10D
DELAWARE 150TH
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT www.scdemocratonline.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Town of Delaware had many famous faces
Here is a brief list of Town of Delaware residents who helped make history.
Grover Martin Hermann (1890-1979) – Raised in Callicoon, where both the hospital and community center bear his name. In 1913, at the age of 23, he used an investment of $5,000 to establish the American Asphalt Paint Company. Over Grover Hermann the years he expanded that small business into a large, diversified corporation dealing in paint, cement, metals, printers ink, processing machinery, stone, electrical equipment and many other products. His business, renamed American Marietta Corporation with an acquisition in the early 1930s, ultimately merged with The Martin Company in 1961 to form Martin Marietta Corporation. In 1995 the company would merge again to become Lockheed Martin. Grover’s father, Martin, owned Martin Hermann Lumber Co. in Callicoon, whose lumber mill helped drive the timber industry in the region. Grover also donated large sums to SUNY Sullivan and the college’s library is named in his honor.
Guernsey Cross stands behind then NYS Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom he served as press secretary.
Pauline M. and Charles P. Kautz – Charlie, known as C.P., and his brother John, started the Callicoon Coal Company. They built the coal silos to offload the coal from the railroad . C.P. was also President of the First National Bank of Callicoon. A former bookkeeper with the Great New York and Erie Railway Co. in Pauline M. Kautz the 1840s, C.P. invested wisely and even took his investments out of the stock market in the late 1920s, before the big crash. The Kautzes donated a substantial amount of money to the construction of the Grover Hermann Hospital, where Pauline’s portrait hangs ‘til this day. After C.P. and Pauline died, a large portion of their vast fortune was left to the Charles P. and Pauline M. Kautz Foundation, which each year distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to graduates of the former Delaware Valley School District to go to college, certainly a lasting legacy from one of Callicoon’s more endearing couples. Principal Charles E. Lewis, better known as ‘Prof. Lewis,’ was the head of the Callicoon School for nearly four decades. His reputation as a stern disciplinarian and taskmaster is legend among “the older generation” of students who attended the 1908 school on Academy Street, Callicoon. He lived above the Olympia Hotel in Callicoon for many years. Major Johannes Hardenbergh – The original land grant patent that included the bulk of Sullivan County (as well as Ulster and Delaware) was purchased by Hardenbergh in 1716 for 60 pounds. Many of today’s political boundaries are based on the patent, including the boundary between Ulster and Sullivan.
Dr. Frederick A. Cook – Born in Hortonville in 1865, Cook is the explorer credited with first reaching the North Pole on April 21, 1908. Back home, his family is said to have started the first electric company in Hortonville. His brother, Theodore, made the sledges in Hortonville that Frederick used to make the expedition to the North Pole. Dr. George R. Mills, native of Sullivan County, lately of the Binghamton City Hospital, arrived in Callicoon at the age of 34 in March, 1929 and purchased the supplies and office equipment of the late Dr. A. Mayer. Callicoon’s new physician is especially well qualified to take care of health officer’s work and general health welfare work since the Albany College is the only one in the state that prepares its graduates in that branch of medicine. Because of his excellent recommendations, he was encouraged by the Callicoon Chamber of Commerce to set up practice here. Dr. Mills built the original Callicoon Hospital in 1932 and was also instrumental, along with Dr. Edmund Rumble, with building the community pool in Callicoon, to help teach our young to swim, in response to several drownings of swimmers in the Delaware River. Dr. Mills’ son, Charles “Charlie” E. Mills, was also a community stalwart, serving on the Callicoon Fire Dept. for 60 years, serving as a trustee of Grover Hermann and Community General Hospital for many years, and volunteering his time with the Callicoon Kiwanis and many other local organizations. He still resides in Callicoon with his wife, Grace.
Audley Dorrer, for whom a street in Callicoon is named, was born June 11, 1907. Upon graduation from Callicoon High School he went into the plumbing and fuel Audley I. Dorrer oil business as co-owner of the Callicoon Coal Co. along with Charles Kautz. Audley was Superintendent of the Callicoon Water Co. for 50 years. Audley’s commitment to the community was legendary: a 65-year member of the Callicoon Fire Dept.
