130 Years Ago - 1895

George D. Stephenson of Kenoza Lake will leave shortly for Australia.

For the accommodation of our uptown residents and others, a public pay station of the Delaware River Telephone Co. has been established at the office of the Sullivan County Record. Communication may be had with Youngsville, White Sulphur Springs, Liberty, Stevensville, White Lake, Monticello, North Branch and Callicoon Depot.

Once upon a time, George Yager, our sodawater man, had a nice lot of sugar and marble dust barrels piled up outside his manufactory, but he hasn’t got so nice a lot now. About twenty of them walked away one night last week. George knows where they walked to and he predicts a sudden rise in the price of barrels if somebody doesn’t come around soon.

The rain of Saturday and Sunday did not do much good in the way of replenishing the wells and springs. Nothing short of a deluge will meet the situation.

This time of the year when a little fire gives a cheer to the toiler as she steps inside the door, and it’s just the time too, when you are greeted by the one you know, but were never good enough to shake hands before. This ain’t poetry, this is politics.

Saturday night the United States Secret Officer S.S. Gabb of New York City and Erie Detective John J. Feldman of Port Jervis made a descent on a counterfeiter’s den in the wilderness, two and one half miles from Hancock, and captured Fred Hartwell.

120 Years Ago - 1905

Frank Neuberger, the stone mason has just opened a fine stone quarry on the farm of R.I. Huter, the Mike Scott place on the North Branch road, a short distance from this village. Last week, Charles Scheidell sold the Yager triangular lot adjoining the Catholic Church lot to Fred Bietz for $200. This week Fred sold the lot for $300 to Mrs. Charles Kohl, who will build a house on it. The lot contains nearly an acre.

The Jeffersonville Supply Co. has about closed deals for the purchase of the general merchandise stores of E.C. Neiger and W.N. Moulthrop at Kenoza Lake and will take possession as soon as the details can be completed. Mr. Neiger will return to his former occupation of teaching. We have not heard of Mr. Moulthrop’s intention.

The marriage today of Miss Marie Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Schmidt, and Anthony Fink, both of North Branch, terminates a romance of several years standing.

Improvement — The new house of J.S. Diehl on Westlawn Terrace is being pushed along rapidly and already shows up in fine style. John Glassel has already commenced excavating for the large addition to be built to his house. Knell and Durr of the Mansion House are tearing down the old kitchen to replace it with a new and more convenient one.

A birthday party was given to Miss Rose Gabel of Beechwoods the other night in honor of her eighteenth birthday.

Demmon VanTyle and Miss Viola Donaldson of Bethel were married at the home of the bride’s parents Wednesday evening, October 18.

110 Years Ago - 1915

The large summer hotel near Hortonville, formerly conducted for many years by Albert Brandt until his death several years ago, was destroyed by fire about 2 a.m. Sunday, with all the furnishings.

A pretty wedding was solemnized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. Intemann of Liberty when their daughter, Millie C., was united in marriage to Leon J. Briscoe.

George Eggler, a former well known resident of Jeffersonville, is here for a few days visiting the old town from his home in Good Springs, Nev.

The large barn of George W. Ihrig at Callicoon was burned Tuesday night with all its contents, consisting of the season’s hay, straw and grain, a lot of lumber, farm machinery, wagons, etc. The origin of the fire is not known but looks suspicious.

A party chauffeured by Earl Arlington was returning from Glen Spey Sunday night and was coming on the White Lake-Bethel county highway, under construction, when they ran against a wire cable stretched across the road with an unlighted lantern hanging on it.The cable brushed the occupants of the front seat and snapped back with great force against Fred Seibert in the rear seat, cutting his upper lip quite severely.

J.C. Abplanalp has sold the Lowe cottage, occupied by Mrs. Baum, to Mrs. Susanna Potsch.

The marriage of Miss Viola E. Armbrust of Kenoza Lake to Clyde E. Betts of Fosterdale took place October 19 at the home of the bride’s parents.

Jacob Zieres has sold his 106-acre farm of East Cochecton to his neighbor, Supervisor Paul L. Hartmann. Possession of the farm will be given November 1.

100 Years Ago - 1925

Coroner Ralph S. Breakey of Monticello and District Attorney Henry F. Gardner of Callicoon held an inquest into the death of Harry Katz, the 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Katz, who died at midnight Friday at his home. It was decided that death was caused by cerebral hemorrhage.

Jacob Toberoff and Hymen Abel, two Jeffersonville meat dealers, shot off a 50-foot embankment on the Rock Valley road in the Town of Fremont and are none the worse for the shot excepting the little damage to Toberoff’s business car.

