Down the Ages

by Fred

 

Shandelee Stories
After the second hay cutting on our farm, my father would then open-up the hayfields to the cattle, allowing them to taste the fresh shoots of green grass before the autumn's first killing frost. Before allowing the beasts onto the fields, however, the fencing needed to be checked and repaired where necessary. I was assisting my father in this chore one evening in September of 1959, when, overhead, we could hear the drone of a small airplane. Not paying particularly close attention to the sound, we continued working on the fence when suddenly, the noise stopped. We noted the abrupt silence amongst ourselves but came up with rational reasoning for the evening's sudden calm; pilots who were in training from the Livingston Manor Airport often were told to cut their engines for practice or else a plane-jockey was thrill-flying. We continued with our chore.

"The rugged six-foot tunnel worker plunged to his death on Shandelee Mountain in a two-seater Piper Cub at about 6:20 last Thursday evening. He was identified as George Berggeren, 26, a Sidney Center native. He has been rooming for the past ten months with the Joseph Griffin family of Livingston Manor. He worked for the West Delaware Tunnel Construction at Shaft 6.

"Chauncey Turk, first to arrive at the scene of the accident, states that Mr. Berggeren had made a left turn over his house, which is near the top of the mountain, straightened out, leveling off and with his
motor still running, crashed less than a quarter of a mile down the hill and searching the nearby woods, found the wreckage a short distance from the road.

"The first 3/4 of the plane was completely demolished, the only thing that would identify it as a plane was the tail assembly and what remained of the wings. The remains of the motor had been jammed back into the cockpit area."

September 24, 1959
Livingston Manor Times

The story was often told that they carried the remains of Mr. Berggeren, all six-foot of him, away from the scene of the accident in a bushel basket.

fred

Thanks Fred for that story. I'd heard talk about a plane coming down on Shandelee Mountain but most people seem to think it went into Sand Pond. My partner and I own the old Lake Rest Hotel site at the top of the hill - any idea exactly where the plane would have landed? We've already been told about the young lad who lost his life after the hotel burned. Many ghosts on the mountain it seems.

Paul


The plane went down a few hundred feet off of the Shandelee Road, a little less than two miles from Lake Rest, towards the Manor, on the left side and where the road flattens out below the Temple Road turn-off. There is a house now in the general vicinity, the house is about 100 yards from the road.

September 24, 1959
Livingston Manor Times

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Shandelee Stories
Mark Pressburger had the holiday week-end all planned. He would leave his Englewood home Wednesday afternoon and join his wife, Priscilla, up at the Catskill resort, the Concord Hotel, and together would observe the high holy week of Rosh Hashanah. Instead of fighting afternoon traffic escaping the city's workday, he would pilot his plane, a twin-engine Piper Aztec, from Teterboro Airport to the local airport at Sullivan County where he would meet his wife.

The experienced pilot took off from the New Jersey airport that afternoon, September 19th, 1990. Though overcast skies blanketed the area, no threat of inclement weather was in the immediate forecast, allowing Pressburger to pilot his plane using visual flight control. But weather conditions can be radically different in higher terrain, as the pilot soon discovered as he climbed over the higher, more rugged landscape of the southern Catskills. Entering Sullivan County airspace, he encountered a much lower cloud ceiling. Forced to fly in the whiteness of thick fog and the relentless drizzle, he switched from visual flight to the plane's instruments for finding his destination. On the approach, he was to find the airport's beacon light, that once locked in, would guide him on his approach toward the runway. For whatever reason, he failed in his first attempt finding this marker and circled overhead to make another pass to link up with the airport.

The Catskill Mountains are bounded to the east by escarpments, where the more rugged peaks have geologically resisted eons of erosion to form a wall of forested hills, most notable being the steep hillside that rim the Husdson Valley. On the western side of the Catskills, not as dramatic as to the east, is a less pronounced, west-facing, elevated ridge that goes from the Tennanah Lake section to Walnut Mountain, just outside of Liberty, including Shandelee. The change in elevation from the ridge's height to the lower, rolling countryside is spread over a wide belt, and though not as obvious, the ridge's height looms up to 1,000 feet above the narrow valleys to the west and, more importantly, the airport thirteen miles away. Though it is not known, perhaps Pressburger's instruments were not calibrated for the changes in elevation and if flight charts were in the cockpit, he probably was preoccupied, blindly maneuvering the plane now floundering in the clouds.

The plane, an older Piper model and being over thirty years old, roared over the residents and homes, just above the tree tops as it passed over Shandelee in the thick fog. Making a swing towards the south to find the airport's beacon, it clipped a tree-top along the northern shoreline of Sand Pond, ripping off the nose-wheel from the fuselage, spewing articles from the cockpit along the shore and into the lake. The engines continued to power the aircraft out over the lake, now losing what little altitude it had, until the plane slammed into the surface of the lake, a quarter mile from its initial impact, ripping the engines off of the wings. Pressburger was ejected from the plane upon impact, both pilot and plane sinking to the lake's murky depths below.

Fred
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Shandelee Stories
Since the introduction of bass to Sand Pond, sportsmen have sought this prize fish, known for its gamey fight once upon the hook. Known favorite haunts under the lake's surface for these finned creatures are secretly kept by anglers, who go to great lengths to hide their location's whereabouts. Bass fishermen have continually relied on various techniques, equipment and knowledge of the fish's habits to seek the upper hand in landing the trophy. Recently added to the bass master's arsenal is a "fish-finder', a portable, hand-held device that is able, through the use of sonar, to scan the under-surface waters and locate individual or schools of fish. The secrets of the lake's depths are now visualized on the small screen, the mysterious hiding places revealed to the bass master floating above in search of bass treasures from the deep.

A couple of bass fishermen were out on the lake as the early morning's mist rose from its surface when recovery operations for the Pressburger plane resumed the morning of September 20th. Rescuers discontinued the search the previous evening as darkness set in but now returned with divers from three local fire departments and the office of the Sullivan County Sheriff. Overhead, a State Police helicopter circled the lake, following the plume of oil and gasoline on the water's surface, in hopes of seeing the submerged aircraft from the air, but without any luck. Divers probed the murky bottom, each movement riling up silt and diminishing what was already limited visibility. By chance, just before noon, after three hours of underwater searching, they stumbled upon Pressburger's body, half buried into the silt, in 38 feet of water. The plane's location, though, was still a mystery.

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were in hopes of locating the wreckage by honing in on the plane's emergency transmitter but were unsuccessful in this attempt. Finally, a bass master's hand-held "fish-finder" was put to use, and the hidden mystery along the lake's bottom, half concealed in mud, was uncovered as the wreckage, broken into three pieces, was finally located, only about twenty feet away from where the unfortunate pilot was found. Throughout the history of Sand Pond, its waters have swallowed up horses, sleighs, trucks, one-arm bandits and the occasional swimmer, but now the biggest "trophy" of all, during the lake's grandest fishing expedition, has been found. Now, as with bass, the challenge was "reeling" the aircraft in.

Divers attached buoys to the wreckage, pin-pointing the location of the wrecked plane as it sat forty feet beneath the lake's surface. For four weeks they bobbed about on the lake's waves as the National Transportation Safety Board, in charge of the plane's recovery, dealt with other more pressing emergencies along with the problem of getting a salvage crew together at the site. Finally, during the aumtmn chill of late October, the recovery effort began as divers attached floatation collars on the wreckage. When inflated, the plane, minus one of its engines, was lifted from its watery grave. Once on the surface, at the point where it crashed into the lake, it was slowly towed by power-boats to the lake's northern shore, near the location where it first clipped the tree-tops. It was a long process, taking most of the day and it was not until late afternoon when the plane finally reached the shoreline, winched onto the awaiting box truck and carted away.

The Federal Aviation Administration was assigned the task of investigating the accident. Pressburger was dead before being submerged into the water, the autopsy concluded, receiving massive and fatal head injuries when he was ejected from the aircraft. The remains of the plane were to be hauled to a hanger at the Sullivan County airport, ironically its original destination for that September evening, where it was to be reassembled and inspected. Until arrangements were made, however, the crumpled mass of plastic and metal that was once an aircraft was deposited at Sam's salvage yard, depository of mangled vehicles collected by the Liberty, New York, tow-truck operator. Apparently there was no urgency into the investigation of the mishap, for it was at the yard for well over a couple of years. The plane's location being visible from the road, it originally caught the attention of those passing by, but eventually became just another wreck in the crowd.

Today, the fishing is as good as ever on Sand Pond, the bass still successfully matching wits with the current technologically armed anglers. As more and more of these nimrods rely on "fish-finders" in search of their prey, the lakes depths are now being continuously probed. As this battle between man and fish rages on, according to stories recently told, there is one particular location, near the middle of the lake, where an unexplained blip sometimes shows up on the "fish-finder's" hand-held screen. They say that the size of the screen's apparition is much too large for even the largest of the lake's bass. Perhaps the remaining Piper engine, that was left during the recovery, or another piece of the wreckage that was left could explain the image.


fred
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Shandelee Stories
Many stories persist about the fogs of Shandelee. The most publicized story, of course, comes from our legendary Johnny Darling when he tells about the time when he was shingling his roof during a Shandelee fog. When the fog lifted, he had found out that he had actually shingled over the fog and extended his roof over open space. There is also a more recent story about an automobile driver, while driving along the Shandelee Road, suddenly encountered a Shandelee fog-bank near the top of the hill. Slamming into the fog, the front end of the car received extensive damage.

Shandelee was shrouded in one of its fogs during one late afternoon in September of 1990, when my father, again, while working in his garden (Shandelee fog is also known to be a good fertilizer) again heard the drone of a small plane, flying somewhere overhead in the misty cloud. Judging by the sound, he knew that it seemed to be flying awfully low, probably too low for the conditions. The roar of the motor stopped suddenly with a loud "pop". He immediately contacted the State Police.

Rescuers from the local police to volunteer firemen combed the area, in the limited visibility, with the initial belief that the plane went down in the forest behind Sand Pond. When, at dusk, Brian Gleason came upon the plane's front wheels and an oil slick that washed upon the shore of the lake, it was then concluded that the plane went down into the water. Divers were summoned the next day and eventually found the wreckage on the lake's bottom;

"Officials of the Federal Aviation Administration were expected this week to begin the task of raising and retrieving the wreckage of a twin-engine plane that crashed into a lake on top of a mountain in western Sullivan County Wednesday, killing the pilot.

