140 Years Ago - 1880

In commenting upon the election, the editor of the “Record” on November 5, 1880, wrote: “The battle is over and business will now resume its wonted activity... It seems that, as in 1860, it was a ‘Solid North' against a ‘Solid South.' ... We can now enjoy a rest from the clamor and confusion incident to a presidential campaign, feeling secure in the fact that for four years at least we will not be compelled to witness such a storm of filth and personal abuse as we have just passed thru.”

Returns to the time of going to press in Sullivan County indicated that Garfield, Republican candidate for president, had a majority of 55 in Callicoon. Hancock, the Democratic candidate, had a plurality of 215 in Fallsburgh and had a majority of 32 in Highland. Garfield won by 14 in Mamakating. Garfield won by 132 in Lumberland. Hancock won by 1 vote in Neversink and in Rockland Hancock's majority was 24. In Thompson Garfield won by 52 and in Tusten Hancock won by 85.

Nationally, Garfield, the Republican, had an electoral vote of 219, with Hancock having only 119, and 4 states with 31 votes not heard from. Garfield's majority in New York, with 35 electoral votes, was estimated at 40,000. At the same time the incumbent president, Rutherford B. Hayes, issued a proclamation declaring November 25th Thanksgiving Day.

Cider is selling in this place at -5¢ per gallon delivered.

John Potts has purchased the old McAllister farm near Bethel village for $2000.

Eben Hill will teach at the Robertsonville school next winter.

William Graham died at Stevensville on November 3rd, aged 50.

130 Years Ago - 1890

Announcement has been made of the marriage of Christian Maus of Long Pond to Christina Krick of Fremont, on October 19.

In the election, the Democrats of Sullivan County elected their entire ticket with the exception of County Clerk and School Commissioner in the First District. Henry Bacon was elected Congressman by 1000 and George M. Beakes carried the county for Assembly by 114 votes. R. Gildersleeve, Republican, won the County Clerk's post by 250, while Charles Ennis continued the Democratic wins for county Treasurer with 600.

Press reports were that Congress would be Democratic by 70 in the House.

W.F. Grimm has been appointed postmaster at Fremont Center and Col. Rock­well Tyler at Robertsonville.

Another new paper has sprung up in flourishing Walton, styled the Walton Journal.

Eagle Hall has been moved on its new foundation.

Mrs. Louis Reichart has been appointed postmistress at Youngsville and the office will be located in her store.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry DeWitt have returned to their old home in Jeffersonville.

Rev. J. B. Williams, pastor of the White Lake R.P. Church, preached his 40th anniversary sermon last Sabbath, November 16th.

Mrs. Andrew Winterberger of Monticello died on Monday of pneumonia.

120 Years Ago - 1900

The Republicans made a clean sweep in Sullivan County. Nationally, William McKinley, Republican, was re-elected President for four more years. In the county Republicans winning were: Edwin R. Dusinbery for Assembly, John Dycker for Sheriff, McKinley carried the county by 851, Odell carried for Governor by 801. Thompkins, running for Congress, had a majority of 795. Thornton for the Senate won by 643. Dusinbery's majority for the assembly was 686 and Dycker's for Sheriff was 401.

McKinley defeated William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic presidential candidate - in Bethel by 73; Bryan took Callicoon by 111, in Delaware Bryan won by 177, in Fallsburgh McKinley won by 164, Bryan took Forestburgh by 25; in Fremont Bryan was ahead by 22. McKinley took Liberty by 4 votes and lost to Bryan in Lumberland by 6 votes. Mamakating went to McKinley by 274 and Rockland went to him by 118. In Thompson McKinley was the victor by 174 while in Tusten Bryan was the winner by 61.

Ella, wife of John Moshier, who lives on the James McAdams farm near Roscoe, died October 29, aged 35.

Margaret, widow of William Johnston of Rockland, died October 29, of cancer of the heart, at the age of 81, leaving four children.

Mrs. John Yager Sr. of Callicoon is very ill of typhoid fever.

Miss Carrie Dorrer of North Branch will go to the city on Saturday to spend the winter.

