110 Years Ago - 1912

The Damascus School Board was called out last week to deliberate upon the advisability of building a new school house to accommodate the children in what is known as the Canfield District. The present building was closed because of the lack of scholars and now the people are insisting on having a new house built.

Silas R. Devine died at his home in Loch Sheldrake on September 19. He was widely known as an inventor.  Rend Rock was one of his inventions. It was used to blow up Hell Gate some years ago. He also invented other powder in which sulphur was a principal ingredient. He was the inventor of Sapolio.

For the past week a petition has been passed along the road between Narrowsburg and Honesdale, Pa., calling for a new macadam road between the two places. There is not at present a good road leading from Honesdale to the northern part of Wayne County.

It now appears there are some rivalry for the property of the Gilman estate and instead of the Lorillards having secured it, the whole tract, consisting of some 8,000 or 9,000 acres have been gobbled up for park purposes by a rich mine owner named Parnell and besides the Gilman tract has secured other parcels cleaning up nearly everything between Eden and Monticello.

William George of Liberty has invented an electric power floor and polishing machine which will greatly reduce the arduous labor of cleaning and polishing either old or new floors. It will polish to within an inch of the baseboard and is estimated to do the work of ten men.

George Geiger of New York has sold his creamery at Livingston Manor to the Mutual Cheese Company of NYC. They have raised the price of milk to the farmer and it is said would like to increase their daily purchase of milk from 20 to 50 cents a can. They will make fancy cheese.

Ralph Smith of Monticello and Wm. DeKay of Monticello will be students at the Albany Law School.

100 Years Ago - 1922

Henry W. Koster, a former merchant, took charge of the Narrowsburg post office under a commission from President Harding, to succeed James E. Purcell who died last week. Born in Monticello, Mr. Purcell was a teacher and principal of the Barryville School before taking over the Kinnie store in Narrowsburg. He has served as postmaster six years, receiving his commission from President Wilson. . . Roy L. Kalbfus has been appointed post master at Shohola, Pa.

Henry Wizeman of Hortonville has purchased of J.M. Schmidt & Sons of North Branch, a corn husker, the first of its kind in this section. Mr. Wizeman gave a demonstration at Charles Scheuer’s during the week where it husked 30 bushels of corn in a ten hour day. It is said it will husk 50 bushels in a day.

Teachers of three supervisory districts of Sullivan County, 325 strong together with their superintendents and instructors, will assemble at Callicoon on Monday for a three-day conference. Arrangements have been made whereby the uniform rate of $2.50 a day will be charged for board and lodging. Escort for the teachers to their boarding houses, facilities for parking cars and entertainment on Monday evening, free use of the Delaware Bridge for sightseeing and a tour of the beautiful St. Joseph’s College will be provided.

Acidalia’s population took a big jump last week when a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris Turk on Sunday and a son to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence the same day. That same day a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Young Jr. and on the following day a son arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Turk.

The Rev. F. Fuessele, a representative of the Anti-Salon League, will speak at the Presbyterian Church in Cochecton Sunday.

90 Years Ago - 1932

Excavation for a foundation for a firehouse for the Hortonville Fire Company was started yesterday morning. The site is located between the properties of Dr. Huber and  George Buddenhagen.

A 7 1/2 pound baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hake of Narrowsburg at the Maimonides Hospital in Liberty, Friday.

An 8 1/2 pound baby girl was born at the Callicoon Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. John Diehl of Damascus Wednesday morning.

Howard Schmidt of North Branch and Miss Esther Fink of Hortonville were united in marriage Thursday morning, September 29, at Holy Cross Church.

Mr. and Mrs. John Link celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary October 3 with a dinner at the home of Mrs. George Reichmann. Mr. and Mrs. P. Hess also celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on the same day.

The Honesdale Bus Line, conducted by John Knapp, has discontinued running to and from Honesdale, Pa., and Narrowsburg.

