An
article in the Interlaken Review,
August 20, 1909 announced a major change coming to Main Street. “The W. E.
Peterson house on Main street has been sold to O.G. and D. C. Wheeler,
possession to be given April 1st, 1910. We understand they offer the
building for sale, as it will be either removed or torn down to make place for
a fire proof brick building to be used for their banking business.”
In
1873, the brothers had built and occupied the wooden structure to the south (or
left) of the current library. They were feeling the need for more room.
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| Memorial Day Parade 1909. The members of the GAR post are in front of the Peterson home. Interlaken Historical Society photo collection # |
A
few weeks later two other reports were printed. On April 27th the Ovid Gazette noted, “G. L. Winne has the
cellar for his house on Seneca street nearly finished and will soon commence
moving the Peterson house to cover it.” The May 20, 1910 Interlaken Review noted, “G. L. Winne has the Peterson house
already on its new walls on Seneca Street.”
Once
the site was cleared, notices about the construction began appearing. July 29,
1910, “O.G. & D.C. Wheeler have received the plans for their new bank
building, and work on same will soon be started…They expect to occupy it before
winter sets in.” August 10, 1910, “The contract for the new bank building…has
been let to Ithaca parties and work is to commence immediately.” They were
still hopeful for a 1910 opening, “The Ithaca Construction Co. have begun work
on the new bank building…contract calls for its completion by December 1.” [Interlaken Review September 16, 1910]
As
1910 moved into 1911, progress was being made. April 7, 1911, “The interior of
O.G. & D.C. Wheeler’s new bank building is nearly finished and will soon be
ready to occupy. The exterior work cannot be finished until danger of freezing
is past.”
May
19, 1911, the big move is about to happen, without the marble wainscoating.
“The first lot was grained the wrong way as so was returned. Another lot was
received last week and when workmen came to set it they found the slabs has
been broken in the transit. The opening will take place just the same on Monday
next, the wainscoating being finished later.”
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| O.G. and D. C. Wheeler Bank, 1911 Note the space to the left of the bank, the Interlaken Review Office is visible. Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #42 |
“In
New Bank Building” so reads the headline of the article on May 26, 1911. “O.G.
& D.C. Wheeler moved into their new bank building last Saturday afternoon,
and opened there for business Monday morning, May 22. It was 38 years ago, next
August, that they opened for business in the building they have vacated, just
across the street from the new building.”
“Practically
fire-proof, of concrete and brick, two stories and basement, heated by steam,
lighted by electricity, and equipped with every convenience for that line of
business…the vault is probably one of the strongest in the state, built of
concrete, reinforced with steel bars, and lined with steel, with large Mosher
safe within, time-locks throughout.”
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| O. G. and D. C. Wheeler Bank 1911. Front seat of the car, James Wheeler and Myron Bassette Back Seat O. G and D. C. Wheeler, the four men who most shaped the bank for a century. Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1411 |
Additions
and renovations would be made to the bank, but that last comment still holds
true. When you enter the Community Bank Interlaken Branch today you can see the
vault, the locks, and the solidness of a building now 116 years old.
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| May 26, 1911 Interlaken Review, copied from www.fultonhistory.com |
Dewitt’s
Diary, Saturday, May 22, 1926
A
heavy thunder shower today.
I
set out three cherry trees today north of the barn and one in the front yard.
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