Howard Stewart and his wife Harriet purchased the Kelly Funeral Home from Harriet’s uncle, Ed Kelly. He expanded the funeral home from its Callicoon location to add Kohlertown and Roscoe and operated it for many years, taking in several partners in 1971. But moreover, Howard was a dedicated community leader, running an ambulance service for the community before Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps started in 1969. Stewart also served on the Grover Hermann Hospital Board of Directors as well as the Delaware Valley School Board. He was also a reserve member of the Callicoon Fire Dept., member of the Delaware Lodge #561 Free and Accepted Masons, charter member of the Kiwanis Club and strongly involved in fundraising for the Delaware
Community Center. His son, Craig A. Stewart, served as Supervisor of the Town of Delaware from 1980-1985.
Leota Deighton Hermann was a Callicoon icon who was involved in many organizations. The list includes State President of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, member of Callicoon United Methodist Church and 45-year organist, charter member of the Russell H. Kenyon Post No. 5808 Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, member of the Grover M. Hermann Ladies Auxiliary, life member of the NYS Parent Teachers Congress, past president and member of the DVCS PTA, member of the St. Tammany Chapter of Order of Eastern Star and member of the Town of Delaware Bicentennial Committee.
There are so, so many more names of people who had a lasting impact on the Town of Delaware. We thank them for their efforts and fortitude in making our communities the great places they are today.
Town of Delaware Congratulations on Your
150th Anniversary!
Congratulations to the
Harry M. Woods, who lived a number of years on River Road, Callicoon, achieved Hall of Fame stature as a songwriter, having provided the music for over 360 songs. His song, “A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet” is believed to have been inspired by Callicoon. Other famous tunes included, “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain,” “I’m Lookin Over a Four-Leaf Clover,” and “Side by Side.” John F. Anderson, a Civil War Capt. who served as a member of Co. E 143rd N.Y. Infantry, returned home to Callicoon Depot in the late 1880s, where he bought a house on the corner of Church St. (near the corner of the current blinking light.) Among his accomplishments were installing a sewer system along Church St., founding the Anderson Hook
(which he helped found), a 62-year member of the Delaware Lodge Free & Accepted Masons, and a charter member of the Callicoon Kiwanis Club. Audley passed away on March 4, 1991.
on their 150 th Anniversary!! From your friends at
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Joseph B. White – A graduate of Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon, White won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for beat report- Joseph B. White
Dr. Frederick A. Cook
& Ladder Co. No. 1 (a precursor to the Callicoon Vol. Fire Dept.), serving as Supervisor of the Town of Delaware from 1873-1875, founding the Sullivan County Democrat newspaper in June, 1891, and donating the bell which sits atop the historic Callicoon United Methodist Church on December 25, 1891. He is buried in the Callicoon Cemetery on Creamery Rd.
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The Curtis family dates back to the earliest founding of the Town of Delaware. Before the township was officially founded, William H. Curtis drew a map detailing where the then-unsettled community of Hortonville should be. William would later serve as supervisor from 1870-1872. James I. Curtis would serve as supervisor from 1891-1903. James C. Curtis was a state senator and a judge. And Charles T. Curtis was prominent in the Masons and was Master and a charter member of Delaware Lodge #561, F & AM. In later years, Valleau
Daniel Skinner – Although he lived just across the river from Callicoon in Pennsylvania, Skinner was the man responsible for lashing trees together and floating them down the Delaware River to sell in Philadelphia. The year was 1764 and was the start of a multi-million dollar timber industry which lasted for more than 125 years.
ing for his coverage of management turmoil at General Motors. During his college years, he wrote a music column for the Sullivan County Democrat. He has been a longtime staff member of the Wall Street Journal.
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Guernsey Cross – Born in 1899 in the Town of Neversink, Cross was a resident of Callicoon. In 1929, Sullivan County was singly honored by the appointment of Assemblyman Guernsey T. Cross of Callicoon to the important position of secretary and assistant to the new governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is one of the most important political appointments that has ever come to the county. The salary is $12,000 a year. Mr. Cross has been elected to the Assembly six times in the face of strong Republican opposition. Mr. Cross was also instrumental in the establishment of Route 97.
Curtis was a prominent business owner of Curtis Nurseries and also Chairman of the Board of United National Bank in Callicoon. His children, Edward, Robert and Mary, lived in Callicoon for many years and the boys were active in the family business while Mary became the Town of Delaware Historian (1977-2009) and worked for the National Park Service.
Stone Arch Bridge HISTORICAL PARK
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(845) 807-0287 · scparks@co.sullivan.ny.us http://sullivanny.us/Departments/ParksRecreation/StoneArchBridge
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The scenic three arched stone bridge was originally built in 1880 by Swiss immigrants Henry and Philip Hembt. It was restored in 1980-1981 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fishing, playground, picnic area, interpretive signs and restrooms Available for wedding ceremonies and wedding party photos by reservation