January 10, 1925 Hinman Memorial Library Building

       The January 10, 1925, Village board meeting minutes are quite brief, but the items recorded there are still a vital part of our community today. Three bills were approved for payment: Seth Hubbard $64.00, Interlaken Sales Co $23.30 and Louis S. Hinman $1.00. The resignation of a village trustee was accepted with regrets. Following that, “A motion was made and supported that the gift of the Hinman Library be accepted by the Village of Interlaken and that a copy of the deed be incorporated in the Village Clerk’s record. Carried.”

       The December 23, 1924, deed recording the transfer of the former Hinman family home to the Village of Interlaken was accepted and recorded in the January 10^th meeting minutes. It was also noted in a brief paragraph in the Interlaken Review on Friday January 16, 1925, “The village trustees have received the deed for the Hinman property, which will become the home of the Free Library when alterations planned by the donor are completed.”

       Since shortly after that January 1925 meeting, the Hinman Memorial Library has been a gathering place for many people and many events. In keeping with the provision of the deed, the front of the building has been maintained as it was restored by Louis S. Hinman.

       Originally build by Lockwood Hinman it 1826, it was home to Lockwood, his wife Elizabeth Mundy, and their family until 1902 when Mrs. Hinman died. The home was purchased by William Porter, and made into apartments, with a large two story entrance porch and balcony.

Interlaken Historical Society Photo Postcard #519

       As noted in the Interlaken Review article and the deed, Louis Hinman made alterations to restore the front to its 1872 façade, that being the year Lockwood Hinman died. While he removed the porch and balcony, the library board made necessary improvements to the interior.

       The story of the Hinman Memorial Library begins in 1901 when several local citizens formed the “Farmer Free Library.” Familiar names are listed among the first elected board: Rev E. B. VanArsdale, President; L. N. Rappleye, Vice-President; Georgianna Wheeler, Secretary; Ira C. Hall, Treasurer; and Dr. Alfred Slocum.

Dr. Alfred Slocum and Delos T. Bennett in front of the Bennett Drug store.
 Interlaken Historical Society photo #46

       The first library opened on July 22, 1902, with the books in the waiting room at Dr. Slocum’s office on Main Street. Dr. Slocum's office was in the Bennett Drug Store building. In 1904 Dr. Slocum and the library moved above A.V. Minor's store at the corner of Main and Mechanic Street. The trustees had to rent space after Dr. Slocum left the village. Louis Hinman’s gift gave the citizens of Interlaken a welcome permanent home for the library.

       Since the original updates done in 1925 there have been other changes, modernizations and additions made to the building, each keeping true to the stipulations set forth in the deed.

       As this Town of Covert Bicentennial year begins, a recent addition has been made to the building. A new porch, in the tradition of the original, was added late last year.

   

December 2016, the new porch at the library.
Photo by the author. 

Sources: Patterson, 1976 Between the Lakes…page 190-191. Village of Interlaken Minutes January 10, 1925. Interlaken Review snip January 16, 1925 and copy of the deed in the collection of the Interlaken Historical Society.

Dewitt's Diary: Friday, January 10, 1975 Temperature 31, stars out bright. Clear at 5:30 this morning. Clouding up by 9 o'clock. Worked in the woods this morning. Cut small tree up. Up to about 45.
Le put some antifreeze in tractor. He drove to town, got the groceries. 
I trimmed a couple apple trees.