CHAPTER 50

In 1951, in an old dresser bought at an auction sale at Arena, was discovered the deed ofwhat was the village ofArena conveying 250 acres of land. The seller was Gulian Verplanck of New York City, holder ofvast tracts of Catskillwilderness he had never seen. The purchaser was Benjamin Ackerly, first Supervisor ofMiddletown, when it was inUlster County comprising nearly two-thirds of what is now Delaware County. The deed was inimmaculate handwritingand refers to Arena lands as "the River flats" and "The Lowlands." The consideration was 250pounds of "lawful NewYork State moneys" and the description was "on the South Side of the River 'Packatackan'." Thename was latersimplified to "Mill Creek" then "Millbrook" and "Lumberville" and finally Arena. This area wasthe early scene of thegreat lumbering industry.

In an old Atlas of Delaware County, dated 1869 and published by Beers, Ellis, and Souls, isthe actual survey of thevillage of Margaretville and a Business Directory. This shows the fast growth of the village fortwenty-six years from1843 to 1869 and fills in some places of business and residences not given elsewhere in thishistory.

A street branching to the west from Academy Street and running parallel with Main Street islisted as Allaben Street.The only building on it is the old Academy at the end of Allaben Street to the east and at the placewhere AcademyStreet then ended. Allaben Street was never developed. The area is covered now by the road,parking lot, and a portionof the Central School grounds.

The early tannery of J. Chamberlain was located between Allaben Street and Main Street,nearer to Allaben Street,not far from Scott's brook.

On Main Street a leather shop was located below the Hotel of E. L. O'Connor later known asthe "Riverside Hotel."S. Tompkins had a residence below the leather shop and J. Y. DuMond one just above.

Next on lower Main Street was a residence of E. L. Osterhoudt and a carriage-and-harnessshop of J. C.Osterhoudt. Next were the stables and hotel of O'Connors, then the residence of P. Elmendorf,Att. A. P. Carpenter'soffice, and the mansion of Dr. Orson M. Allaben on the corner of Main and AcademyStreets.

Places listed on Main Street from Academy Street up were: a wagon shop of Dr. O. M.Allaben, next the residenceof Mrs. Race, and the R. O. Scott residence, then the sheds of the Methodist Church, the firstearly Methodist Church,and the parsonage. Next in order were the residences of P. Elmendorf, N. Kelly, W. R. Swart, ablacksmith shop, andresidences of G. Gilbert, A. George, and L. Crosby. Next there was H. Rotermund's shop wherewagons, carriages, andsleighs were manufactured. Then came the residence of C. Mead followed by a store operated byS. E. Scott men'sfurnishings, dry goods and groceries, wholesale and retail. Next in order was the store of W. R.Swart and Bros. whichis now L. Bussy & Co.'s supermarket. J. H. Banker then had his office over the store. Also aprinting office ofHenderson and Becker was over the store.

The only homes then on Walnut Street on the west side were S. Swart, O. S. Decker, G.Gilbert, J. McCadden, whowas a carpenter and joiner, G. Hendricks and School No. 17, probably the little red schoolhouseon the hill where theClarke Sanford home is now located.

On the east side of Walnut Street was the "Ackerly Hotel" operated by J. B. Ackerly on thecorner. Then came theresidences of S. A. Baker, Rev. W. N. Allaben, and Dr. S. W. Reed.

Continuing up Main Street from the Ackerly Hotel was a store operated by J. C Colville,groceries; next was theDecker & Co. store - dry goods, groceries and general merchandise. This store was later theSwart Mercantile Co. store.Then came the G. G. Decker residence, which is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jenkins.Following that was theresidence of E. Laidlow and Mrs. M. Sanford, then the foundry of E. Laidlow, where agriculturalimplements weremanufactured.

A cooperage shop was across the Binnekill opposite the foundry. The residence of W.Bellows was above thefoundry. A tannery was located quite a little distance further up the Binnekill about opposite thecemetery, and G.Osterhoudt had a residence near the tannery.

The street now known as Church Street between Walnut Street and Maple Street, then calledAckerly Street, hadbut one house on it, the residence of Mrs. Halcott. The house is now owned and occupied by theLeRoy Monroe family.The J. G. Clum farm was listed on the upper end of Ackerly Street, as Pleasant View. The farm isnow owned byArenson.

On the south side of Main Street, beginning at lower Main, these places are listed in thesurvey beginning just aboveAcademy Street: the residences of W. Edson, S. Coles, A. H. Henderson, J. Swart, then the C.Gorsch cabinet shop, anda paint shop operated by E. Shaittkan. Next came the Charles Gavett wagon shop. Then cameRotermund & Co.,blacksmith shop, and E. Laidlow, H. Rotermund wagon shop, J. T. Glum residence and, next,stables. After that is listeda store, post office and doctor's office. Next, P. Elmendorf store - manufacturer of boots andshoes, general grocery.Next came the store of N. Kittle with J. C. Osterhoudt harness shop upstairs.

Bridge Street had a grocery store operated by H. P. Scudder and a Mrs. Barrett had aresidence on Bridge Streetjust before it crossed the river bridge.

The only places on upper Main Street on the east after Bridge Street were residences of W.Olmstead, A. Ackerly, J.Chamberlain, and A. Olmstead.

This is the Business Directory for Margaretville given in the survey of 1869:

Allaben, O. M., Physician and Surgeon. Residence, Main Street.Ackerly, J. B., Proprietor of Ackerly House. Main Street.Banker, J. H., Physician and Surgeon. Walnut Street.Carpenter, Attorney-at-law. Main Street.Colville, J. W., Dealer in Groceries, etc. Main Street.Decker, G. G. & Co., Dealers in Dry Goods and Groceries. Main Street.DuMond, J. Y., Dealer in Leather. Main Street.Elmendorf, P., Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries and General Merchandise. Main Street.Gorsch, Chas., Cabinetmaker and Undertaker. Main Street.Gavett, S., Manufacturer of Wagons and Sleighs. Main Street.Henderson & Becker, Publishers, Book and Job Printers. Main Street.Kittle, J., Manufacturer of Gloves and Mittens, Fur Overcoats and Robes. Main Street.Kittle N., Manufacturer of Boors and Shoes, also Dealer in Groceries. Main Street.Laidlow E., Founder and Manufacturer of Agricultural Implements.McCadden, J., Carpenter and Joiner. Walnut Street.Osterhoudt, J. C., Manufacturer of Harness. Main Street.Rotermund, Henry, Manufacturer of Wagons, Carriages and Sleighs. Main Street.Scott, S. F., Dealer in Men's Furnishing Goods' Dry Goods and Groceries. Main Street.Scudder, H. P., Dealer in Groceries. Bridge Street.
The Business Directory given for Griffin Corners (later Fleischmanns) in the 1869 Atlas is asfollows.
Angle, E. F., Cabinetmaker and Undertaker. Main Street.Biehler, J., Manufacturer of Carriages, Wagons and Sleighs. Main Street.Crandall, W. H., Carpenter and Builder. Main Street.Ford, A., Jeweler and Confections. Main Street.Griffin, D., Attorney-at-Law. Main Street.Johnson, A., Proprietor of Livery Stable. Main Street.Kelly, E. C., Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries and Men's Furnishings Main Street.Lasher, A., Proprietor of Hotel and Store and Dealer in Butter. Main Street.Lasher, M. A., Proprietor of Hotel. Main Street.Maben, A. J., Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Butter and General Merchandise. Main Street.Slover, D., Firkins, Tubs; and Residence District No. 21.Ten Broeck, William A., Attorney-at-Law and Justice of the Peace. Main Street.Vandermark, J., Manufacturer of Flour, Mill and Feed.

The Business Directory given for Lumberville (later Arena) in the old Atlas of DelawareCounty for year 1869 is asfollows:

Conklin, N. E., Proprietor of Lumberville Hotel. Main Street.Haddow, W. A., Wagon Ironer and General Blacksmithing. Pleasant Street.Haddow, R. E., Dealer in Groceries. Pleasant Street.Mead, V. P., Manufacturer of Wagons, Carriages, Sleighs. Pleasant Street.Sines, L. & Co., Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, General Merchandise. Main Street.Tompkins, N., Manufacturer of Lumber; also Builder. Pleasant Street.

CHAPTER 51

With the coming of the automobile and the passing of the boarding-house business as in daysgone by, "touristhomes" sprang up in the village and many others, along much traveled roads. There are severaltourist homes in ourvillage.

In late years "motels" have become the leading places for tourists. Many motels are verymodern and beautiful. Theone nearest our village is "The Valli-Hi Inn and Motel" at nearby Dunraven operated by Mr. andMrs. Bill Sedorowitz.Another one is planned to be built just above the village on the Margaretville-Arkville Road by"Dutch" Merritt.

The largest inn near our village is "Kass' Inn," a short distance above the village. It hasbecome a very well-knowninn through the years since Mr. Kass began operating. In the beginning it was a farm home andwas bought by Mr. Kassforty-three years ago. The location is ideal for summer guests, with spacious grounds, a prettypond near the Inn, andthe largest and best kept golf course in this area. A large swimming pool is built near the back ofthe Inn. The RotaryClub holds its meetings at the Inn and dinner is served for the Club members. The seating capacityof the spacious diningrooms is between four and five hundred. Wedding receptions, dances, large political gatherings,and many other eventstake place there. The Kasses have two daughters, who have married, and the families areconnected with the business.Each has built a beautiful modern home across from the Inn. The Inn has been enlarged from timeto time, and moreroom needed for guests is in surrounding homes nearby that Mr. Kass has bought and remodeled.A little colony hassprung up around the Inn. Many skiers are taken care of in the winter on weekends of goodskiing.

Dances are held in the ballroom most weekends during the year. At night the place is sobrilliantly lighted that,passing by, one would think they were nearing the big city of New York. This year (1960) KassInn, Inc., has started aneight-unit motel located west of the main inn. It is expected to be completed in July.

In 1946 the upper section of the old Fair Grounds was used as a landing field. A hangar wasbuilt to house twoplanes. The first plane used was an Aeronca. Dr. Gilbert M. Palen later owned a Stinson plane.Local men to obtain apilot license were Dr. G. M. Palen and Dr. William Kavanaugh. "Doug" White of Roxbury wasalso a licensed pilot anddid considerable did considerable flying in this section. They were instructed to fly by a Mr. Roseof Oneonta. Later"Dutch" Merritt was bitten by the "flying bug" but he never became a licensed pilot. At that time"Margaretville," inlarge white letters, was painted on the roof of Olympic Hall, the present Dugan & Taber feedstore, for information forflyers not familiar with the village they were passing over.

