130 Years Ago - 1895

The Sullivan County Telephone Company, operating through the county, has been absorbed and superseded by the Delaware River Telephone Company of Liberty, N.Y., which was organized at Liberty Saturday.

Many of the Town of Delaware farmers are discovering that there is money in the poultry business, says the Democrat. Charles Hermann is building another large hennery and will winter 300 or 400 fowls. George Eller has about 300 fowls, mostly this year’s chickens, and will winter several hundred of them.

J.C. Taylor, the popular railroad conductor, is about to engage in the flour and feed business in the Monticello freight house.

Charles Scheidell is going to test the milk producing qualities of ensilage this winter. Last week he filled a silo in his large barn with fifty-three tons of green corn, cut up ears and all.

On account of diphtheria in the family of W.H. Pfeifer near Jeffersonville, to which it is thought some of our children may have been exposed, school will not open until Monday.

The Youngsville semi-annual fair will be held next Monday. One of the features will be a bicycle race for a purse of $3.

The barn of Mrs. John A. Shad, a mile north of Callicoon, was burned on Monday night. This was a structure erected on the site of a barn that burned a year ago.

120 Years Ago - 1905

The houses in Liberty are to be numbered as required by the post office department, preparatory to introducing the free delivery of mail later.

The Arlington at White Lake, recently burned, will be rebuilt by the owners, John Naylor and Bruce Sanford, in time for the next season’s business. The Arlington will be one of the largest and most improved hotels in the county.

A daughter was born to Valentine Reum and wife on September 2.

W.P. Craig and William Phillipson, interested in the Liberty-Jeffersonville trolley, were in town again Monday. Messers. Craig and Phillipson will build the road if they can get reasonable support from the people.

George Lixfield had traded his lot, about an acre, below the creamery road, to Peter Mootz, the mail carrier, for a team of horses, giving some boot money. Pete will build a home there.

A woman, the thirteenth child and born on the thirteenth day of the month, recently died in Arkansas at the age of 105. Might have known nothing would happen to her.

New Orleans has learned the lesson, though it had learned it several times before, that the time to fight yellow fever is before it starts.

Since he has adopted a wig and bicycle, John D. Rockefeller may drift into the cigarette habit. He would look fifty years younger.

Winfield George, the 2 1/2 month old son, passed away sudden at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Silas and Frances (Koerner) Tompkins in Pea Brook. He was born in New York City June 29, 1905, and died September 17, 1905.

Quite a party took place at the home of Mrs. W.J. Brown on September 17 in honor of her fiftieth birthday anniversary. Those present were W.J. Gaebel and wife, Frank Royce and wife, Mrs. A. Speilman, John Speilman Sr., Misses Annie Brown, Hermie Bird, Anne Royce, Elizabeth Baumgardt, Helen Speilman, Carrie Lillie, Katie Weltsch, Clarence Royce, Albert Speilman and John Baumgardt. 

110 Years Ago - 1915

Two amusement places on the west side of Lake Huntington – the moving picture house of Joe Morris of New York and the shooting gallery of William Curtis of Scranton – and the residence and bakery of George W. Wider of Stapleton, S.I., were destroyed by fire. Two of the buildings were reduced to ashes and one side is all that remains standing of Wider’s residence and bakery.

Thomas C. Tormey, who runs the confectionary and fruit store in the Lawrence Store, has bought the general store business and building of Andrew  M. Kohler of Delaware and will take possession as soon as Mr. Kohler sells off some of his stock.

Peter Schultz has sold his farm north of Jeffersonville, formerly the Zopfi place, to William LeRoy who has the Doughty farm. The house on the Schultz place, which was burned May 31, has not been rebuilt. The Schultz family have fixed up temporary quarters in the barn.

Fred Joergle of Jeff, who went to Ithaca last week to try for a free scholarship at the Conservatory of Music there, won a scholarship at the examination. Fred will study the violin.

Inspector A.E. Hall of the State Education Department was here last week. He came to inspect the new school building in the Beechwoods, and also to look over the field here and at White Sulphur Springs with respect to consolidation, the appeals of which are still pending.

