February 1, 1927 Wheeler National Bank of Interlaken

The bank bill shown above is one of several original bank notes showing the signatures of
bank president J. K. Wheeler and cashier M. W. Bassette.
Collection Interlaken Historical Society

July 1926, John V. Kellogg and Myron W. Bassette file an Application for Interlaken's National Bank in Washington.

August 12, 1926 Mr. Edward O. Douglas, Special Representative of Federal Reserve Bank, does his investigation including discussions and review of the application. At the end of the meeting it was decided to consolidate all interests and buy the assets, including the bank building, of the old private bank owned by James K. Wheeler.

October 23, 1926 The amended application was forwarded to Washington.

An article in the Ithaca Journal with a date line of Washington, Jan. 22 notes, “The Comptroller of Currency has approved the application of the Wheeler National Bank of Interlaken, Seneca County, to organize as a National Bank with a capital of $50,000. The new bank succeeds the banking house of O. G. and D. C. Wheeler.” The original bank had been providing banking services to the area since the 1860s.

February 1, 1927 The Wheeler National Bank of Interlaken opens.

The officers of the bank for 1927 were: President, J. K. Wheeler; vice-presidents, J. S. Thompson and J. B. Bradley; cashier, M. W. Bassette; and assistant cashier, J. F. Wyckoff.

The following were elected directors: M. W. Bassette, J. B. Bradley, J. F. Burdin, C. F. Case, L. S. Church, J. B. Kellogg, J. G. Pritchard, J. S. Thompson, G. G. Townsend, W. D. Wheeler, and J. K. Wheeler.

Interlaken Historical Society Photo # 195

Twenty-five years later Dewitt would add to his diary entry for January 31, 1952 a commemorative “stamp” given to him by his brother Myron.

There will be additional Snippet items in the future on the bank and its buildings.

Dewitt’s Diary: Tuesday, February 1, 1927 

Cloudy, temperature 30.

Drove down town this morning. I got a bottle of medicine for a cold in my throat. 

We are working in the woods again today. We have the buzz pile about finished ready for buzzing. South wind and warmer tonight. 

Temperature about freezing.