80 Years Ago - 1942

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Deckelman of Obernburg celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at Obernburg last Sunday at the homestead.

Edith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Kohler of Jeffersonville, and Albert Mullen, now doing government work in Bermuda, were married Sunday at the Lutheran parsonage in Glendale.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Oleski of Washington, D.C., are the parents of a girl born Wednesday, September 30, at the Callicoon Hospital . . . It was a girl Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. John Long of Callicoon; a girl, September 26, to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Krull of Narrowsburg; a girl, September 25, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hoehn of Brooklyn.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Anderson of Hankins have announced the engagement of their daughter, Betty, to Ira D. Ray of Fernwood.

Clarence D. Fortnam of Tyler Hill, Pa., has broken the record for awards received for his prize gladioli this past season. He has won 141 first places, 85 seconds, 20 thirds, 10 sweepstakes, 5 best spikes in show, 6 NEGS ribbons, 4 silver and bronze medals and several cups and trophies. In the history of flower growing such a record has never even been approached.

Miss Barbara Bossert of Cochecton became the bride of Louis Komencheck of Bethel on September 26.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Thomas of Long Eddy, a son, September 22.

Sgt. Nicholas Novogrodsky, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Novogrodsky of Woodridge, has been reported missing in action somewhere in the South Pacific. He is the oldest of eleven children.

A heavy downpour last Saturday night and Sunday caused flood conditions in nearly all places in this vicinity and some damage was done.

Included in the high water, damage was done to the Jeffersonville water main making it necessary to close school.

70 Years Ago - 1952

Correction: In the October 1 issue of the Sullivan County Democrat, the marriage of Fay Weiss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weiss, to Thomas A. Mahoney at St. George’s Church in Jeffersonville on September 30, listed her name as Marilyn. Our records have been corrected.

Gary Taggart of Tyler Hill, Pa., has accepted an invitation to take part in the variety program to be held at the State Armory on Friday evening, October 17, of Pennsylvania Week.

Mr. and Mrs. Watson Tyler of Damascus have three sons in the service, all stationed overseas. S/Sgt. John E. Tyler is in French Morocco, North Africa, and flew to Augsburg, Germany, last weekend to spend time with his brother, PFC Donald Tyler, stationed at Kaiserlautern. A/2C Charles Tyler is stationed at Okinawa as a skilled trick chief teletype operator.

Rose Marie Wormuth, who will become the bride of George Bolton of  Barrington, R.I., on October 11, was the guest of honor at three bridal showers this past week.

Miss Margaret Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Moore of Galilee, Pa., Gertrude Ferrara of Callicoon Center, Freda Avery and Lila Reining of Beach Lake, Pa., and Margaret King Varano of Binghamton, formerly of Lookout, Pa., were members of the graduating class from Binghamton City Hospital School of Nursing on September 7. Miss Moore was awarded the Board of Managers scholarship for a year of post-graduate nursing study for attaining the highest scholastic average in her class.

At the Callicoon Hospital it was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reid of Hortonville on Wednesday.

Charles G. Burns, Monticello’s first mayor under the present village set up, celebrated his eightieth birthday Tuesday of last week at his home on Roosevelt Place. He is a retired railroad conductor. He and Mrs. Burns are among the oldest members of the Methodist Church in Monticello, in terms of years of service.

60 Years Ago - 1962

Miss Karen Ruth Schrumpf of Callicoon Center and George H. Labouseur of Liberty were married on September 29 at St. Paul’s Church in Callicoon Center. . . Miss Patricia Ann Luning of Cochecton Center and William H. Dirie of Hortonville were married on September 21. They will operate the Hortonville Alleys and Hotel.

Born Monday, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Willard Harrie of Equinunk, Pa.; a daughter, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Adams, Hankins; a daughter, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Minckler of Long Eddy; and a daughter, Tuesday, to Mr. and Mrs. William Newport of Hankins.

Mr. and Mrs. Earle Poley of North Branch were guests of honor at a 25th wedding anniversary October 6 at the North Branch Firehouse.

