130 Years Ago - 1896

Frank Lober has secured a controlling interest in the Jeffersonville water works and proposes to complete the system on his own responsibility this summer.

Mrs. William Lieb and her sister, Miss Tillie Himmelreich,  have returned from a week’s time with their parents at Youngsville and Mr. Lieb has returned from almost the same period of dissipation and rapid associations to his former good habits. The mistress says I kept him in pretty good shape this time when the fact of the matter is I didn’t keep it at all; it kept itself. But it doesn’t do to let the women into all these little things, don’t you know.

120 Years Ago - 1906

Rev. A. Van Overton of Slate Hill has been called to Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church and May 17 has been set for installation. 

Elmer Smith of Wurtsboro is manufacturing witch hazel by the wholesale, distilling a barrel a day of the extract. He has about ten tons of witch hazel brush on hand. He will also manufacture oils of birch, sassafras and wintergreen.

The team of Ernest Buddenhagen of the Beechwoods, highway commissioner of the Town of Delaware, became frightened by an auto near Callicoon Depot Monday. Mr. Buddenhagen was thrown from the wagon and sustained an injury to the head, but was able to be around the next day.

William Dorr and Miss Carrie Heller of Callicoon were married at the home of the bride April 25th by Rev. Hones of Roscoe.

Through the agency of Philip Hembdt, the Dauch house and lot near the schoolhouse below the village was sold last week to Mrs. Carrie Morgan of New York, a daughter of George Wagner of Kenoza Lake, for $1175.

Don’t forget that next Monday is the Jeffersonville semi-annual street fair. Our business people are getting ready for a big day and will take care of all outsiders who come to town.

110 Years Ago - 1916

Philip Neff of near Fosterdale has bought the Rockefeller farm of 131 acres near the pump station for $1500.

Miss Chelius, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Chelius of Jeffersonville, was married to Wm. F. Staib of Brooklyn on Monday evening. The groom is the son of John G. Staib of Jeffersonville.

Grishaber and Alpy of the Jeffersonville Garage Co. started work yesterday on the erection of a 20 x 30 one story automobile showroom and supply store in front of their garage and machine shop on Main Street.

A band of gypsies with nine or ten rigs passed through Jeffersonville about noon yesterday, going east. This is the largest troupe of these people seen here in years. They are probably the same band who were driven out of Liberty and Monticello during the past week. It will be well to look out for them. They are now camped on the flat this side of Youngsville and will probably try to work the people around here.

100 Years Ago - 1926

The Oakland Hotel, a 30-room structure at Narrowsburg opposite the Erie Station, was burned down by a fire of unknown origin last Friday morning.

It’s queer how a fellow who has no time for a garden will spade two hours to get a can of fishing worms.

Wallace Stoesser and Miss Elmira Klein of Callicoon were married at the bride’s home on April 7th.

Robert Wood, formerly of Jeffersonville, and Mrs. Elizabeth Roser Reinheimer of Callicoon Center were married last night at the Lutheran parsonage in Jeff by Rev. Fred Foerster.

Another of life’s perplexities is why those who are against everything can make so much more noise than those who are not.

Fred A. Hust and family are home again in Kenoza Lake after spending the winter at North Branch where Mr. Hust is teaching school.

90 Years Ago - 1936

Charles H. Duttweiler, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Duttweiler, who enlisted in the Navy three years ago after graduation from J.C.S., is home on a 30-day leave.

Miss Ruth Klingman of New York has accepted an engagement to sing this summer at the Cincinnati Opera House. She will appear at the Metropolitan in New York next fall. Miss Klingman is a granddaughter of the late Louis Weyrauch and Mrs. Weyrauch of Callicoon Center.

The first annual Sullivan County music festival will be held at Monticello on May 1st. The Jeffersonville school will be represented by Frank A. Bielec, music director.

Manual A. Alexander, former Broadway stage and screen star, arrived at his bungalow on Lake Jefferson last week, Thursday, and so overcome was he with the invigorating effects of the mountain air that he could not help but give vent to his inspired emotions. Troopers Waldron and Flynn took him before Justice E.V. McDermott, who rewarded the exuberant actor with a $10 fine and a 30-day suspended sentence.

Irving Markowsky of Jeffersonville has begun work on a 3-story garage and store building in Liberty. The new company, will handle cars and accessories.

80 Years Ago - 1946

Samuel Larisch will open a new food market in the Abel building on  April 26th. He is the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kaplan and was recently discharged from the Army after serving in Europe.