John Weissenfluh of New York City is here to spend a month with relatives in the vicinity.

A society, known as “The Delaware Literary Society” has been formed at Callicoon Depot, to continue the Wednesday evening entertainments and to promote literature, art and science in that place.

110 Years Ago -1910

A Democratic wave swept over the county, state and nation on Tuesday. Only survivors here are Congressman Thomas W. Bradley and Senator John B. Rose, both Republicans, who were saved by the vote in Orange County. John A. Dix was elected Governor by 70,000, carrying the state ticket and the legislature with him. His Republican opponent, Stimson, lost the city by 110,000 and came down to the city line with an upstate plurality of only 40,000. The Republican upstate vote fell off over 20 percent. New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Ohio elected Democratic governors and the Democrats won a number of new Congressional seats.

Sullivan County went solidly Democratic for the first time in 15 years. Governor Dix won by 734, John K. Evans won the Assembly post by 1328, Wm. L. Thornton was elected County Judge by 1486, Roger Sears was elected County Treasurer by 433, George L. Cooke was elected District Attorney by 1303 and all four Democratic nominees for Coroner were elected.

Louis Winand of Narrowsburg has opened a new meat market in the old bank building in Callicoon.

Frederick H. Young has sold his interest in the Sullivan County Democrat to his partner, Matt T. Collins, who will continue the business.

Rev. Adrian VanOeveren, pastor of the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church for four years, has resigned.

The early snow caught farmers with some of their crops still out and potatoes in the ground. But the ground is not yet frozen.

Mrs. G. Baudendistel Sr., a summer visitor for many years, died last week at her home in Harrison, N.J.

Miss Ottilia B. Glasser of Beechwoods has gone to New York to complete a course of study at a conservatory of music.

100 Years Ago - 1920

County Judge and Surrogate George H. Smith, a Democrat, was the only survivor of a Republican sweep of Sullivan County. He was re-elected over William G. Birmingham, Republican, by about 100 plurality. Assemblyman Guernsey T. Cross lost to John H. Gray by 300 and Elmer Winner, a heretofore invincible Democrat, lost in the race for Sheriff to George D. Pelton by over 1000. Blake Washington lost to J. Maxwell Knapp for County Clerk. For State Senator Caleb H. Baumes, Rep., won over Henry W. Chadeayne and Charles B. Ward was re-elected to Congress. Nationally Harding won over Cox and in Callicoon Harding won easily with 402 to 226.

A son was born November 3 at the Deerpark Sanitarium in Port Jervis to Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Seibert of Jeffersonville.

A daughter was born on October 31 to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Buddenhagen of Beechwoods. Mrs. Buddenhagen was formerly Miss Edna Krantz of Kenoza Lake.

The first snow fluttered in the air on Friday. At Liberty the hills were blanketed with snow.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wagner of Roscoe leave this week to again winter at Port Orange, Fla.

The John Laufersweiler family left Monticello yesterday in their new Buick for Miami where they will be until April. Mr. Laufersweiler and his sons are expert lathers and they will work at their trade while in the sunny South.

Mrs. Pietsch, who owns a fine property on the south shore of Shandelee Lake, has sold his place to Hebrew educators, who will erect a boys school on the plot in the spring.

90 Years Ago - 1930

Democrats swept the county and the state with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt as Governor. FDR carried Sullivan over Tuttle by 2800 votes with Herbert Lehman winning over Baumes for Lieutenant Governor by 1800. John J. Bennett, running for Attorney General, squeaked through in Sullivan over Bookstein by a bare 61 votes. For Congress Cross beat Pratt in Sullivan by almost 1900 votes and for State Senate Pendell lost to Desmond by 1900. In the Assembly race, William Whittaker, Democrat, defeated Curtis by 195 votes. Although Pratt lost in Sullivan, he carried the five-county Congressional district by 4000 votes.

The Town of Callicoon went solidly Democratic. Roosevelt carried the first district by 71, the second district by 77 and the third by 120.