Archeologists find evidence of Indian life on all sides. Many valuable and interesting relics ofIndian usage have beendiscovered on the site of the ancient village of Pakatakan. A short distance from the site ofPakatakan back of ArkvilleVillage is a cave which was explored a few years ago, and very valuable relics dating back at leastfive hundred yearswere unearthed. Near where Union Grove Village was located were remains of earth works ofIndian origin. It is nowcovered by the waters of the Pepacton Reservoir. A banner stone in the shape of a turtle, oncecarried atop a pole at thehead of a ceremonial procession, was found while plowing on a farm near Balsam Lake. From thecave at Arkville weretaken out one hundred different pieces - pottery, flint knives, a soapstone-scraper, drills, a crudestone hammer, a pestlefor grinding corn, and other relics. Indian arrows and spear tips are found in many places in thisarea. Several people inthis area have large collections of the Indian relics. In 1949 Willard Sanford of this village took apiece of stone from thesite of the ancient Indian village of Pakatakan, near Arkville, and it was sent by express to theLightner Museum at St.Augustine, Florida. The stone was to be engraved with the name of the donor and the site fromwhich it was taken andwas to be inserted into a stone bridge being built near the museum. The bridge was to be made upof stones from eachbattlefield or historical site in the United States.

CHAPTER 52

Since so many changes came to our little village with construction of the Downsville Dam andPepacton Reservoirfor New York City water supply, I am including some facts about it in this history.

The contract for the Diversion Tunnel, Coffer Dam for stream control, and the cut-off wallfor Downsville Dam wasawarded November 18, 1947. Work began November 28, 1947, and was completed July 26,1950. Four villages weresubmerged - Arena, Union Grove, Shavertown, and Pepacton. Ten cemeteries were removed.Permanent populationdisplaced was 934.

The maximum height of the dam above river bed is 204 feet. The length of dam at elevation is2450 feet. Storagecapacity of the reservoir is 147 billion gallons. The length of the reservoir is 18.5 miles and thewatershed area is 372square miles. The elevation of the Coffer Dam diversion tunnel cut-off wall across the valley is1130 feet; 559,756 cubicyards of concrete were used in the cut-off wall. The finished diversion tunnel measured 40 feet indiameter. The length is2155 feet and the capacity, 40,000 gallons.

Our little village lost a great deal of trade from the villages that were destroyed with thebuilding of the PepactonReservoir. We gained a sewer system for the village. A large disposal plant is built on the flatsbelow the village thatwere formerly part of the old Fair Grounds. The disposal plant was finished and ready foroperation in the fall of1959.

There are still many homes to be connected up this spring.

The cost of the sewer plant was just under two million dollars. Twelve men are employedthere. The village was in adeplorable condition over two years with the building of the sewer system, the relocating of waterpipes, and the streetstorn up. We hope we never have to live through another upheaval like that.

The Pepacton Reservoir is the largest reservoir built to supply New York City with water. Itis 18.5 miles long. TheAshokan Reservoir is 12 miles long, and the Gilboa, 5.8 miles long. The final estimate for thePepacton Reservoir was$12,099,846.95.

The Ashokan Reservoir took ten years to build, at a cost of 32 million dollars. With thebuilding of this reservoir,seven villages were removed, 2,000 people displaced, eleven miles of railroad relocated, sixtymiles of highwaysdiscontinued, and forty miles of new highway built. The aqueduct, which conducts water from thisreservoir to NewYork City, is seventy-five miles long. The work was started in 1907 and completed in 1917. Theentire work cost of theAshokan Reservoir was $140,000,000.

CHAPTER 53

Around 1940 a small library was opened in a room over the L. Bussy & Co. Store whereAttorney GleasonSpeenburgh now has his office. Mrs. Norris Bull (Lillian Bussy) was instrumental in getting itstarted. The present librarywas opened in 1952 in the brick extension of the Fire Hall building, formerly a section of the oldhigh school. It isopened twice a week with all volunteer workers. Around five thousand books are cataloged.

Before the State law was passed prohibiting general sale of fireworks, the Fourth of July wasa noisy day, frombefore dawn to late in the night. The older boys would start early with the larger fire crackers thatsounded like cannonsas they exploded and echoed in the mountains arousing everyone from their slumber All day longthe noise continued.There were fire crackers of various size, torpedo caps to throw on the sidewalks, guns for capshooting, canes forshooting caps, and the small size fire crackers strung together, which when lighting one, theothers fired one afteranother. Good-size fire crackers were placed under tin cans and as they exploded, the can shothigh in the air. Thencame the evening display of fireworks - the sparklers, the pin wheels, shooting stars, rockets, andother more elaboratedisplays.

It was a great day for the youngsters, but a sigh of relief, when; the day was over, went upfrom the parents if noone had suffered powder burns or more serious injuries.

Village postmasters during the past fifty or more years have been: J. Henry Hitt, Dr. JohnTelford, J. Stanley Bussy,George E. Gladstone, Dr. C. C. Faulkner, Morgan Garrison, "Dutch" Walter Merritt, EmeryJenkins, Willis Marks andRichard Gavett, our present one.

Mayors of our village for fifty years or more have been: Harry Eckert, J. Stanley Bussy, FrankDeSilva, EmeryJenkins, Harold Finch, Howard Dairs and Ray Marks, our present one. Mr. Eckert was Mayor ofthe village at twodifferent times.

Supervisors of Middletown for the past fifty years and more have been: The late EdwardDickson of Arena, the lateDr. John Telford Samuel Dugan, the late George Merritt, the late Seager George of Arkville,Norman Sanford ofDunraven, Dr. Reuben Smith, and our present one, James Cantwell of Fleischmanns. SamuelDugan served at twodifferent periods as Super visor, serving seventeen years altogether.

CHAPTER 54

We of the older generation have lived through a period of three wars, or two wars and theKorean conflict. Duringthe period of the first and second world wars, food, especially meat, coffee and sugar, alsogasoline and fuel oil, wererationed or conserved. Ration books were issued for the food that was rationed. An auto usestamp costing five dollarswas issued for gasoline, and it was necessary to have one of these in order to obtain gasoline. Allpleasure driving wasrestricted with gasoline rationing.

In 1942 an air-spotting post was operated by volunteer townspeople. The observation postwas on the village ballpark.

Several drives were put on to buy War Bonds, and a house-to-house canvass was made in1942 to reach a certainquota.

Black-out tests were held, the signal for them being a certain number of blasts of the siren onthe Fire House. Airraid wardens saw to it that the black-out was properly carried out. Scrap drives were held withcollection of scrap iron,news papers, and magazines. The local Boy Scout troops aided with the drive for collectingnewspapers and magazines.Victory war gardens were also planted during the wars, and much canning of food was done atthat time. The local RedCross Society was very active during the wars making surgical dressings, rolling bandages, andmaking hospitalgarments. All material was turned in to the National Red Cross. Many others were busy knittingsweaters and woolsocks for the boys in service. With the wars came the tragic news of the supreme sacrifice ofloved ones. Local boys ofour village to lose their lives in service were as follows: Lieut. Donald Baker, a bomber pilot, sonof Mr. and Mrs.Harold Baker, was killed in a plane crash in Mississippi in 1941. He enlisted on July 23, 1941.Cpl. Frederick Myers, aradio operator, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Myers, died when a bomber crashed in the CaribbeanSea in 1941. Cpl. HarryW. Franks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Franks, joined the Army in 1941. He was killed in action inAfrica February 14,1943. First Lieut. Roland Hill, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Hill, was killed December 27,1942, on a bombingmission over Northern Burma. He was acting as lead navigator. Lieut. Hill had been awarded theDistinguished FlyingCross and was as awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star posthumously. Everett Paine, aparatrooper, son of Mr. andMrs. Warren Paine, was killed in action in France in 1943. His death June 7th was on the dayfollowing the Invasion.Everett was the sixth Margaretville Central schoolboy to give his life in the war. No otherDelaware County village hadbeen hit so hard. Lieut. Barnet, who lived in the village with his grandparents, Rose and AlbertBarrett, was killed in anArmy plane crash at Missouri when flying from New England to Texas.

Private First-Class Donald R. Douglas, son of Ruth Decker, who lived in the village with hisgrandparents, the lateCharles and Mrs. Viola Gavett, was killed in Germany April 8, 1945. He was with theEngineers.

Pvt. Fred Donaldson Swart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Swart of Poughkeepsie, diedMarch 20, 1952, fromwounds received in the Korean conflict. He had spent all but the last ten years of his life inMargaretville. His father wasa native of this village. Pvt. Swart was with the 7th Infantry Division, a member of a tankcompany, attached to the 3rdRegiment.

Other boys from nearby, who lost their lives in the war were Pvt. William Todd, who waskilled in the Philippines,and Lieut William Monroe of Fleischmanns son of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Monroe, now of Roxbury.He enlisted in theArmy Air Corps on December 27, 1940 and was killed in action in England November 30,1943.

Jet Pilot Thomas K. Smith of the U. S. Air Force, son of Dr. Reuben E. Smith and the latePolly Smith, was killed inGermany November, 1954. At the time of his death he was a fighter pilot with the Tenth FighterBomber Squadronworking out of the Hahn Air Base in Germany.

Staff Sgt. Marshall Stoutenburgh, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Stoutenburgh of Kelly Corners,and James Cantwell,youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Cantwell of Roxbury, were both held prisoners of war inJapan and survived theinfamous "Death March" from Bataan to Camp Odaro. The two boys enlisted together on January12, 1940, nearly twoyears before Pearl Harbor. On the Death March they received no food for seven days, andMarshall was delirious at theend of the journey. His weight shrunk from 200 to 121 pounds. When he returned home, he wasstill suffering from beri-beri, a disease caused by a diet deficiency. Marshall was released inJanuary, 1945. James' health was better through theprison term. He was not released until a later date. Then he returned to his Roxbury home. Hewas held three and one-half years as prisoner of the Japs.

The first world war ended in 1918 lasting from 1914. The surrender of Bataan came April 9,1942. The year 1945marked the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II. Gas rationing ended then and otherwar-time restrictionswere lifted. The Korean conflict began in June 1950. The long-awaited Korean armistice wassigned Sunday, July 26,1953, halting three years and one month of undeclared war. More than 3,000 American prisonersawaited freedom afterthe armistice was signed. The American Legion, Middletown Township Post No. 216, wasorganized shortly after theclose of World War I. The first meeting for which there are recorded minutes was on September24, 1919.

The charter members of Post No. 216 (year 1919-1920) were the following.

J. S. BussyR. W. MarksMarcus KornLoren H. HubbellHarvey AndrusW. K. ReynoldsEdward J. KittleGordon AdeeRay KittleHoward HendersonErnest GavettClifton B. HittAustin StewartHarold SmithRalph GeorgeReginald ToddLouis McFarlandRalph EignorHarry HubbellFrank DeSilvaJohn HubbellHoward SanfordW. E. TruesdellHarry HalcottHanford HullWinton RuffAlbert E. MorseClifton HendersonFrancis H. SanfordLorenzo BrezeeRalph Mungle

The present charter of Middletown Township Post No. 216 is dated April 15, 1929.