"State Police, local fire and rescue personnel and divers found the plane and its pilot in 40 feet of water near the northwest shore of Sand Pond atop Shandelee Mountain at around noon Thursday.

"The body of the pilot, 44 year-old Mark Pressburger of Englewood, N.J., was removed from the scene. Pressburger was on his way from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Sullivan County International Airport in Bethel late Wednesday afternoon when he ran into dense fog. He crashed at about 5:45 p.m. on his second try landing at the fog shrouded airport 12.5 miles away.

"No one else was believed to have been on board when the plane went down, breaking open against tall trees and scattering luggage, papers and seats on the shore before it hit the water. The spot where the plane and its pilot were found was about 200 feet from shore. It is now marked with small buoys."

September 25, 1990
Sullivan County Democrat

The plane laid at the bottom of the lake for over a week, until divers were able to attach floatation devices that lifted the wreck to the surface, and with a tow truck located on the lake's northern shore, slowly winched the wreckage to land. One of the engines, separated from the main chassis and deeply mired in the bottom muck, still remains in the lake.

fred

And would you believe that that plane went to a junk yard in Liberty. It sat there a long time until a few years ago the son of a friend of mine, the son's a pilot in Alaska, came down, bought the remains of the wreck and took it back to Alaska to use for parts. And he considered it a good deal cost wise! 

evelyn
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More Shandelee Stories
What was once very much a part of the history of Shandelee will soon become only a memory as the hotel known as Menges' Lakeside, along with most of the other buildings on the property, will be demolished in the near future to make room for a new residence.

Though the premises had been used in recent years by a Korean concern, little had been done on the upkeep of the buildings and one-by-one they fell into disrepair. The main building, the original hotel, was condemned by the board of health and sat vacant now for almost ten years. The roof, which is always the first to go on a building, was not maintained and eventually caused problems throughout the structure, in some cases weakening the floor all the way done to the first story.
 
During an era of the numerous summer hotels and boarding houses, summer employment for the local youth was easy to find. The Menges family provided jobs for many of us, which for those of us who worked there, would lead to many summer memories on Shandelee.

Fred - June 2008

The information concerning the fate of the Menges Lakeside was written on June 25th, 2008. As of the moment the main building is still standing but plans are in the wind of its soon demise.

Lake Rest is also gone. A winter's night fire, presumably unplanned, lit up the Shandelee sky as the old hotel quickly burned to the ground before firemen could get to the scene to save the structure. I believe the year was in 1991, but I could be corrected on that if that is not so.

The real tragedy of the fire occurred the next morning. By dawn's light, all that was left of Lake Rest was the brick chimney, rising tall above the still smoldering ashes of what was once the three-plus story hotel. One of the neighbor's boys, along with a friend, were being inquisitive and were probing within the ruins, doing what inquisitive boys do. Just as they were near the base of the tottering chimney, the whole chimney collapsed, the bricks landing on one of the boys, trapping him underneath the debris within the burning ashes.

No blame was placed on this deadly accident, but now the local firemen are instructed not to leave chimneys standing above ruins by plying a stream of water to knock it down to prevent a similar story in the future.

fred
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My partner and I now own the property where the Lake Rest used to be. Currently, there is nothing on that site except the buildings that used to be referred to as b-cottage and c-cottage. There is still a little cottage in the middle of the property and a small out building near the lake which I heard someone refer to as the 'ice-house'. The barn is also still standing.

The Lake Rest Hotel burnt to the ground on Sunday February 17, 1991 at around 4am. The cause of the fire is still undetermined. As Fred mentioned, sadly a local boy was killed when he ventured into the still smoldering ruins and was crushed by a falling chimney. The boy, John Hundley from Lower Willowemoc was only 14 years old.

We've been watching the progress of the Menges demolition. Sad to see the old buildings go. But there really wasn't much left to save.

Paul

Thanks, Paul (bondi212), I appreciate the information. Sorry to hear about the boy being killed, also ... I worked there in 1957 (I think) .. Will always remember it. It is always sad to see the old buildings disappear... but life moves forward, with or without us. LOL. Thanks, again.

MaryAnn

Thanks, Fred Fries! I almost missed this one from you! It is good that this tragedy has taught the fire company something! Some lives can and will be saved.
Someday I hope to get back up Shandelee and see what is there now. It is still a beautiful place to visit, I am sure. I have mountains around me in NC and just love going up and seeing the view. One we call Flat Top, and it is quite a ride, but beautiful in the summer months to get out of the heat. Thanks, Again.

MaryAnn

I have many photos and 8mm films of many summer vacations at Lake Rest, Menges, Huber farm, etc. I never thought I'd be so sentimental about the past, but I do know I was privileged to have so many happy times there. I hope the new owners respect the land and bring something wonderful to this beautiful area.

Susan Falk
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Menges Hotel
 

Before there was a Menges' Lakeside, there was the Chestnut Grove House. Shandelee, like the rest of the region, began as a farming community. With the penetration of railroad lines into the area, first the Erie along the Delaware River and later, locally more important, the O&W, visitors, escaping the summer heat and foul air of New York City, became more numerous to the Catskill region, providing an opportunity for farm families to supplement their income by taking on these city guests as summer boarders.
 
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John Fries was the grandson of the earliest settler on Shandelee Lake, Henry Fries, who also was the first documented Shandelee farm family that welcomed city guests. John and his wife, Elizabeth, purchased a large lot on the shores of Sand Pond, the twin body of water to Shandelee Lake, and erected a large farmhouse, with the original intention of providing space for summer boarders. Sand Pond, still somewhat a wilderness, was noted for the groves of chestnut trees along its shores, thus John and Elizabeth named their boarding house the Chestnut Grove House. The Chestnut Grove House was originally 32 feet wide and 28 feet deep. With the immediate success in the boarding business, an addition was soon added to the main house that consisted of the summer kitchen and included a spacious dining room.
 
The image included is from a postcard, postmarked 1906, showing the Chestnut Grove House along with the proprietors' family. Elizabeth, in the white dress, can be seen working in the garden with her husband standing nearby. Two of their children, Fred and Anne, are also in the photograph. Judging by the height of vegetation in the garden, the photograph was probably taken in mid-summer, and noting the wisp of smoke coming from the chimney over the summer kitchen, Elizabeth must have been preparing for her guests, momentarily going out to the garden to pick some fresh vegetables. 

Fred
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Shandelee Stories
Elizabeth Fries' daughter, Anne, married a young man from Youngsville, Albert Menges, and in 1921 the young couple took over the operation of the Chestnut Grove House. Al, always chomping on a cigar, had a head for business; making dollars made sense to him. He quickly renovated the old boarding house and turned it into a hotel, adding a 38 foot addition onto the building and adding two stories upon the whole structure

.

 Along with the other buildings that were added, his occupancy capacity increased and the establishment became a very profitable business. The hotel was now renamed the Lakeside House.

Fred
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The last chapter of the Menges Hotel / Lakeside Rest story will be written this Saturday, July 12 at about 6:30am when, according to members of the Livingston Manor Volunteer Fire Corp. the old hotel will be burnt to the ground (weather permitting). Should be quite a sight.

pgbernasconi
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Shandelee Stories - The Waverly
When his sister and her husband took over the Lakeside House, Fred Fries separated from the family owned business and went into the boarding business himself. His home was remodeled, adding a third floor, and by the addition of cottages on his premises, was able to increase the capacity of his small summer hotel. After the death of his first wife, he married Wavie Edwards, a girl from Youngsville, and named the new hotel after her, The Waverly. Though not as large as his sister's Lakeside House or the recently renovated Lake Rest Hotel on the hill next door, he still would attract over 100 guests on a busy weekend during the heart of the season. On Shandelee during this era, the "season" was considered to be from July 15th to August 15th. 

 
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His hotel continued to operate, though in a more limited capacity, during Fred and Wavie's advanced years and in the end, took in the overflow crowd from Menges' Lakeside. - Fred
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Shandelee Stories - Waverly
"Pop" Fries' pride were the gardens and orchards that surrounded his Waverly Hotel. The gardens were large, taking up most of the grounds, well manicured, not a weed to be found, and productive. So much so that the gardens supplied much of the vegetables used in the hotel's dining room. Fresh corn, just picked and husked that afternoon, filled the family style bowls set our for the guest's evening meal. And what was not used for food was to be admired. Guests, walking the trail to the lake, passed flowering plants and shrubs of every type and fragrance along the route.

So many apple trees were on the premises that it appeared that the hotel was really just an apple orchard. Each tree, grafted, sprayed and well-tended, produced apples for all occasions; pie apples, baking apples, apple-sauce apples and just plain eating apples. And also, apples for apple cider. During the prohibition, Shandelee farmers resorted to their own brand of beverages, home-made wines, liquors, beer and apple-jack were made and stored for private consumption or for use on special occasions. Fred Fries' cider was particularly noteworthy, for he had procured a number of whiskey barrels to store his apple juice during the fermenting stage. The finished product was favored amongst Shandelee residents for not only did the imbiber enjoy the effects of the hard cider, but the drink gave a special "kick", the effects of the whiskey residue left from old wooden barrels. - Fred
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Shandelee Stories
The relationship between Menges' Lakeside House and the Waverly was somewhat unique owing to their close proximity and family ties, brother and sister operating each hotel respectively. Because of this, both hotels often shared services; over-flow guests, dining room facilities, food deliveries, entertainment and a common driveway.

Wednesday nights, Menges' would hire a projectionist to run a current, full length feature movie at the hotel, and since there was a lack of space within the hotel, it was shown outdoors. Along the common driveway between Menges' and the Waverly, a screen, or rather a very large sheet, was strung-up between two maple trees and the Menges guests had ample seating to view the movie. Likewise for the guests across the driveway at the Waverly, for the image would show through the screen, allowing them to view the feature from the backside. The only problem for the Waverly guests was when the movie showed the credits, for what was a John Wayne movie for the Menges side, was a eivom enyaW nhoJ on the Waverly side.

 - Fred
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Shandelee Stories - Pop Fries
Fred "Pop" Fries just had to see it before he would believe it. Set in his ways, sometimes he was stubborn, usually miserly, and occasionally grumpy, but still received true affection from his summer boarders, most of whom kept in touch with him and his family throughout the winter.

