110 Years Ago - 1912

Chris Hunt Jr. of Narrowsburg area has just purchased a 1,000 egg electric incubator which is one of the most modern machines made. . . M. Schuliar of Cochecton Center is building a new kitchen on his house. Mr. Schuliar has made many improvements to his farm, which he purchased several months ago. . . J.C.W. Keller has about completed a new addition to his hen house, 16x90 feet, which will accommodate his large flock during the winter. Reuben Skinner is doing the work. Mr. Skinner recently built a 16x70 double deck hen house for Moses Dexter.

The cutting shop in Barryville has been working nights and will continue to do so until Christmas to keep up with the growing demand for the high grade of cut glass they are turning out.

Ed Tyler of Barryville holds the local record for the biggest buck reported in these parts in many a day — a big 8 prong one weighing about 260 pounds.

100 Years Ago - 1922

Nicholas Schmidt of Hortonville discovered a large soft maple tree on the property of his brother, Peter, which appeared to be a honey tree. Sunday they felled the tree and extracted over 50 pounds of honey.

Callicoon, Jeffersonville, Livingston Manor and Roscoe, as well as intermediate communities served by the Livingston Manor Electric Co., have promise of not only a better lighting service but also a power service. Twenty-hour electric service is due December 7 for light and power as the result of a meeting held in Binghamton Thursday.

The Leighton Co., after several weeks in repairing the chemical factory in Long Eddy, which it recently purchased from the Luzern Co. started up on half capacity Wednesday. The force of men includes G. Wormuth, foreman; Charles Furgeson, Albert Furgeson, Chas. Cole, Vernon Kern, John Kaulitz, Thomas Coddington and Lewis Wormuth.

Edna L. Metzger and Benjamin F. Eldred, both of Callicoon, were united in marriage at the Church of Transfiguration in New York City on November 17. The bride is assistant cashier at the Callicoon National Bank where she has been employed 12 years. The bridegroom is assistant station agent at the Erie Station.

L.A. Rubin, located in the Sawyer Bank Building, Callicoon, is going out of business. They carry a high grade of men’s, young men’s and boys’ clothing, shoes, furnishing and women’s walk-over shoes and hole-proof hosiery. Everything must go within a short time. 

Harold Persbacker, who some time ago sold his place of business in Callicoon, has leased the Wayne Hotel in Honesdale, Pa. This is the largest hotel in that town and has a long standing list of quarters of most of Pennsylvania’s traveling men and tourists when they are in town.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mohr-man of East Beach Lake are rejoicing over the birth of a baby girl on November 12.

90 Years Ago - 1932

Fire Monday destroyed the Black Bear Hunting Club on the Rock Candy Mountain near Claryville. Loss was estimated at $6,000. Club members include Justice Sydney F. Foster, former District Attorney Gardner LeRoy and County Treasurer Roy C. Johnston.

Miss Emma Ashton, formerly of Hankins, and Rev. Dennis of Skaneateles were united in marriage in Binghamton last Wednesday.

Trooper Robert J. Flynn was again the victim of an accident while riding with Capt. Fox’s troop of rough riders during an exhibition at the annual horse show in Madison Square Garden, New York, recently. In hurdling the high barrier Flynn’s horse’s hoofs crashed through the fence and fell, catapulting Flynn ten feet ahead. Flynn, badly stunned, arose a little later and after Captain  Fox captured his horse, remounted and continued the mad ride. Trooper Flynn only recently recovered from a badly sprained ankle sustained while riding in the exhibition at the Oneonta Fair in September.

At the Callicoon Hospital, a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Snyder of Callicoon this morning; a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baker of Youngsville November 19; a premature baby of four and one-half pounds was born to Mr. and Mrs. Chester Davis of Swan Lake on November 16.

On November 11, Oscar J. Robisch of Hortonville and Margaret J. Fraser of New York City were married in Honesdale, Pa., by Rev. Boyce.

Carpenters have finished the work on the Frank P. Reilly general store and have arranged a very neat appearance. — Cochecton Corresp.

Regulations governing the Olympic Bob Sled Run at Mt. Van Hoevenburg near Lake Placid, which will soon be open to the public for the first time, have just been adopted by the Conservation Department, which assumed custody of the run after it had been used in last Winter’s Olympic Games. Admission to the run for spectators will be 25 cents except on racing days when the charge will be 50¢.

