130 Years Ago - 1895

Clarence, the four-year-old son of Edward Porter of Liberty, found a small bottle of arsenic pills one evening last week and supposing that they were for little boys to eat, he promptly swallowed all of them. The dose would ordinarily kill a horse, but Dr. Gillett was summoned in time to save the little fellow’s life.

George A. Green, a flagman on the O&W train 34, while in the act of pulling a pin for a flying switch at Livingston Manor, stubbed his toe and before he could recover himself one wheel passed over a portion of his foot, crushing it so badly that amputation of the foot was necessary.

It was about 10 a.m. when Hank Schneider the teamster returned from delivering milk to the creamery, and he hauled up in front of Beck’s store, carelessly threw down the lines and ran up the steps. The horses took the cue to start and away they went lickety-split down Main Street with several cans of skim milk, a barrel of flour and Amelia, 12-year-old daughter of Mr. Pfeifer, in the wagon box. No one was injured fortunately, after the wild ride.

120 Years Ago - 1905

Michael Ernst of Sixteen, north of this place, on Tuesday bought for $1800 the 79-acre farm, the Clute parcel of his brother-in-law, Michael Yager, who is foreman of the acid factory at Livingston Manor.

Theobald Sanders sold his farm of 72 acres near Youngsville to John Rheinheimer, a son of Henry Rheinheimer of near Callicoon. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders will go to live with their daughter, Mrs. Helen Wahl, near Fremont Center, whose husband died two years ago.

George Buddenhagen and Miss Louise Hartz were married at Hortonville  April 5. Mr. Buddenhagen is the new proprietor of the Hortonville Hotel.

The Empire Creamery of Liberty has bought the machinery of the cooperative creamery there, which has been idle for three years, and are moving it to White Sulphur Springs creamery, which the Empire people bought.

Herman Inderlied of Cochecton, appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sheriff Royce has taken charge of the office. John Norton will remain undersheriff. It is said that Mr. Inderlied will devote the salary of the office to the benefit of Mrs. Royce, mother of the deceased sheriff, as she is left with but little support and was mainly dependent upon her son.

There are no new cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis at Hurleyville. The authorities have the trouble well in hand and there is now no fear of its spreading, says The Watchman. Six persons had died from it and one is convalescing.

110 Years Ago - 1915

Hanford Bush, a former Callicoon boy, has gone to England to supervise the construction of aircraft for a large concern.

Fremont Center is shortly to have a new hotel, Casper Engert having decided to build one on the Andrew Bayer property on the site of the hotel which burned last September 24.

The Town of Delaware is building more macadam roads in the Spring. Another stretch is being added to that built last year in Jeffersonville on the Beechwoods road up the Chellis and Mages Hill. At Kenoza Lake, the town is putting in another piece of macadam road up the hill from DeLap’s Hotel. The town will put up $450 and individuals $150 more, which it is expected will build the road to the top of the hill.

After an illness of two weeks from pneumonia, Peter Menges, one of the old landmarks of Youngsville, died at his home there. He was perhaps the oldest person in this town, being within only a few days of being 98 years old.

Miss Hazel Miller of Kenoza Lake, now teaching on Swiss Hill, Miss Hazel Stephenson of Hurd, Miss Grace Moulthrop of North Branch and Miss Helen Twitchell, now teaching at Fosterdale, expect to enter New Paltz Normal School in September. Harvey Meyers of Kenoza Lake will enter Cornell University at the same time.

During the past few years the large buyers of milk, including the condenseries, have been purchasing milk on the basis of fat. This year the Borden Co., whose price we note in the Milk Reporter, is doing the same, so that almost all the milk produced now has its value fixed by the amount of butter fat it contains.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Births: A son, Frederick Francis, was born  April 2 to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wachter. A son was also born to Mr. and Mrs. John B. Harrison of Brooklyn, formerly of Jeffersonville.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, former Arctic explorer and native of Callicoon, under sentence of a federal court for using the mails to defraud an oil company operation in Texas, has abandoned the plan to appeal to the Supreme Court and goes to Leavenworth Federal prison to serve fourteen years and nine months.

