville, is en route to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, from Ft. Dix.

About 50 Legionnaires and ex-servicemen registered for emergency defense at the Emmett Turner Post on Saturday.

Conrad Ruppert, 1937 Jeffersonville High School graduate, now in his last year of study in the physical education department at Cortland State Normal School, has received the highest honor there, having been crowned sports king of 1941. He is 23 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 180 lbs. He has signed to teach next year as physical instructor at the West Winfield School in Herkimer County. He is the first in his class to get a job.

Herbert Daniel Weltsch, aged 51, native of Jeffersonville, and for the past twenty years, a resident of New Jersey, died February 24 from injuries sustained when he was hit by a car while crossing the street in Bloomfield, N.J., on Monday night. He was born on Swiss Hill, March 3, 1890, a son of Casper Weltsch and Catherine Frutiger. He has been with the Borden Products Co. of New York in the distribution field for the past 20 years. His surviving relatives include two nephews and two nieces, Elliott, Gilbert and Marilyn Weiss of Jeff and Dorothy Millen of Swan Lake and Miss Lillian M. Weltsch, R.N., of Brooklyn, as well as a daughter and a brother.

Arthur Luchs took in the Sportsman's Show in New York on Saturday.

70 years ago - 1951

A pistol club has been organized in Jeff with Burt Mullally as its leader. The club will meet every Monday evening at Joe Allgeier's Lake Tavern at Kenoza Lake. The club has 15 members and will welcome new members.

A surprise party was tendered to the “dean” of Jeffersonville, William Knell, at a regular meeting of Lincoln Chapter #463, O.E.S., at the lodge rooms in the Masonic Hall.

On February 24th, Miss Joan Holt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Holt of Jeffersonville, became the bride of Lou Torlincasi of New York City.

Two hundred fifty dinners were served at the annual dinner meeting of the Sullivan County Cooperative Dairy Association at the Jeffersonville Central School on Saturday. Directors Wilbur Meyers and Harvey Neill were unanimously re-elected. Henry Schaefer is the manager and the other three directors are Walter Weiss, William Nestel and Edwin Ferber.

John Muth, son of Mrs. Mary Nakao, has been placed on the Dean's List at St. Bonaventure. He received 44 out of a possible 45 qualifying points in the 1st semester and maintained an “A” average.

The Mansion House is being renovated by Henry Townsend into 2, 3 and 4-room apartments.

Al Knack has accepted a position with GLF in Ithaca.

The grand opening of the Lake Jefferson Hotel will be held on Saturday evening, March 3rd, in conjunction with a dance for the benefit of the Welfare Fund of the Jeff VFW. The hotel has been extensively renovated by its new owners, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Hoering. Bill Krum is coming out of retirement for the occasion to call the square dances.

Mrs. Elizabeth Bietz, 81, widow of Frederick Bietz, died on Thursday in the Bronx, where she had been living with her daughter, Lillian. She was born in North Branch, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Schmidt, a blacksmith there, who was one of the German pioneers. Her husband, Frederick, a butch­er, died 37 years ago.

60 years ago - 1961

Lena Faubel, lifelong area resident and in recent years a resident of Jeffersonville, died on February 17 at the age of 70.

The Board of Supervisors gave solid backing to the efforts to get Route 17B and Route 97 rebuilt at an early date, as they sent resolutions off to all appropriate agencies.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eggler of White Sulphur Springs are the proud parents of a son, born February 20th.

Russell Osterhout, 53, of Jeffersonville, died February 21. He had been a truck driver for Wm. Kohler & Sons.

Delaware Valley Central School Board is moving steadily forward in getting 8 new additional classrooms in a proposed two-story addition. Estimate of the cost of the project is $300,000.

Moderating weather and considerable thawing should bring a measure of relief to the deer herd, but dog owners are still being warned to keep their pets home. Sportsmen are urged to cut browse to alleviate the starving deer.

50 years ago - 1971

Two faculty members of St. Joseph's Franciscan Seminary, Callicoon, have received national recognition in the Outstanding Educators of America annual. Named are Mrs. Helen C. Intemann and Father Edward F. Flanagan, O.F.M., in the 1970 edition published in late January of 1971.

Robert Alan Meyer of Narrowsburg has been chosen for early selection in the Air Force Academy class entering on July 5, 1917, according to an announcement by Congressman Hamilton Fish Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Flynn of North Branch were given a 25th wedding anniversary party at their home, hosted by their eight children. Two sons, John, stationed with the U.S. Marines in Scotland, and Robert, employed in Florida, were unable to attend.

Miss Penny Deckelman of Fremont Center became the bride of Thomas Klemm on February 13 at the Fremont Center Methodist Church.

40 years ago - 1981

Delaware Rivermaster Robert Fish reported that the river reached a height of 21 feet during last week's flood, but stressed that the figure was not official because the gauge froze during the flood. While February's precipitation brought heartache to the victims of floods in Hancock and Port Jervis, the four inches of rain and snow that hit the upper Delaware basin of the river were cause for a small sigh of relief from those watching the drought situation.