His son, Buster, was the starting pitcher for Livingston Manor Central School baseball team, and a good one. A strong, scrappy lad, Buster learned to pitch a curve ball, which with its sweeping downward curve, led to his high school success. His father wasn't able to attend many games so when he was told of his son's pitching success and that he had a real good curve ball, he didn't believe it. Badgering his son, Buster offered to throw his father the pitch to show him. Going out behind the house, Pop set up over a home-made home plate with a baseball bat in hand and Buster paced off 60 feet, and set to deliver the pitch.

The ball left Buster's hand and made a bee-line towards Pop's head. Seeing the ball coming straight at his noggin, Pop leaned forward, but as he did, the ball seemed to follow his motion. He then bent down, low over the plate, to duck from the pitch, but the ball again followed his movement and just as the ball came to the plate, Pop's head was already there. The plate area wasn't large enough for both head and ball at the same time and the resulting collision of cowhide and skull crumpled the father to the ground. The pitch was a perfect strike, but Pop was too stunned to know it. After recovering from the blow, he never questioned his son's curve-ball pitch again; he saw it, he believed it and he felt it! - Fred
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Shandelee Stories - The Waverly

Engulfed in a wall of flames, a firestorm swept over the buildings of the Waverly Hotel sending heavy, black smoke billowing up into the early morning winter sky and reducing to ashes the last remembrances of a Shandelee story. On the morning of December 22, 2007, volunteer firefighters from the fire companies of Livingston Manor and Youngsville set ablaze the Waverly compound during a controlled burn, standing by with their equipment as the buildings burnt to the ground, protecting the nearby neighboring buildings from the intense heat and flames generated by the doomed structures. The fire made quick work on the ninety-eight-year-old main house and accompanying buildings, its deed finished mostly within an hour.

 
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But history can be stubborn in giving up its hold on a place as wisps of smoke continued to rise from the smoldering embers for many days after. On Christmas eve, as artificial Christmas decorations adorned the neighboring residences, the glow of numerous embers within the Waverly's rubble flickered throughout the evening's darkness, casting a more earthly luminescence for a final season's greetings, and its final Shandelee story.   - Fred
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Shandelee Stories - The Waverly End
The main building of the Waverly Hotel was no match for modern equipment, designed for demolition. Due to the proximity of the house to electric lines passing overhead, the main house was demolished first and then fed onto the fires that consumed the other buildings. Fred


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Shandelee Stories - Menges
For Harold Menges, the bombing of Japan during the summer of 1945 and that country's ultimate surrender was cause for celebration; the war was over and he would now be coming home. Harold A. Menges, the son of Anne and Albert Menges, the proprietors of the Lakeside House, served in the US Navy, a cook aboard a ship which was part of the Pacific fleet. When he returned, Harold, who was better known by his nickname, "Ham", became a partner with his parents in the family hotel. He married Della Judson in 1950 and soon after, the young couple took over the proprietorship of the Lakeside House.

Della had a head for business. With Ham in charge of the kitchen, she ran the business office. During the era when summer hotels in the Catskills were now beginning to experience difficult financial times, the Lakeside House, now renamed Menges' Lakeside, proved to be the exception. Della and Ham continually invested money back into their hotel, adding accommodations and constantly renovating and improving the premises to meet the ever-changing wants of their guests. The food was always superb and, thanks to Della, the place immaculate. The kitchen, after the preparation of each meal, was cleaned to a sparkling condition. If ever a place could be described as being clean enough to be able to "eat off of the floor", Della's kitchen
would be the place. In her passion for cleanliness, she would train
her staff on her methods of cleaning. She was not afraid to roll her up her sleeves, during her training sessions, and show how to clean a toilet. She was a strong, demanding lady who also was loyal to those who worked for her. With the common petty complaints often generated by her more ornery guests, Della always supported her staff.

Ham was of a more gentle nature, but a whirlwind in the kitchen when preparing the meals; trays of food being prepared shifted here to there, from recipe to ingredients, pots filling the stoves and ovens, all during the frenzied hours before serving the guests. Ham was also a stickler for detail. Proud of his duty in the service, each morning the stars-and-stripes were raised up the flagpole on the hotel's lawn by the staff. At the end of the day, two boys brought the flag down, standing at attention, as instructed by Ham, and always properly folding the flag. Ham was always of a happy disposition, with always a whistle while he worked, and often with a twinkle in his eye.

Of all the traditional holidays celebrated at the hotel, none was more important than V-J Day, the anniversary of the signing of the peace accord with Japan, signifying the end of the Second World War. Ham went all-out with that evening's meal, capped off with the serving of wine to the guests. The meal would begin when Ham entered the dining room, which he rarely did during the summer season, and proposed a toast to signify the importance of the day. The celebration did not end when the guests left the dining room, for the bus-boys, while cleaning off the tables, would collect the wine bottles that were left on the table and bring them back to the dish-washing area where they, along with waitresses who could sneak back to that isolated corner of the kitchen, would continue their underage celebration. Though seemingly unaware of such tom-foolery, Della and ham always kept a watchful eye on the young charges under their employment and though taking that responsibility seriously, seldom was there the need for discipline. For that reason, members of the staff returned year-after-year.  -  Fred
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Shandelee Stories - Menges
As the summer months during the boarding season dragged on, relief from the tedious work of waiting on the hotel's guests during the long, hot summer days often was in the form of pranks played on each other by the youthful staff at Menges'. These mischievous episodes, more than just short-sheeting the beds, created a friendly rivalry between the boys and girls as each group tried to outdo each other. A bathroom completely filled with crumpled newspapers would be eventually answered when boxes of Jell-O were administered to the bowl of a toilet, each feat escalated from the previous escapade.

Work for the serving of the evening's meal began at five o'clock as the staff readied the dining room and kitchen for the coming onslaught of hungry guests. The boys cleaned up from Ham's afternoon of food preparation along with other general duties in and out of the kitchen while the waitresses, dressed in their civilian clothes, would be responsible for setting-up the tables and their stations in the dining-room. When the girls were done, they would escape to their summer living quarters, the "girls shack", located just behind the kitchen, and change into their waitress uniforms.

Labor Day weekend, being at the end of the season, often was one of the busier weekends of the season, the hotel usually filled to capacity,
while the aded work in the dining-room cut short the time needed to meet the six o'clock dinner chimes. The girls, already short on time for their change-over, finished their dining-room duties and went back to the girls' shack to change their attire only to find the front door of the building missing. Further investigation revealed this was not all that was missing, for all the doors inside, as well as all the window shades were gone. They immediately went to Della with their complaint who in turn went to Ham, who was generally in charge of the boys' crew, the most likely culprits. As Della told Ham the plight the girls were in, Ham responded in his usual calm, non-committal manner, answering her that he hadn't noticed them missing when he came to the kitchen earlier in the afternoon. Della walked away in frustration while the girls, pressed for time, were forced to make do with the door less situation. The snickering heard coming from back by the dishwashing machine in the far corner of the kitchen were the boys enjoying the success of their handiwork.

Ham, of course, had no doubt of what had happened and soon came back to the boy's work station, and with a slight smile on his face, told the boys that he didn't know what happened to those doors, and didn't want to know either, but perhaps the boys could set out and look for them. The last laugh for the season had been had, and soon, as the evening's meal proceeded, all the gaping holes in the girls' shack were again filled with the proper door, every hinge back in place. The girls would need to wait a year for their revenge.  -  Fred
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Shandelee Stories - Menges burning

The dining-room of Menges' Lakeside.

Shandelee Stories - Menges burning
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It was to be a controlled burn. Experience is perhaps the most important weapon for volunteer firemen when fighting fires, and control-burn fires allowed for this training, testing their fire-fighting skills and the use on their equipment. Besides the training, the danger of a building fire, especially that of the size of the old Menges hotel was real, therefore a plan was needed to minimize the dangers. A blaze started haphazardly would soon become a raging inferno, the flames uncontrollable, and with the potential searing heat, there would be the possibility of damage to the overhead utility lines and the residence just across the street.
 
Firemen began assembling on the site early in the morning of July 12th, just as the sun was rising, its rays illuminating the old hotel for the very last time. Though the purpose was to bring the building to the ground by the blaze, water, and a lot of it, was needed to help direct the planned course of the fire. For this, two fire-trucks used fo pump water were sent to the lake's shore, over one hundred yards distant, with large hoses sent up to two locations near the building. The Youngsville fire company set up operations on the neighboring Waverly property while the Callicoon Center fire company truck sat on the other side of the building, upon the Menges lawn, both being less than fifty yards away from the doomed structure and both were attached, either directly or indirectly by use of a large inflatable vat, to the end of the pumper-trucks' hoses. These two fire companies' purpose was to keep the front exterior wall intact as the rest of the structure was consumed by the fire by applying streams of water onto that side of the building as well as laying out a heavy mist. This would serve two purposes; diminishing the heat on that side of the building keeping that wall intact, and, as the fire progressed in the center of the building, the weight of the exterior front wall would hopefully collapse into the center of the fire, away from the road and overhead wires  -  Fred

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It began with the sound of busting glass, as those in charge of igniting the fire broke the windows out of the roof dormers and soon smoke was observed billowing out. Shortly, flames replaced the smoke at the window holes as the dormers became engulfed in flames, the fire slowly spreading along the roof. The resulting smoke was now the fire's dominate feature as it rose from the full width of the seventy-foot long structure, converging above to form a plume that, this day being a day with little breezes, arose hundreds of feet straight into the cloudless sky.  -  Fred

Slowly, the fire worked its way down the center portion of the building, floor by floor, consuming all of the outside walls except the one in the front, as planned, which still was protected by the firemen's efforts. A strange mixture of fire, smoke and rainbows formed along the front of the building as water, reflecting the morning sun's rays, was continually sprayed onto the exterior front wall, forming a river of runoff that drained down the highway's sluice, inundating the neighboring lawn across the road. Finally, as the fire was now working down onto the second floor of the structure, a loud cracking noise signaled movement of the front wall, which, seemingly in slow motion, laid itself gently back into the inferno behind it, now to become added fuel for the fire.

As the fire progressed downward, the remains of each floor dropped onto the floor below adding to the conflagration, until when down onto the first floor, the fire was at its most intense as the flames spread throughout the whole area of the building. Out the back, where the addition that housed the kitchen was located, heavy, black clouds of smoke shot out the back door. The excavator on the site, which was to be used to assist the fire to consume as much of the building as possible, now was put to use, its bucket at the end of the long, hydraulically operated arm, punching at the kitchen's roof to get oxygen into the fire now burning in the kitchen. The area that was used to feeding so many guests over the years of the life of the old hotel, was now in its final act of feeding the fire that was soon to destroy it.