Commanders of the Post and the years served are as follows:

1919-20 Ralph Mungle1921- Marcus Korn1922- J. Stanley Bussy 1923- E. W. Walker 1924-25 Reuben Smith 1926- John Hubbell 1927- Winton Ruff1928- Arthur Hill1929- 1930- Frank DeSilva 1931- Laurence Weber 1932- George Barrett 1933- Ralph Reed 1934- Reginald Todd1935- Waldron Dumond 1936- Ivan Cairns1937- William Miller 1938- Lewis Low1939- Scott Clark 1940- Herman Wickham 1941- Morgan Garrison 1942- Reid Webster 1943- Harold Smith 1944- L. L. Woolheater 1945- Claude Kelly 1946- Harold Finch 1947- Richard Bunting 1948- Willis Marks, 8 months1948- Douglas Sweetland 1949- Donald Neff, 9 months1949- Harold Finc, 3 months1950- Harold Davidson 1951- Herman Godfried 1952- James Cantwell 1953- John Baird 1954- Francis Sweeney 1955- William Hubbell 1956- Edward Meister 1957- Robert Hill 1958- Thomas Smith 1959- Walter Odell

Before the Post bought its present Legion House on upper Main Street, meetings were heldover Edmund's garage(now Ladenheims and in the Fire Hall on Church Street. There are at present in May, 1960, 200members of Post No.216.

Delaware County American Legions now have 1,130 members, which moves DelawareCounty Legions into secondplace in the District and sixth place in the State.

CHAPTER 55

The following is to bring earlier history, of our school, hospital and Fire Department up todate.

The fire company of our village has greatly increased in efficiency since early days. There arenow seventy-fivemembers of the fire department. The department covers most of the area, including smallsettlements outside of theMiddletown fire district. There are three large pumper trucks. One is for use in the village andtwo for use in the district.Also there is a general purpose truck or an emergency truck that can be used as an ambulance.Two of the three trucksare equipped with two-way radios which are controlled from Delhi, N. Y. The trucks are housedin the fire hall, formerlythe old Margaretville High School built in 1907 on Church Street. A loud siren controlled fromthe local telephone officewarns of a fire.

The farms and residences about the country are numbered, so that the firemen know at oncethe location of a fire.Present Fire Chief is Roy Saxhauer. James Sanford is fire coordinator for this district. Mr. Sanfordfor several yearstaught first-aid classes in connection with the fire department.

Our school is a most essential part of our little village. The information about it is for this year(1960): The firstPrincipal in the Margaretville Central School, built in 1939, was Hon. E. F. S. Shaver. He hascontinued and is stillPrincipal in 1960. His salary is at present $10,000.00.

The number of pupils attending school from the village is 165 and from the surrounding area425. These pupils arebrought to the school by the operation of ten school buses. School bus supervisor is Mr. ReidWebster, and themechanic for the buses is Mr. Irvin Eckert.

Janitors of the school at present are Mr. Lionel Mead, Mr. John Reside, and Mr. FrankTrowbridge.

The number of teachers in the school is forty. The salary of the highest paid teacher is$6,500.

The largest graduation class was in the year 1939 when forty students graduated.

The school band is composed of forty-six pupils, and there are thirty in the schoolchorus.

School activities and sports are baseball, basketball, soccer, The Keyhole, Log, and StudentAssociation.

An evening adult class is taught in art. A driver-training course is taught by Mr. ThomasMatalavage. A dual controlcar is used and is owned by the school.

Our school was built in 1939 at a cost of $500,000. The Federal Government paid $281,000of this amount.

With a young surgeon, Dr. Gordon B. Mauer, in our midst, who was struggling so hard onhis own to bring modernfacilities for the sick to our little village, it became apparent that the community should be moreinterested. A meeting ofa few leading citizens with Dr. Maurer was held in September 1930.

On October 21st, 1930 incorporation papers were signed by the State Welfare Institution. Ahospital drive was puton. This was conducted by professionals and $16,000 was raised. The farm home in West End ofthe late SinclairArchibald, then owned by Dr. H. J. Gladstone, was purchased for $10,000. The front section ofthe hospital is theformer farm home. A nearby older farm house, or tenant house, was converted into a nurses'home. Many in thecommunity gave freely of their time and money during the Hospital Drive.

The late Sam Bluestone was a faithful worker for the project, helping with the annual hospitalbenefit balls that wereput on in early days. Father Barry was another diligent worker for the cause. The hospital wasfirst opened for patientson January 13, 1931.

It is unfortunate that the late Dr. Gordon B. Maurer could not live to see our present-dayhospital. A first additionwas added in 1943-1944 and a second one in 1946-1947. An Otis elevator was installed in 1947in conjunction with theaddition of the latest wing. Six physicians are now on the active medical staff. The present bedcapacity is forty. Averagenumber of patients per day in 1959 was twenty-three.

The offices of Dr. Gilbert M. Palen and Dr. C. Ray Huggins were installed in a first-floorwing of the hospital in1959.

The hospital has an excellent X-ray department. The Roentgenologist is Dr. William C. Gallo.Miss Ruth Sanford isa registered X-ray technician and has been there since 1942. There is one assistant technician intraining forregistration.

A 220 KV X-ray therapy machine was installed in 1955 and a 200 MA X-ray diagnosticmachine installed in 1958.There is one registered laboratory technician, Miss Ruth Dickman, and one assistant labtechnicians "Hal" Church.

On the hospital office staff there is one administrator, Mr. Donald Roberts, following Mr.Harry Eckert who hadheld that position for seventeen years resigning in June 1959 on account of failing eyesight. Thereis one credit manager,Mr. William Hubbell, and three business office girls.

There is a three-bed Pediatric ward. The Obstetrical wing has five private rooms and onetwo-bed semi-private.There is a two-bed labor room and a large delivery room. The nursery has a capacity of sixbassinets. A formulapreparation room and facilities were added in 1954.

On the main floor, near the ambulance entrance, is an emergency room and room wherefracture work is done. Thiswas added in 1954.

Mrs. Ruth Church is in charge of the record room. Four helpers work in the large modernkitchen. Mrs. "Peg" Meadhas been a faithful worker in the kitchen, this being her seventeenth year.

A hospital has been a wonderful and much needed addition to our little village. One greatneed for it is seen on awinter week end when thousands of skiers are in our section. This is to take care of the manyskiing accidents.

The first baby born in the Hospital was Clark Tyler, who now lives in Michigan. The firstBoard Members of theHospital were: C. M. Kelly, H. Valente Carrere, Martha Sanford, Nelson Kelly, Rev. Marion E.Combs, Father Barry,Albert Rosa, George H. Patrick, and P. O. Hess.

There have been numerous Supervisors or head nurses at the hospital since it started, some ofthem were: MissMary Gorman, Mrs. Oril Lunn, Mrs. Bruce Kilpatrick, Miss Margaret Kilpatrick, Mrs. MildredAlexander and, atpresent, Mrs. Norma Burgin.

The Ladies' Auxiliary renders invaluable service in sewing and mending. In 1947 a "GreyLady" Corps was started.This is a volunteer organization sponsored by the American Red Cross. Mrs. Grace Dugan ischairman of the GreyLadies.

CHAPTER 56

The service station, most centrally located in the village, is the "Esso" Station on Main Streetoperated now byBurton Jenkins. It occupies a portion of the lot where the Pocantico Inn was located.

Andre's garage and service station is located on Bridge Street near the entrance of the villagefrom the east. Mr.Andre purchased the business from Earl Jenkins in 1954 when Mr. Jenkins retired. The DelawareValley Oil Co., Inc.,and Gulf Service Station, built and operated by Leyden Smith and his son Thomas, is also onBridge Street. It had beenbuilt about a year when, in 1950, it was badly damaged by a flood, but repairs were soonmade.

Davidson's large service station on lower Main Street was built in 1955. It occupies the site ofthe early mansion ofDr. O. M. Allaben, later known as the "Bee Hive." "Emil's Service Station" is at the southentrance to the village onlower Main Street.

When the late Dr. C. C. Holcomb purchased the old Laidlow house on upper Main Street, heconverted the homeinto three apartments and a service station. The station is now not operated.

Insurance offices in our village include Close & Sluiter on Main Street in the Week's Building.This was operatedmany years earlier by Mr. Arthur Close but not in the same location. It is now operated by Mr.Sluiter. The H. J. MillerInsurance Agency was operated many years by the late Harry Miller, now by Walton Heley. It islocated in the PereiraBuilding on Main Street. The Archibald Insurance Agency, operated earlier by the late JohnArchibald now by HermanWickham, is located on Main Street over the Christian Drug Store. Frederick W.

Numann's insurance office is located on Bridge Street.

Margaretville Electric and Gas Co. on upper Main Street is operated by WilliamSperling.

The Granite Shop is operated by LeRoy Monroe on Maple Street near his home.

Smith's plumbing, heating and electrical supply store is operated by Harold Smith and locatedon the corner ofMaple and Main Street. A garage operated by Arthur Soderlind is located on East MainStreet.

The Royal Tailors and Cleaners Shop is in the upper Main Street block in the concrete blockbuilding built earlier byEdward Muller and occupied by him as a bakery.

The Sigrist Liquor Store is in the O'Connor building on Main Street; it was operated beforeMr. Sigrist by Mr. LouisLevy. Earlier, for many years, the jewelry store of the late Don Stewart was located there.

The Pereiras operate a bake shop in their building on Main Street opposite Bussy'sSupermarket.

"Weeks' Hardware Store" is the large store on Main Street that from early days has alwaysbeen a hardware store.Mr. Weeks also owns the next building above his main store and this summer expects to make thetwo stores in one,modernize, and put a new front on the building.

The brick building, that is now Jo Christian's drug store, on the corner of Main and WalnutStreets, occupies asection of the location of the early "Ackerly House" and later the Pocantico Inn. It was built byWaldo Parson and thereMr. Parson operated a drugstore for several years before he sold to Mr. Christian. In the otherside of the building Mr.Marsico operates a department store. Over the store, an office is occupied by Dr. WilliamKavanaugh, a dentist.Wickham's insurance office and one apartment are also on the second floor.

Bussy's Supermarket in later years purchased the lot next to their market and made it into aparking space. The lotformerly belonged to the Tom Winter residence back of the Bussy store which is now occupied byLeRoy Scott. In earlydays on the lot was always a well kept vegetable garden of the Winters. At that time the lot wasfenced along MainStreet.

The Dick Miller Drugstore occupies the site of the first early drugstore in the village. It is inthe O'Connor Building.It was operated by the O'Connors for sixty-six years. Then it was operated a number of years byArthur Kelly who latersold the business to Mr. Miller on May 1st, 1956.

The Roy Scott furniture store occupies two buildings. The lower store was the earlyestablishment of the lateCharles Gorsch who operated on undertaking and furniture business. After Mr. Charles Gorsch,his son Hugo operatedthe business for many years. Then Kevida Holmes from Walton bought the business. Later Mr. N.L. Lattin owned andoperated it for a number of years. Mr. Lattin sold to Mr. Everett Herrick and Mr. Eglinger. Theydissolved partnershipand Mr. Herrick sold the furniture end of the business to Mr. Scott but retained the undertakingbusiness. He bought thelarge house on Walnut Street, known for many years as the Noah Olmstead home, where he livesand conducts a funeralhome.

