December 30, 2016 A Word About Sources

A good historical article will hopefully share new insight into some facet of history but also where the information originated. In preparing the Snippet items for this blog, I was fortunate to have many wonderful resources. Today, as an additional lead-in to the 2017 series, I’d like to highlight a few of them. References to these sources will also be a part of the individual snippet items.

Before I begin discussing the different sources, let me remind everyone that these sources are open to the public. If you spot something in a Snippet that inspires you to do more of your own research, please contact me or a volunteer at the Interlaken Historical Society so we can help you find out more or add a photo to your project.

If, on the other hand, you realize that in your attic, basement, closet, you have items that “should be somewhere useful” again, contact the Society as we are always seeking to add to the collection. Who knows, that batch of photos from a 1950 event may fill in a gap that others can use.  [museum@interlakenhistory.org]

Between the Lakes, A Newsletter of the Interlaken Historical Society, first published in January 1975. The quarterly newsletter includes information on the upcoming program, local events, and historical features. I’ve found many wonderful articles or ideas for articles in these old volumes. Several people have kept all of their issues, often in a binder or folder, with their families passing them on to the Society.

Between the Lakes, The History of South Seneca County 1976 A Town of Covert Bicentennial project. For the nation’s bicentennial, Mr. Patterson (as some of us will always call him with great respect) created this volume, collecting and editing many articles about the history of our area dating from the “beginning of time” or at least the settlement of this area. Dates, photos and ideas have been drawn from here. In a few cases, “the rest of the story” will hopefully bring background or follow-up on something discussed.

Early History of Covert Seneca County, compiled by Wayne E. Morrison, Sr., (1983.) This book on the Town of Covert gives ideas to be used, or in at least one case, was used by others, and I’ve tried to add a bit more to the story. This volume also has pictures that can’t be found in other collections.  

Paper Files, Interlaken Historical Society Many years ago members began collecting newspaper articles for the Society. These articles were placed in folders with headings so that they could be reviewed. As time went by the need to better preserve these items became apparent, and the paper file project took off. Ann Buddle and others spent many hours creating an index to the articles, placing each item between sheets of acid free paper, or copying the items onto acid free paper. Today, these files are housed in two file cabinet drawers, and there is a database to make searching easier. Some items have dates on them while a few do not, which means research time is needed to correctly date and note the original source (Interlaken Review, Ovid Gazette, etc.). That process can be enjoyable and frustrating at the same time.

Town of Covert Board Meeting Minutes and Village of Interlaken Board Meeting Minutes. These items can be searched either at the respective offices, or via microfilm at the Interlaken Public Library. Indexes to at least part of the minutes are also available. Extracts from these minutes were used to highlight several of the Snippet items.

The Interlaken Review, Ovid Gazette and Trumansburg Free Press are the main local weekly newspapers, dating back in one form or another to the early 1820s. These were microfilmed many years ago, and then for several summers high school youth read the Farmer Review and Interlaken Review, and later other volunteers read the Ovid Bee and Independent and Ovid Gazette, creating indexing worksheets. Another young lady, also working through the summer work force development program, input the data (mostly births, deaths, marriages, and a few other highlights) into a database. There are printed copies of the indexes in the local library and at the South Seneca School libraries.

Going one step further, Tom Tryniski of Fulton, NY, created www.fultonhistory.com, and the Interlaken Historical Society was invited to have our microfilms for the Review and Gazette scanned and placed in the collection of on-line newspapers. Not only does this make all of those newspapers available through the web, but the software also searches for the words to help find the little pieces which the Historical Society index can’t do.

Photograph Collection of the Interlaken Historical Society. There are over 2,300 photographs in the Society collection. Mostly black and white photos, and yes, some were duplicated within the collection. They have been indexed both as paper cards and as a searchable database. The Society has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Seneca County Work Force Development program; one of our projects was to scan the collection at 200 dpi as a ready reference. You will see many of these photos, re-scanned at 600 dpi used throughout the series.

Glass Plate Photographs Arch Chadwick and others took photographs on glass, and there are 1,100 of these glass plate negatives in the Society collection. They were saved from destruction and a project completed in 2016 scanned them for preservation. Work is being done to also restore the photographs through the use of digital touch-ups, and a few of these will also be included in Snippet items. Some of these glass plates have been previously printed and are included in the regular photograph collection.

The largest source of inspiration and information are the artifacts and archive items within the Historical Society collection. Clothing, walking sticks, quilts, paper documents covering a multitude of topics, the list goes on. Some are newly found with others shared in the past in a newsletter article and looked at anew to share a special piece of history through the blog.

December 28, 2016 Why one more blog?

2017 marks the 200^th anniversary of the Town of Covert. In recognition of that event, and my own love of history, I’ve prepared a series of articles or snippet items to highlight people, places and events within the community that have happened throughout the 200 years. Some of these are easily recognized; I’m hoping others will be a new bit of history for you to enjoy.

The Interlaken Historical Society has been preserving the history of our area for over 65 years. The collection includes many artifacts, archival items, photographs, and collections of published articles. In preparing this series I’ve culled through old Historical Society Newsletters, newspaper articles and interesting artifacts. I’ve also looked through the photographs and tried to select photos that enhance the snippet item.

While my original idea had been 365 snippet items I quickly realized that was neither practical nor productive. Instead I’ve tried to create three or four snippet items per week, with the goal of having 200 by the end of December 2017.

In addition to the snippet items, I’ve also drawn from the diaries kept by Dewitt C. Bassett Jr. from 1919 until 1981. As a farmer the weather was a major factor in the daily life of his family. Most of his entries include a weather notation, or its outcome. At the end of each snippet, you will find items from Dewitt’s Diaries. A few of the snippet items are mainly Dewitt's writings with a few additional notes.

As the idea for the blog was developing and dates and events being researched, the need for a title became an issue. It needed to be something easy to remember and give an idea of what was to be included. After trying a number of titles, all of them already in use, and discarding those that might use “Covert” as part of the title I realized that what I was creating were little snippets of history. “Snippets From the Past” was already taken; but each day is only one snippet, so why not use “Snippet From the Past?” Yes, a title for the blog was found and grabbed.

Why not “Covert” in the title? If you have ever done a search for “Covert” on E-bay, Google or other “search engines” you can understand why “Covert” was discarded. We know it as a family name, a place where many of us live, or a connection from the past. To the vast majority of people its meaning as undercover, secret, clandestine etc. would not recommend it in a title.

This is my own personal project, not part of the Interlaken Historical Society or the Town of Covert Bi-Centennial events, although both are a strong part of the project. One goal that I have had for all the various community newsletters, genealogies and books that I’ve worked on, has been to reflect the whole of the community, not just focusing on the I, me, mine. Yes, my family and events are reflected in some of the articles, but the focus is not just on the Bassette lines or events.

Please enjoy the Snippet items, share with friends, or post a comment in reply to what I’ve shared. In the end, we will all gain something new as we celebrate the community events honoring this Anniversary year in our Town of Covert History.

As with other projects this too is dedicated to those who follow after us, our children and grandchildren, that they may have an interest in history as well.