FROM THE FILES OF THE HURLEYVILLE SENTINEL
Compiled by Sullivan County Historian John Conway
May 5, 1909
Fire at Monticello
The most destructive to visit Monticello in years occurred on Wednesday night when the large lumber mill and stock buildings of Frank L. Ernhout were entirely consumed by fire. The fire started in the second story of the large main building at 6:20 and within is few minutes after its discovery the entire building was enveloped in flames, which quickly spread to an adjoining building which was stored valuable timer, and this was also consumed. Both buildings were full of valuable and invaluable woods such as pine, spruce and hemlock, much of the stock was made ready for use. It is estimated that the loss is between $18,000 and $20,000, the most of which was in stock. Luckily a carload of fine stock was standing on the switch and had not been unloaded. The office furniture and quite an amount of stock was carried from the burning building.
The origin of the fire is unknown. It started but a few minutes after Mr. Ernhout and his assistants left the building for their homes.
The fire companies made a quick response to the first alarm, but the water proved poor and for a time only the Neptune Hose Company had a stream on the fire.
Many of the private residents on Clinton Avenue had narrow escapes and were only saved from destruction by continual vigilance and labor of bucket brigades.
Nearly the entire population of Monticello was out and the street and vacant lots near the fire were filled with people.
The firemen stuck to their posts and did all that was possible to do when the fire was at its height and the heat was so intense that people were driven from the sidewalk.
May 6, 1933
County Seat Crowd Starts Riot When Red Speaker Uses U.S. Flag for Handkerchief
Throng Shouting for Lynching Pursues Offender
Isadore Katzowitz, a Woodridge grocer who came to Monticello Monday night to be one of the speakers at a May day mass meeting in front of Village Hall, caused turmoil on Broadway by rather ostentatious use of the American flag as a handkerchief. Katzowitz was a target for a shower of eggs. He used the flag to wipe the results from his face and an assemblage which previously had been good-naturedly heckling the group of radical speakers at once gave way to wrath. The speakers’ stand collapsed. Katzowitz fled amid cries of “Lynch him!”
Hurleyville Teachers Sign Contracts for Next Year
At the regular meeting of the Board of Education April 24, the question of hiring teachers for next year at Hurleyville was presented for consideration, and contracts were awarded. In awarding contacts, the Board set up a minimum salary below which no cuts were made and above which reductions of one hundred dollars per teacher become effective. This cut with other reductions will result in a total saving to the school district of nearly $900.00 in salaries next year. This saving was made necessary by reductions in state aid to public schools during the current year.
Fireman’s Dance a Wow!!!
The dance given by the Hurleyville and Loch Sheldrake firemen last Wednesday night at the Morningside Casino proved to be one of the largest affairs of the season. Music by the Honesdale Bachelors orchestra was ll that could be desired.
Moe Kove, in his usual breezy manner, was master of ceremonies. The street singer has nothing on our singing garage man Irving Cohen, who entertained the crowd with a number of songs. “Stretch Rubin displayed unusual talent in the rendition of “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues.” The silver loving cup, offered to the fire company best represented at the dance was awarded to Chief Ed Glickman and his firemen of South Fallsburg. Judge Fox, of Monticello was awarded the lucky number prize.
May 27, 1933
Waxey Gordon, Racketeer and Bootlegger, Captured at White Lake by State Troopers
White Lake, Sullivan County, again comes into the spotlight with the capture of the notorious “Waxey Gordon,” racketeer rated by Uncle Sam as Public Enemy No. 1. Federal agents have been searching the county for him since April 27, and he felt much chagrined, as he expressed it, “to be taken by a couple of hick cops.” He will probably have a better opinion of Sergeant Thomas Mangan and Sergeant Jack Hopkins of the State Police in the future. Gordon was held on $100,000 bail in New York City for appearance June 5.