Otis Whitney operates a garage on lower Main Street and lives in a new apartment recentlymade over his garage.The Whitneys moved here from Arkville.

The G. L. F. Service is located below the East entrance to the village. The old Delaware &Eastern Railroad Stationand freight house are used as some of their buildings.

The Fairbairn Lumber Corp. is located on the South Side road below the village.

Tourist homes in the village are operated by Mrs. Marguerite Van Benschoten on lower MainStreet, and oneknown as "The Play House" is operated by Miss Jane Ackerly and Miss Viola Sowers, also onlower Main Street. MissAckerly is a relative of one of the earlier settlers of the village who built the "Ackerly House" andis one of our oldestresidents in 1960. Mrs. Squires operates a tourist home on upper Main Street in the village.

The first A & P. store in the village was opened in the Hubbell Building on Bridge Street. Thelate Mr. and Mrs.Elliott, parents of "Chick" Elliott of the village, were managers. Then the store was moved to thepresent Jo ChristianBuilding where at present Mr. Marciso operates a department store. Later it was moved acrossthe street to the MasonicBuilding where it is now operated. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Veit, moving to the village fromOxford, N. Y., have been themanagers of the store since it moved from its first location.

The large building on the Margaretville-Arkville road that was constructed by DonaldStoutenburgh and Sam Craftand operated as "Stout-Craft," a garage and car sales service, is now the Middletown townbuilding The office of thetown clerk is located there. Mrs. Sarah Hull is the present town clerk. Joseph Langsfeld, a nativeof Vienna, Austria,once practiced his ancient art as a silversmith in a little workshop on Maple Street at the rear ofhis home. His shop wasthe early office of Dr. Banker, one of the early physicians in the village. With the machine age, theart of a silversmith isfast disappearing. The large building to house the Victory Store Market was built on lower MainStreet in 1958. Theearly Gorsch home and the Clute home were removed to make space for the store and parking lot.Present-day lawyersin our village are Attorney Donald Fenton and his mother, Mabel D. Fenton, who both haveoffices in the O'ConnorBuilding on Main Street on the second floor; Attorney Layman Snyder whose office is over theWeeks' Hardware Storeon Main Street; Attorney Gleason Speenburgh has his office over the Bussy Supermarket; andAttorney HermanGodfried, whose office is in the Masonic Building, over the A. & P. Store.

CHAPTER 57

Our section, though failing in later years to be a thriving dairy section, is fast becoming agreat playground andresort area during all seasons of the year. Spring brings the trout fishing. In summer the Catskillsoffer many attractions.It has warm days and cool nights for comfort. It is one of the greatest scenic areas of the State.Large areas are State-owned parks and forest preserves and many State picnic areas and campsites are developed. Within a radius of seventy-five miles of the village of Margaretville are thefollowing interesting places to visit: there are the Old Fort at Schoharie,Howe Caverns near Cobleskill; Pratt's rocks and picnic area near Prattsville; the Jay GouldMemorial Church atRoxbury; "Woodchuck Lodge," the home of the great naturalist-poet John Burroughs; BoyhoodRock, memorial fieldand burial place of Burroughs on the Hardscrabble road above Roxbury and a fine view fromthere of MontgomeryHollow.

There is the Old Forge in Dry Brook and the old covered bridge nearby. There is theState-built "Belleayre SkiCenter" between High Mount and Fleischmanns with the only chair lift in the state. It is operatedin the summer seasonand an excellent picnic area is laid out on top of the mountain. There is a marvelous panoramicview from the chair liftand the summit of the mountain. There are the Catskill Game Farm near Catskill, N. Y. and Mt.Ulsayantha nearStamford.

Historical Cooperstown is the home of baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame andMuseum located there,also the Farmers Museum.

The village borders on beautiful Otsego lake. There is Palenville Mountain Lookout and"Bridal Veil" Falls, thescenic Rip Van Winkle Trail. The trip over Palenville Mountain is the most beautiful ride to befound anywhere in theEast.

The "Devil's Tombstone" camp site derives its name from a boulder of peculiar shape in thevicinity. From this campsite Route 28 takes you through the scenic Stoney Cove. The camp site is located at the southerlyentrance to theCove.

The large State park camp site and picnic area at North Lake is surrounded by virgin spruceforests. This camp sitehas been greatly developed in the past few years. It is three miles north of Haines Falls. There aremany marked trails forhiking in this area of the Catskills. A separate area at North Lake camp site accommodates housetrailers Campers atNorth Lake camp site pitch their tents near the spot where Rip Van Winkle slept his monumentalsleep. There is theinteresting state fish hatchery at DeBruce.

The well developed Beaverkill camp site is on the stream of the same name. There is fishingfor the public in severalmiles of this stream owned by the State. It is one of the most noted trout streams of the East. Oneof the picturesque oldcovered bridges is located at the camp site.

There is the Woodland Valley camp site; Slide Mountain, the highest of the Catskill peaks,rises from this valley. Itselevation is 4,240 feet. It was one of the favorite spots of the great naturalist John Burroughs; atrail which he traveledfrom the valley to the summit of Slide Mountain is commemorated by a bronze tablet set in a rocknear the summit.

There is the Artist Colony at Woodstock and the beautiful mountain panorama in that section.Woodstock is famedas the most popular "Art Colony" of the eastern states.

Overlook Mountain near the village has an elevation of 2,500 fret.

There is the trip around Ashokan Reservoir and the aerating plant connected with thereservoir. It is second in sizeof reservoirs to supply New York City with water.

The Old Senate House, built in 1676, is at Kingston, and a museum nearby. Many historicalmarkers are around thecity.

The very early Dutch Reformed Church and graveyard are right in the center of the uptownbusiness district. Theold Dutch Church charter dates back to 1719.

The Stone house built in 1700 at 97 Wall Street was the only home left standing when theBritish burned down thetown in 1779. It has undergone many changes since that date. A second story was added as wellas back and side wingsand a terrace in the back.

There is the drive around Gilboa Reservoir and the petrified forest display there that wasunearthed with the buildingof the reservoir. These petrified trees are claimed by geologists to be the oldest ever to bediscovered. The approximateage is fixed at 3,000 million years and the oldest known forests in the world.

There is East Windham and the great expanse of view from the lookout there. On a clear dayit is possible to seeseven different states and the Hudson River.

About sixteen miles from our village there is beautiful Perch Lake located on top of amountain. It is a natural lakeof which the Catskills have few. It covers sixty acres. Mountain laurel and rhododendron grownear the lake. It issurrounded by private camps and two large camps for boys and girls, "Camp Oquago" and "CampPakatakan."

The beautiful scenic drive around Pepacton Reservoir, the largest of the reservoirs to supplyNew York City withwater, is around ninety miles. Several nearby ski slopes have been developed for winter sports.The large State-ownedski center called "Bellayre Ski Center" is nearest to our village. It attracts thousands on a weekend when skiingconditions are favorable; 130,000 skiers jammed the lifts and trails during the ninety days of skiingthis season-- 1960.The season closed this year on April 2nd. It is the only ski center in New York State with a chairlift. The nearby"Bellayre Mountain Ski Center" was opened early in 1950. The summit elevation is 3,325 feet. Inaddition to the chairlift, there are two T-Bar lifts available for uphill transportation. The huge log lodge at the foot ofthe chair lift has alounge, cafeteria, and rest rooms. It is opened summer and winter. The lift operates through thesummer to reach thepicnic area with open fireplaces, tables and benches. The lift also extends operation into the periodof the brilliant fallfoliage. A summit shelter has large picture windows, a fireplace, and cafeteria facilities. From thesummit, a magnificentpanorama of the Catskill area is visible. Greater development is greatly needed at "Bellayre SkiCenter" to take care ofthe increasing numbers that come on holidays and week ends.

Since the Bellayre Ski Lodge has been built, annual sunrise services for community Protestantchurches have beenheld at the Lodge at six a.m. on Easter Sunday mornings.

With the building of the Thruway our village is but a two-to-three-hour drive from New YorkCity.

Skiing has brought good business to our village and surrounding area in the winter months.Besides the "BellayreMountain Ski Center," the Jay H. Simpson Memorial Ski Slope is also maintained by theConservation Department. It isat nearby Phoenicia at the mouth of Woodland Valley. The land on which this slope is located wasa gift to the Statefrom members of the Simpson family.

"Toe Path Mountain Camp Site" is a new development located on Route 30, five miles southof the village ofMiddleburgh in the heart of the scenic and historic Schoharie Valley. It is near scenic Bouck'sFalls on the Pantherkill.There is excellent fishing nearby in Schoharie Creek. Picnic facilities, a softball field, andhorseshoe courts were availableat "Toe Path" for the beginning of the season 1959, and camp sites were ready aboutmidseason.

The past few decades have seen a rapid development in means of access to the mountainregions, and what was oncea trackless forest is cut by a network of roads and trails that reaches most of the major peaks inthe mountains.

The Catskill regions offer excellent opportunities for camping and enjoyment of life in theopen. The Catskill Parkincludes 657,000 acres of which the State owns 227,091 acres. The scenery in all parts of theCatskill Mountains isunsurpassed throughout the State. Besides the many State Camp Sites that are developed, thereare many marked trailsfor hiking in the Catskills and many open camps or leantos located on the "Central Catskill Trails"at logical overnightstopping points.

On the extreme high slopes of the Catskills balsam has taken the place of the early hemlockwith the exception of amile square stand of virgin spruce lying between Cornell and Slide Mountains, and through whichthe Whittenberg-Cornell Slide trail passes. The Catskill region is a land of picturesque waterfalls.A lovely one is on the Margaretville-Andes road at nearby Dun raven called "Canada HollowFalls." It is to be regretted that a State picnic area was not earlydeveloped at this lovely spot before it was spoiled with nearby buildings.

In 1960 a "now or never" program was to he promoted to have more facilities in the Catskillsfor sports andenjoyment. Commissioner Wilm's report calls for the State acquisition of 67,000 more acres ofland by 1965 and 22,000more by 1975. This would permit seventy two new camp sites in the forest preserve andthirty-four outside. The Statewould acquire 400 miles more of public fishing streams by 1965 and 800 miles more by 1976.These, together with 853now held, would give unlimited access to more than 2,000 miles of public fishing streams.

CHAPTER 55

"Ye Olde Delaware Inn" at Stamford, N. Y., dates back to the 1700's. It was first known asthe "Delaware House."History relates that in 1876 a stable was located near the hotel. A school was located nearby and alaw office was built in1870. Also nearby is the site of a cemetery. Excavations made found traces of the early cemeterybut no records of dateof those buried there. The school was in existence as early as 1821 at this location.