Mr. and Mrs. William Krum of Hurd have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lela, to Peter Ruggeri of Union City, N.J. Lela is a graduate of J.C.S.

The marriage of their daughter, Beverly Margaret, to Ervin Eugene Saxon of the U.S. Army, has been announced by Mr. and Mrs. William Becker of Brooklyn. The bride is a granddaughter of Mrs. Richard Schoaf of Kenoza Lake.

Karen Marie, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Bossley (Emma Norris) was christened last Sunday at the Presbyterian Church. The sponsors were Vernon Bossley and Eileen Norris.

70 Years Ago - 1956

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Dixon of Swan Lake RD have announced the engagement of their daughter, Eleanor, to Donald M. Lare, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Edgar Lare of  Youngsville.

The first meeting of the Sullivan County Planning Board and its advisory committee was held at the Courthouse in Monticello last Friday under the chairmanship of Liberty  Supervisor William Pearson. William Elliott of Liberty was named vice-chairman, and Mrs. Alice McLaughlin of Monticello, secretary. Main speaker was W. Dale Schwartzmiller, Regional Director of the New York State Department of Commerce.

William C. Fuhrer and daughter, Bernice, returned  home after two months in Florida. While there they took a cruise to Nassau in the Bahamas.

Joan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Miller of Livingston Manor, became the bride of Walter J. William of Damascus, Pa., on April 15 at the Livingston Manor Methodist Church.

Henry Gully passed away at his home in White Lake on April 22nd.

At the Maple Theatre – Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in “Forever Darling.” Children  under twelve may use Quaker Oats movie tickets for admission with one paid adult admission.

The farm owned by the Maltby family for several generations has been sold by Kurt Abramczyk of Scheidell and Schmitt to Mr. Frank Zito, who, with his wife and three children, will make it their  permanent home.

The Trojan orators of JYCS captured first place at the 27th annual tournament of the New York State District of the National Forensic League at Syracuse University.

The annual school exhibit and first annual Science Fair were held at JYCS on April 27. There were 115 projects displayed at the Science Fair.

60 Years Ago - 1966

Anthony A. Tempel, 93, a longtime Obernburg resident, died Monday at the Callicoon Hospital. Mr. Tempel, a dairy farmer, operated the Broadway Cottage successfully for many years.

The State Superintendent of Public Works today announced receipt of a low bid of $544,344.50 from County Asphalt Inc. of Tarrytown for the widening and resurfacing of Route 97 from County Road 28 west of Lake Huntington southerly 7.01 miles to just east of Narrowsburg. Existing 2-foot wide pavement portions will be widened to 22 feet.

On Sunday, at 2:01 a.m., the Big Eddy Telephone Company cut over its Beach Lake Exchange to dial operation.

The Delaware River has come in for its share of publicity in the past, but this spring it seems to have gotten more than its share. The Sullivan County Board of Supervisors at the bidding of many of the Delaware Valley residents and sportsmen from all over the area have petitioned the powers that be to keep the stream flow higher by releasing more water from the big dams on the East and West branches of the river.

Another step in the projected construction of a conservation department boat launching site at Narrowsburg has been taken. A court order, signed by Supreme Court Justice William Deckelman of Jeffersonville, allows the Narrowsburg Fire Department to transfer title to 2.5 acres along the Delaware River on the eddy above the bridge to the state.

50 Years Ago - 1976

Mr. and Mrs. James Owens of Youngsville announce the engagement of their daughter, Lorrie, to Mr. Richard Maus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Maus of Youngsville. A Fall wedding is planned.

Sullivan County’s bicentennial  year events will get going in high gear on Saturday as Liberty braces for what might be the biggest parade ever in the county. The Loyalty Day Parade, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars within the county, is expected to have 106 different units for a total number of over 1,000 marchers.

Representative Matthew McHugh has announced his intention to again seek the seat in Congress which he now holds.

Keith David Barry, son of Mrs. Letha Sweet of the Little Britain Trailer Park, Ferndale, was killed in an accident Friday afternoon. Target shooting with his friend, the boys returned to Keith’s house for more ammunition and en route Keith tripped on the underbrush. His friend fell on top of him and the “unloaded” .22 rifle discharged a bullet into the 12-year-old’s back. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deborah A. Bennett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bennett of New City and formerly of Callicoon, became the bride of Jeffrey S. Knoth of Cayce, S.C., at the New City Methodist Church on April 9.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Hogencamp of White Sulphur Springs were feted on the occasion of their 55th wedding anniversary with a party given by their children.