Charles Winter, age 94, Civil War veteran and for 20 years Postmaster at White Lake, died at his home Saturday night. He was born in Germany in 1836 and came to America when he was only 13. A resident of the Town of Bethel for 60 years, he lived in White Lake 40 of those years. A sailor in the Navy in the Civil War, he in turn farmed, ran a butcher shop, dealt in cattle and lumber and then became postmaster.

George Reinheimer, aged 71, died at Exeter, Calif., on October 15. He was born on Sixteen in the Town of Callicoon, a son of Henry Reinheimer and went to California 40 years ago.

A pretty wedding was celebrated at the home of Henry Huebbe at Hortonville Saturday, November 15 when Miss Margaret Huebbe became the bride of Arthur J. Orth of Callicoon. Rev. A.G. Lewis of Cochecton was the officiating clergyman.

Ruth, 10-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Cook of Hortonville, was seriously injured yesterday when she fell from the back of a truck belonging to Mootz and Steinhauser of Callicoon Center. She is now believed to be on the road to recovery after being treated by Dr. George R. Mills.

After several delays in finding suitable quarters here for locating their hatchery, the Endwell hatcheries of Binghamton have made final arrangements for the location of a branch hatchery here. The new plant will be located in the Bergner building and the rooms are now being remodeled. The first installation here will be a 50,000 egg Smith incubator, electrically operated. Hatching will begin about the latter part of February or the first of March.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bauernfeind on November 4, a son, Raymond Floyd. Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Mitterwager this morning, November 19, a ten-pound daughter.

The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Winglowitz was baptized last Sunday at the morning service of the Presbyterian Church in Cochecton. The young lady is named Jean Rose.

The Long Eddy Chemical Co. has resumed work in its factory. Frank Tobin has the position of clerk in the Company's store.… The L.A.S. will serve a baked ham supper at the Maple Grove House November 20. All are invited and welcomed.… Russell Johnson has moved to Kilgore Switch at which place he has a position as manager of Mr. Prigge's farm and stone quarries. — Long Eddy Corresp.

80 Years Ago - 1940

The Republicans carried Sullivan County for Wendell Wilkie for President by over 2000, but the Democrats were delighted over the re-election of Jim Lyons as Assemblyman, Roy C. Johnston as County Treasurer and District Attorney Bill Deckelman. Lyons beat George A. Yeager by 2147. Johnston beat Robert H. Armstrong by 2115. Deckelman defeated William G. Costa by 608 after a hard battle. In his home town of Callicoon, Deckelman had a majority of 528. Desmond for State Senator again carried the county, this time by 2984.

Arthur F. Schaefer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Schaefer of New York and Jeffersonville, and Miss Gladys Danks of Troy were married at the latter place on October 26th.

Miss Charlotte Krum of Hurd, who is engaged to William Lennon, was honored at a surprise shower last Saturday night, tendered her by Mrs. Granville Prince. Miss Krum is a JCS graduate, class of 1937. Her fiance is a brother of Rev. John R. Lennon of the White Sulphur Springs Methodist Church.

On Monday afternoon a hunting party went out consisting of Bucky Baum, El Moran, and John Back, on the Phil Gorr farm at North Branch. After Bucky missed a few shots, John and El each proceeded to bag himself a nice grey fox.

Supt. Charles S. Hick has been busy attending conventions. He first attended a teacher's conference in New York Friday and then went to New Jersey to attend a Boy Scout meeting.

On last Thursday night, Delma Henrietta, wife of Earl M. Kohler, succumbed to heart failure at the age of 32.

70 years ago - 1950

Following the national trend, Republicans swept Sullivan County on Tuesday with the biggest upset being the defeat of the incumbent Assemblyman James Lyons by Hyman Mintz. Lyons, who has served for five terms, lost to Mintz by an official majority of over 2000. Republican incumbent Special County Judge Harold Spriggs defeated Milton Levine by 2221 votes, while George N. Hembdt Jr. lost to Rovert Travis by 1147. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey led the Republican sweep in Sullivan with Joe Hanley topping Herbert Lehman for U.S. Senate. Dewey's plurality over Walter R. Lynch was over 3200 votes. Katherin St. George won re-election to Congress with a district-wide majority of 37,000 votes.