The large machine worked alongside the ongoing fire and the intense heat that was generated, pulling the non-burnable items, such as the iron beams from past renovations and basement water tanks, from the flames. To combat the intense heat, firemen now directed their hoses onto the machine, spraying the cooling water onto the bucket and arm as it worked within the fire in an effort to prevent damage to the operating equipment of the machine. As the driver manipulated the fire within the building's foundation with the long arm of the excavator, he needed to run the machine's windshield wiper to get a clear view of his work, now being in the midst of both fire and rain.

What can be a catastrophe for some folks, is merely a spectator sport for others. The planning of the controlled burn was planned for over a month in advance, and since it was not meant to be kept a secret, word spread quickly throughout the community, and well beyond, of the proposed date. When the fire was started, traffic was held up by the fire-police from all the participating fire companies at distant locations along the Shandelee Road and forced to detour around the site, with the usual grousing from those drivers in a hurry and not wishing to be inconvenienced. When the threat of the collapsing front wall was over and the firemen no longer needed to use the road as a staging area for their water-fighting equipment, traffic was again allowed to pass, though only one lane was used. Being in the midst of the summer season, nearby summer residents began to congregate as the smoke began to rise from the building. As the size of the crowd increased, they were held a distance back from the site, both for their own safety against the unexpected, as well as keeping them from being underfoot of the firefighters. Within two hours, the "entertainment" portion of the fire was over, and the crowd dissipated, the road now fully restored to traffic, allowing the drive-by gawkers from both directions.

It was a controlled burn; the building was brought down safely to the ground. For days afterward smoke arose from the smoldering ashes of the hotel, now lying as debris within the very foundation on which it stood on for over 120 years. It will soon to be excavated and filled in, leaving little evidence of the previous existence of such a place, now only a memory, a relic from a different era. Those who may have lived on Shandelee during those years, the many guests and their families who frequented these houses, and the many young people who spent their youthful summers working for the proprietors, will always describe their own Shandelee stories when remembering those days. But for now it is the scene for a new set of Shandlee stories, those to be generated  from a new family, in a new era. Hopefully, their stories will be remembered as fondly by them in the future as those that are now being remembered from times now gone by.

 

As the excavator worked along the perimeter of the foundation, there was one cause for alarm, at least for those of us who observed from a distance. As the machine's long arm was "playing" in the fire, a large explosion occurred, seeming to come from under the ground beneath where the excavator was working.  Perhaps an underground fuel tank was located there, and since the fire was now in the basement section, flames may have followed the oil line into the tank, exploding, or since there was no noticeable plume of smoke or acceleration of the fire, imploding the tank underneath the surface. Whatever the case, no harm was done.

Story and Pictures by Fred
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Trophy Year
The culmination of the 1959-60 basketball season for the high-school boys from Livingston Manor was the winning of the Class C Section Nine State Title. This feat, accomplished by winning all of their games that season, was celebrated throughout the community, until this feeling of joy was quickly tempered by the shocking news of one of our residents. Arthur Gebhard was a member of the loyal following who religiously attended the local school's events. In fact, Gebhard devoted much of his time serving the area's youth. A leader in the local scouting movement, Gebhard organized the Weblos pack for the Cub Scouts of Livingston Manor. His leadership skills working with these young scouts, along with the children within his chosen profession, reinforced his faith for the future and was praised by all within the town. We were all stunned with disbelief when the saddened community learned of the tragic event that unfolded on the evening of April 7th, 1960.
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Arthur L. Gebhard Jr.
 was born on January 5th, 1925, at Mount Vernon, New York. As with so many boys growing up in this era, his youth culminated with the enlistment, while still a teenager, into the armed forces during World War II. He joined the Army Air Force where he became a radio operator on a bomber and flew thirty missions. After the war, Gebhard answered the call for a different mission; becoming a student at Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1953, both the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Presbyterian churches were without full-time ministers, using substitutes ministers to serve their needs. A senior at the seminary, Gebhard was often used to deliver the Sunday sermons for these churches and as his graduation approached, he expressed his desire to serve these two communities. He was installed as the minister for both churches in April of 1953.

"Sunday, April 26th, forty members of Roscoe and Livingston Manor Presbyterian Churches traveled to Yonkers, New York, by a chartered Short-Line bus to attend the ordination by the Presbytery of New York of Mr. Arthur Louis Gebhard.

"Mr. Gebhard was ordained in his home church, the Woodlawn Presbyterian Church of Yonkers. The sermon was given by one of his professors at Princeton Theological Seminary, the Rev. Harmon V. Hope, D.D. and the charge was given by his old friend and pastor, the Rev. Neumann H. Hess of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church.

"The Rev. Mr. Gebhard will be installed as pastor of Roscoe and Livingston Manor churches Sunday evening, May 17th. He will come to reside with us this week and will begin his work with the two congregations immediately."

April 30, 1953
Livingston Manor Times
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Reverend Gebhard
The Rev. Mr. Gebhard was a personable, mild-mannered fellow, though somewhat withdrawn, and upon his arrival to the Manor was immediately attracted to a girl somewhat opposite his disposition. Gloria Runge was the instrumental teacher at Livingston Manor Central School, a talented girl who hailed from the upper Midwest, popular and more outgoing than the Reverend. Both, though, had a common interest; working with the youth of the community. She shared her musical talent with the children at school, developing a strong instrumental program while he immersed himself into the Boy Scout movement. Together, they strengthened, and added to, the existing youth programs of the church.

In July of 1954, the congregations of both the Manor and Roscoe churches were informed that their church would be closed during the month of August, and for that period it was advertised that they should attend the services of other churches within the community. The minister would be available for counseling services only up until July 31st;

"The Rev. Arthur Gebhard and his bride, the former Miss Gloria Runge, are at home now in an apartment over the Rose Hardware Store. They were married August 14th, at Roosevelt Drive Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spent their honeymoon at Chatauque, New York, and returned to Livingston Manor last Friday. Mrs. Gebhard will resume her position of instructional music in the central school. Mr. Gebhard will again occupy his pulpit in the Presbyterian Church which was closed during his vacation."

September 2, 1954
Livingston Manor Times
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Trophy Year....The Rev. Mr. Gebhard
The unassuming, reserved Arthur Gebhard won friends throughout the community, though many thought of the quiet man as being somewhat distant. The newly married coupled continued to devote their professional lives to the community's youth, Gloria with the school's music program and the Reverend through community and church youth programs. The marriage seemed to inspire the Reverend, relishing the thought of the couple spending their lives together. A letter sent to his congregation during the 1954 Christmas holidays seemed to reflect his upbeat mood as he wrote; "We look to the future with enthusiasm and hope." The Sunday sermons were optimistic, church attendance was up and the church school was thriving. As members of the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church began planning for the upcoming 75th anniversary of the church's existence, during 1955, The Reverend wrote, regarding the future of the church; "...there is no question that problems will be faced and surmounted." Personal problems for him, however, would prove more difficult to conquer.

Sadly, the relationship between Gloria and the Reverend did not work and they separated, the marriage eventually dissolving into divorce. She left the community and became the music instructor at the Monticello school while Gebhard remained at his pulpit, withdrawing deeper into his faith and immersing himself into his work within the church. He became moderator of the Hudson Presbytery, promoted the local church with Sunday services broadcast over the local radio station and during the winter of 1960, joined other ministers from the Presbytery on a preaching mission to Puerto Rico. But with the Easter holidays approaching, and the demands that the season normally requires from the church leader, people noticed that Gebhard became more sullen; some thought him to be in a depression. Besides the normal Sunday services and the regular weekly church groups meetings, he scheduled services on Wednesday evenings throughout the Lenten season. This busy Easter schedule only masked his ever deepening despair, though apparent to some who followed the text of his Sunday sermons that spring. Two in particular, titled: "The Words of Compassion" and "The Words of Human Needs" seemed to strike a more personal note.
 

Reverend Gebhard
With his Palm Sunday sermon completed, Reverend Gebhard planned to attend the dinner meeting on Thursday evening, April 6th, of the Sullivan Council of Churches at Liberty. His plans, however, were drastically changed late that afternoon when he became overcome with his inner feelings of hopelessness. His car being parked inside the garage behind his apartment, Gebhard attached a vacuum hose to the end of the tailpipe, ran the hose through the trunk and backseat into the car's interior. He then started the car's engine and sat inside, waiting as the exhaust fumes slowly seeped the vital oxygen supply from his blood, causing the spell of a relieved unconsciousness that opened the gate to his eternal home.

The community responded to the news of the death of the Reverend Mr. Gebhard with more than the usual fashion of shock and dismay. The tragedy of this lone, lonely figure, was not just the act of his desperation, but the slow accumulation of his self-perceived personal failings that went unnoticed, or ignored. The man who preached words of compassion, confidence and human needs, spoken to heal the soul and offer hope, was unable to heal himself, falling into a sense of hopelessness that the community failed to understand until the eulogy was written;  "As the cold words are put down describing a person's life and death, through your mind pass the things you shared; one last conversation, an event you both took part in, the sound of his voice, the way he dressed and talked, your common interests. All these and many more are your remembrances.

"Qualities and characteristics that comprise a person's personality win him friends or enemies and impress his memory on those whom he has contact with in life. These can never be satisfactorily transferred into written words but must live on in the memory of all of us as we remember him.

"Words are insufficient to describe our feelings for the loss of the Reverend Arthur Gebhard. He has found a place in our hearts as he did with many other friends he had in the community. A quiet man, he worked hard for his flock and the church, and when his time permitted, he gave a hand in community events. We only wish that there had been time to come to know him better."

Editorial of Capron Battey
April 14, 1960
Livingston Manor Times

Time, compassion, and perhaps understanding, for Arthur Gebhard may have altered his tragic course, but when finally realized it was too late.

Fred
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Glory Days
The upcoming high school basketball season in the fall of 1960 was to begin on a similar, sad note that ended the recent, highly successful basketball season earlier that spring; the sadness of another tragedy. This one, though, would strike closer to home within the school community.

For some of us, this was a time when the car we drove was our first love. Polish and shine, tinker and tweak, redefining the original machine to enhance its perfomance. Alfred Steele loved working on these road machines. A classmate of the class of 1960, Alfred didn't participate in after-school sport activities, but enjoyed tinkering with machines. During school, he was a member of the projection club, keeping the projectors in running order for the running of films in the classrooms. After school, he worked as a mechanic over-town at the Owl Service Station.