The Ku Kluxers had a blow-out here last night. After a meeting at Union Chapel, a cross was burned at 10 o’clock on the Wilfert Hill northeast of Jeffersonville with three bombs at a few minutes intervals.

Mr. and Mrs. William Huff of Palisades Park, N.J., motored up last week and are staying with the former’s mother, Mrs. Betty Huff. Mr. Huff was connected with the Clover Farms Co. for eighteen years, until the sale to the Dairymen’s League and Borden’s.

Al Novia, aged 23, owner and proprietor of the Royal Delicatessen and Lunch in Monticello, was arrested suddenly and hurried to New York by detectives who claim he, with another man, entered a New York jewelry store one day in December 1934, held up, bound and gagged the proprietor and escaped with jewelry valued at more than $25,000.

The Callicoon Co-operative Dairy Association has contracted with the Sheffield Farms Co., Inc., to sell its products for the coming year. The Callicoon creamery lost market when the W.M. Evans Dairy Co. was purchased by the League several months ago.

90 Years Ago - 1935

People at North Branch are agitating a movement for the organization of a central rural school there, to take in all surrounding districts. Callicoon also wants a central school located at that place. There has been talk of a central school in Jeffersonville, too.

State Police are investigating the theft of several truck tires from the Bethel township barn near White Lake the other night. The trucks were jacked up and the tires taken off by thieves.

County Judge Cooke last Thursday signed an order permitting the Jeffersonville Grange, which has disbanded, to sell its hall for $4,500. The property was sold tentatively sometime ago to William H. Baum and wife who took possession, improved the hall and opened a restaurant.

Miss Lena Lovell, Callicoon music teacher, has formed a dancing class here among the younger people with a membership of more than a dozen and still growing.

There were a lot of fishermen out after the trout last Saturday, the opening day. Although the weather was cold many good catches were made. Ken Fuller and Stanley Hoffman came home with 13 nice natives which they caught in the north brook above Youngsville. Wm. Deckelman and Al Lieb, whipping the same stream, took out 11.

The Arlington Hotel at Kauneonga Lake will be sold in foreclosure by the Sullivan County Trust Company in the near future.

80 Years Ago - 1945

The Binghamton District office of the Office of Price Administration announced Monday that effective April 4, 1945, the increase in price of 25¢ for sales in units of one ton by coal dealers has been removed.

At the Past Commanders’ night of Emmett Turner Post at the Legion Home last Thursday, the note which was given to finance the remodeling of the home, was burned with Commander Fred Kolbe presiding.

Krongel & Sons, who operate the bakery on East Main Street, have leased a store room in the former Frankel building on South Main Street for the display and sale of their baked goods, and the space used for this in the bakery building will be used for the installation of additional ovens and machinery.

A daughter was born at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital April 8 to Mr. and Mrs. William Ellmauer (Alice Hardenburgh) of Youngs-ville. This is their sixth child.

Kenoza Lake: Alfred Adler of Brooklyn, who bought the former Henry Theiss property a year or so ago, has come to make his permanent home here. Mr. Adler is a real estate broker and proposes to carry on an intensive program in that line in the county.

City parties are negotiating for the Jesse Moulthrop house and lot overlooking Hust Lake at Kenoza Lake.

Youngsville: Mrs. Geneva Inderlied has sold the building formerly occupied by Otto Ropke as a grocery store to Adolph Wagner of North Branch, who recently sold his egg business. He will take possession May 1.

PFC Donald Krantz of this place and Cpl. Sanford R. Pierson of Newburgh, formerly of Liberty, who are in the Central Burma theater of war, met there recently through letters written to Bernice Reum, Donald’s fiancee, and Mrs. Alan Lieb, Sanford’s sister. Sandy is best remembered here as a former salesman for the Lilley drug firm.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Two Jeffersonville residents were among the fifty-one persons admitted to citizenship last week by Supreme Court Justice Roscoe V. Ellsworth at Monticello. They were Signe Jahren Valentino, teacher at JCS, and Marius Cina, local plumber.