The Stamford Chamber of Commerce is embarking on a program to re-develop Mt.Utsayantha. The peak of themountain is 3,365 feet above sea level. It is a trip of three miles from the village. Tourists from allparts of the worldhave visited the sightly place as well as the grave on the road up the mountain of the legendarymaiden Utsayantha. Theearly development was by Col. R. W. Rulliffson. In 1882 a tower was erected on the extremesummit and a carriage roadgraded to the tower. A formal opening to the public with a basket picnic was on August 19, 1882.At a later date theroad was graded for automobile travel and widened for passing. The property is now owned bythe village. A mile fromthe base of the mountain, on the outskirts of Stamford Village, is a little lake named Utsayantha inhonor of the Indianprincess whose father's wigwam stood on its shore. The name Utsayantha means "beautifulspring" in the Indianlanguage.

CHAPTER 59

With the destruction of the village of Arena and the Advent Christian Church that was locatedin that village, aproperty in Margaretville was purchased. This was the property on the corner of East Orchardand Maple Streets, earlyknown as the J. H. Hitt home and later as the Jacob Trylone home. This became the parsonage ofthe Advent minister.And the first Advent Church services were held in the parsonage. In a lot below the parsonage onMaple Street the newAdvent Church was erected. Rev. C. William Bailey was at that time the minister. He drew up theplans for the newchurch and did a great deal of the labor in its construction along with other volunteer laymen ofthe church. The largebell erected at the front of the church is from the Shavertown Advent Christian Church, that alsohad to be destroyedwhen the village went. Mr. Bailey served as minister at the Advent Church for nine years, first atArena and then in thisvillage. In 1956 Mr. Bailey received a call to teach English at the Margaretville Central Schooland another minister Rev.Larcombe was chosen for the village church. For the past two years Mr. Bailey has been taking acourse at TeachersCollege at Columbia University in New York City. Mr. Bailey has been active in the village asassistant chief of the FireDepartment, a member of the village board, and at one time was a driver of one of the schoolbuses. After leaving theministry, he bought the large home of Charlotte Sanford on Orchard Street and moved there withhis family. A Historyof the Methodist Church:--In 1794 the "Delaware" circuit appears in conference minutes for thefirst time. The circuitriders were ministers who traveled about on horseback in early days to preach in settlements or togroups of peoplewhere no churches were yet established. One of the outstanding 8 circuit riders of Methodism inColonial days wasFreeborn Garrettson, who, in 1793, married Miss Catherine Livingston of Rhinebeck, N. Y. Shewas one of ChancellorLivingston's daughters, a sister of Margaret, for whom Margaretville was 8 named. Catherineowned about 20,000 acresof land between Mount Pakatakan and the Roundout Valley, a part of the lots in the LivingstonPatent. Garrettson was apreacher who where ever he found people made it an opportunity for preaching. It is likely that heencouraged the earlycircuit riders who traveled into this area. The "Delaware" Circuit became a part of the New YorkConference in 1804. In1830 the "Middletown" Circuit was set off from the "Delaware" Circuit; by 1836 the Circuitcovered a vast area of theWestern Catskills including communities now known as Hancock, Colchester, Andes,Shavertown, Millbrook, DryBrook, Clovesville, Middletown, and Stone Schoolhouse (Dunraven).

In the fall of 1849 Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Decker moved to this community. Services at that timewere being held in thelittle schoolhouse on Academy Street early known as the "Utilitarian" School and later as an"Academy." Services wereheld once a month. Mr. Decker liked the village very much but deplored the lack of any church inthe community. It isalmost certain that Mr. Decker would have urged the building of a church anyway, but perhapsmatters were hastened bya painful experience which befell Mr. Decker while attending services one Sunday at the littleschoolhouse. During theservice he accidentally got a finger caught in a knothole in the slab seat. The minister hurriedlydismissed the service, acarpenter had to be called to saw the slab and release Mr. Decker. Immediately after thisexperience Mr. Decker begancollecting contributions for starting a church. Dr. O. M. Allaben headed the list by giving onehundred dollars. Mr.Decker gave fifty dollars but later gave fifty more. The Methodist Episcopal Church inMargaretville was incorporated in1850, and a church erected on Main Street was dedicated in 1851 with Russell Scott as the firstminister. The originalbuilding is still in existence. It has been moved back from its Main Street location and for manyyears has served as abarn back of the Mrs. Elizabeth Rotermund home on Main Street. Looking at the building onemay still observe the widefront door and the high window frames along the sides. In 1880 a new Methodist Church, thepresent one, was erectedon Church Street and the parsonage built. The cornerstone of the new church was laid on thethird day of June 1880.The first couple to be married in the new church was the late Mr. and Mrs. Agustus Boyes,parents of Grace and SusanBoyes now living on Swart Street in the village. In 1939 the Methodist Episcopal Church becamethe Methodist Church.The Ladies' Aid Society became the Woman's Society of Christian Service and the EpworthLeague became theMethodist Youth Fellowship. On June 19, 1949, the Methodist Church dedicated a new memorialpipe organ and chimesat a cost of a little over $5,000. Pastors of the Methodist Church for the past fifty years: LincolnR. Long, 1906-1909James Douglas, 1910-1913 Gilbert Fisher, 1914-1915 Earl Hubbard, 1915-1921 E. C. Tamblyn,1922-1923 John S.Lull, 1924-1927 Robert C. Reynolds, 1928-1929 W. B. Chandler, 1930-1933 Wesley Gebhard,1934-1936 RussellYoung, 1937 D. B. Cordes, 1937-1942 Eugene L. Crabb, 1948-1956 Robert Gevert, 1956-1960Rev. Truran, 1960Organists in the Methodist Church in the past fifty-three years have been: Miss Fanny Jackson,Mrs. Mae Archibald,Mrs. Mabel Faulkner, who served for a ten-year period, and Mrs. Viola Place, who has beenorganist at three differenttimes, the last period being twenty-five years. The Methodist Church has held an annual bazaarfor many years. It iswork done by members of the Woman's Society of : Christian Service. In years past the annualSunday School picnicwas looked for ward to by old and young. There were several picnic groves nearby, one calledDimmick's Grove was onthe Dimmick farm at Dunraven; one, the Sanford Grove, also at Dunraven, was on property of thelate Ziba Sanford;one at Denver is called Redmond's Grove. This last was an especially nice one; a foot bridgecrossed the stream to reachthe grove, near the old blacksmith shop of the late Sheffield Bellows. In the grove of hemlocksthere were long tablesand benches. High rope swings were always put up for picnic day. The smell of the hemlock trees,the sight of longtables laden with good food, and the appetites worked to pitch by the activities of the youngsters,made the picnic agreat success. The children were taken in early days on a large hay load drawn by horses. An earlystart was necessarywith the slow travel by horses and hay wagon. There were a lot of tired but happy children by thetime they reachedhome at the end of a long day.

In late years the old picnic groves have disappeared, having been allowed to grow up withbrush and seedlings. TheState camp sites have taken their place for the Sunday School picnics; the one in the Beaverkill isgenerally used. Fishingand swimming are available there. The children of today are transported by automobile.

The Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Church was organized in 1880 with ten chartermembers. The ArkvilleParish is at present served by the Margaretville pastor.

Many repairs and improvements have been made to the Methodist Church since its erection.The colored memorialwindows at the sides of the church were given during the time that the Rev. Earl Hubbard waspastor. The beautifulround stained-glass window in the back of the church was given by Dr. William Decker inmemory of his parents, Mr.and Mrs. George G. Decker.

The Margaretville Cemetery was opened during the 19th century under the sponsorship of G.G. Decker to aidexpenses of the Methodist Church. He gave a piece of land for the cemetery; one-half of theproceeds for sale of lotswas to go to Mr. Decker and one-half to the Methodist Church.

Graves were dug at that time for six dollars. Later, at a meeting of the village board, aproposition was made to havethe village acquire the cemetery. In October 1918 a meeting was held by twenty-two plot ownersand a vote was madeto incorporate the cemetery. In June 1927 the board decided to build a vault at a cost of$3,000.

The First Presbyterian Church of Margaretville was organized October 27, 1891, in thefollowing manner: Dr. J. H.Robinson of Delhi, Rev. J. H. Ralston of Hobart, Rev. Seeley, Elder J. K. Penfield and ElderAdam Scott from Delhiformed a committee appointed by the Presbytery to organize a church at Margaretville. Thechurch building was erectedin 1894 on Orchard Street. The following were elected as Elders of the church: Adam J. Scott,Daniel Waterbury, Sam I.P. Ives, and Edward Scharnikaw.

The Presbyterian parsonage was built around 1913. With exception of the old farmhouse onthe extreme end ofWest Orchard Street, it was the first home to be erected past the present Hess home in that end ofthe village.

Pastors serving the church have been:

R. W. Blackburn, 1891Charles G. Ellis, 1893Conover S. Osborn, 1894Frank B. Seeley, 1895D. G. Lawson, 1897N. E. Waldenhauer, 1900Arthur W. Allen, 1902D. J. Edwards, 1903A. M. Forrester, 1906C. C. Bramsby, 1903F. L. Greene, 1917G. W. Walker, 1922P. Lewis Lloyd, 1930Oliver W. Chapin, 1934Charles T. Theal, 1944Henry J. Stammer, 1949John Earl Naegele, 1951Arthur F. Kopp, 1959

The Episcopal Church in Margaretville was organized in 1927 by the Rev. Gerald V. Barry,Rector of St. JamesChurch, Lake Delaware. Services were first held in 1927 in rooms in the Masonic Building, laterin the Fire Hall, andthen in the Chapel in the McIlroy home on Walnut Street (now the home of Mr. and Mrs. RoswellSanford). Mr. andMrs. N. L. Lattin, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bowls, Mrs. Frank Doolittle, Mr. Ralph Sterns, Mr. andMrs. W. G. Walsh,Miss Agnes Walsh and Mrs. A. J. Williams were the organizing members. The present churchbuilding on Orchard Streetwas completed in the summer of 1931 and first services were held there on August 2, 1931. St.Margaret's Guild wasformed in 1929. On October 14, 1941, the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. G. AshtonOldham, D.D., Bishop ofAlbany. The Chapel was dedicated to Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland. The first resident priestwas Rev. PaulHartzell, in December 1928. Father Hartzell was succeeded by the Rev. Donald Pierce in October1929. When the newchurch was built in 1931, Rev. Alonzo Wood began his duties as Priest-in-Charge. In 1937 FatherWood was replacedby Rev. Herman J. Smith until 1942.

Priests who have served since 1942 are: The Rev. Archie Drake, 1942-43; Rev. K. F. Arnold,1943-45; Rev.William J. Shane, 1945; Rev. Noel P. Conlon, 1945-47; Rev. Gerald K. Lows, 1947-53, and Rev.Thomas G. Chase,1953-56. The present Priest-in-Charge is Rev. R. L. Donahue.