On Friday night, the day after Thanksgiving of 1960, Alfred was travelling with a posse of cars. Along Route 52, between Youngsville and Jeffersonville, Steele's car slammed into a utility pole along the highway. His friends, following close behind, immediately came upon the wreck, but Alfred died before help could be summoned. The loss of one of our boys always was, and still is, a shock to our community.

"The first basketball game, a non-league game with Roundout Valley, is scheduled for December 2. this year's varsity consist of John DuMond, Don Greenlee, richard Diescher, John Hoos, Richard Robinson, Charles Banks, Richard Welch, dave Young, Carl Eugeni and Harold VanAken.

"The junior varsity lineup is; Richard Dolgas, Gary Rose, Walt Weigand, Eugene Summerson, Joe Hauptfleisch, Tom Allen, Richard Fries, John Schmidt, Dave Allen, Richard McKune, Tom Vick, Frank McGreevy, James Denman, James Sherwood and Steve Baldwin."

Helen Steinman
November 17, 1960
Livingston Manor Times
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More Glory Days
By the end of 1960, the tensions from the era known as "The Cold War" were to a point of a national frenzy. Our vocabulary expanded with phrases such as "Iron Curtain", "domino theory", "better dead than red", "mushroom-shaped cloud" and "fall-out shelter". During the first week of December, the PTA of the Livingston Manor Central School sponsored a program on civil defense, including speakers advising us on how to survive a nuclear attack and the assembling of a full-scale fall-out shelter. The model shelter, made of simulated concrete blocks to the dimensions of nine feet deep, seven feet high and eleven feet long was on display at the school for a week with tours of the shelter given by the local civil defense workers to the children as well as to the members of the community. The concrete box became a popular attraction and after the program, the children were drilled in the practice of hiding under our desks when the "big one" hit.

"Friday night's game was a thriller-diller! Roundout Valley was ahead for more than half the game but the Wildcats roared into the lead to end the game. This first victory of the 1960-61 season numbers the 20th one for the Manor Wildcats. Final score was Manor 55, Roudout Valley 51.

"Another non-league game with St. Joseph will be played Friday, December 9th.

"A dance sponsored by the cheerleaders will be held Saturday night. Pizza will be served, so come - join the feast."

December 15, 1960
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days

Mongaup Pond, situated amongst the wilderness tracts above DeBruce, is said to be the largest natural body of water within the boundaries of the Catskill Park, or as it is often said around here, within the "Blue Line". The history of the large parcel of land which surrounds the one-hundred acre pond, over thirteen-hundred acres of forests, was limited to either the wood industry or recreation. Since the earliest land owners, Judge Low and later Stoddard Hammond, to the more recent lumber camps of the nineteen-thirties and forties, attempts have been made to harvest the virgin timber but due to the tract's isolation, the property was never fully exploited. As a result, the area around the pond remained unsettled and undeveloped, a rarity in the Catskills.

In December of 1960, the Conservation Department of New York State utilized a recently enacted law by State's legislature, Section 13 of the Conservation laws, to take title on the property. The law gave the Conservation Department right to appropriate land that was to be used for recreational purposes. Communities within the area, including Livingston Manor, were in favor of the State's takeover, increasing recreational land in the area for both the local residents as well as non-residents. There was, however, one problem. The owner of the Mongaup Pond property had just sold the property; to the North Bergen County Boy Scout Council.

As it did the year before, the editors of the Livingston Manor Times failed to record the results of the early-December high-school basketball games in its newspaper. Both were victories, against non-league foe St. Joseph and the first Western Sullivan League game of the season against rival Tri-Valley. Apparently the Batteys, the publishers, failed to see history in the making;

"Last Friday night, the Wildcats of Livingston Manor Central School broke loose for their highest total of points as they snowed Eldred under a barrage of 76 points.

"The first quarter appeared to show signs of a close game as the Manor led by a slim margin of 18-17. In the second period, the Wildcats broke loose for a total of 31 points as they showed their superior skills in moving the ball, with deadly shooting and showing excellent passing. It was in this guarter that the Manor showed its finest team-work of the year. The half ended with the home team leading 49-27.

"The reserves took over in the second half and continued to build up the score to a final 76-45 total.

"The three veterans, Richard Robinson, Charles Banks and John DuMond led the scoring with Robinson leading the way with 22 points.

"The Livingston Manor Junior Varsity continued their streak by taking their fourth straight game, downing Eldred 59-27. Tom Vick was high scorer with 21 points."

December 22, 1960
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
For the third consecutive year, the members of the Livingston Manor
Rotary Club, led by George Body, held their sponsored winter ice-carnival, and again, the weather for that January 15th, 1961 afternoon was ideal for the outdoor activities. It was estimated that over 1,500 people showed up at Walt Seeley's ice-rink below the school. This year, the queen of the event was junior class member Harriet Schleiermacher.

The beginning of that weekend saw the boys basketball team test their luck against the ever-dangerous Paul Zintel coached team from Jeffersonville;

"Friday, January 13th, did not break the spell of the Livingston Manor Wildcats as they defeated Jeffersonville 66-48. Playing before the largest crowd in many years at the Jeffersonville court, the Western Sullivan League champions claimed their way to their 26th straight win.

"Little John DuMond put on his greatest performance with some deadly shooting from the outside, ripping the cords for 22 points. Rich Robinson took care of the scoring from the inside with 21 and with the help of Charles Banks, controlled both offense and defensive boards.

"The Manor spurted to a 15-10 first period lead, but Jeffersonville came right back to close the gap by 31-28 at half time. The Manor had the better of it in the third quarter and opened the lead to 45-38. The final period was too much for Jeffersonville as the "Cats" exploded for 21 points to win going away.

"The Junior Varsity squad, led by Tom Vick's 23 points defeated Jeffersonville 55-44. Walter Weigand added 11 and played an excellent game. Walt was also the standout with his consistent rebounding."

January 19, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
Ownership of the Mongaup Pond and the surrounding wilderness tract was still very much in doubt by mid-January of 1961. One thing was certain though; both the State Conservation Department and the Bergen County Boy Scout Council filed papers certifying ownership with the county clerk at Monticello. Though the scout organization allegedly purchased the property from Silvan Kocher, the state took title by means of Section 13 of the Conservation Law, allowing the state to take lands for recreational purposes.

To combat the department's takeover, the Bergen County Council initiated a letter-writing campaign, bombarding the governor's office with telegrams and letters, requesting him to order the department to give up the land.

Meanwhile, the quest for the continuation of the winning streak for the LMCS boys basketball team was also very much in doubt when a spirited Roundout Valley team played the Wildcats on the 17th, the Ganders leading throughout most of the game;

"John Hoos scored a layup almost at the final buzzer to haul Livingston Manor from the brink of defeat and stretched the Wildcat's long sinning streak to 27 games with a 56-55 victory over fired-up Roundout valley Tuesday night.

"Hoos banked the clutch basket to climax a pulsating contest which saw Coach Chick Miehan's Ganders lead practically throughout.

"Roundout Valley, always a dangerous club, broke a 21-11 first quarter lead, but the Wildcats answered back to spurt ahead at intermission, 31-27.

"It was the Ganders' turn to bounce back in the third quarter as a 19-12 burst carried them back in front 46-43. Roundout Valley stayed ahead the rest of the way until Hoos scored the clincher.

"The Johnson brothers - Kieth and Lynn - paced the upset-minded Ganders with 19 and 27 points respectively.

"Charles Banks led the Manor with 14, Harold VanAken contributed 13, Hoos 11 and Rich Robinson 10."

January 19, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
After the final victory for the LMCS basketball team of the 1959-60 season, the boys were honored at the annual sports banquet. When the round of speeches and the handing out of the awards were concluded, it was announced that Norman Schultz would not return to the teaching ranks at Livingston Manor the next year.

Mr. Schultz was a physical education teacher at the school along with being the coach for the Junior Varsity basketball team. The mild manner, soft-spoken Schultz had more of an appearance of a math instructor, and pursued coaching as if in a classroom. Schultz was a stickler on fundamental skills, dribbling, passing, rebounding, etc., and devoted much of the JV practices on these principles. The boys who went through his program learned the value of these basic skills and when applied to Varsity Coach Pesavento's running and aggressive game, each player's individual skills complemented the other team-mate's, forming a cohesive team. At no time was this more evident then when the Narrowsburgh Indians visited the Manor's gym;

"The Livingston Manor Wildcats rolled onto their 28th straight win as they rolled over the Narrowsburgh Indians last Saturday night by the score of 80-40.

"The Manor dribblers wasted little time in the first period as they streaked to an 18-13 first quarter lead with Robinson dumping 9 points. Harold VanAken took over in the second quarter leading the way with 8 points to give the local dribblers a 39-19 edge by half-time. The game was virtually over at this point as the Wildcats showed their superior skills and scored almost at will. The aggressive defensive play and constant stealing of the ball seemed to demoralize the visitors.

"The second half was a matter of free substitution on the part of the Manor and the reserves held their own for the remainder of the game. John DuMond chipped in 15 points with some fine spot shooting and sparked the team with his fine floor play. VanAken charged the boards and with some beautiful tap-ins had himself 16 points.

"The Junior Varsity won with an explosive second half, 55-38. Tom Vick, with the excellent feeding of Walt Weigand, had 20 points. Weigand played an all around fine game, doing most of the rebounding, driving and hitting consistently on his jump, for a total of 19 points."

January 26, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
It takes good teachers to make good students, and no one else exemplified this theory more during the "Glory Days" than Charles Muhlig, high school mathematic teacher at Livingston Manor Central School. Charlie came from farm family stock, the Muhligs from outside of Liberty, which worked to his advantage in the classroom. Like dealing with ornery cows, dumb and with a mind of their own, which was not totally unlike some of us who sat in his classes, Charlie had both the patience and the imposing strength to apply his brand of teaching, and discipline, which led to his, and our, success. Like Coach Si Pesavento, who sat back and let the players of his teams receive the deserving accolades during their winning streak, so did Charlie when his students succeeded;

"Congratulations to the three fine mathematicians of Livingston Manor Central School, Richard Fries, John Hoos and John Deagle. They received a mark of 100% on the New York State Intermediate Algebra Regents."