Water is to be installed in the school house from the village main on Maple Avenue about 200 feet distant. W.J. Grishaber has the contract at $98. A drinking fountain will be placed in the school building.

Summer was a long time coming, but there is no doubt now of its arrival. Ninety degrees in the shade.

100 Years Ago - 1925

The family of George Peterson, on the former William Beiling farm between Jeff and Youngsville, had a narrow escape from serious, if not fatal, injuries from lightning last Saturday evening. A bolt of lightning hit the gable at the rear of the house, shattering the side of the building, inside and out, from top to cellar.

Russell Webb, well-known marksman of Thompsonville, has just returned home after a successful tour with “The 101 Ranch.” He has been made an offer to appear in an act with Will Rogers in the Follies.

The J.M. Schmidt Co. will soon open a clothing and gents furnishing store in the Sawyer block at Callicoon.

Among the new firms chartered Monday by the Secretary of the State was the Sullivan County Oil Company of Jeffersonville, which is capitalized at $30,000. The incorporators are B. Yaeger and S. and R. Kirk. William Deckelman was the attorney.

The weekend brought some very uncomfortable weather. Great heat and humidity followed Saturday and Sunday evening by hard electrical storms and high winds.

Miss Edna Wilfert, Irving Robisch, Robert Metzger, Clyde Fitch, Fred Fischer, Merel Scheidell and Paul McDermott are all returning to college this week. All of the above are graduates of the Jeffersonville High School.

Friday evening, John Bischoff and Watson Abplanalp of Lake Huntington were driving to Jeff in the former’s Dodge touring car, when the machine skidded across the road near the Loerner cottage below the village, hit a telephone pole and snapped it off, and then landed upside down on the bank at the upper side of the road. Bischoff was cut about the head and has several ribs stoved in. Abplanalp got some scratches about the face.

90 Years Ago - 1935

The Parent-Teachers Association again sponsored a reception to the members of the school faculty at the schoolhouse in Jeff. Joining the faculty this year are Miss Virginia D. Wall of Hornell, Frank B. Cuccia of Bedford Hills, Joseph Willis of Monticello and Erwin L. Baker of Troy as principal. Returning this year are Miss Mary Wilfert, Miss Catherine M. Sohl, Joseph K. Strawbridge, Miss Theresa Deckelman, Miss E.K. Glassel, Miss Erna A. Weiss, Miss Freida Neuberger, Mrs. Hazel Myers, K.C. Fuller and Frank A. Bielac.

Harold Lyon has sold his drug store in the Sarles building in Liberty to Alvie Stickle, who for over twenty years was clerk in the Mance Drug Store.

In Binghamton on September 5, John O. Speilman of Youngsville, a former butcher there, was awarded $481.28 compensation when it was proven conclusively to Referee Frank B. Ford that he had suffered 15 percent loss of the use of his left hand in an industrial accident last January.

More improvements are being made at Tumble Inn, Callicoon Center. Elmer Knack and Albert Hauser are tearing down the old bar and will erect an eight car garage in its place. They are building a chicken house, tennis courts and shuffle boards.

Peter Countryman of Liberty, one of the dozen or more electric company employees engaged in shifting the electric wires running to and from the substation near the creamery, was severely burned on the right forearm, the right lower leg and left large toe Tuesday morning by coming in contact with a wire carrying 6900 volts.

The third and deciding game between the Manor and Jeff teams will be played on the Roscoe field next Sunday. With Ken Fisk pitching for Jeff and Pepper for the Manor, it should be a close and exciting contest.

80 Years Ago - 1945

An exchange reports that the jury in an arson case found that the fire was caused by friction between the insurance policy and the mortgage. Could be.

The dress shop here is closed this week to give the employees vacation. Mrs. Lucy Swords, proprietor, is in the city getting new styles and orders. About twenty are employed at the shop.

Mr. and Mrs. Max Blitzer of New York City and St. Petersburg, Fla., who made their summer home Jeffersonville for fifteen years, are celebrating their golden anniversary September 15th.

Miss Alvina Stephenson and S/Sgt. Irving Bernhardt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bernhardt of Kenoza Lake, were married at the Presbyterian Church Sunday by Rev. J. Kovach.