CHAPTER 60

One of our earlier day doctors, Dr. Charles S. Allaben, Sr., started out hurriedly to make aprofessional call onHubbell Hill. At a curve at the upper end of the village, near the present-day home of HowardDavis, the Doctor'sautomobile skidded and turned turtle, pinning the doctor underneath. His injuries resulted a fewdays later in his death atage sixty-two.

A story is told about the doctor who started, one winter's night, to make a sick call in anisolated section of KellyHollow. He drove his horse and sleigh as far as possible on the drifted roads, then left his horse ina farmer's barn, andcontinued from there on snowshoes. He lost his way and came out on a wrong ridge. Being nearexhaustion, he was putup for the night at a farm home and continued when daybreak came on his way to make the sickcall. This is just oneexample of the rugged life of the early day "Family physician." Dr. John Telford was born inFranklin, August 26, 1864.He moved to Margaretville with his parents when his father, Rev. Telford, was pastor of theMethodist Church in thevillage. Both parents died when he was a small lad, and he was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. OziahDecker and reared astheir son. After local schooling, he attended Kingston Academy and then took a prescribed coursein the New York CityHomoeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital in New York City. He was admitted topractice medicine in June ofthat year and came to Margaretville and continued for fifty years. He was a staunch Democrat ofthe old school. He waselected Supervisor of this township in 1906 and served several years. In 1912 he was nominatedfor the State Assemblyand won the county election. He served as postmaster during the Wilson administration, joinedthe Masonic Lodge in1897, and was master of the Lodge 1901-04. In 1904 he was made Deputy Grand Master of thisMasonic district. Hewas also member of Delta Chapter R.A.M. at Stamford, of the Roundout Commandery atKingston, and of CypressTemple at Albany. He was married on November 27, 1906, to Helen Gorsch of this village.

Dr. Telford was an outstanding citizen in our village and county. He died suddenly in a NewYork City hotel on July31, 1936.

Lincoln R. Long was born at Eminence, N. Y., February 3, 1861. His father, Joseph Long,died at Gettysburg whileserving his country in the Civil War. Lincoln Long was left an orphan at four years of age whenhis mother died. Hisboyhood and youth were spent in the town of Jefferson, Schoharie County. With only theadvantages of a rural school,he fitted himself for a teacher and taught at Young's Station in Sidney, N. Y. He continued hisstudy while teaching andqualified for High School work and accepted the principalship of the Hancock High School andremained there sevenyears. While in Hancock, Mr. Long became deeply interested in religious work and took uptheological studies in hisleisure hours. He became a lay preacher of the Methodist Church and was admitted to the NewYork MethodistConference. He resigned the principalship of Hancock School to become pastor of CallicoonMethodist Church andremained there four and one-half years.

On leaving Callicoon he was pastor of the New Paltz Methodist Church for a time. Feeling hehad unfinished workin the schoolroom, he gave up the New Paltz Church to resume teaching and was principal of theWaldon High Schoolfor four years. He then accepted a call to Trinity Church at Kingston, N. Y. From Kingston hewas assigned as pastor ofthe Margaretville Methodist Church. After the close of his pastorate he became Principal of theMargaretville HighSchool for a year. He then accepted the Superintendency of this District, continuing in that fieldfor six years. He wasprevailed upon to enter the primary as a Republican candidate for member of Assembly in 1918.He won and was fivetimes re-elected. This was an honor unique in the annals of Delaware County.

Loving the out-of-doors, he, on his retirement, bought a farm on a hillside in New Kingston,N. Y. He took uppractical surveying and wrote historical sketches. Mr. Long was married in 1885 to Miss PhilindaYoung of Young'sStation. Five children were born to them: the late Mrs. Courtney R. Sanford, Mrs. Hale Elliott,Mrs. James Elliott, thelate Mrs. Alex Suter, 3 and Frank Long who recently moved to this village. James Henry Hitt wasborn at Union Grove,N. Y. His father was a lumberman and raftsman and took his son on many trips down theDelaware River by raft. Whenhe was twenty-one, he came to Margaretville and secured employment in the store of Orson A.Swart. In 1885 he wastaken in as partner and the store went under the name Swart and Hitt. He continued in the storethirty-two years. Therewas no bank in Margaretville at that time and Swart and Hitt were virtual bankers. Banking wasdone with the NationalUlster County Bank at Kingston, N. Y.

When the Peoples National Bank was organized in the village, it began life in the office of theSwart and Hitt Store.When Mr. Hitt came to Margaretville the business part of the village was comprised of the storewhere he worked, theAckerly Hotel, store of Thomas Winter, now the L. Bussy & Co., the establishment of CharlesGorsch, the firstundertaker, now the LeRoy Scott Store, the Decker Hardware Store, and the early drugstore ofE. L. O'Connor. Mr.Hitt sold his interest in the Swart and Hitt Store when he became postmaster, and the store thenbecame SwartMercantile Co. After seventeen years as postmaster, he purchased the insurance business of thelate Thomas Winter.Later he sold to Close and Miller and became interested in real estate. Mr. Hitt was the leadingfigure in the organizationof a Union Free School here in 1892. He became a member of the Board of Education and heldthat position forty-threeyears. He was President of the board for thirty years, retiring in 1936.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for forty-six years and Master of the Lodge for threeyears. He was astaunch Republican.

Mr. Hitt was married in 1883 to Mary Burhans and two children were born to them, the lateClifton and Mrs.Pauline Stevens Burns now of Stamford, N. Y. Mr. Hitt was married the second time to MissBertha Hull. They weredivorced, and his third marriage was to Miss Julia Bryant who now lives in Kingston, N. Y.

Emery Jenkins, although not a native of the village, lived here in latter years. He was born inUnion Grove in 1867.In early life he had been in the lumbering business with his father and rafted lumber down theDelaware. His last trip wasin 1895 at the age of twenty-eight years. He married and became a successful farmer. He alsoworked as a forest ranger.Before coming to Margaretville, he had operated a general store at Union Grove and a hardwarestore in Arena and inboth villages had been postmaster. When he moved to Margaretville, he purchased the controllinginterest in the villagewater company. He sold that in 1928. He served as Mayor of this village and also as postmasterfor five years. He servedas president of the village cemetery from its incorporation in 1938 until 1951. He joined theMasonic Lodge in 1892 andwas one of the oldest members in his day.

Mr. Jenkins was twice married, first to Eliza Lynn and second to Mary Hess, widow of FrankMcLain. He diedNovember 26, 1955.

The late Harry Miller, born in Carbondale, Pa., came to this village with the building of theDelaware and NorthernRailroad in 1905. He at first worked as assistant paymaster but later became freight clerk for therailroad. Around 1933he resigned and went into the insurance business in partnership with Arthur Close with an officeon the second floor ofL. Bussy & Co. store. Later the partnership was dissolved and each continued in insurance. Harryadded the branchoffice for distributing auto license plates for several years. He was active in village affairs and wassecretary of theMasonic Lodge for thirty-one years, secretary-treasurer of Delaware Co. Past MastersAssociation, member of RoyalArch Masons, Rotary Club member, secretary of Margaretville Hospital Board, secretary of theFirst PresbyterianChurch, and Town Clerk for twenty-five years.

Harry was married on October 10, 1910, to Pauline Miller. He passed away on ThanksgivingDay, 1953. Mrs. Millerpassed away on Decoration Day May 30, 1960.

Mr. James J. Welch was born in Greenwich, N. Y. on June 28, 1874. He came to this villagewith the building of theDelaware and Northern Railroad. He was at first dispatcher and later superintendent of therailroad from 1911 to1942.

On August 12, 1916, he married Mrs. Etta Easman who was a teacher in the village school."Jim" was on theCentral School Board when the new Margaretville Central School was built.

He was one of the directors on the board of the village bank for several years. Once he wasPresident of the villageand served a period as president of the Catskill Agricultural Society (The Margaretville Fair).

Mr. Welch passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1956.

Dr. Smith W. Reed, Jr., was born August 2, 1879. A son of Dr. Smith Warren Reed andFrances DuMond Reed, arelative of the early DuMond settlers of our village, Smith, Jr. was a graduate of MargaretvilleHigh School, also amember of the Class of 1905 at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He first beganpractice of dentistry in LakePlacid in 1905. He moved to Saranac Lake the following year and remained there until 1914. Hewas married in thisvillage on September 13, 1910 to Margaret Jenkins who died here November 17, 1932.

Dr. Reed returned to this village following the death of his father, a physician, and practiceddentistry here until hisretirement in 1955. He was a holder of a fifty-year membership pin in the Masonic Lodge of thisvillage. He achievedconsiderable repute as an auctioneer in his later years. His last few years were spent with his son,Robert R. Reed, atChateaugay, N. Y.

He died in 1958. A daughter, Mrs. Margaret Dryden of Copenhagen, N. Y., survivedhim.

Harry Eckert was born in 1882 in a log cabin at West Shokan, N. Y. (Harry says, "AbeLincoln had nothing onhim.") Harry's parents had built a new home, but it was destroyed by a fire, so they returned to alog cabin on the placeshortly before Harry was born. Harry came to Margaretville with the building of the Delaware andNorthern Railroad in1905. He was at first oil boy on the railroad but later became assistant to J. J. Welch and servedon the railroad until1942. In 1942 he became connected with the Margaretville Hospital, first as bookkeeper and lateras treasurer andassistant superintendent of the hospital. He served for seventeen years until forced to resign withfailing eyesight.

He was twice Mayor of the village, served sixteen years on the village board, and served eightyears on the DelawareCounty Equalization Commission (this work is now done by the State). He was Treasurer ofSchool Federal P.W.A.during construction of Margaretville Central School and at the same time treasurer of the HighSchool. Harry was amusician. He served as organist at the Masonic Lodge for nine years. In the village band he playedbaritone, in theorchestra, trap drum, and he was also a violin player.

Harry was twice married. His first wife was Grace Barringer of Shokan. His second wife,Florence Kelly of thisvillage.

Clarke A. Sanford came to Margaretville from nearby Dunraven where his parents operated alarge farm andboardinghouse. The farm buildings were destroyed with the construction of the PepactonReservoir. Clarke in early lifetaught a country school. By the generosity of one of the city boarders, he was sent to OneontaNormal School for a year.After graduation, he got a job reporting for the Oneonta Star. He liked newspaper work.

Mr. Eels, who at that time was publishing the Margaretville Messenger in the village, diedsuddenly. Clarke camehome and bought the newspaper business from Mrs. Eels. He changed the name of the paper tothe Catskill MountainNews, and today, at the age of eighty-one years, is still publishing the paper.

Clarke had many other interests and offices in the village among which were theSanford-Jenkins Garage, and theGalli Curci Theatre. He was once President of the village, Chief of the Fire Department, Presidentof the MargaretvilleFair, member of the Board of Education, Master of Masonic Lodge, and bank director.

Clarke is the writer of "Mountain Dew" in the local paper, which is enjoyed by many. The"Mountain Dew"probably holds the secret of Clarke's long and active life, his philosophy of living.