February 2, 1961
Livingston Manor Times

Glory days continued for the boys basketball team, herding up two more victories in the win column, now seemingly invincible;

"The Wildcats chalked up their 30th win Friday night by defeating the determined Eldred team. St. Joseph's defeat Tuesday night marked the 31st win and hopes are high that Friday's game with the Roscoe Blue Devils will record number 32!"

February 9, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
With the finishing of construction on the water tunnel during the winter of 1961, another boom and bust era came to a close for Livingston Manor. The healthy economy of the town now relied on the industry that played so much a part in the town's creation; the wood processing industry. The Sherwood turning mills began manufacturing bowling pins in 1904, its mill still being located at the old Jack Sherwood turning shop at Jacktown and employed six men. After Burr Sherwood moved the mill to the River Street location, the works expanded and by 1961 it employed 50 people. A new building had just been completed during the winter, 30x60 feet, where the bowling pins would be seasoned and the seconds reprocessed.

On Friday night, February 10th, Manor played its arch-rival, the Blue Devils from Roscoe;

"The Manor Wildcats extended their winning ways to 31 games as they downed the Roscoe Blue Devils Friday night, 76-42.

"Wasting little time in the first quarter, the Manor quintet surged to a 15-5 lead. Charles Banks took over in the second period and connected for 12 points to carry the half-time lead to 36-13. At the end of the third period the 'Cats had increased their lead 57-29.

"The final quarter was taken over by the Wildcats reserves and Rich Welch sparked the team with 10 points in this quarter.

"The Roscoe JV squad defeated the Manor JV in a thrilling 41-40 squeaker. The Manor juniors led almost to the final buzzer."

February 16, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
In February of 1961, contracts were signed for the construction and lease of a new post office building at Livingston Manor. The proposed new building, located on Main Street across from the central school, would have the advantage of an increase in floor space when compared to the existing building now being used.

Sylvester Smith, Livingston Manor attorney, purchased the old Hotel Sherwood property, now a vacant lot after the hotel was torn down in the fall of 1936, and built the structure during 1939 that would house the Livingston Manor post office, law offices and the town hall. For over twenty years, the site served the community for postal service but being confined only in a portion of the building, the facility became outdated. Besides the increase in floor space, the new location would also include loading ramps for delivery from postal trucks and also provide ample parking for customers.

"By defeating Delaware Valley last Friday night, Livingston Manor now leads the league by two games. Although two games remain to be played, Manor can wrap up the championship tomorrow as they play host to Jeffersonville and find themselves with another undefeated season of play.

"The Delaware Valley Eagles had upset on their minds last Friday night as they hung on for their lives in the first half of the game and trailed the Manor Wildcats by the thin margin of 1 point, 33-32. This same determination caused them trouble as high-scorer Dave Bult's over-anxious rebounding and defense chalked up four fouls on him as the half ended. It wasn't long before the second half was underway that Bult was on his way to the showers with his fifth personal foul.

"The Wildcats fell behind in the first period 17-15 as the Eagles' Mittewager and Bult found the range for 12 points, but Robinson and Banks took over in the second period to put the Manor on top 33-32 at the midway mark.

"Robinson and Banks continued to find the range in the second half as Robby scored his high for the year with 29. John DuMond and John Hoos directed the attack with some fine passing and constantly finding the open man.

"The Wildcats broke it wide open in the final quarter as they outscored Delaware Valley 22-14."

February 23, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
Perhaps the most exciting game of the 1960-61 basketball season for the Livingston Manor Central School team was on Friday night, February 24th, when the boys played the team from Jeffersonville. The game was important for both teams; though Manor was virtually assured of being in the upcoming sectional games, their incentive was to continue the overall winning streak, now numbered at 34, while the Jeffersonville team needed a win to finish the season in second place within the Western Sullivan League, which also would allow themselves to play in the sectionals.

The Jeffersonville team was coached by Paul Zintel, perhaps the shrewdest coach in the league, and a worthy adversary for Manor's Coach Pesavento. Zintel knew how to manage the game of basketball, manage and motivate his young players, and some say, manage and motivate the referees. Unless you played for the man, he was the coach you loved to hate;

"Playing before an estimated home crowd of over 800, the Maroon and Gray played one of the most determined and upset-minded teams of the year in Coach Zintel's Jeffersonville quintet.

"Needing a victory to finish in second place in the Western Sullivan League standings and thus acquiring a berth in the Section Nine playoffs, Jeffersonville played one of their best games of the year.

"It was nip-and-tuck throughout as the Manor stayed from 2 to 5 points ahead until they acquired a 7 point lead with about two minutes remaining in the game.

"Led by K. Drake and Taggart, Jeffersonville turned on the pressure, coming within 1 point of the Wildcats with only seconds of play left. As Manor froze the ball, DuMond was fouled at the final buzzer. He stepped to the line to convert both attempts for a final score of 63-60."

March 2, 1961
Livingston Manor Times

Fred
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Glory Days
The old railroad depot, which had been moved from its original location to the corner of Main and DuBois streets, and converted into residential apartments by James Murdock, now, during the winter of 1961, was sitting vacant. Over the years, numerous families were housed there, but housing regulations were now becoming more strict and the converted apartment building did not meet the current housing requirements. For the past several years, the building was used by Burr Sherwood, as were many other buildings in town, as storage for his bowling. Here, they were allowed to dry naturally to meet the weight requirements before going on to market.

In the beginning of March, Victor Shaver, who operated the local moving-van company, purchased the building with the intent of using the structure for additional warehouse space for storage. Today, it still serves the Shaver company in the same capacity, now being run by Victor's son, Kent.

The Livingston Manor Central School high-school basketball team traveled, on February 27th, to Narrowsburgh to finish off the last of regular season games;

"The Manor Wildcats stretched their two-season winning streak to 36 games Monday night by trouncing home-standing Narrowsburgh 91-38.

"The starters jumped off to a 16-3 first quarter lead and the game was never in doubt after the score was upped to 43-11 at half-time as Coach Pesavento cleared the bench. The starters came back into the game to compile 30 points in the third quater for a 73-25 third-quarter score. The second string played the enitre last quarter outscoring the opposition 18-13 for a 91-38 final score.

"Center Rich Robinson became the Western Sullivan League top scorer of the season by putting 21 markers through the hoop. He wound up with 231 points for 12 games for a 19.4 average per game.

"Robinson showed the way as six players scored in double figures. Welch collected 16 points, DuMond 14, Hoos and Banks 12 each and VanAken added 11. The "Manor Six" played one of their best floor games of the year continually stealing passes for easy baskets." - Fred

March 2, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
***************

Glory Days
As the winning streak continued for the boys from the Manor, the residents of the community flocked to the games, both on the home court at LMCS and gymnasiums throughout the league's other schools. With such a large following, Mack Weiner, Livingston Manor native who owned a travel agency in Monticello, chartered busses to take the local spectators to the Section Nine, Class C Tournement games, this year played on the court of Orange County Community College, at Middletown;

"The Wildcats of Livingston Manor pound their way into the finals of the Section Nine, "C" Classification Tournament by beating Florida of Rockland County 61-39 on Tuesday night's game played in the gym of the Orange County Community College.

"Led by the rebounding and scoring of Rich Robinson and the timely shooting of Charlie Banks and John Hoos, the Cats overcame a slow start to win going away.

"A two week stretch without a ballgame had its effects upon the Manor in the first quarter as they missed several lay-ups and led by only 2 points, 10-8 at the end of the period.

"In the second period, the team started to click and gradually opened up a 6 point spread at half-time. Charlie Banks scored 4 times in the quarter on jump-shots and lay-ups.

"In the third quarter, class began to tell as Robinson and Banks hit on a series of shots and John Hoos balanced their inside shooting with jump-shots from out front.

"The story in the fourth quarter was much the same as the scoring continued and the lead enlarged. With several minutes to go, Coach Pesavento substituted freely and the first team walked off the floor to a thunder of applause.

"Perhaps the real story of the game was the fine defense work of the entire team and especially John DuMond and "Robby". DuMond held ace guard Tony Greco to a measly 9 points while Robinson stopped league scoring champion George Slattery with 6 points." Fred

March 16, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
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Glory Days
 

For the school children of Livingston Manor Central, it was a dream come true; the school was on fire.

On Saturday night, March 18th, 1961, the Boy Scouts held a program at the school where, in the cafeteria, the junior class served refreshments to the crowd as a class fund-raiser. At the end of the evening, Leonard Welter, the class advisor, along with the members of his class, cleared and cleaned up the cafeteria, closed up the school and went home for the night.

Early Sunday morning, smoke was observed coming from the cafeteria wing of the school and the alarm sounded, sending the full force of Manor firefighters onto the scene, where they discovered flames and heavy smoke within the cafeteria and kitchen. Quick action kept the blaze from spreading beyond the bottom floor of the building's wing, though smoke had gone through the school's ventilation system, where it blackened walls, ceilings, floors and everything else with a greasy soot.

Since the fire and heat damage was confined to just the cafeteria wing, a major effort was made by the community; staff, volunteers, students and professional fumigators, who worked tirelessly and within three days the school reopened, dashing the hopes of the unexpected and hopefully extended vacation for many students.

Another kind of fireworks also happened on Saturday, as the Manor's high-school basketball team played in the championship game at Middletown;

"The racing legs of the Livingston Manor Wildcats carried them to their second consecutive Section Nine Championship and 38th straight win Saturday night at the Orange County Community College's packed gym as they downed the Chester Hambletonians, 76-51.

"The large crowd was treated to one of the finest displays of speed and power-packed offense seen all year as all five Wildcats ended up in double figures.

"It was a stubborn defense, however, that checked the high-scoring Hambletonians. The quick switching man-for-man defense held Chester to a mere 5 points in the first quarter and this was virtually the ball game as the Manor led 10-5 at the end of the first quarter.

"The Wildcats kept applying the pressure with their racing tactics and connected on some beautiful fast breaks to lead at intermission 34-19.

"The continued fast pace was too much for Chester in the second half as they tired badly and the Wildcats took advantage to score with constant ease. The three veterans, Robinson, Banks and DuMond played their final game and all three gave an excellent performance and showed why the Wildcats have had two undefeated seasons. It was Richard Welch, a young sophomore, who surprised everyone by coming up with the high total of 19 points. Also junior, John Hoos, showed excellent poise with fine ball-handling and chipped in with 15 points. Harold VanAken, another junior, was hampered early with four fouls but did some fine rebounding and started many of the fast breaks.

