110 Years Ago - 1912

Kenoza Lake is being re-dammed and rewalled by Mr. Hust and the lake section will soon boast of an electric light plant.

Constable William Klein of Narrowsburg has about 40 thrifty hives of bees. He says because of the wet weather and the poor season for white clover, the honey crop this year will be light.

Fire was discovered by Policeman Monroe Clark in Sipple’s store in Roscoe Thurs-day night. The electric wire becoming entangled with the telephone wire was thought to cause the mischief. But for the timely discovery of Clark, who burst open the door and extinguished the flames, the whole block of buildings would have been burned.

100 Years Ago - 1922

Herbert Ropke of Lava and Miss Mae Elizabeth Smalley of Brooklyn were united in marriage at the Lava House on November 12, with Pastor Meyer officiating.

The Rock Cottage property has just been conveyed by owner Mrs. Mathilda Pierce of Tyler Hill to her daughter, Jennie, (Mrs. Fred A. VanOrden) of North White Lake. There is much conjecture as to the use of the property. There is one report advanced that a large sanitarium may be built there as the ozone is unexcelled in its invigorating influence, and another is that a Fresh Air Mission may be a possibility.

Nelson Conklin and his wife, Jane Dexter, celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on November 5. He is one of the few veterans of the Union Army that are left. — Conklin Hill Corresp.

Miss Anna Wood and George Upton of the Western Union line gang were married November 4 by Justice Mitchell.

90 Years Ago - 1932

The anniversary and dedication service of the North Branch Methodist Church held last Sunday afternoon was largely attended. The church was founded in 1869 and is served by Rev. F.W. VanIderstine.

Theodore Hubbert, Jacob Hauser and Elmer Robisch, all employees of Martin Hermann, have leased the sawmill and announce in another column in this paper that they will do custom sawing for the public.

A baby girl was born early this morning to Mr. and Mrs. John Ebert of North Branch. . . A nine pound baby girl, Billy Lee, was  born to Mr. and Mrs. Perry Gregg of Abrahamsville on November 12, both at the Callicoon Hospital.

The exterior of the addition to the Olympia Hotel here is practically completed. A second story was added to the main building and the rear annex was repaired for additional rooms with a garage for auto storage underneath.

80 Years Ago - 1942

Matthew J. Freda received his Army Air Force “wings” and diploma November 10 as he completed his aviation cadet training in Alabama.

Leonard Doyle of Long Eddy met with a painful accident Friday evening. He was awakened from a sound sleep by the whistle of a fast freight. He was so frightened that he jumped through the window and cut his hand severely.

Miss Anna Emrich has sold out her stock of merchandise and closed the doors of an old established business in Fremont. The Emrich store, one of the landmarks of western Sullivan County, catered to the wants of those who worked in the tanneries along the Fremont Creek in its early days. The store was established by Wm. F. A. Emrich about 60 years ago which he operated until his death four years ago.

Goldie S. Smith and Walter G. McNitt, both of Equinunk, Pa., were married at that place Thursday, November 5.

Lieut. and Mrs. B. E. Holaday of Long Eddy are the parents of a daughter, Julie Peake, born Monday at the Callicoon Hospital.

The horehound keg is again in evidence in Bennett’s Store indicating that another winter season is here. The weather beat Rube to the punch this year, however, as it felt quite wintry before the keg was brought forth.

The first meeting since reorganization of the Cochecton Township branch of the American Red Cross will be held November 18 at the Jewish Center in Lake Huntington. This meeting is to be held for the purpose of instruction in the making of about 30 Christmas kits for servicemen. The Callicoon Chapter of the Red Cross has an assignment to supply 30 overseas kits for the boys in service and these must be finished by December 1. Mrs. H.E. Ohls is in charge.

70 Years Ago - 1952

Word has been received that Sgt. Clayton Crum of Milanville was wounded in action in Korea on October 20. He has been in Korea since January.

Eleanor F. Kellam and Harry I. Wilcox, both of Fremont, were united in marriage at the Long Eddy parsonage on November 5th.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. DeMyers, who lived in Liberty more than 50 years, have recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Tempel of Roscoe and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schrumpf of Callicoon Center, both at the Callicoon Hospital.

George V. Millspaugh, 52, Sullivan County election commissioner, died at the Horton Memorial Hospital in Middletown on November 12, after suffering a heart attack Friday at his home at Masten Lake.

Workmen finished putting on the white shingle siding on St. Lucy’s Church in Cochecton last week.

The engagement of Miss Julia Winglovitz and Robert Sturdevant, Industrial Arts instructor at Delaware Valley Central School, has been announced.

Roscoe firemen were called out at 1 o’clock Wednesday morning to a fire in the Treyz Chemical Factory in Horton. Much damage was done and the origin of the fire is unknown.

The dedication of the new Delaware Valley Central School was held Monday evening, November 10, in the DVC Auditorium. Vincent Smith, the general contractor, gave an interesting speech  about the building of the school. He presented a large silver key, decorated with ribbons of purple and gold, to Alfred Long, president of the Board of Education, who made a speech of acceptance. This address was followed by a speech by Henry Paul, Superintendent of Schools, and the unveiling of the plaque.