Capt. Basil Hick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hick of Jeffersonville, is recuperating in a hospital in Rheims, France, after an operation. Capt. Hick went overseas with a chemical warfare outfit.

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Forsbach, below the village of Jeffersonville, received a phone call last Thursday from their son, Cpl. William, who had arrived at Miami, Fla., after being overseas for two and a half years.

Sgt. John “Hans” Bernhardt of Kenoza Lake is at home now after having been discharged from the Army. Hans was in the service over three years and was one of the first to be inducted from this section. He was in Africa and Italy and recently was in a camp on the west coast.

70 Years Ago - 1955

Mr. and Mrs. Jinta Nakao of San Mateo, California, made their first trip to the Eastern states recently, for a visit with their son, William Nakao and family of Jeff.

Emma Lindsley of Bainbridge was elected president of the sixth annual reunion of the Lindsley family held in the church hall in White Sulphur Springs.

The Maple Grove House on Maple Avenue in Jeff was sold to Alexander Netcowski of Sunnyside, L.I., by owner, Alexander Fry.

Miss Paula Edith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nat Bodenstein, and Stanley Domfort, son of Mr. and Mrs. Domfort, were united in marriage on Sunday afternoon, September 11.

Mr. and Mrs. August Lott of Jeff announce the engagement of their daughter, Barbara Ann, to George Hahn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hahn of Callicoon Center.

Louise Sickmiller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Sickmiller of Jeff, received a $300 scholarship at the graduation exercises at the School of Nursing Presbyterian Hospital.

The marriage of Miss Elvira Waldas of Swan Lake, to William Brey of Kenoza Lake, took place September 11, in the Methodist parsonage in Kenoza Lake.

60 Years Ago - 1965

A formidable delegation was on hand Saturday at the unloading plant of the Honor Brand Feed Co., Narrowsburg, to witness the opening of the first car of government surplus grain in Sullivan County.

Four Monticello firemen narrowly escaped serious injury and a fifth was at one time engulfed in flames Thursday afternoon as a fire destroyed the David Garfinkel warehouse in the rear of 47 Liberty St., Monticello. Estimates of the damage ranged upward to a quarter million dollars. The huge warehouse was packed to the rafters with furniture and steel cabinets.

State Tax Commissioner Joseph H. Murphy reminded vendors today that the first New York State and local sales and use tax return should be filed on or before September 20.

50 Years Ago - 1975

The body of Victor Valentine Jr. of Brooklyn was recovered in White Lake on Tuesday afternoon, just four weeks after the tragic end to an afternoon swim.

Anthony C. Roos has resigned his position as president of the United National Bank in Callicoon. Vincent Zanetti has been named to succeed him. Mr. Roos will assume the title of Senior Vice President and will be available for consultation and will also continue as a director. Mr. Zanetti will assume the new office on October 1.

Lori Jeanne Whitmore and James Long were married at the Conklin Hill Church on September 6, with the Rev. Donald Walters officiating.

Before a capacity audience of brother Masons, members of the Order of Eastern Star, family and friends, George Youmans of Neversink was presented his District Deputy Grand Master apron at ceremonies in the Liberty Masonic Temple on Tuesday, September 9. Harold Kellam is master of Mongaup Lodge No. 816, Liberty.

40 Years Ago - 1985

DEC fisheries workers conducted a shock in the north branch of the Callicoon Creek and captured 50 trout for each 600 feet of the stream, a good number after a heavy year of fishing in the local waters.

Cory Glass of Liberty and Thelma Richard of Harris have been awarded nursing scholarships at Sullivan County Community College, each worth $500.

Temperatures near 90 degrees this past week plunged nearly 50 degrees Wednesday night and frost, heavy in some areas of Sullivan County, greeted early risers Thursday. One thermometer in Fosterdale registered 29 degrees.

Ann Giordana, a waitress at Lloyd’s Variety in Callicoon, purchased a New York State Lottery ticket, choosing her birthday as the numbers, playing the pick 4 straight and boxing her numbers. She won on both tickets for a total of more than $5200.

Miss Sally Reddish, who will be married to George Creegan on October 12 at Holy Cross Church, was the guest of honor at a bridal shower September 7.