80 Years Ago - 1942

Ruth Lois, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Hubbert of North Branch, and Frank Dylewski of Wall-kill were married November 15 by Rev. G. Roy Bragg in St. John’s Methodist Church, Newburgh.

The last passenger service over the Erie Railroad out of Honesdale, Pa., took place last Friday when the passenger car made its last run. Passenger service from Hawley to Honesdale was established in 1868.

Warren “Bill” Warwick, 42, of Hankins, according to a Binghamton newspaper, swallow-ed his false teeth while asleep last Saturday night and he was taken to the Callicoon Hospital where X-rays showed the plate lodged in his throat. He was taken to the Binghamton City Hospital Sunday where his condition was listed as fair.

Final papers were drawn Saturday for the transfer of the Faubel farm at Hortonville from Philip Gorr to Wolfgang Herrmann of Hempstead, L.I. Mr. Herrmann expects to use the place as a summer home.

The Litzenbauer home in Abrahamsville was quite badly burned inside last week when it caught fire where the pipe went through the ceiling of the living room. Fortunately it was discovered by Mr. Litzenbauer and son, Tom, when they returned from the barn.

Mr. and Mrs. John Wehner of Jeffersonville celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary quietly at home Sunday night. A few friends and relatives from Binghamton arrived to surprise them. Mr. and Mrs. George Baumgardt were among those present and celebrated their first anniversary the following day.

John C. Stapleton, Monticello youth who lost his life last Spring when the USS Sturdevant was sunk, will be replaced in the Navy by his father and brother. His father, Walter, has enlisted in the Seabees and is awaiting a call. His brother, Richard, 18, has quit his war industry job near Rome and will join the Navy. One of the 53 selectees who left Monticello for Army service was Vernon Hoyt of Liberty, brother of Clarence Hoyt, a soldier who was killed in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Hoyt was Sullivan County’s first casualty. 

70 Years Ago - 1952

Mrs. Mildred Millspaugh of Masten Lake, widow of  Election Commissioner George V. Millspaugh, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors here as Republican election commissioner.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Buehl of Callicoon, a daughter; a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Werlau of Narrowsburg; a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Blum of Milanville, Pa.; a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Ward of Galilee, Pa.; and a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reiners of Damascus, Pa., all at the Callicoon Hospital.

A stork shower was given Mrs. Nelson Miller on November 18 by the Jolly Pinochle Club at the home of Mrs. John McDonald.

60 Years Ago - 1962

W.L. Dodge, retired cashier of the First National Bank in Callicoon, was guest of honor at an 80th birthday party held in his honor in the director’s room at the bank Friday afternoon. He was born in Rockland November 17, 1882, and came to Callicoon as cashier of the bank in June 1909, in which capacity he served until 1956.

 Linda Swope of Callicoon received her cap at ceremonies held at Broome Technical Institute on November 11. She is studying to be a dental hygienist.

Joan Elmore’s Sunny Terrace bassets have continued to win in shows during the past few weeks. Sunny Terrace Spectacular won the Bred by Exhibitor class and Best Female Basset at the Back Mountain Kennel Club show in Kingston, Pa., November 3. On November 11, Sunny Terrace Fritz won the three- to six- month old puppy class and Sunny Terrace Melody was given the best Basset puppy award at the Wallkill Kennel Club show in Middletown. Joan is from Damascus, Pa.

The  Civil War cannon has returned to its place of honor on the lawn of the Sullivan County Court House in Monticello after an intensive refurbishing in the shop of the Martin Hermann Lumber Co. in Callicoon. The cannon was No. 128, cast in 1863, by the H.N.H. Company and the bronze barrel weighs 1,233 pounds, according to an inscription on the barrel. The location of the foundry which cast the cannon is thought to be West Point or one of the Massachusetts arsenals.

Operating one of the county’s smallest post offices is an enjoyable business says Charles W. Morgan of Fosterdale. The 14’x15’ building serves 125 customers in the winter and as many as 2,000 in the summer.

50 Years Ago - 1972

Ground was broken on November 10 at Sparrow Bush for the new building to house the branch office of United National Bank in Callicoon. Al VanKeuren of VanKeuren Construction will oversee the project.

Mrs. Jennie Grossinger, one of the owners of the world-famous Grossinger’s Hotel in Liberty, died in her sleep Sunday night at her home on the hotel grounds. Her life story was intricately that of the hotel and the family which founded it after they came to the Catskill Mountains in 1914.