60 Years Ago - 1962

Miss Wanda Lee Dirie, 14, was awarded first prize in the muffin contest at the New York State Grange which was held in Syracuse last week. She is master of the Hortonville Juvenile Grange.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Georgi of Narrowsburg celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a party at the Hillside in Narrowsburg on November 6.

Peter Pomeroy of Roscoe, a senior in the Roscoe Central School, has been selected to play in the All-New York State High School Band, which will be one of the features of the New York State School of Music Association Conference at the Concord, December 5. He has been playing bass horn for the last five years.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Lester Milk on their 36th anniversary. Many friends and relatives dropped in at their Goulds home.

The Monticello Village Board came near to getting the “bees-ness” Wednesday of last week when a swarm of wild honeybees was discovered between the ceiling and the roof over the meeting room. The discovery was made when a hole was cut through the ceiling to make a repair. Village Manager Thomas Belmont said Friday that a total of 24 pounds of combed honey was cached for the winter by the bees.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hauschild of Jeffersonville celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary November 4.

Stanley S. Sattinger, a graduate student at Cornell University in engineering mechanics, has been notified that he has placed third in the 1961-62 Design Problem Contest of the American Society of Mechanical engineers. He received a check of $125 for his winning design for a metering and weighing device for granular solids.

Miss Patricia Sturgis and Richard Rauch of Accord were married October 28. She is employed as Family Court Clerk in the courthouse in Monticello.

50 Years Ago - 1972

The Liberty High School Junior First Aid team ranked first among all others entered in state competition. Steven Schiff, Geraldine Ekker, Steven Sprague, Joanne Brown and Robert Ekker each received a trophy and an ambulance jacket. Thomas Nickou is their advisor.

Mr. and Mrs. H. Bacco of the Cooley Road, Parksville, were recipients of a sixtieth wedding anniversary party tendered to them by their son, Robert Bacco, which attracted many friends and relatives.

The Roebling Bridge, which spans the Delaware between Minisink Ford and Lackawaxen, was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering landmark in ceremonies Sunday. The woven wire cables, running through a cast iron sheave to form the suspension cable of the Roebling Bridge, were later used in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and more recently in the Verrazano span.

Population in North Branch increased by two this week when Mr. and Mrs. Grant Miller became parents of a boy, Grant Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. William Conklin became parents of a boy, Anthony James Conklin, on November 5.

Beverly Youmans, district deputy grand matron of the Delaware-Sullivan District, Order of Eastern Star, was guest of honor at a reception on Saturday night at Revonah Chapter, Liberty. She was joined by many who wished her good luck in her year.

Walter Bjorn of Livingston Manor brought home a nice eight point, 160 pound buck after hunting with bow and arrow near Shandelee.

40 Years Ago - 1982

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Zieres of Livingston Manor celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 30. They were guests at a dinner at the Red Barn in Swan Lake after having a party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Parks in White Sulphur Springs, hosted by nieces and nephews, on their actual anniversary.

Miss Diane V. Henke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Henke of Callicoon, became the bride of Hans Drenkard of Franklin Lakes N.J., at a double-ring ceremony performed at Holy Cross Church on November 6   . . . Nardina Toscano, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter T. Toscano of Lake Huntington, became the bride of Brian Nash of Johnsville on September 25 at Our Lady of the Lake R.C . Church in Lake Huntington. . . Judith Ann Hartmann, daughter of Orvis and Betty Hartmann of RD 2, Honesdale, Pa., became the bride of Eugene A. Mousley of Waymart, Pa., on September 11.

The 1932 graduates of Callicoon High School gathered at the Antrim Lodge in Roscoe to celebrate the 50 years since their graduation. Five members of the class are deceased. Enjoying the evening of reminiscing were Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bauernfeind of Fla., Harriet Cramer Knospler of N.J., Elizabeth Jorgler Edwards of Florida, Jessie Fitzpatrick Bowers of Roscoe, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Newman of Long Island, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Roemer of New Jersey, Thomas Kilroy of Long Island, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Peake of Fremont Center, Howard Stewart of Callicoon (Mrs. Stewart was ill and unable to attend) and Patricia Baer Robertson of Ferndale. Unable to attend were Marie Hill Babij, Ilene Cuddihe Henke and Estelle Kenny Hayden. The deceased members are Elverta Boehmer Fink, Wallace Dunn, Margaret Rose Williams, Marion Gould Stoesser and Mildred Klein Long.

Betsy Johnson, the former soccer star of Eldred Central School, continues her winning ways as she plays at the University of North Carolina. A freshman at the college, she has won a starting spot at left wing on Carolina’s women’s soccer team, the defending national champions. Johnson, who has scored 10 goals and has ten assists for 30 points, is tied for assists, third on the team in scoring and third in points. But she is no longer at left wing. Coach Anson Dorrance has switched her to left halfback.