"The 1960-61 season will be one many will remember for the fine, exciting basketball played by a top-notched group of boys."  - Fred

March 23, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
**********************

Glory Days
 

The following was the final word of the 1960-61 basketball season
found in the local newspaper;

"Make way for speedy John DuMond,
That shify little guard.
He's always looking for Charlie Banks,
His one and favorite "Pard".
Dont ever try to dribble,
When Johnnie's in the game.
Just ask "what's-his-name" from Delhi,
He'll never be the same.

There's another guard named Johnnie Hoos,
They sometimes call him "Hues;
We didn't think he'd do it,
But he sure filled Bill Vick's shoes.
He'll sink them from the outside,
And lay them up too, never fear.
Besides all that, he's a junior,
So he'll be around next year.

Harold VanAken, the jumping jack,
Can really dunk that ball.
The opposing players, just shake their heads,
And mumble to themselves, "That's all".
And he's no shrinking violet;
He fools them with that poise.
Ask the guy from Chester,
The one with the bloody nose.

You ask me "What about Banksie?"
Charlie is his name.
They say he's not too flashy,
But he can really play the game.
Why doesn't he look flashy
Dont tell me he nees a pill;
'Cause he does ninety miles an hour,
When he looks like he's standing still! ...."

"Richie Welch is a sophomore,
I'm glad of that, you know;
'Cause he's got eyes like an eagle,
And can really put on a show.
When he was in against Chester,
They almost died with shame;
To think a soph can shoot like that,
No wonder they changed his name.

Did you say I forgot somebody?
Not in a million years.
When Robby played against Callicoon,
Bult left the game in tears.
Robinson, oh Robibson,
Why do you leave in June?
It seems like you just got here;
Must you graduate so soon?

I can't leave out the other boys,
You know all their names.
They're Eugeni, Diescher, Greenlee and Young;
They played in nearly all the games.
We really needed these substitutes,
And they were willing and able, you bet.
When they came running into the game,
They scared people like Chester, to de't.

The coach's name is Pesavento,
Us older folks call him "Si".
The guy who called him Pesavento,
Should get a punch in the eye.
We're really proud of our coach and our team,
So learn to pronounce their names.
We'll keep calling them "our boys",
And they'll keep on winning games."

Author unknown
March 30, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
**********************

Thanks, that was great ... My two favorite names DuMond and Banks,
LOL. Really loved the poems. Cheers from DuMond/Banks, MaryAnn.
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Do You Remember .....?
"In an effort to get federal aid for flood control in Rockland township, a flood control committee has been set up to secure data to furnish the Department of Flood Control in Albany with pertinent facts and figures which will present a clear picture for the need of some controlling measures in this area.

"The committee, consisting of Supervisor Carl Campbell, Leon Siegel, Ray Rose, Irving Avery, and Jim Curry, have composed a questionnaire for property owners affected by the flood waters of the recent deluge of December 1957.

"Upon completion of the forms, the flood control committee will send the Department in Albany a compilation of needed data so a federal survey can be made."

April 24, 1958
Livingston Manor Times

And a half a century later and dozens of studies and reams of papers shuffled, bureaucrats are still studying the flooding problems and doing nothing.

JD
**********

Down on Main Street
"The Meyerson house across from Sturdevant's Garage is rapidly assuming a modern appearance with the addition of brick foyer with iron grill-work across the front. Budd & DeVoe are the contractors in charge of the work."

October 10, 1935
Livingston Manor Times
**********

Down on Main Street
"Dr. I.M. Meyerson will open his dental office in the Meyerson building, Main Street, about November 12th. Barney DeVaughn is now painting and decorating the interior and the building, when complete, will present a most attractive appearance outside and in. Julius Weiner will have a law office on the first floor, west side. Dr. Meyerson will occupy the east side of the lower floor for his offices and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Rudolf will move from the Sedelmeyer house to the second floor apartment."

October 31, 1935
Livingston Manor Times
************

The Obits ..... Edward Scullin
"Edward F. Scullin, 79, passed away at the Sister's Home in Albany, on February 17th. He was confined to his bed only three days.

"Mr. Scullin was the son of John and Catherine Deveney Scullin and spent his entire life on the Scullin farm in Beaverkill until 1956 when he sold his home there to Darren McGavin. Thereafter, he resided in the vicinity of Livingston Manor until August of 1961, at which time, due to failing health, he decided to enter the Sister's Home in
Albeny.

"For almost thirty years he and his late wife, Lillian, better known as "Uncle Ed" and "Aunt Lil", in addition to running the farm, devoted a major part of their time to the care and education of homeless boys. Many of these boys still live in the vicinity of Livingston Manor, while others, after serving in World War II, have
settled in distant locations. As a whole, these boys have given a very creditable account of themselves, some having received honorable mention while in the service and others going to college and now holding important positions. Ed and the late Mrs. Scullin carried on their good work without fanfare."

February 22, 1962
Livingston Manor Times
***********

Down on Main Street
"Livingston Manor firemen this week continued their donation of hard work for the Livingston Manor Free Library and Monday night a group worked from an early hour until late at night cleaning out the basement of the old firehouse from an accumulation of ashes extending over many years. It was a dirty, tough job. Ten firemen were on the job and David Ward devoted the use of his truck.

"A week ago the firemen cleaned out the old refuse, old and useless refuse and left the upper floors of the building in good condition for the library association to take over.

"Late this week letters will be sent out to residents in this area asking their aid towards the building fund of the library. This work was in charge of Mrs. George Stewart, librarian. Miss Hilda Nield of Pleasant Street was the first to send her check for the benefit of the library building fund and also promised her aid in any way it is needed.

"Within the next week it is hoped to have sketches of how the front of the building will look when completed. It is hoped to have the front of the building complete, a floor laid in the main part, repairs made to the basement and a furnace installed before snow flies. For this reason, it is hoped that donations will be received early so that this work can be started at once."

October 13, 1955
Livingston Manor Times
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Down on Main Street
"Kenneth B. Curry has moved his real-estate and insurance business from the Reynolds building on Main Street to the building he recently bought from Abe Schwartz across the bridge on Main Street. He has had his newly purchased property done over on the inside making handsome offices. Wesley Mein was the contractor in charge. With warmer weather, Mr. Curry expects to renovate the exterior of the building."

January 28, 1932
Liberty Register
**********

Down on Main Street
"The new insurance office building of Kenneth B. Curry, Inc., was officially opened Wednesday, October 17th. The structure of concrete blocks and stone, with a glass front, is most modern and up to date in every respect and does credit both to Mr. Curry, the contractor Francisco Valerio and the workmen. Insurance officials from New York, Albany and Hartford, as well as a delegation from Monticello of the general adjustment bureau were present for the opening."

November 1, 1956
Livingston Manor Times
**********
 

The Meyersons
"Al Krom, sales manager for Meyerson's Livingston Manor Bakery, was a caller in town Tuesday. Mr. Krom has opened territory for the Meyerson company as far as Oneonta and the business is growing by leaps and bounds. An addition is being built to the plant, made necessary by the increase in business."

April 8, 1937
Sullivan County Review
**********

Johnston and Johnston
"Work started this week on destruction of the Johnston and Johnston general store building on the corner of Main and Pearl Streets, Livingston Manor. The old part of the store building, existing since before the turn of the century, was already partly demolished this morning. The brick front addition, erected in 1917, as the top of the building attests, will be the last to go. A work team from Killian Construction of Liberty, assisted by Joe Tempel of Livingston Manor, has torn down the smaller back buildings, leaving only the large feed store and general store which fronts on Main Street.

A large clam shovel, acting alternately as a battering ram, chewed or ripped large chunks of the building away. Because of power lines and a support cable in close proximity of the building, much of the work has been a ticklish procedure. At times, the shovel operator has grounded his equipment to the ground with cables in case he contacts the power lines. Work is expected to be completed in a few days."

September 25, 1969
Livingston Manor Times
**********

Manket Building
"Announcement was made today that Mr. Michael Manket has purchased the building on Main Street, Livingston Manor, occupied by him as the Manor Men's Shop, from Mr. August Johnson. Mr. Manket opened the store about nine years ago.

"It was previously occupied by the Schaff market, and before that was occupied by a pool room. The building, a two and a half story wooden structure, will be remodeled this fall or in early spring by Mr. Manket, who expects to conduct a department store in the building, occupying the first and second floors. Mr. Manket said that he may install an escalator connecting the two floors, which he said would be a convenience for elderly people who find it difficult to go up and down stairs."

September 27, 1956
Livingston Manor Times
**********

Hoos Truck Company
"On May 24th, the Hoos Truck Company of the Livingston Manor Fire District will celebrate its 35th year with a steak dinner for its members and companion fire company. The affair is looked eagerly forward to by the firemen. It will be cooked by "chef" Ernest Muller and his assistants.

"The company owes its existence to the O&W Railroad. It became an increasing concern back in 1922 when the long freight trains on the O&W would block the crossing on Main Street for a half hour at a time and the worry by various people in the town that a fire would break out in the lower end of town, caused the formation of a new truck company, which would be housed on the other side of the tracks. The Manor Hose Company, at that time, was housed across from the present fire hall.

"The new company that was formed and housed for many years in a section of Sturdevant's garage was named the Hoos Truck Company, so named after Fred Hoos, Sr., a prominent figure in town at the time.

"The company was chartered in January of 1923, and charter members who will receive 35 year medals at this dinner will be Burr Sherwood, Louis Schweimler, Arthur Schwartz and Dale Johnston."

May 15, 1958
Livingston Manor Times
***************

Parkston Fire
Fire of undetermined origin early Wednesday morning gutted the Kenmore Lake Hotel and Country Club at Parkston, about three miles from Livingston Manor. When Livingston Manor firemen arrived on the scene about 6 o'clock in the morning, the structure was in flames and they found the swimming pool and the lake had been drained of water, reportedly for cleaning to make ready for the summer season.

"They used water from a small brook in the vicinity and managed to save a 24 room annex about forty feet from the main buiding and two other smaller buildings. The main building consisted of three stories with about 35 sleeping rooms.

"State Police visited the building a short time after the fire was out to investigate a report of arson in connection with the fire. They reported there was no evidence to support this claim.

"The building was constructed in the early twenties by A. Murauchick and since that time reportedly changed ownership on various occasions. The most recent owner was Sidney Heller of New York City.