Susie 2 1/2 year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Sefthafner, tenants in the Ross house on the island, fell into the mill race Monday afternoon while playing along the bank with her 3 1/2-year-old brother who gave the alarm. Mrs. Sefthafner ran to the race and jumped into waist deep water to rescue the child who had floated downstream about 20 feet. Had Mrs. Sefthafner gone into the house, as she planned, the accident might have had a tragic ending.

Mr. and Mrs. James Donohue of Callicoon Center, the former June Krantz, are the parents of a son, Michael James, born Friday at the Callicoon Hospital.

Arnold Sims, stationed with the Navy at Bainbridge, Md., pitched a no-hit game for the Navy baseball team against Maryland College, in its opening game of the season on Tuesday,  April 5.

The marriage of Miss Erna Catherine Ebert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Ebert of North Branch, to Arthur Townsend, son of Mrs. William VanLoan of  White Sulphur Springs, took place Saturday in North Branch.

60 Years Ago - 1965

Walter F. Yewchuck has been elected fire chief of Protection Hose Co. 1 of Jeffersonville. Serving with him are: 1st. Lieut James Kohler; 2nd Lieut. E. Peter Moran and Engineers Edmund J. Ahnstrom, Carl Fred,  William M. Kohler, Robert J. Puerschner and Harry P. Mathern.

Allegheny College selected James Ackerly of Roscoe as secretary-treasurer of the Inter-Fraternity Council.

Clarence A. Royce, a lifetime resident of Jeffersonville, died at his home at the age of 74.

At the Victory and A&P Markets: fryers, 27¢ lb.; pork loin roast center cut chops, 75¢ lb.; granulated sugar, 59¢ for five pounds; Maxwell House coffee, two-pound can, $1.79.

Morris Ratner of Liberty offered a site for the Sullivan County Community College in the Harris-Ferndale area.

50 Years Ago - 1975

Jane Leonard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Leonard of Staten Island, and William Fraser Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Fraser Sr. of Fremont Center, were united in marriage on April 26 at the Castleton Hill Moravian Church.

Linda Sue Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Seeley of Grooville Rd., Livingston Manor, was selected 1975 Dairy Princess at Lake Jefferson Hotel on Saturday night. Susan Fulton was named runner-up.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Reichmann of Callicoon are the proud parents of a 9 lb. 1/2 oz. son, Christopher Michael, born at the Loomis Hospital April 26.

Harry Steffens, 84, retired funeral director, died at the Grover Hermann Hospital in Callicoon on April 27.

Mr. and Mrs. George Widmann of Callicoon were honored with a family gathering in observance of their 35th wedding anniversary on April 27.

40 Years Ago - 1985

Henry Michel of Swan Lake received the 1984 Conservation Farmer of the Year Award from the Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation District at their recent dinner held at the Lighthouse in White Lake.

The North Carolina Dance Theater will be appearing at the Monticello High School on May 4 and will be the seventh performance scheduled in the 1984-85 Performing Arts Series presented by the Sullivan County Arts Council and the Sullivan County Community College.

On Saturday, the United National Bank will celebrate the grand opening of its Liberty branch to be located in the Jamesway Mall in Liberty. The bank also has offices in Callicoon, Monticello, Narrowsburg, Sparrow Bush and Wurtsboro.

Brandi Baker of Jeffersonville presided as Loyalty Day Queen at the annual parade held in Callicoon on Sunday. Assemblyman Richard I. Coombes was the keynote speaker of the event sponsored by the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 5808, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was joined on the dais by such notable dignitaries as  Sullivan County Sheriff Joe Wasser, Parade Marshal Lou Ratner, Sullivan County Clerk Joe Purcell, Sullivan County Court Judge Robert Williams and Congressman Benjamin Gilman.

Rep. Benjamin A.  Gilman (R-26) has announced the appointment of John Douglas McDowall of Harris to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

Mrs. Katherine McCaffrey of Pond Eddy was named Senior Citizen of the year by the Sullivan County Office for the Aging at the 12th annual recognition luncheon held Monday at the Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Jim Hughson Excavating of Jeffersonville has been hired to clear and level the area designated to be the home field of a minor league baseball team, the Mountaindale Lions. The 25-acre piece of land was donated by Bill and Patsy Resnick of Mountaindale.