A son, Robert Frederick, was born October 9 to Mr. and Mrs. William Danzer of Youngsville.

White Lake is to have a new $100,000 hotel ready for the summer rush of 1926.  J. Sevish, who has owned and conducted the Lenox Hotel, has organized a stock company composed of wealthy New York businessmen for the purpose of erecting the new hotel, which will be a three-story stucco structure, equipped with all modern equipment.

Mrs. Helene Edwards of White Sulphur Springs was a passenger on the Comanche Clyde Line steamer which burned off the coast of Florida Saturday night when the boat made its trip into Florida ports. A few hours before the tragedy occurred, Mrs. Edwards left the boat at Jacksonville, only a short time before the fire.

90 Years Ago - 1935

Jeffersonville is coming in for a share of Uncle Sam’s billions of bounty. The application for $12,000 toward the construction of a new water supply reservoir for the village was granted.

The Best Brothers, who for years have conducted an extensive truck farm in the town of Bethel, have sold out to their neighbor, Carl Reinshagen, who also is a truck farmer and increasing his business yearly.

District Attorney William Deckelman and Sheriff Walter J. Flynn left Sunday for Chicago after Robert Ward, wanted for forgery in this county.

Undaunted by the war scares coming from over there, Irving Markowsky, prominent businessman of Jeffersonville, will sail at midnight tonight on the steamship Britannia for a two month’s trip in Europe and visit his old home in Russia, where he has a brother and a sister.

Roth’s Bakery was taken over on Monday for a period of six months by the chief baker, Charles Koslosky, and the chief distributor, Lester Gute. The Roths have had a lot of trouble through accident and illness and will take a rest.

Wilbur Meyers of this place and Theodore Weiss of Kenoza Lake who started out from here recently on a motor trip to California, arrived in Reseda, Calif., the home of Wilbur’s  uncle, Victor Bauernfeind, October 7, after 12 days of travel, covering 3800 miles.

Weddings — Miss Agnes A. McGuire of Hankins and Karl Spielmann of Youngsville were married October 12.  Harry C. Schuler, proprietor of Tumble Inn at Callicoon Center, and Miss Elizabeth Fox were united in marriage by the Rev. Straub on October 14.

80 Years Ago - 1945

The wedding of Miss Doris Joyner, daughter of Mrs. Martha Joyner and the late Clyde Joyner of White Sulphur Springs, and Sgt. Elwood Baim of Briscoe, took place at the Methodist Church in Jeff on Sunday, October 14.

Sunday, at 7 p.n., the car of Alex Abel of Lake Huntington and a car driven by “Buddy” Fisher of Fosterdale collided on the top of the hill in front of the former Fred Diehl property.

The former Michael Scott farm on the North Branch road, lately occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fouche, was sold this week to Charles Arndt, a house painter and decorator of New York City.

A daughter, Tama Beth, was born October 17 at the Liberty-Loomis Hospital to Capt. and Mrs. Aaron Tofield, the former Annette Krongel.

While Mrs. Melvin Kehrley (Louise Norris) was working in her kitchen on the west side of her home near the lake here yesterday just before noon, she heard a roaring noise which she thought to be an airplane. She soon found that the roar was caused by a raging fire in a bedroom on the east side of the house.

J.C.S. graduates, now in the service, who visited school recently and worked out with the football squad were Joe Clifford, Mike Manzolillo,  George Anderson and Bob Meier.

Discharged from the service this week were S/Sgt. John Antosh, Sgt. Sanford R. Pierson and PFC Hubert Vollmers.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Reginald Schillinger and Mrs. Margaret Soule, both of White Sulphur Springs, were married at the Methodist Church Parsonage there on Wednesday morning, October 13, by the Rev. James J. Benson.

Mr. and Mrs. George Eagin of Binghamton spent the weekend with his brother, Joe Eagin. They never miss the firemen’s supper.

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Forsbach have returned from a 10-day trip to Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kohler have moved into their new home.

Merchandise winner this week at Amber’s was Mrs. Lillian Mall of Jeff.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Libby Manzolillo of Astoria on their first wedding anniversary, October 16.

The Sullivan  County Extension Service has extended an invitation to all county residents to attend an open house on Friday, October 21, at its new quarters in the Sullivan County National Bank Building in Liberty.

60 Years Ago - 1965

A crowd, estimated by sheriffs attaches of between 1,200 and 1,500 saw the first spadeful of earth turned for the new four-year Verrazano College at Woodridge.