Basil I. Hick has been appointed to the staff of the State Education Department as of November 1st. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Hick, a graduate of JCS and Syracuse University. He served for over four and a half years in the Army, rose to the rank of Captain and at the time of his discharge was commanding officer at Camp Erding in Germany. At Albany, he will work in the buildings and grounds division of the department.

60 years ago - 1960

Edwin Ferber of Callicoon will represent Mutual Federation of Independent cooperatives at the forthcoming convention of National Milk Producers Federation at New Orleans, LA., November 27 to December 1.

Liberty Central School District voters gave a resounding “yes” vote to the building of a new $2.5 million high school on November 15th. The vote was 1632 to 661 in favor of the project.

Ralph Wormuth, 52, a former Narrowsburg resident, was killed instantly on Monday when a bulldozer which he was operating upset. He lived in Newburgh and was employed in road construction at Sawkill Mountain Ulster County, by Arborio Construction Co.

Sullivan County taxes are coming down in 1961 despite a rise of almost half a million dollars in the county budget. Part of the reason for the decrease is the settlement of back taxes of the Ontario and Western Railroad in an amount of over $200,000.

Edith's Hotel and Restaurant in Livingston Manor was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, November 16.

Dairymen will receive a uniform farm price of $.75 per hundred weight for milk delivered to pool plants in the New York-New Jersey milkshed in October.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Meyer have purchased the residence of Phillipina Hubbert on Route 97 in Callicoon and will make it their home.

Harry Warkman of Brooklyn has purchased the Dickerhoff property in North Branch.

50 years ago - 1970

Richard L. Rosenbaum, editor of the Liberty Register, a weekly newspaper in Sullivan County, died November 11 at Liberty Community General Hospital after suffering a heart attack Tuesday night at home. He was 64.

Most of his friends and colleagues who could make it showed up to pay tribute to Mortimer Michaels, the about-to-retire Town of Fallsburg Supervisor, Sunday night at the Raleigh Hotel. More than 650 were in attendance.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Puerschner of Jeffersonville became the proud parents of a son, Edmund Thomas, Saturday, at Liberty-Loomis Hospital… Mr. and Mrs. David Cross of Youngsville announce the birth of a son, November 12.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Beaver celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Saturday evening at their home with about 25 in attendance.

Patricia Treverton, age 9, of Lake Huntington is very proud of a three-pound rivier chub she caught on Grandpa Harold Maas' dock Sunday at Lake Huntington.

The Mighty M's imaginative entrepreneur, Leon Greenberg, with his characteristic foresight and “What's good for Monticello Raceway” outlook, has sought and gained approval to conduct fifteen regular weekend snowmobile racing programs, commencing on December 5th, over the regulation half-mile oval so well known to harness racing fans as the most popular and successful non-metropolitan track in New York State.

40 years ago - 1980

Early opening day entries in the Democrat's Big Buck Contest were submitted by Craig Peters and Tom Kitson, both of North Branch. Craig's measured 45 inches and was an 8-pointer.

Tom's trophy was a 6-pointer and measured 45 1/2 inches.

The Sullivan County Historical Society is celebrating its 52nd year under the leadership of President Erwin L. Baker of Jeffersonville.

The 1981 New York State Special Olympics Winter Games will be held Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31. Games sites include Holiday Mountain Ski area in Bridgeville for downhill and cross-country skiing and the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake for ice skating events, plus both sites for other exciting events.

30 years ago - 1990

David Bowers took an 8-point buck near Livingston Manor in a 30-yard shot with a bow and arrow during the archery hunting season.

The old Antler Hotel in North Branch was gutted by wind-whipped fire on Tuesday afternoon which appeared to have started around a chimney near a recently installed wood stove. Firemen fought the blaze at the century-old hotel for more than seven hours and returned for another two hours Wednesday morning to douse some smoldering hot spots.

Marvin and Mary Barnes of Narrowsburg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at the Fireside Restaurant in Honesdale on Saturday and a reception Sunday at the Free Methodist Church in Beach Lake. The bride's father, Rev. Lester Guier, officiated at their wedding on December 21, 1940, at the South Canaan Free Methodist parsonage.