In a baseball-on-ice game between the Loch Sheldrake (3-2) firemen and Woodbourne, the Firefighters Burn Treatment Fund was the winner with a contribution of $1,200. The victory immediately brought a challenge from Neversink firemen for a replay, same time, same place next year. And, best of all, for the same benefit.

Lisa Edward, daughter of Nancy and Frank Schrader, was guest of honor at a Sweet 16 party Saturday at Kathrine and Russell Klein's cabin.

Shawn Lauferswiler of Monticello earned a third place on the New York Junior II Ski Team for 14 and 15-year-olds and will compete on March 1 in Stowe, Vt., in the Junior Olympic Tryouts.

Three businesses were completely destroyed early Saturday morning at 66-70 South Main Street in Liberty. One hundred twenty firemen from Liberty, Monticello and White Sulphur Springs battled the fire for six hours.

30 years ago - 1991

The 100th anniversary of the Livingston Manor Fire Department will be observed July 25-28. A Mardi Gras parade will be held July 26. The chairman is awaiting word on the appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales.

The Youngsville Firemen served 785 meals at their pancake breakfast on Sunday.

The 50/50 of $202 was won by Helen Scardefield.

The Sullivan County Community College Foundation took a major step forward with the announcement that $341,000 has been raised to date in its $500,000 campaign drive. Of that amount, $121,050 was raised by the Business and Industry Committee, through pledges from 40 area financial and insurance institutions and industries said co-chairman Julius Cohen and Robert Ernst.

Six Liberty-Jeffersonville/ Youngsville matmen qualified for the Section IX championships in Minisink this weekend. They are: Tim Cornish, Jim Nolan, David Cornish, Ron Lennon, Austin LaBagh and Randy Baim. With every wrestler returning next year, Coach Ivan Katz hopes to improve on L-NY's 3-9 league record, which was its best showing ever.

A northern hawk owl, whose habitat is normally the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska, was sighted in north Wayne County in October and has become the focal point for a large number of bird watchers traveling to the area from as far away as Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Philadelphia. Hunting in the daytime, the owl can average eating from three to five mice a day.

Even as President Bush's “noon ultimatum” for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait came and went Saturday, members of the Sullivan Peace Alliance gathered in Monticello for a demonstration against the war. Participants noted about an equal response in support of and against their message.

A new $400,000 public works barn for the Town of Mamakating on Route 209 went into service this week, replacing the old barn located in Wurtsboro.

20 Years Ago - 2001

As of 2001, Sullivan County's fund balance has reached an all-time high of $23 million. Unemployment is down, and sales tax collection is up. Several mega-projects - including Kohl's, the Bethel Performing Arts Center, the Concord, and a possible casino - are all looming on the horizon. These were just some of the highlights of the sixth State of the County address given by Legislature Chair Rusty Pomeroy on Thursday. Nearly 100 people braved a nasty snowstorm to listen to Pomeroy's assessment of the county, and he managed to get a standing ovation when he was done.

A record $52,498 was raised at the annual Heart-a-Thon held Saturday at Kutsher's County 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 that 50 percent of the money will stay in Sullivan County.

Event co-chairs were Susan Hemmer and Kathleen LaBuda. “We have close to 250 volunteers here from every town and village in the county,” said WSUL Station Manager Bill Reynolds proudly. One of the day's highlights was “The DJ Summit”; for one hour, WSUL radio personality Josh Sommers and former WVOS host Paul “Redneck” Decker shared the airwaves, encouraging people to call in - even arm wrestling on-air.

10 Years Ago - 2011

A distressed bald Eagle was found by hikers along the shore of Crystal Lake State Park in Fremont on Super Bowl Sunday during a snowshoeing expedition organized by Lisa Lyons of Livingston Manor. Unable to fly and in obvious distress, this eagle could not hope to survive if it could not fly. Retired DEC senior wildlife technician, Carl Lindsley, was called to help and arrived within the hour to assist the injured bird, named “Chrys” by the hikers. He quietly walked up behind the bird, swooped up “Chrys” in one motion, then did a brief diagnostic of the creature's medical status. The group safely got the bird into Lindsley's vehicle and the next day he transported the bird to the Delaware Valley Raptor Center in Matamoras, PA for further evaluation. They determined that the eagle, a male banded in 2002 at the Neversink Reservoir, was suffering from a toxic dose of lead poisoning. After nine days of expert care in the Rapture Center, this regal bird died. Final blood tests revealed that his body contained four times the toxic dose of lead poisoning. Lindsley speculated that the lead could come from several sources, and it would have built up over time.

The Thunder Blood Bowl is one of the largest blood drives in Sullivan County and, recently, almost 100 Thunder 102 listeners, local business, and government leaders signed in at the Sullivan County blood drive, donating 78 units of blood for the local blood bank during this critical period.

Legislators unanimously agreed (minus an absent Frank Armstrong) to put the 911 Center in White Lake under the command of the Sheriff's Office. The move will ostensibly save money and allow Sheriff Michael Schiff to put up to four more deputies on road patrol. Legislators did add two amendments to the resolution. One requires the leadership change to revert back to the Public Safety Office at the end of January 2012 (unless extended by the Legislature). The other requires a quarterly report from the county manager on how efficient the new setup is.