Lt. Col. Matthew F. Freda, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Freda of Callicoon, has been awarded the Air Force Commendation medal (First Oak leaf Cluster) for outstanding achievement.

The county had the most successful auction sale of tax delinquent properties ever at the Monticello courthouse Friday. A crowd estimated at 250 attended the sale in the Supervisors’ Chambers. The tax delinquent properties brought high prices. None of the properties went begging and bidding was spirited.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Henke of Callicoon celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. Many relatives and friends call over the weekend to felicitate them on the happy occasion.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer C. Knack were the honored guests at a celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary with a party given them at the Tumble Inn in Callicoon Center.

50 Years Ago - 1975

David Fisk, son of Mrs. Mary Ellen Fisk of Hortonville, placed 2nd in the 12-year-old division of the District Punt, Pass and Kick competition held Saturday, October 18, in Garfield, N.J. His competitor threw the ball 11 feet further than young Fisk.

A 500-foot chicken house at the Batinkoff Poultry Farm in Ferndale burned Sunday morning. The blaze destroyed an estimated 80,000 laying hens.

Jean Amatucci, Assemblywoman from Bethel, was an honored guest at the 20th Annual Farm bureau dinner and meeting held Friday evening, October 17, at Lake Jeff Hotel, Jeffersonville. Ernest Reimer Jr. of North Branch is the Sullivan County Farm Bureau president.

Evelyn Laverty of Jeff, Hilda Krantz of RD Callicoon, and Veronica  Winkelstern of Kenoza Lake, were honored for their 50 years membership in Lincoln Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Jeffersonville, a meeting designated as Guest Night on October 9.

Sheriff Joe Wasser was among area law enforcement officers who attended a conference on white-collar crime held at Bear Mountain Inn, October 16.

Remodeling and renovations of the Sullivan County National Bank office in Roscoe are nearing completion. Ribbon cutting ceremonies are planned for October 25.

40 Years Ago - 1985

The Sullivan County Board of Supervisors have agreed to actively pursue the construction of its own nursing home. The county’s aged currently wait an average of 60 days for nursing home space.

The new Town of Bethel Youth Center will open October 25 and will be open every Friday for middle and high school students from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be adult supervision at all times.

Dr. and Mrs. Dan Schlossman are telling their friends of the never-to-be-forgotten experience of standing on the 19th floor of a Mexico City hotel, holding on, expecting the building to collapse at any moment. They were in Mexico City during the recent earthquake that took the lives of more than 5,000 persons, including several Americans.

Pamela Mears and Anthony Arielly were married in St. Peter’s R.C. Church in Liberty on August 10. A reception was held at the Valley View House in Kenoza Lake. Margaret E. VanEtten and Gregory M. Dennin exchanged wedding vows on September 14 at St. Peter’s R.C. Church in Monticello. A reception was held at the Orchard Inn in Eldred. Alice Dexheimer and Michael Kasko were married September 14 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Liberty. The reception was held at King’s Catering House in Livingston Manor.

Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Kesten of Monticello have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jodi Louise, to Michael Griffin of Forestburgh. Wedding plans are incomplete.

Linda S. Sheldon, 39, wife of Dr. Eric Sheldon of Monticello was vacationing with her husband in Japan when she suffered a heart attack aboard a plane en route to Tokyo and was found dead in her seat when he returned from the plane’s rest room. She was the Director of Administrative Services at New Hope in Loch Sheldrake.

Attending the 125th anniversary of the Fremont Center Church on October 19 were former ministers, Rev. John Hantla of Sioux City, Iowa, who is the supervisor of Goodwill Industries in that city; retired Rev. Donald Walter of Dallas, Pa.; District Superintendent Doug Osgood of Newburgh; the current pastor, Rev. Kimberly Bosley; and Rev. James Moore of Warwick.

Ted Laviski of Swan Lake is the current leader in the Sullivan County Democrat’s turkey contest with a gobbler that tipped the scales at 19 lbs. 13 1/2 oz. and carried a 6 5/8 inch beard.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Pamela Frey of Yulan was awarded the Most Valuable Member Award by the New York State Assessors’ Association at its 1995 annual Conference in Niagara Falls on October 9. Formerly the sole assessor for the Town of Liberty, she was also a chairman of the Board of Assessors for the Town of Highland. This prestigious award has only been presented to nine other people since the Association was founded in 1940.

Phyllis Lehrer, daughter of Max and Sylvia Alpert, the former owners of Crain’s Pharmacy in Monticello, is now in Rome, Italy, where she was chosen one of two judges to represent the United States and attend a competition of pianists from all over the world. She is a professor of music at the renowned Westminster College in Princeton, N.J.