Clarke was married in May, 1913, to Bertha Moss from Elmira who came to the village toteach in the High School.Mrs. Sanford passed away February 14th, 1951.

Samuel A. Dugan was born at South Kortright. He attended high school at East Worcesterand took agriculturalwork at Cornell. For one year he was superintendent of the Co-operative Creamery at SouthKortright, then known asthe Almeda Creamery. He was also superintendent of the Sheffield Farms Creamery at SouthKortright for several years.He came to Margaretville in 1913 and bought the feed-and-coal business of Brown and Marks inwhich he continues tohave an interest. Mr. Dugan's first entry into political life was on the town committee of the townof Stamford. For fouryears he was Justice of the Peace in Margaretville and has served on the Board of Education andfor twenty years aschairman of the Red Cross. In earlier years he belonged to the Izaak Walton League,Margaretville Rod and Gun Club,Halcott Fish and Game Club, and Bataviakill Rod and Gun Club.

He has been elder in the Margaretville Presbyterian Church for over thirty years and was sentby Otsego Presbyteryas a delegate to the General Assembly at Columbus, Ohio, about twenty years ago. He was madeRuling Elder of thePresbyterian Church in 1918. He is a member of Margaretville Masonic Lodge, also a member ofCypress Temple ofAlbany, N. Y. He has always been active in community affairs and is regarded as one of the outstanding citizens of thecommunity. He was Supervisor of the town of Middletown, serving two different terms.

He was twice married, first to Mary Gemmes of South Kortright, and one daughter, Evelyn(now Mrs. Paul Taber),was born to them. Mrs. Dugan died in May 1935.

The second marriage was in 1938 to Grace Ross, of Lowville, N. Y., who was musicinstructor in the localschool.

Mr. Dugan is one of our oldest residents, now eighty-one years of age and still active.

The late John Francis Murphy, who had a home and studio in the Pakatakan Colony atArkville, was at first alandscape gardener. He later exhibited his paintings in the Metropolitan Museum and galleriesthroughout the UnitedStates. He was a self-taught artist. He first exhibited in New York in 1875. Throughout the yearshe received severalhigh awards. He died in February 1921.

The first of the Smith family, ancestors of the late Olney Smith, emigrated from England andsettled on Long Islandbelieved to be at Hempstead. They settled on the "Duke of York's Land," so their coming wassometime between 1664and 1685. Abel Smith was one of the first Smiths to come to Long Island. During the Revolution,the children of AbelSmith, Jr., left Long Island when the British invaded it and went to Dutchess County, N. Y.

Abel's son Maurice Smith settled in or near Fiskill. In the course of time Maurice's sons,Jackson, Elkanah, andSamuel, struck out into new country, induced by the rich hemlock forests in Delaware County, atthat time indispensablefor tanning leather, they came to this section between 1800 and 1804. They prospered so well thatin a few years theywere joined by their parents and younger brothers and sisters.

A sister, Jemima Smith Sands, and her husband settled in Delaware County shortly after theRevolution. Abram J.Schultz and Morgan L. Smith, of the Maurice Smith, Jr., branch, also went to Delaware County.Mr. Schultz is said tohave had the first tannery in Middletown.

In course of time the Smiths and Schultzes owned large farms, tanneries, and sawmills, andwere among the pioneerdevelopers of Delaware County. Gradually, however, all the brothers and sisters (sons anddaughters of Maurice Smith,Sr., by the second wife) left Delaware County until only Samuel Smith remained. Then graduallyall of Samuel's childrenexcept Maurice left Delaware County leaving Maurice's son, Olney Smith, and his children theonly representatives ofthe name and family living in the county.

Olney Smith was born in 1856 on the father's homestead at Clark's Factory, later to be knownas Dunraven. He livedall his life on the homestead and used the same sawmill that his father used. The mill was justacross the road from thehome. It was operated by waterpower from a dam built above the mill. Olney worked in the milluntil a few years beforehis death. The large homestead became known as "Gledsmere Lodge" and has always been a verypopular boarding-house for summer guests. It is still operated as such.

Olney was married November 23, 1881, to Margaret Burgher of Shokan, Ulster County.Twelve children were bornto them in this order: Howard, Irving, Maurice, Florence, Elizabeth, Dorothy, Samuel, Harold,Morgan, Lloyd, Edmund,and Selwyn. All but two of the children are living. Those two died young, the oldest one at ageseventeen was drownedin the Delaware River.

Olney's occupations besides the dairy farm were boardinghouse business and sawmilloperator. He was also abuilder. A small colony of houses this side of Arkville, owned by him, is known as Smithville. Hewas also one of theearly postmasters at "Clark's Factory," later called Dunraven.

Olney was twice married. His second wife was Miss Ella McGibbon.

Olney passed away in October, 1952, at age ninety-six. He had been very active most of hislife. Olney drove aModel-T Ford for many years. He and his Model-T were a familiar sight on the highways.

Maurice Smith, father of Olney, was born in 1821. In 1850 he was married to Phebe Sanfordof Middletown,daughter of Ziba Sanford and Hannah Roberts Sanford. He bought the large farm and timberlandfrom the Livingstonswhich contained 1000 acres of wilderness. Maurice eventually operated the sawmill on thehomestead. He was also aninventor, having invented a buzz-saw and a large kind of milk-pan, and numerous otherarticles.

The first tannery in Middletown - was built before 1811 by Abram I. Schultz. A secondtannery was built andoperated for years by Abram Schultz and Morgan L. Smith. A grist-mill and saw-mill were built atClark's Factory thefirst years of the 18th century but were destroyed before 1834. The grist-mill was rebuilt bySamuel and Elkanah Smith.This was burned in 1848, and Dr. Adam Clark built his tannery on the same site.

The McLean saw-mill below the Sand's farm was formerly the site of a sole-leather tannerybuilt about 1840 bySamuel Smith.

Samuel Smith was married in 1810 to Rachel Yaple, daughter of Philip Yaple and NellieDuMond Yaple of NewKingston, one of the pioneer settlers. They settled on a large farm between Clark's Factory andMargaretville, now theGeorge McMurray farm.

Samuel, with his eldest son, operated a large tannery under the name of "Samuel Smith &Son." He always had hisown saw-mill. Samuel was twice married, the second time to his wife's youngest sister. Altogetherhe fathered sixteenchildren.

The late J. Stanley Bussy, born at Perch Lake March 16, 1892, came to this village at the ageof one year. Afterfinishing school, he served as mail clerk in the big new York City terminal. With the declaration ofWorld War I, heenlisted in the "Lightning" Infantry Division of the U. S. Army and fought through France duringthe war. Returningfrom service, he worked with his father in the L. Bussy & Co. Store also serving as postmaster ofthe village for a four-year term.

He was married on August 7, 1921, to Ethel Harrington, a registered nurse and a graduate ofthe MethodistHospital in Brooklyn, N. Y. He later entered the mercantile business with his father, LafayetteBussy, and later ownedthe business. In 1949 the store was expanded into a Supermarket, Incorporated, and two partnerstaken into the firm,Kenneth Miller and Fred McCumber. Stanley was a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, PastCommander of theAmerican Legion Post, served as Mayor of the village, was one time Chief of the FireDepartment, was always interestedin politics, was a member of the Democratic Club, the Rod and Gun Club, the Lions Club when itwas first organized,and also of the bowling organization. He was an ardent fisherman. He was always interested inbaseball and tried neverto miss the Cub Scouts Team when it played on the school ball field in later years.

A trophy in his memory was given by his three sisters, Lillian (Mrs. Norris Bull), Gertrude(Mrs. Gordon Jansen),and Alice (Mrs. Jerome Kohn). It is presented each year at the end of the season to the winningteam. Stanley passedaway on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1955.

Bussy Hollow is in Pleasant Valley which lies between Andes and the former Shavertown.The Bussys that firstsettled there, and for whom the place was named, were ancestors of the Bussys of Margaretville,formerly Arena,Downsville, and Livingston Manor. The first of the clan to start for America was John ClaudiusLe Droit Bussy. He wasof French nobility and extremely wealthy. On the way, he stopped at one of the West Indies wherea son, Lewis, wasborn to his wife. The latter died during the child's birth, so a nurse was procured for the infant.Later, father and soncame to South Carolina and a bill of sale recorded there on February 8, 1780, shows that Le DroitBussy sold a Negrogirl named Rose to one John Hart for the sum of 12,000 pounds. That would be the purchasingequivalent of somethinglike $150,000 today. Such transactions brought fantastic sums from wealthy men. Even GeorgeWashington was notabove such dealings.

Le Droit soon made a name for himself in America. He served as a major in the Revolutionand was also chancellorin New York City for some time. Later, Lewis, the son, rode horseback to Trenton, N. J., and in1816 found his way toBussy Hollow which was named after him. He was what is now called Superintendent of Schoolsin this area.

The old Bussy homestead was built in 1836; it had a fireplace mantel in the house that wascarved by Lewis himselfwith a jackknife.

The name has various spellings:--Busse, Bussey, and Bussy. In this village "Bussy" is used. InFrench the name iswritten, "De Bussy."

CHAPTER 61

The large hotel and boarding-house called "Grand Hotel" at Highmount, N. Y., was erectedin 1872 by the Ulsterand Delaware Railroad Company. It remained in their ownership for a number of years, beingoperated by variousmanagers. The Grand Hotel, with its distinctive style of architecture, was the first large hotel to bebuilt in DelawareCounty solely for the entertainment of summer guests. It marked the beginning of the era whenthis section of theCatskills first became a resort area. The building arches along a natural terrace on the face ofMonka Hill astride the lineof Ulster and Delaware Counties. It is mostly in Delaware County. Only the kitchen wing is inUlster County.

The Galli-Curci home was built on Todd Mountain in 1922. It is not far from the Bellayre SkiCenter. Amelia Galli-Curci made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera of New York Cityaround 1922. The Galli-Curci Theatre inMargaretville was named in her honor. She attended and sang at the opening night of thetheatre.

CHAPTER 62

The founding of the Boy Scouts of America was fifty years ago, they are celebrating nowtheir Golden Anniversary.Today 5,000,000 men and boys participate in its activities in the United States. The founder of themovement was Lt.Gen. Sir Robert S. S. Baden-Powell. Baden-Powell set up an experimental camp for scouttraining for boys, and in 1908the movement was put on a national basis in Britain. The idea caught on rapidly in the UnitedStates. The organization isnon-military, but the Boy Scouts performed real service to the nation in both world wars; incooperation with the RedCross and other war work agencies in salvaging waste, and in distributing posters and rationbooks. The organizationrecognizes no racial, religious, political, or class distinctions.

