July 9, 1996 Old Fire House Torn Down

So far this year we have looked at buildings that were moved to new locations, and one that was torn down.

Today we record two more buildings that were torn down.

Some say that a picture is worth 10,000 words…this building withstood the fire of 1880 and served the community for many years. Tucked beside the Wheeler National Bank building it was torn down on June 8, 1960, the date recorded in pictures and in the local paper.

Bergen House on Main Street, built ca 1867.
Other owners: Phil VanDoren, Clarence miller and Charles Wiggins
The Wheeler Bank is on the left and the IGA grocery on the right.
Interlaken Historical Society photo #23. Taken in 1960

The same view taken June 2017, The bank and brick building remain in place. The parking lot is for bank customers during normal hours, and used by others after bank hours.
Author's personal collection.

The east side of Main Street, starting on the left, the Goodman Hotel,
Pritchard Dodge, Wheeler National Bank, the Bergen house building, . 
Interlaken Historical Society photo #103.

July 14, 1960, Interlaken Review, the caption tells the story. “This huge crane made short work of demolishing the building just south of Wheeler Bank last Friday. The heavy bucket use dropped into the building, crushing the material, and loading it aboard trucks…the owner, Mrs. Catherine Cokefair, states that no plans have been made to build on the site and that the demolition was solely for the purpose of improving the appearance of the community.”

Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #113.

Thirty-six years later, another old, well used, but now worn-out building was taken down. While helping clear out old files at the Village Hall I came across a page dated January 22, 1997. It outlined the dates and work done when the old fire house (now the Memorial Garden) was torn down in July 1996.

The Village board met on July 11th and street commissioner reported, “the old fire house has been demolished with not many problems.” Over the next 2 months the follow-up work would be completed.

June 2017 section of the Village Community Garden and the remaining brick wall
from when the old firehouse was torn down.
Author's personal photo collection.

The building was built following the February 1876 fire, and served as a retail location, last used by William Peterson. The Village bought the building in 1929, doing minor remodeling to create a fire house. In 1950 additional remodeling was done to provide two front bay doors and create a kitchen on the second floor.

The Fire Department moved into the new fire hall in 1983, the building was eventually sold and used for a short time as an outlet for a local farm produce stand.

The list of dates is all I’ve found in the records of the village and Interlaken Historical Society, although one place does note that pictures of the demo work were given to the Historical Society.

Dewitt Diary Tuesday, July 9, 1935

Railroad was out in 4 places near town. Ferris girl drown near Ithaca. 50 drowned in the state. Our creek washed six feet deep in the orchard. Cellar full.

Dewitt is referring to the death of 20-year-old Alice Ferris, who was swept away from the car she was in near Ithaca after the vehicle stalled due to high water. See also the Flood of ‘35 on July 8, 1935.