“The winds came through and swept away all the tents, and a bunch of tents ripped and a tree branch came down onto a $200 tent!” described the storm which tested Nava-Len District’s Boy Scout Fall Camporee and Cub Scout Olympics last weekend in DeBruce. “It got so bad and rainy, we had to go up to the lean-tos... Everything just flooded, and in my bunk there was a mouse,” related 11-year-old Boy Scout John Hopper in telling of the experience. The weekend was a complete success despite the downpours and 40-mile-per-hour winds, according to Joe Beirne, Camporee program chairman.

Assemblyman Jake Gunther of Forestburgh was awarded the Sullivan County Child Care Council’s 1995 Advocate of the Year Award at a dinner Friday at the Eldred Preserve Restaurant. About 150 people attended.

Five generations gathered  to help Edna Dauch of White Lake celebrate her 87th birthday, including her daughter, Elaine Bell of Mongaup  Valley; granddaughter, Theresa Foster, Theresa’s daughters Sue Ellen, and daughter, Audriana, and Tina and her daughter, Brittany, all of Orange City, Fla.

The Monticello Volunteer Ambulance Corps will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a dinner at Bernie’s in Rock Hill on November 4.

20 Years Ago - 2005

Nelson and Mae Townsend had a love affair with the restaurant business. Now the owners of Inn by the Falls won’t be coming back for another season in Ferndale, at the eatery that opened in 1946, when Mae’s father, Nick Esposito, started the popular spot. Health concerns have made it more difficult for the pair to run the place, which has had a loyal following in the area, owing a great deal to Mae’s running of the kitchen.

Jeannette Capriano was honored with the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York’s 2005 DeWitt Clinton Award at a recent ceremony conducted by the Fallsburg Lodge at the Liberty Lodge Hall. Capriano is widely known for her love of firefighters and has created many noteworthy oil paintings in silent tribute to their selfless dedication to saving lives and property.

Umbrella night at Shea Stadium on August 19 was 8-week-old Samual Minton’s first visit to a New York Mets game. His mother and father, Valerie and Paul Minton of LIberty, are ardent Mets fans, and of course, young Samual slept through most of the Mets 1-0 win.

Tri-Valley senior running back Danny Knox had quite a day for himself on Saturday as the Bears upset the visiting Sullivan West Bulldogs 20-17 in overtime on a rain-soaked Grahamsville gridiron. Knox ran for 125 yards and scored a couple of touchdowns as T-V defeated SW in a key Section IX Class C football game. In addition, Knox recorded the final tackle of the game, knocking down SW’s Steve Daley at the 3-yard line on a fourth down and goal situation in OT as the Bulldogs eschewed an attempt for a tying field goal and tried to score a TD to win the game.

10 Years Ago - 2015

Local officials attended the recent Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony for James Steinberg III. JT, as he is known, successfully achieved the rank of Eagle Scout this year, joining his father, grandfather and uncle in receiving this honor, the third generation to do so in the Steinberg family. JT’s Eagle Scout project was a refurbishment of the old Forestburgh Town Hall. His family has called Forestburgh home for generations, so it was a fitting project – and one that had meaning to JT. More than just a simple paint job, JT had to first present the project idea to the Forestburgh Town Board for approval and request funding before they could begin. Once that hurdle was crossed, JT and his crew, which included Scout Master Kip Bisland, had to prepare the building; strip, prime and repair holes and missing siding; then paint and trim the whole building. 

A new historical sign graces the back entrance to the former President Hotel in Swan Lake. Dr. Donald Roth’s grandfather Hyman Bant built the Borscht Belt destination in 1931 and rented it to Max Leshnick and Irving Podolnik. The hotel prominently overlooked Swan Lake, in a spot now occupied by Presidential Estates. The sign was erected by Nancy Levine and crew as part of an effort to demarcate Swan Lake’s history throughout the hamlet, offering interesting aspects of the hotel’s 40-year history, including the stone fencing and gate pillars created by mason Joe Moshini. It’s located near the intersection of Route 55 and County Route 74 (Stanton Corner Road) in Swan Lake. One of the more fascinating tales isn’t on the sign, however. According to Roth, Leshnick rented out rooms normally reserved for famous mobster Bugsy Siegel, and when his henchman found out, a black hearse pulled up to the President, and the driver told the bellhop, “Either Mr. Siegel checks in, or Mr. Leshnick checks out.”