The first Boy Scout group to be organized in our village was in 1926 under the leadership ofRussell Todd asScoutmaster and Layman Faulkner as assistant Scoutmaster. This was Troop No. 80. Troop No.40 was organized in1934. Boys can join the Boy Scouts at the age of eleven years, and be in the advanced troops untilage of sixteen. As aScout, a youngster suddenly becomes more self-reliant. He can tie a square knot, administer firstaid, wig-wag amessage, and save a drowning person. He has ideals to live up to. He must be trustworthy, loyal,helpful, friendly,courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, and explorer advisers since the Scouts were organizedto the present timehave been: Russell Todd, Layman Faulkner, Charles Muller, Harris Barber, Walter Merritt, RalphArchibald, Rev. G. D.Pierce, Arthur Kittle, Waldron Dumond, Dr. William Kavanaugh, Vernon Seeley, Warner Teed,Rev. Alfred Coons, H.E. Goodrich, Dr. Gilbert M. Palen, Rev. Charles Theal, Byron Burgin, Chancey Polley, JamesSanford, Kenneth Miller,Le Roy Monroe, Glenn Gavett, Irwin Emerich, Garland Gladstone, Dr. C. R. Huggins, Al Weiss,Arthur Smith, DavidWhite, Robert Sperling, A. Trowbridge, Richard Baker, Robert Hill, Alex Kapitko, JamesFreeland and RobertHubbell.

The Boy Scouts of the village belong to the Shehawken District Boy Scouts of America, andall Delaware CountyBoy Scouts are under the jurisdiction of the Otschodela Council.

There is an active Girl Scout and Brownie Group in our village. The year 1948 seems to bethe first records kept oftheir meetings.

The following are the girls in Troup I Intermediates:

Linda Kelly                   Clare Van BenschotenKam Mattino                   Willa HanleyPatricia Craft                Linda LawrenceJune Faulkner                 Nancy BaileyBarbara Tuttle                Paulette DunhamKathy Platt                   Sally HugginsDiana Holden                  Linda ConstableCathy Duboveck                Sandra LunnAndrea Finkle                 Ann SanfordJoan Sanford                  Christine ConklinJo Anne Griffin               Linda HallJean McMurray                 Kathleen ScudderMareia Tuttle                 Alice RobinsonJean Scudder                  Jo Ann Miller

Susan Van Benschten Troup II, Older Intermediates, are:

Mary Taber                    Carol Tubbs Cathy Marks                   Linda TubbsJo Ann Williams               Jean HoldridgeDiana Oliver                  Linda ConineSally Scudder                 Andrea Fenton Barbara Roucek                Karen Tweedie

Troup III, Senior Scouts, are:

Phyllis Boxer                 Martha Sperling Sally Hoy                     Patsy HoyLinda McCumber

Troop Members in the Brownie Group, are:

Sandra Robinson               Joan Heley Sandra Gladstone              Gail HullDiane Blish                   Patricia Gowran Maryanne Van Benschoten       Michele Kelly Carol Scott                   Jean StahlVickie Marks                  Barbara Blish Jane Jenkins                  Kay Russell Janice Kelly                  Carol WashburnJan Veit                      Marjorie MonroeNancy Kapitko                 Ivy Boxer Carol Sanford                 Marietta WoolheaterAnne Sanford

CHAPTER 63

The most disastrous fires in the village occurred in December 1903 at 6 a.m., the "AckerlyHouse" fire. ReedDelamater's Barber Shop was in the basement of the Ackerly House at that time. Only a narrowpassageway wasbetween the Ackerly House and Halpern's Store, leading to the Ackerly House barn. All businessplaces on Main Streetwere in danger of being destroyed. Mr. and Mrs. Tom B. Hill were at that time operators of thehotel. Fortunately onlytwo upper stories of the hotel were destroyed by the fire.

With the burning of "Riverside" Hotel on lower Main Street in 1908 some nearby homes werein danger but nonedestroyed. The "Riverside" was burned to the ground.

The second most disastrous fire in the business section was the burning of the LockwoodStore on Main Street inDecember 1915. The Lockwood residence was also connected with the store.

There was an estimate of $5,000 loss of the store and dwelling.

The origin of the fire was in the basement. The Bell Telephone switchboard was on the mainfloor in a room at theback of the store. This was put out of business by the flood of water used. When repairs weremade, the telephoneservice was moved to rooms over the N. D. Olmstead & Co. store (now the Weeks hardwarestore).

A most disastrous fire occurred in 1929 on Christmas Eve with the burning of the large hotel,the Pocantico Inn, inthe center of the business section. At that time a wing of the Inn was being used as a hospital. Theentire building wasdestroyed beyond repair.

The next serious fire occurred in 1951 in the L. Bussy & Co. Supermarket on Main Street. Itwas mainly confined tothe cellar; $17,000 damage was done to the store and contents. A fire sale was held a week ortwo after and it drewwhat was probably the largest crowd ever assembled at a sale in this section; 1,808 separate saleswere rung up on thecash register with the sale.

The large boarding-house, "Briar Cliff Lodge," located on the hill side above the village, wasdestroyed by fire in1927. It was not in season for boarders. The late Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Boyes and family wereliving there at the time ofthe fire.

CHAPTER 64

Our climate, with four complete changes of seasons, is one of the best. Spring is sometimes ofshort duration, OldMan Winter dreading to leave. But it is a beautiful season. The time of new life is at hand. Theancient promise has neverfailed. Fresh green and bright flowers spread beauty on the countryside. Dawns are moist andmisty and patches of grayfog hover along river valleys and float above tree-circled woodland ponds and lakes. Springbrings the beginning of thefishing season. Three species of trout exist in the local stream --speckled, brown, and rainbow.Summers sometimes seea spell of real hot weather, but usually compensated for with the cool nights here in themountains. June is the favoritemonth of many for its beauty with warm gentle reins and sunlit days. Buttercups, daisies, anddevil's paintbrush paint apicture along the roadsides and in the meadows ferns grow lush along the streams and in shadedareas. Our Fall season isusually perfect with Indian Summer and good weather lasting longer into the Winter months thanin years past, it seems.The Fall foliage, when at its height, is one sight never to be forgotten. Fall season brings huntingof birds, rabbits,squirrels, coons, fox, deer, bear and some bobcats. In the mountain section protected by the StateForests Preserve, thewild animals still roam the wooded slopes as in early days. In 1960 Delaware County rankedsecond in the State in thenumber of buck deer killed; 1,950 were killed. Also fifty-one black bear killed in the same year.Our Winters, withoccasional heavier than usual snowfalls and a few below-zero nights, are livable with themodern-day conveniences, suchas well heated homes, the warm and less bulky clothing worn today, heated automobiles to travelin, and roads kept ingood condition with removal of snow.

For village folks, going to Florida for the Winter is a fad that grew with the years and moremoney to spend, moreleisure time, and the span of life extended with present-day medicine and care. In early days, acamp for people wholived in the country was unheard of. Later, camps became very popular as a place for a summervacation for the family,for the man of the house to use in fishing and hunting season, and also as a place to try out hisculinary skills.

CHAPTER 65

While history of our village is being written, more history is in the making: The George Harrisstore has been sold toSchaffer Bros. of Albany in April 1960. The new name of the store will be "MargaretvilleDepartment Store, Inc." Theformer Mrs. Leo Korn shop on the upper Main Street block has opened as "Bernie's Dress Shop"operated by Mrs.

Freeland who lives in the late Dr. Holcomb house on Orchard - Street. The Freelands came tothe village in 1958and Mr. Freeland and a partner, Mr. Erickson, operate the "Die" manufacturing plant in theformer Nazarene Churchbuilding on upper Main Street.

Dr. Insler, one of our dentists, left the village in January 1960 to establish a practice inFlorida. His office on MainStreet is now occupied by Dr. George Levy, another dentist. who came soon after Dr. Inslerleft.

With the passing of the railroads and nearby freight stations, Douglas Kelly & Son's store hasthis spring (1960)become a local agency for the Railroad Express in this area.

Kelly's hotel on Main Street, which has been operated for a number of years by Claude Kelly,has been purchased byIvan "Stub" Delameter, who began operation of the hotel June 1, 1960.

In July 1, 1960, in the upper Main Street block, two doors from Snyder Supply Store,Norman's Photo Shopopened.

It is amazing to note the changes and progress that have been made in the past century, oreven noted by a personwho has lived to the age of eighty. It is unbelievable to think that as many changes could come inanother century, butthere will be many. Who knows! In this Atomic Age there may be a possible trip to themoon.

The Sunday Times of March 27, 1960, tells of the amphibious car that will be on display forthe first time this year atthe International Automobile Show in April in New York City. In the amphibious automobile youcan drive off the roadinto a lake or stream and then use it like a power-boat. It is called an "Amphicar," a product ofWest Germany. The carhas twin propellers in the rear, a four-cylinder motor, and is steered in the water by the frontwheels. It's a convertible,designed as a family and sports car.

Travel this year will have a cosmopolitan flavor. President Eisenhower is proclaiming "VisitU. S. A. Year", and isinviting persons from all over the world to come here in the hope that their visits would promoteinternationalunderstanding and world peace. He also suggested that Americans themselves tour the U. S. torekindle their pride andunderstanding in the Nation.

We hope our area in the beautiful Catskills will come in for its share of the visitors, and thatnatives living here, ifthey have not already done so this year, will visit some of the places mentioned within a radius ofseventy-five miles ofour village, and find pleasure in doing so.

Past doings in Margaretville would not be complete without a mention of the late NealieAckerly, "Ake" as he wascalled. He was the village cut-up for most of his eighty-one years, always ready with a good storyor to play a joke onanyone, the ring leader in many activities of fun in the village.

The skimelton following the return from the honeymoon of a village couple or an elaboratelyprepared send-off,seems to be losing favor with the younger generation. It took "Ake" and the other fellows of hisday to put on a galaperformance. "Ake" was associated with the Bussy store and its predecessors for over sixty years,beginning at agefourteen. The first delivery from Bussy's store was done by "Ake" wheeling groceries about thevillage in awheelbarrow.

Cornelius J. Ackerly was married in 1900 to Marilla Gavette of Arena. Mrs. Ackerly died onThanksgiving Day,November 24, 1955, at age of seventy-six years. "Ake" passed away on March 17, 1953, at age ofeighty-oneyears.

Our oldest residents in the village in 1960 are: Mrs. Elizabeth Rotermund, 91 years; Mrs. IdaHunter, 88; Mrs.Jennie McCumber, 89; Miss Jane Ackerly, around 86; Mr. Nelson Roberts, 86; Mrs. AnnaFairbairn, 84; Mrs. AliceSanford, 86; Mrs. Albert Freer, 83; Miss Carrie Osborne, 83; Mrs. Caroline Stevens, 82; Mr. SamDugan, 81; Mrs. J. J.Welch, 82; Mr. Clarke A. Sanford, 82; Mr. Fred Swart, 81; Mrs. Belle Gladstone, 80; Mrs. ViolaGavett, 80; Mr. HarryEckert, 78; Mrs. Elizabeth Ives, 78; and others nearing the 80-year mark. There must be somefascination about our littlevillage, for as yet I have never known a person who has either lived or visited here who does notlike to return. Perhapsit is partly due to the friendly people who live here.