Joyner’s Store, a landmark in White Sulphur Springs since 1895, was sold this week by John Joyner to Gerald Green, who has been a clerk in the store. Mr. Joyner will, however, continue his postmaster duties in the same building.

50 Years Ago - 1972

Thomas Kobylenski, a freshman at Lehigh University, may be starting wide receiver on Friday, October 6, when the freshman team will make its debut against Rutgers of New Brunswick, N.J. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kobylenski of Hortonville.

Mrs. Edith Gottschalk was guest of honor in observance of 55 years of service to the Hankins Methodist Church at a luncheon held at Bethany Colony by the W.S.C. S. She was one of the original group that met at the home of Mrs. W. V. Ross on January 11, 1917, and helped organize the Ladies Aid Society of Hankins which was later changed to W.S.C.S. (Women’s Society of Christian Service in 1941). Mrs. Dorothy Gottschalk and Mrs. Dorothy Peake were also honored for their 35 years of service.

Loretta Meredith and Stephen Sprague have been chosen to represent Liberty High School at the All-State Choir in Rochester.

George Lahm of Hortonville has opened a new business — The Sportsmen’s Den — which will feature hunting and fishing supplies.

Linda Armbrust, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Armbrust of Fremont Center, won a blue ribbon for Showmanship and the Dairylea Trophy for Junior Champion at the recent Grahamsville Fair. She showed a young Holstein which was also given two red ribbons.

Steve Huck of Roscoe snagged a 17-inch golden trout, weighing 2 lbs. 4 1/2 oz. and was awarded a Gold Medal at the Hunting and Fishing Day at Livingston Manor. A Brownie, 22 1/2 inches long, weighing 3 lb. 12 oz. was taken by an 8-year-old Monticello lad for the trophy for the day in the largest fish category. Geared to benefit school children, adults found the day rewarding, too. Under the watchful eye of Instructor Chet Slaver of Liberty, a group of youngsters were instructed in how to handle the bow and arrow among other activities of the day.

40 Years Ago - 1982

Joseph F. Winkler, former supervisor for the Town of Fremont, will be honored Sunday, October 3, with the dedication of the new administration building in Fremont Center. Mr. Winkler was responsible for obtaining the grant that provided money to build the building.

Mr. and Mrs. William Tompkins of Liberty were guests of honor at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration held at the Marriott Hotel in Bethesda, Md., on Saturday, September 18. Of the original wedding party, usher Calvert Crary of Lew Beach, Mary Crary Dillenbeck, sister of the bride, who was maid of honor, and bridesmaids Muriel Cusator Warner and Idella Hill were present. The honored couple renewed their wedding vows at which Mr. Crary served as best man. Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have three living children, Mrs. Brian Tompson of Cary, N.C., William H. Tompkins Jr. of Laurel, Md., and Robert C. Tompkins of Silver Springs, Md. William Tompkins Jr. was master of ceremonies.

Lorraine Albrecht and George M. Pfeisiter III, both of Rock Hill, were married at an outdoor ceremony on July 3 at King’s in Livingston Manor. . . . Jane Shaddock and Brent Lawrence, both of Hurleyville, were married at the Town of Thompson Town Park in Monticello on August 29. Justice Isaac Kantrowitz performed the ceremony. . . Carrie Seibert of Liberty became the bride of Ronald Rulis of Auburn on August 28 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Liberty.

Robert Dowitsch, son of Mrs. Nellie Dowitsch of North Branch and the late Fred Dowitsch, retired as the vocal and instrument music teacher at the Gilboa-Conesville Central School after 26 years of service. He was the organizer and sustainer of a dance band called "Star Duster" for the past 24 years.

30 Years Ago - 1992

Sullivan County moved one step closer to acquiring the Woodstock site in Bethel and sponsoring a series of concerts there on the 25th anniversary with the unanimous endorsement of the supervisors Finance Committee. Unlike the Town of Bethel, Sullivan County has the power to condemn the 38-acre property and give June Gelish of Brooklyn, the reported owner, a court-approved price that is much lower than the $1.2 million she wants for the world famous field.

