January 22, 1975 Historical Society Newsletter Volume 1, Number 1

Interlaken Historical Society newsletter, Volume 1, Number 1, postmarked at Interlaken on January 22, 1975. Pat Patterson, with the help of others, especially Betty Ferrand, produced that first newsletter after attending a Regional Historians workshop.

At that time the membership was 31 members. A number of other people, societies, and libraries also received copies.

The front page included articles entitled “First Newsletter,” “A Mini History,” “Recent Acquisitions,” and “The President’s Report from 1974.” The newsletter was created with mimeograph stencils and the copies run at the Interlaken Reformed Church.

Over the years the style of the newsletter has changed as well as production methods. The letter sized mimeographed pages gave way to letter-sized printed pages created on the computer and then to the legal-sized booklet style now produced.

What has not changed, is the content of the Newsletter. There is still a president’s report, information on upcoming meetings and events, news from the Library, recent acquisitions, new members and historical features.

It is interesting, in reflecting on the newsletters, that Pat Patterson was editor for the first issue, and the most recent issue (October 2016 Volume 42, Number 2) features an article by Pat’s daughter Muriel Huttenbach on his many contributions to the Historical Society, the Library, the schools and the Community.

Several people have kept all of their copies of the newsletter, and the Interlaken Historical Society has a complete collection on file for people who want to do some research.

In 1994 Mr. Patterson suggested that the first 20 years be indexed and bound. Two volumes were created of ten years each with the index and are in the Hinman Library research room.

Click here to see the first page of Volume 1, Number 1.

Dewitt’s Diary: Wednesday, January 22, 1975

Temperature 31 cloudy and north wind.

We worked at big elm up by the spring. Cut limb off from old walnut tree below the spring. The old tree shows few bad limbs but is quite hollow but seems that is changed little since I was young.

It stands by the creek on west side of field above the orchard. Had plenty of nuts on it last fall. Many walnut trees on south side of creek now below the spring, many in old peach orchard, 6” to a foot in diameter.

Some snow fell but little amount. No sun, temperature 10 tonight.