30 Years Ago - 1992

Veterans Day ceremonies were held at the Bethel Senior Citizen Center by the Sgt. Brucher Post No. 5499, White Lake; at the Sullivan County Government Center by the Bailey-Richman Post No. 9588, Monticello; and at the Hankins field, adjacent to the firemen’s hall, where members of the 143rd Civil War Re-enactment Regiment from Liberty were in charge of the gun salute. All services were well attended.

Russell Ahrens and Christy Johannessen were recently named king and queen of the Liberty Homecoming dance, sponsored by the cheerleaders.

The Sullivan County Board of Realtors made awards at their annual awards banquet held recently as follows: Best new commercial, Camp Mogen Avraham in Bethel; best new commercial addition, Huff House; best commercial renovation, Rosen and Rosen Law Offices in Monticello; best renovated residence, Sandee and Ken White’s house in South Fallsburg; best residential - new addition, Hope and Lou Masters; best renovated farm house, Charles Lavin of the Beechwoods; best residential restoration, Maurice Gerry; best new residential (under 2500 sq. ft.), Kavner residence; and best new residential (over 2500 sq. ft.) Mr. and Mrs. Tom Smith — co-winner Carol and Jay Heimovitz of Bethel.

Elaine Katzoff was feted on the occasion of her retirement as postmaster at Lake Huntington, after 25 years service, at Pete’s Pub.

Cissie Blumberg was awarded the Sullivan County Woman of the Year at a recent awards dinner by the Business and Professional Women. Sister Kevin John Shield was given an Achievement of a Lifetime award at the same time. Susanne Price was named Woman of the Year by the Wayne County chapter of BPW.

A fall block dance to raise money for a new youth center in Liberty was attended by about 200 youth Saturday evening. To date, a site has not been selected for the center.

Warren D. Knapp, director of the Sullivan County’s Veterans Service Agency, is retiring November 30, following 10 1/2 years of government service. He is a past supervisor of the Town of Highland.

20 years ago - 2002

The Village of Monticello was still in recovery mode Monday after ice, snow and rain took much of the eastern side of the county by storm over the weekend. The ice storm moved in on the village and surrounding area Saturday, leaving behind up to a half inch of ice and four inches of snow by Monday morning.

The town of Thompson will be celebrating its 200th anniversary next year. A bicentennial committee has been formed to plan what is needed to be done. Town Historian Michael Hoyt is chair and treasurer of the committee.

The Liberty Museum & Arts Center recently held a benefit for the Woodbourne Theater, home of Sullivan Performing Arts (SPA). According to Walter Keller, acting SPA president, the theatre was built in 1936 and is now included on the national register of historic landmarks.

Apple Pond Farming Center owners Dick Riseling and Sonja Hedlund got approval from both the Town of Callicoon planning board and zoning board of appeals Thursday night to move forward with their educationally themed windmill project at their property on Hahn Road. The farm showcases organic farming techniques, livestock and environmentally conscious land uses.

Edna Clark, a former Jeffersonville-Youngsville teacher, has written a book, “Footprints on My Heart,” an autobiographical account of her life, career and family. Clark recalls her days growing up in the Bronx, spending her summers with her grandmother in the Catskill mountains, and describes her first teaching position in Jeffersonville.

For one weekend, the famed “frozen tundra” of Green Bay’s Lambeau Field moved due east a few hundred miles. And on that frozen artificial turf of Kingston’s Dietz Stadium Saturday afternoon, the Livingston Manor football team lived up to its mascot’s attributes. The Wildcats scratch-ed and clawed, giving undefeated Dobbs Ferry everything it could handle. Unfortunately, for the Manor coaches, players and dedicated fans who braved the elements, Dobbs Ferry withstood the challenge – by a single point. The Wildcats lost to Dobbs Ferry, 15-14, in the Class D state quarterfinal game.

10 years ago - 2012

Blues musician Fred Scribner of Middletown – also known as “Midnight-Slim” – has organized a tribute to legendary blues harp player and vocalist Little Sammy Davis with whom he has played for the better part of 20 years. Scribner and many other artists will be commemorating Little Sammy Davis’ 84th birthday with the inaugural Sullivan County Blues and Music Festival to be held at The Sullivan Hotel in what’s being billed as “a living tribute to the blues harp legend.”

The Ellenville Regional Hospital hosted its annual Gala and Silent Auction recently at The Fountains at Wallkill Golf Club and raised $58,000. This year’s honoree was the late Robert H. (Bob) Kuhlmann, a long-term Board member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and a Foundation Board member when he passed away in 2011.

Although 2012 Democrat Player of the Year Ryan Henry seems perfectly cut from the cloth of a tight-end, for the Liberty High-School football team this season, Henry was much more than just a “position player,” as he quite literally did it all for the Indians this season. Henry – who has played on the varsity squad since his sophomore year – started out the season at tight end/WR for Liberty.  With hands seemingly slathered in glue, all season long the senior always found a way to catch any ball that came near him. A young man of few words, Henry says simply, “I just try to go out there every week and try to give the team my best effort.” 

Best effort indeed, as Henry accounted for 1,092 total yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and receiving this season. Add in the fact that Henry also handled kickoffs, punts, extra point attempts and also played middle-linebacker on the Indian defense, and Henry never seemed to leave the football field.