30 Years Ago - 1995

Two Democrats vying for the office of Town of Liberty supervisor will have to wait a week to find out who won the primary. Jack Simons garnered 275 votes while Dick Martinkovic totaled 276 votes in Tuesday’s primary. There are 24 absentee ballots and eight affidavits are to be reviewed after the September 19 expiration date.

Drainage work will help alleviate ice build-up on Main Street and in front of Peck’s Market in Callicoon during the winter months. The county DPW is doing the work.

Herman Reinshagen recently received an appointment as Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Senegal near the Grand Lodge of New York. He received his apron Monday night at a ceremony at Monticello Lodge #532.

The 67th annual parade of the Sullivan County Volunteer Firemen’s Association was held in Monticello Saturday. Wurtsboro captured the coveted Best Appearing Overall Company in the County. Ontario Hose Co. of Liberty was awarded the best appearing motorized antique truck, (25 years and older) not in service, as well as best appearing non-motorized antique, while Woodbourne  captured the best motorized antique in service, in county, over 25 years.

More than 150 friends and colleagues attended the retirement dinner as John Hutzky celebrated his retirement as superintendent of the National Park Service’s Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational Region Sunday. He came to the region in 1979 and his retirement capped off a 33-year career with the NPS.

The 5th annual VonSteuben Parade will be held in Yulan on September 23 at the Firemen’s Field. A Germanfest will begin immediately after the parade.

The Damascus Class of 1945 held its 50th reunion at Woodloch Pines August 13. Twenty-one of the 24 members of the class with spouses and friends and a teacher, Mrs. Mildred Adams Layton, attended for a total of 51.

20 Years Ago - 2005

After decades of serving as arguably the brightest and most recognizable business on Broadway in Monticello, Kaplan’s closed in 1992, but its large and famous stainless steel sign beamed far and wide until this past Tuesday, when it finally came down after urging from Village of Monticello Mayor James Barnicle and Village Manager Richard Sush. The famous restaurant was known for its delicatessen, which served thousands upon thousands. Keller Glass of Jeffersonville was unable to salvage the stainless steel, as the letters did not hold together when removed.

Robert Head and Denise and Harold Wood announce the engagement of their children, Christina Head of Callicoon and Keith Wood of Abrahamsville, Pa. 

Melissa Bryant and David Krivit were married February 19, 2005 at the Brookside Manor in Middletown. The bride is the daughter of Herb and Kathy Bryant of Livingston Manor. The bridegroom is the son of Gary and Alicia Krivit of Roscoe. 

Dozens of members of the Community Church of Wurtsboro celebrated its 200th anniversary Sunday, September 18. According to the church’s historical records, the Dutch Reformed Congregation of Mamakating was formed on August 5, 1805. In 1849, the congregation changed its name to the Reformed Dutch Church of Mamakating. Between 1947-1952, the congregation shared services with the Methodist Church of Wurtsboro. There was a lapse after that, which ended officially in 1987 when they merged into the Community Church of Wurtsboro.

10 Years Ago - 2015

This past Sunday afternoon an Aston Martin, a luxury British sportscar, pulled into Roche’s Garage in Callicoon for a fill up. The attendant, Quinn Rodgers, talked with the driver, who needed a tank full of gas. “I know you,” Rodgers told the driver. “But I can’t remember your name. Aren’t you Dirty Harry?” Clint Eastwood gave Rodgers a big thrill and lived up to his slogan, “Go ahead, make my day.”

The YMCA Environmental Center recently dedicated on the remote Wild Turnpike in Rock Hill, gives the Sullivan County YMCA a permanent residence after many years of trying to find a home in Monticello. The YMCA currently runs the Town of Thompson Summer Day Camp, and the new center gives the not-for-profit organization a permanent location to do a plethora of new programming, including outdoor education, art and fitness classes. The center is built on 155 acres of land donated by Simon Gelb, a controversial developer from Kiryas Joel who once planned a large Hasidic development on the land that was eventually sold to the developers behind the China City project. Gelb has been in the news more recently as the original filer of the petition to allow Kiryas Joel to annex land from the Town of Monroe.