May 30, 1921 Dedication of the Civil War Monument

Interlaken Review, June 8, 1921, “Memorial Day was duly observed at Interlaken on Monday last, and in an impressive manner.”

The article describes the parade from the Baptist church to the cemetery, including three Civil War veterans who were members of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Miller Silver Band, veterans of the “World War, school children and citizens in autos and carriages.”

The highlight of the day was the unveiling of the Soldiers monument. This monument was specified in the will of Madison Covert who died June 3, 1920. After the unveiling, Lyman B. Welton, Adjunct of the William E. Avery Post, G.A.R. made a brief address.

World War I Veterans, Walter Boyer Jr, John Kellogg and Lyle VanArsdale ready to unveil the monument.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #737.

Discussions on the type of monument and which monument dealer would create the stone was the topic of several meetings within the cemetery board. It is one of the few times that the board meeting minutes would reflect conflicting views.

The committee assigned to the task made their report, and a dealer was selected. Within days, a second meeting was held and a different dealer was selected.

A brief article in the December 24, 1920 Interlaken Review noted, “Mr. Hoare of Ithaca placed the Soldier’s Monument donated to Lake View cemetery by the late Madison Covert, in position on Monday last.”

The Civil War Monument, Spring 2017.
Author's collection.

Fast forward 90 years. Richard Bauer, a veteran of Viet Nam, had long held a dream of another monument to the soldiers of the community. On May 30, 2011, following the Memorial Day honors service at Lake View Cemetery members of the community traveled to the Town Hall on South Main Street and dedicated the new memorial. Community members and organizations had helped to fund this effort through the purchase of bricks.

The memorial includes a statue, benches and flags for each branch of service. The center piece marker reads “…”

The Monument in front of the Covert Municipal Building.
Author's collection

May 8, 2016 Members of the Town of Covert Board and others raising the Military Branch Flags.
Author's collection.

Dewitt’s Diary Sunday, May 30, 1954

We worked around the house most of the morning.

Leland broke the Sabbath by finishing the plowing for corn. Some corn planted but I will plant mine later in the week. Temperature 75 today.

Lem and I got five lake trout tonight. Got home at 1:30. This is the first time the trout have showed any sign of biting.