The newly organized Basket Historical Society of the Upper Delaware Valley will hold its first meeting on May 1 in Long Eddy. Officers will be elected at the meeting.

Julie Segar and Irving Russell were married at the Presbyterian Manse in Jeffersonville on March 23.

The Long Eddy Fire Department members are preparing a site for their new Firemen’s Park, adjacent to the Basket Historical Society. Plans call for the construction of a barbecue pit, a half-court basketball playing area, picnic area and horseshoe pit.

Tri-Valley downed the Delaware Valley Eagles by a score of 6-4 in the baseball league opener played at Callicoon Monday.

Miss Tammy Conklin, a junior at Tri-Valley Central School and representing the Dennis Akerley Memorial Post No. 8648 in Neversink, was named Sullivan County Loyalty Day Queen Sunday at the VFW Post 9217 in Liberty. Tara Flynn of Bloomingburg, the 1994 queen, was on hand to turn over the reign to her successor.

Keith Manzolillo was the first hunter to enter the Democrat’s Turkey contest, registering a 21 lb. 7 oz. gobbler which sported a 10 1/2” beard and 1 1/4 inch spurs. Dave Unser of Callicoon Center has entered a 23 lb. 10 oz. bird to lead the contenders in weights, closely followed by one weighing 23 lb. 7oz., taken by Ben Richards of Monticello and a 23-pounder, taken by Jim Hammett of Jeffersonville.

20 Years Ago - 2005

Perry Brown of Callicoon caught a 17-inch rainbow trout on April 21 while fishing in the Callicoon Creek. Fishing was officially allowed in the Callicoon Creek on April 16.

The county now has its own Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team dedicated to helping school districts stricken by grief. An international program started 20 years ago by a graduate student to answer the problems of post-traumatic stress in emergency service workers, CISM has become a standard of care for school districts.

Mike and Colleen Barber are the proud owners of Jeffersonville’s newest store, the Rustic Cottage, offering Adirondack furnishings with an edge.

Brittany Flynn, a ninth grader at Sullivan West, won the grand prize for best Spanish language poster in the Recovery Center’s annual drug and alcohol awareness poster contest. Allison Jones, a fifth grader at Benjamin Cosor Elementary School in Fallsburg won the overall grand prize in the contest for her take on its theme of “We are the future, let’s make it alcohol, tobacco, and drug free.” Usually a high school student garners the top prize, but Jones wowed the judges with her portrayal of this year’s theme.

Fifteen-year-old Civil Air Patrol Cadet Noah Belcher earned the highest CAP award at the New York Annual CAP Wing Conference in Owego. The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the Air Force.

10 Years Ago - 2015

A wildfire reportedly started Sunday afternoon by a Summitville resident burning debris outdoors – in violation of a burn ban order – has affected hundreds of acres in the forested Shawangunk Ridge area in the Town of Mamakating.  At least two dozen fire companies from Sullivan, Ulster and Orange are combating the blaze, which still burned as of press time. Yesterday, county departments also responded to brush fires in White Sulphur Springs, Kenoza Lake, Westbrookville and the South Fallsburg-Kiamesha Lake area.

Ravaged multiple times by the Cattail Brook’s floodwaters, Livingston Manor’s Flood of 2012 finally did in two homes along County Route 149 (Shandelee Road), forcing the Town of Rockland to condemn them. Faced with unsafe structures threatening both the road and the creek, Rockland officials, led by the late Supervisor Ed Weitmann, worked with Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation to secure a $100,000 grant, allowing the town to buy and demolish the two homes, whose very foundations had been eroded away by floodwaters. Last week, Rockland highway workers were assisted by the Sullivan County Division of Public Works (which sent an employee and excavator) in tearing down the structures. 

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 230,846 visitors to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River in 2014 spent $9,531,800 in communities near the park. That spending supported 108 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $11,235,700.