"The firemen received a call from the Hotel Capital, where guests had noticed the building on fire. State Police questioned Charles Hagerty of Brooklyn, handyman who told them that he had been in the building the night before with a friend, William Stevens of Monticello, and that they had left about 11 o'clock at night, when Stevens went home. Hagerty slept in another building.

"Manor firemen were called to the resort about a year ago when another building was destroyed by fire."

June 17, 1954
Livingston Manor Times

**********

The News From Parkston
"Just before noon today the Hotel Capital located just above Livingston Manor, on the DeBruce Road, was destroyed by fire of unknown origin.

"The Manor fire department arrived at the scene of the blaze ten minutes after the alarm was sounded.

"The hotel, owned by I. Goodman, had been closed for the winter, the owners having moved to a nearby cottage."

September 23, 1937
Sullivan County Review
**********

Speaking of Purvises .... Joseph H.
Last Monday morning the barn of Joseph H. Purvis, who lives about two miles north of Livingston Manor on the Roscoe Road, was entered by a man between four and five o'clock, evidently with the object of stealing a horse.

"Mrs. Purvis was first awakened by a noise at the barn and a few moments later saw a light flash and go out. Calling Mr. Purvis, she hurriedly dressed, preceding her husband toward the barn. As she entered a side door, she saw a man rush through another door and with all speed possible run toward Livingston Manor.

"Investigation showed that matches had been burned outside and inside the door and other indications that plainly indicated that the visitor was probably a horse thief who had been disturbed just in time to prevent his leaving with Mr. Purvis' horse."

October 9, 1913
Livingston Manor Times
**********

Tales of the Railroad
"The railroad company's ice-house, 22 x 50 feet, in course of construction, is nearly completed. We understand the ice with which it is to be filled, will be brought from Westfield Flats."

January 28, 1881
Liberty Register
*********

Glory Days
By mid-December of 1960, the Livingston Manor community was about to witness a drastic change in its economic outlook and local employment. The forty-five mile tunnel from the newly-built reservoir at Cannonsville had been completed, with the last remaining shaft, Shaft Number Six, at DeBruce, now being dismantled during the month, the whole project to be completed by February. The offices of the project, located above Jacktown, now was operating with a skeleton crew and would be closed by the following spring. The project, when at the height of operation, had a work-force of 1,200 men, with Livingston Manor being a center of operation. Things were about to change in our community.

The same could be said with the Western Sullivan League's basketball teams. Roscoe had recently been only a mediocre team, and their first few games of the 1960-61 season did not go well for them, playing the powerhouse teams of Delaware Valley and, on the evening of December 20th, the Manor Wildcats. Coach Bruce Lamb's Roscoe team would soon turn its season around and eventually become a thorn in the side for the Manor, or any other team that took them lightly;

"The Livingston Manor basketball team ran their string to twenty-four straight games when they invaded the Roscoe Blue-Devils' gym Tuesday night by a score of 43-32.

"The Wildcats, playing without the injured Richard Robinson, got off to a slow start and trailed at the quarter 9-4. Roscoe, using slow, deliberate, controlled basketball, were pressed more in the second period with the Manor taking the lead at the half 16-14.

"The game was marred by many violations and poor ball-handling. The Wildcats also suffered one of the poorest nights in the shooting department, but finally had enough spark in the third period to take a 34-24 lead.

"Rich Welch, talented sophomore, led the scoring with 13 points.

"The Manor's Junior Varsity lost their first game of the year, 45-36. Tom Vick was high with 14 points."

December 22, 1960
Livingston Manor Times
***************

Down the Ages
Much has been said in these parts the last few years, through various public meetings held throughout the county, about the coming of Interstate 86, replacing the "Quickway" and now it can be seen that words are turning into action. The upper Liberty exit is being reworked along with the replacement of the highway bridge nearby. In Jacktown, preliminary work has begun on revamping the Manor's southbound exit. The stretch between Parksville and Old Morsston has been surveyed and is now decorated with stakes and flagging, noting the highway's proposed new location, and just waiting for the workers and machines to begin their work.

The Parksville section improvements along the Quickway has been a long time coming. In the winter of 1960-61, the State Department of Public Works began to implement an earlier proposed plan to replace the old "Expressway" with the Parksville Bypass. The Expressway was completed in 1951 but wasn't built to the then current highway standards, allowing road intersections and private driveways direct access onto the highway. Rumors were now being spread during the winter of 1961 that this project was having trouble as the landowners along the Expressway were asking high prices for their properties, thwarting the State's takeover bid.

The first high-school basketball game after the holidays for the Wildcats of Livingston Manor was against rival Delaware Valley, a duel between the last remaining undefeated teams in the Western Sullivan League;

"Playing before a jammed-packed crowd, the Livingston Manor Wildcats put on a tremendous display of power-packed basketball last Friday night to down the Delaware Valley quintet 78-55.

"Showing a perfect balance of dogged defense and explosive offense, the local idols never left in doubt what the outcome would be to their biggest challenge of the year - so far. Both Delaware and Manor were undefeated going into this game, and the Manor was protecting a 24 game streak. This was truly a team effort all the way, with John DuMond, John Hoos, Rich Welch, Rich Robinson and Charlie Banks showing great determination and complimenting each other with excellent team-work.

"The Wildcats took the lead at the end of the first period with Charlie Banks driving for 8 points and Robinson with 6. At half-time the Manor led the way and the third period was even up with the Manor scoring 16 - Delaware 15.

"The final quarter was when the explosion took place. The Wildcats scored 21 points in just over two minutes while Delaware was able to manage just 1 point. John Hoos contributed 8 points in the period with the others eventually scoring 4 to 6 points.

"The Manor's Junior Varsity were downed by the undefeated Delaware Junior Varsity 49-36."

January 12, 1961
Livingston Manor Times
**************

The Cattail

n an effort to keep history from repeating itself, the highway department of Sullivan County has been busy the past two weeks shoring up the banks and generally improving the Cattail Brook, scene of the deadly devestating flood of two years ago. Stones, used as rip-rap, now line the bank on the one side from the Hoos Street bridge to the private iron bridge. The bed itself was widened somewhat, at the bend just before the old Simpson place, in an effort to increase the creek's flow at times of high-water.

 
Previously, efforts to divert water around this bend resulted in the placing of metal cyliners from the old acid factory along the creek's banks. These cylinders, known as retorts when the plant was in operation, were used to burn, or rather smolder, off the four-foot length wood in a process that provided the factory's finish products.
 
With the shutting down of the plant, five of these retorts were lined up on the bank in an effort keep the bank from eroding and divert the water around the Simpson place. For years they did the job until the last flood when some of them fell into the creek's bed. All but one has now been removed from the creek and are set to be hauled away. One still remains, however, inbeded in the bank as stones and vegetation are encased around the old tank
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.

Shandelee Stories
Sand Pond has had a large number of drowning occur over the years, a rather large number considering the smallish size of that body of water. Though most of the drowning were accidental, some were planned in advance.

John Fries' family had its share of tragedy. His younger brother, George, was killed when his team of horses ran onto the railroad tracks at Livingston Manor. His young son, William, died from head injuries sustained when he was struck with a baseball bat. Still, John showed no emotional effects of these events. What did bother him, though, was when his team of horses bolted while participating in a coaching-day parade, running over a child. He was institutionalized for a short period and thought to have recovered from the traumatic event.

During the summer boarding season at the Chestnut Grove House, in 1908, the guests had just finished the noon-day meal. John, as usual, helped in the kitchen and when the serving of the meal was over, handed the items from his pocket over to his son and told him he was going for a swim at the lake. His aged father, whom John was now caring for, followed him down to the lake. John mounted a row-boat, and rowed a short distance from shore. He paused for a moment, shouted back to his father his intention and bid him farewell. He then went overboard and slipped into the lake's water, never to reappear on the surface.

His father scrambled back to the house to acquire help but it was too late. Dredging and blasts from dynamite were unsuccessful in retrieving the body. Two weeks later, John's body finally found its way to the lake's surface.
******************

Shandelee Stories - LakeView
Does anybody know the location of Lakeview Cottage?



<click for full-size>

I think it was the hotel before the Lake Rest, but I'm not sure.
Thanks - pgbernasconi
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The question was raised whether the Shandelee area boarding house shown in the attached postcard, which is identified as Lake View Cottage, would also be the same Shandelee boarding house known as Lake Rest Cottage. That probably is not the case. This image is one that is not in any of the postcard collections that I have seen and the name of Lake View Cottage was never associated to any of the known boarding houses on Shandelee, therefore it took a little time and research in attempting to find its true location.



<click for full-size>
This photograph, or rather a portion of a photograph, shows the Lake Rest Cottage as it appeared around 1910. As it can be seen, the main building differs from that of the Lake View postcard as does the general landscape; Lake Rest was located at the top of a rise, overlooking the lake and the hotel below [Chestnut Grove House]. The landscape around The Lake View, as shown in the postcard, is of a more gentle, flatter relief.
The building in the foreground is the ice-house for the Chestnut Grove House.



<click for full-size>
Besides the Lake Rest Cottage, there were four other boarding house locations on Shandelee that offered a view of the lake, thus the name Lake View. Three of them were on Shandelee Lake. The attached photograph shows Shandelee Lake, again around 1910, showing the three boarding houses on the lake. On the right is the John Breiner hotel, later known as Rudy's and also as the Shandelee Lake Lodge. Across the lake in the distance can be seen the Louis Black boarding house, later to become the Waldemere Hotel, and the Andrew Fries farm, located where eventually the Waldemere Hotel would erect a golf course. Close examination of this photograph shows that none of the buildings shown at these three sites resemble the building in the Lake View postcard.


<click for full-size>
This view of Sand Pond, again taken around 1910, shows the fourth boarding house that could claim to have a view of the lake. Across the lake and to the right is the Henry Rose farm and boarding house. It would later become Camp Livingston, Camp Delmont, Camp Nel-K-Mar and is now the Clearwater subdivision.


<click for full-size>
A detailed portion of the Sand Pond photograph shows the Henry Rose farm. As it can be seen, the main building is very similar to that on the Lake View Cottage postcard; including the chimney, front porch, window locations and the door on the left side of the building. The building on the left also resembles the "Annex", with the porch and dormers. Even the tree in front of the buildings seem to match that on the postcard. My guess is that the Henry Rose place would be the Lake View Cottage, which was directly across the lake from the Lake Rest Cottage.  -Fred
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