Michael Ellmauer, a secondary science teacher with an impressive record of extra-curricular involvement with the junior and senior high school students, has been awarded an Outstanding Services Award by the Jeff-Youngsville School Board. As a 10-year soccer coach, his team reached sectional finals twice and sectionals six times, with one team making a 10-day trip to Ireland. He has been involved in many other coaching positions, been the freshman class advisor for nine years, Student Council advisor, chaperoned numerous ski trips, among other things, and certainly deserves the honor bestowed upon him.

Jesse York of Monticello, 46, took a first place in Sunday’s Powerlifting Championship held in White Plains.

Eva Boyle of Hortonville has retired from the Hortonville Post Office after 24 years of service there. She started as clerk in 1968 and moved up to the position of postmaster in 1990.

The Tusten Lions Club Oktoberfest celebration will be held in Narrowsburg on October 10 - 11. Among other attractions will be the Royal Bavarian Band and Schuplatter Folk Dancers who will perform both days.

20 years ago - 2002

The Sullivan County ATV Association held a poker run over the Labor Day weekend to benefit Brad Chesney and Dan Huebner Jr., two local boys dealing with expensive medical conditions. They raised $6,000 apiece.

Monticello Mayor Gary Sommers and Village Manager Richard Sush will have lunch together once a week at a local eatery, each week at a different restaurant, starting in November. The initiative is meant to show that the two can and do work well together, and to encourage the public to talk to them about issues of concern.

Nancy George has been named the successor to longtime Superintendent George Vanderzell at the Tri-Valley School District.

The Barryville United Methodist Church recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with a day of songs and rededication. The church, originally built in 1902, was destroyed by fire in 1930. Then in 1930, members of the community and the parish rebuilt the church.

The Town of Highland Renaissance committee and volunteers saw their hard work rewarded when the community park was dedicated this past weekend at the four-corners in Eldred.

A daughter, Julianne Michelle, was born on October 2, to Andrew Feigenbutz and Tracy Swendsen, of Obernburg. Julianne has two big brothers at home. 

Kathleen M. Castro, daughter of Teresa Boscher and Fredrick Kelly, and Airman 1st Class William Paquet, son of Pastor Bob and Gloria Paquet of Callicoon Center, were united in marriage at the Hankins Assembly of God Church on September 1, 2002.

10 years ago - 2012

A list of the who’s who from Sullivan and Orange County’s business community were out in full force last Thursday as the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development hosted its 18th Annual Meeting and Cocktail Reception. In front of 228 attendees at the new Sullivan Hotel and Conference Center in Rock Hill, the Partnership presented the Walter A. Rhulen Award to Focus Media founder Josh Sommers and the Distinguished Service Award to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Chief Operating Officer Darlene Fedun.

Love of sports, athletes and his native Monticello were driving forces in the life of Warren “Buddy” Goldsmith, who died of cancer on September 27. Goldsmith played goalie for legendary coach Ed Kennedy and was the captain of the Monticello High School swimming team. Yes, swimming team. This was in the 1950s and the Panthers practiced/competed at the Concord pool under the tutelage of a world-class swimmer. In addition to his sports activities, Goldsmith ran several businesses, managed the Emerald Green development and Lake Louise Marie water plant, was a union painter, and traveled to six continents and over 40 countries with his wife of nearly 49 years, Myrna (neé Rosenberg).

Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, one of the Catskills’ venerable angling clubs, has named Dan Plummer, chairman of Friends of the Upper Delaware River, as recipient of its 2012 Conservation Award. Plummer, board chairman of FUDR since 2004, was cited for “tireless work on behalf of the Upper Delaware.” Bert Darrow, president of the Gordon club, said Plummer’s commitment, persistence and winning personality have helped forge alliances among a wide and diverse group of conservationists that often had been at odds in the past.