W.L. Dodge, director emeritus of the United National Bank in Callicoon, was honored last Tuesday evening on the occasion of his 90th birthday. He became associated with the bank in 1909. . . Herbert C. Persbacker was recently feted at a dinner at the Red Barn in Swan Lake on the occasion of his 80th birthday. . . Herman Birth, after 22 years of service, has retired as a school bus driver. He was guest of honor at a surprise party at the Red Barn on November 4.

The Liberty High School Varsity Debating Team won the 12th Annual University of Massachusetts High School Debate Tournament on November 11. The victory was achieved against 42 other schools with Eileen Pollack, Eric Seiler, Matthew Bessen and Jerry Jacobs on the squad.

The official dedication of the $2,380,000 addition to the Tri-Valley School in Grahamsville will take  place December 6th. The addition contains 24 classrooms and has been opened to students since September 11.

Robert Zaveral and Albert Camp took top honors in the 25-mile professional race of the Upper Canoe Champions. Interestingly enough, Alfred Shaver finished in third place behind him. Alfred Shaver of Maryland and his partner, James Root of Chenango Forks, had finished second in the local regatta.

Mr. and Mrs. Terry France of Roscoe are the parents of a son, Craig, born November 14, at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital. . . A son was born November 5th to Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Niforatos at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital.

40 Years Ago - 1982

The railroad underpass leading into the hamlet of Cochecton, long the center of community efforts to widen and raise the structure, has met with DOT approval to begin planning for eventual reconstruction of the potential hazard. Reconstruction will involve lowering the roadbed and raising and rebuilding the underpass to achieve a vertical clearance of 14’6” and horizontal clearance of 46’. The present Town of Cochecton Fire Department building will be removed to improve the entrance to the underpass.

Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen F. Lungen is one of the thirteen new members recently initiated into the Fallsburg Lions Club.

More than 170 Sullivan County volunteer 4-H leaders were recently honored at a recognition dinner. Lillian Gabriel and Helen Luckey each have recorded 3 years of helping these young people.

Janet Hawley of Callicoon has been named winner of the women’s division of the First Catskill Bassmaster’s Club. Harry Bishop of Kenoza Lake captured the men’s title for 1982. Don Meckle of Hortonville is president of the group and Tom Gain of Jeffersonville was in charge of the tournament.

Mr. and Mrs. William Stoddard of Buckley St., Liberty, are parents of a 7 lb. 11 oz. boy, born November 6 in Community General Hospital. The new father, hospitalized in Westchester for many weeks following a serious automobile accident, is getting along well.

Richard Diffendale of Bloom-ingburg has been honored for 30 years service with the Continental Telephone Company of Upstate New York. He is the associate engineer-outside plant for the company and has held this position since 1981.

According to statistics released by Superintendent John T. Hutzky, the National Park Service staff on the Upper Delaware has had an active 1982 season: rangers administered first aid to 108 people, were involved in 55 search and rescue incidents, and recorded 589 violators. Those stationed at kiosks along the river counted over 80,000 people at their locations and talked with nearly half of them. Of the 589  law enforcement actions on the river, 234 were violations notices, 355 courtesy tags — the equivalent  of tickets and warnings, respectively, given by highway patrolmen. The bulk of them (88 percent) were issued on weekends.

30 Years Ago - 1992

Mrs. Mabel Cross of Liberty celebrated her 89th birthday on October 10 with a party at the home of her son, Russell, in Hurleyville.

In a close race for Family Court Judge, Mark Meddaugh has been declared the winner, garnering a 155 votes majority. Senator Alphons D’Amato won his bid for U.S. Senator.

A slippery wet snow of three inches in some sections of Sullivan County, closed schools and made for some treacherous driving in the first significant winter storm of the season. Several vehicular mishaps were reported.

A stone monument has been built from a fund donated by the community to replace the wooden memorial put up in Parksville in December of 1942 by Jack Fiddle, postmaster in Parks-ville for 35 years. Three of his brothers served in the armed forces, two of whom, Sidney and Fred, made the supreme sacrifice.

National Geographic, one of the most respected and widely-read science and nature publications in the country is featuring Sullivan County and the Catksills in its November issue. In a 23-page article, entitled “The Lure of the Catskills,” the magazine offers readers a magnificent view of some of Sullivan County’s most beautiful natural resources and recreational spots.