40 Years Ago - 1986

Claire Pecsi, an employee of the First National Bank in Jeffersonville, was chosen the Sullivan County Democrat’s “Secretary of the Year”  at a random selection of secretaries throughout the county.

Fourteen inches of snow blanketed the county between Tuesday night and Wednesday noon. Where’s Spring?

Mrs. Edith Overton of Monticello, a retired telephone operator, received an eight-pound shad caught by County Clerk Joe Purcell in the Delaware River. Mrs. Overton recalls her father purchasing shad for fish peddlers on Long Island. She is 97 years of age.

Francine Tremper, representing the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 5808, Callicoon, was chosen Loyalty Day Queen at the contest held Saturday night in Liberty. 

Jane Tyler of Damascus, a correspondent for the Sullivan County Democrat, was feted on the occasion of her 85th birthday at the Damascus Methodist Church on Sunday.

Roscoe’s Jim Ross and Delaware Valley’s Mike Hennigan each took a first in Saturday’s Middletown Invitational Track and Field meet.

Phil Kaplan, sports editor, and Fred Stabbert III represented the Sullivan County Democrat at the fifth annual Canoe Race sponsored by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce in Honesdale. Sorry, we can’t report any trophies but the boys had a good time supporting the C of C.

30 Years Ago - 1996

The 500 Sullivan County citizens, officials and business representatives who went to Albany to lobby for a Mohawk gaming casino at Monticello Raceway were told by Greg Goldstein, vice-chairman of the Sullivan County Gaming Advisory Committee, that Gov. George Patki had, indeed, heard them and had completely reversed his opposition to the plan.

The developers of the Village Square Shopping Center in Liberty plan to build a new plaza for retail and office space diagonally across Route 52, with construction starting as early as this summer.

The first-ever Sullivan County Expo ‘96 Business Trade Show was held in the Liberty High School gymnasium and was a resounding success, according to fair organizers.

Nora Townsend of Liberty celebrated her 96th birthday on April 21 at the home of her son, Edward Townsend.

After a 14-month search, Sullivan County has found its new county manager in Jonathan Drapkin, currently the director of the New York City Council’s Office on Oversight and Investigation since 1989.

Fifteen members of the Jeff-Youngsville Central School’s Honor Society planted 100 Norway spruce seedlings in celebration of Earth Day 1996.

Charter members of the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 5808 and Ladies Auxiliary, VFW, of Callicoon celebrated their 50th anniversary of the organization at a luncheon held at Pete’s Pub in Lake Huntington.

About 30 Boy Scouts from Troop #106 of Jeffersonville under the leadership of Scoutmaster Tom Gain, along with approximately 20 scouts from Slate Hill Troop #58, attended the weekend campout atop Hanslmeier’s Hill last weekend.

Thirty-five French students, ranging in age from 13 to 15, from Le Mans, France, arrived in Liberty Monday to begin a two-week experience in an American school. 

20 Years Ago - 2006

On Saturday, the 5th annual Poker Walk returned to Liberty, and this year all the proceeds were donated to the Liberty Parks and Recreation Department.

K.L. Rutherford Elementary School recently held its sixth annual Geography Bee, sponsored by the National Geographical Society. After rounds of tough geography questions, Ashlynn Barbarite and Joseph Klein were left to battle through tie-breaker questions. After the final round, Klein was first place winner and Barbarite in second place.

On Sunday, May 7, the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 15th annual Pride of Sullivan County Awards. Eighteen deserving recipients will be honored this year, including Businessperson of the Year Craig Passante, Distinguished Service Award winner Robert Scheinman, and Distinguished Achievement winner Diane Brady.

April Ackermann of Sullivan West was named the girls’ track MVP of the Monticello Games invitational track and field meet Saturday afternoon, winning the girls’ 1,500 meter event in 5:17.3. She also took first place in the 3,000 meter race in 11:14.8.

10 Years Ago - 2016

Simone Evans from Wurtsboro will be graduating with high honors from SUNY Ulster in May. What makes her different from all the other graduates is that she is 14 years old. Simone wants to continue her studies by enrolling in a four-year pre-medical program, specifically to study infectious diseases. The path of medical study that Simone is working towards will take anywhere from 12 to 14 years of study and practice to complete.

Rich Winter aims to have as many commercial solar arrays as the grid will allow in Sullivan County, and he’s already got more than a dozen options to lease land.  A solar entrepreneur since 2011, Winter maintains a home in Callicoon and could be found at April’s Delaware Planning Board meeting pitching a $5 million, 10-acre array at the end of Baer Road, near Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church off Route 97.