The 20th anniversary of the founding of the Monticello Volunteer Ambulance Corps was celebrated at Bernie's Holdiay Inn Restaurant in Rock Hill Saturday evening. Warm greetings were extended to its founder, Charlie Crist, who had recently been hospitalized for implantation of a defibrillator.

An important breakthrough came for the followers and supporters of the Dr. Frederick A. Cook Society, named for the explorer who claimed to be the first to reach the North Pole, when Janet Cook Vetter left 20 boxes containing 10,000 items, to the Library of Congress upon her death in 1989. Included were Cook's diaries of what he said were his conquest of the North Pole and the first ascent of Mount McKinley and photographs that depict the Eskimos who Cook said accompanied him to the Pole. Also included are fragments of a phtographic plate showing one of the two Eskimos who Cook said accompanied him. Sheldon Cook-Dorough, an Atlanta attorney and former society president told New York Times reporter Irvin Molotsky in a January 1990 interview, he feels the papers will help to vindicate Dr. Cook in his claim of being first to the North Pole. Mr. Cook-Dorough is not related to the explorer. Dr. Cook was born in Hortonville on June 10, 1865. His brother, Theodore, designed the arctic sleds used in the expedition.

Forty-one year old Paul McMahon of Binghamton was the winner in the “Race for Carrie,” sponsored by the Sullivan County Democrat, in support of Carrie Pierce of Cochecton. Carrie has been diagnosed with brain cancer. The event attracted 50 athletes from near and far. McMahon said it was his fastest time since he turned 40.

Jeff Mariner spent 85 hours, in the two weeks before an apple cider press party in Liberty, stripping and refinishing a 150-year-old two-stage press used at the party. The press is unique in that while the frame is oak like most presses, the barrel slats are black walnut. Mariner's family has been making cider in the Liberty area for the past 200 years on his grandfather Kenneth Maine's farm.

20 years ago - 2000

The long, dragged out case of the Concord Hotel bankruptcy was back in court last week before U.S. District Court Judge Charles Bryant for more argument - and perhaps a settlement. The county has already received about $3.6 million out of an estimated $8 million due in unpaid property taxes, penalties and interest.

Prospective village manager Richard Sush and members of the Monticello Village Board are moving closer to an agreement that could see Sush taking over some of the responsibilities of the manager as early as January.

Neversink firefighters were dispatched to battle a stubborn fire in Lake Paradise off Benton Hollow Road early Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were hampered by logistics - lack of water and a narrow road. Due to the structure's location the first-in Neversink engine had to negotiate a narrow, single-lane dirt road in order to reach it. No one was home at the time of the fire, in which the residents lost all their belongings.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Magie of Monticello celebrated 50 years of marriage on October 14. Lenora Taggart and Walt Magie were married October 14, 1950 at St. Peter's Church in Monticello. There was a surprise party held for the couple at the Rock Hill firehouse, presented by their children, Carolyn Price, Sue Stackhouse, and Butch Magie.

The Roscoe Lady Blue Devils soccer team lost to eventual state champ St. Johnsville in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's semifinal match of Section IX held Friday in Scottsville. The team is not too disappointed with the 2000 season, posting an 8-1-1 record in the OCIAA Division VI, despite losing six players from the 1999 squad.

10 years ago - 2010

Feral swine are starting to invade Sullivan County. Representatives of the USDA went door-to-door in many parts of western Sullivan County to ask residents if they had seen any feral swine, also known as wild pigs. August Andersen, owner of Anderson Maple Farm with his wife, Irene, just outside of Long Eddy, have known about the pig problem for nearly three years. Andersen says a neighbor across the hill from him has the wild pigs fenced in with 12' high fences but they dig under them and get out and cause damage to his fields. USDA Biologist Justin Gansowski said the USDA is working with a lot of different partners to try and stem the tide.

M & M Auto Group held a Car Show with proceeds of the event benefitting the Sullivan county Federation for the Homeless and area food pantries. The event raised $1,900 in donations plus a “truckload of food” for the pantries. Hundreds of people flocked to the event which featured 55 cars plus a pig roast, DJ and country singer Amber Hayes from Nashville.