To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and the 75th birthday of Dr. Jules Flax, the couple spent a five day trip in Las Vegas, Nev. He has been a dentist in Jeffersonville for more than 40 years.

Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon has donated 50 turkeys to CACHE in Liberty to be used during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Frederick W.V. Schadt Sr., a lawyer by trade who served as village trustee for five years before being mayor of Jeffersonville for 42 years and with the longest stint of consecutive service in New York State, died November 19 at the age of 81.

Joel Kritzer of Livingston Manor shot a moose near Sheep Mountain in British Columbia. His prize weighs an estimated 1,600 pounds. He is having a shoulder mount done at Rod’s Taxidermy in Callicoon. The trip involved a plane trip to St. John, B.C., 130-mile drive to the ranch of guide Lynn Ross and another 2-day 50-mile  horseback (and saddle sores) ride to the camp on Sheep Mountain. They had traveled six miles from camp when they spotted the moose, stalked him and, with a shot from his 7mm Magnum, hit the beast in the shoulder. The moose reared up and a second fatal shot caught him in the lung.

His Eminence Cardinal John O’Connor traveled to Narrowsburg Sunday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Franciscan pastorship in Western Sullivan County. More than 200 parishioners attended an afternoon Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church.

20 Years Ago - 2002

Over the last several years, the Town of Lumberland has been waging a battle over assessments. The Mirant Energy Company has been seeking to have its assessment lowered from $49 million to $9 million, which would have a huge impact on taxes to the town, Eldred School, and county. The matter was discussed at the Sullivan County Legislature’s Real Property Committee meeting November 12.

The New York State Department of Transportation has several projects on the boards for Sullivan County, one to redo Broadway in the Village of Monticello and the other to reconstruct Pleasant Street.

After 27 years as Sullivan County’s Fire Coordinator, 71-year-old Harold “Iggy” Kronenberg has decided to retire. On Sunday, November 24, he was honored at a retirement dinner held at Kutsher’s County Club.

Molly Roybal-Goch, Beth Hoffman and other area youths put together Sunday’s Compassion Day at the Delaware Youth Center, with booths ranging from anti-war issues to animal rights. An art auction was also held to benefit the Children’s Animal Rescue Team (CART), a 4-H group dedicated to rescuing stray cats, having them spayed or neutered and adopting them out.

A confused deer recently made Sweet River Studio on Main Street, Callicoon, into an open-air vendor. The four-legged creature ran down the hill into town and straight into the store’s side window. “I guess the deer was doing a little early Christmas shopping,” said owner Marcylle Wallman.

A Liberty couple has a four-legged friend to thank for their lives this week. Elizabeth Smith and Shawn Talmadge were asleep early Monday morning when 2-year-old daughter Olyvia’s kitten crept into their bed to wake them up. According to Smith’s mother, Kathleen, a propane heater bolted to the wall in the couple’s rented house on South Main Street in the village had ignited a fire. They escaped through a kitchen window.

10 Years Ago - 2012

It was year 18 for Jeffersonville’s annual James Dworetsky Holiday Parade, but it brought its fair share of firsts. Take, for example, the proposal. Woodbourne firefighter James Franco scrambled to pull together a giant banner that joined his department’s festive addition to what’s become a tradition in western Sullivan County. Will You Marry Me, Jenna Ferguson? it asked. It turns out she will! 

Many of us know people who claim to love what they do for a living. But Leonard Belaus, 84, of the Old Homestead Restaurant, has been tending bar at the fine dining establishment on 452 Bridgeville Road for 50 uninterrupted years. To put that into perspective, Belaus has been on the job for a total of 18,250 days. If that doesn’t help, 50 years ago a pack of regular cigarettes cost 25 cents – 100s were 35 cents – and regular leaded gasoline hovered at around 31 cents per gallon. Belaus’ father was born in Poland and his mother in Dixon City, PA. As Belaus tells it, “I worked in the many factories in Pennsylvania before finally moving to Sullivan County in 1961.”

DEATHS: Rhoda Andrews, 87, of Rock Hill... Margaret Marie Manzolillo of Jeffersonville, age 83... Edith Caroline Newham of Beacon, formerly of Liberty, 92. 

The Sullivan County Long Beards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) held their annual turkey hunters care program giveaway last Friday morning.