June 13, 1910 New Lehigh Valley Railroad Station Opened

As the Historical Society was preparing displays for the Railroads in the Village event in 2015, I was trying to find a date to list for the new railroad station being open. In the end, 1910 was the best date I had. Last summer when I began looking at sources for some of the Snippet From the Past items, I came across Wheeler A. Bassett’s 1918 article about the community. And there, in one sentence, “The new Lehigh Valley depot was opened June 13, 1910.” It was not even a paragraph, just nine words.

If you know a date, and your word searches don’t turn up anything at www.fultonhistory.com, you can search the newspaper, page by page. It takes a bit more, but it can be done, and at odd hours when the library isn’t open, you can proceed with your research. So, having a date I went looking for June 1910 issues. Once the first paper was found, it was easy to continue going forward or back.

Back in 1904 the Lehigh Valley Railroad offered a modern station in exchange for changing the name of the station from Farmer to something more exciting. They selected the name Interlaken, offered by Georgiana Wheeler. By the time the dust settled, the railroad station, the post office and the newly incorporated village were all named Interlaken. [For more on the topic, see the March 2, 1904 Snippet].

The Interlaken Review had articles on the building and planned opening. June 3, 1910,

Electric lights were turned on at the new depot on Tuesday night, concrete work was finished Wednesday, and plumbers and painters are now putting on the finishing touches, while the grading of grounds is nearing completion. Chief engineer Ashby inspected the building Wednesday evening. The building will be opened for business on Monday morning, June 13th. As soon as fully completed the REVIEW will give its readers a picture of the structure, of which we are all well pleased.

Interlaken Review, June 10 1910, “On Monday, June 14, 1909, a special meeting of the Interlaken Business Men's Association was held, to consider the proposition of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Co. for a new station at Interlaken.”

Next Monday will make just one year from the date of the acceptance of the company's propositions, and the event will be observed by placing the new station in commission. The company have done all, and more, than promised at that time, and the Business Men's Association and the people of the village, through their trustees, have done all that has been asked of them, so that all concerned are fully satisfied. The new station is an ornament to our beautiful village, and a credit to "America's Cleaned Railroad," a title, which by the way, originated in an article first published in this paper. We shall not attempt to write a description of the new station at this time, but will wait a few weeks til the old station is removed, the grounds finished, when a good photograph of the complete structure and grounds will be taken and printed in the REVIEW.

Lehigh Valley Railroad Depot, Interlaken, NY
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #843.

Two weeks later, on June 24, 1910, the Review printed this picture with a brief article.

Above is a picture of the new station at Interlaken, which so pleases all our people. The North end of the station is shown, the view being taken from the north-east. Station agent John B. who has been the Company's agent here for the past 22 years, stands on the platform, ready for business. The train platform is 250 ft. long by 60 ft. wide. The entire building is of hollow brick, filled with sand and cement, and almost fire-proof. On the south is a large freight platform and commodious freight room; next is the baggage and express office with doors opening on each street, wide enough for a truck load of trunks to pass through the building. Then comes the agent's office and a lobby where telephone booths are located. Next north is a large waiting room, with entrances west, north and east, and a large covered platform at the north, as shown above. With its new furniture, steam heat, electric lights, lavatories, etc., it is complete in every detail excelled by none. The people of Interlaken are proud of the new station and its surroundings and feel very grateful to the Lehigh Valley officials who brought change. Those who locally had a part in this matter will not forget the efforts made in behalf village by Mr. H. H. Westinghouse.

Two other views of the station.

Lehigh Valley Railroad Depot at Interlaken, looking north toward Cayuga Street.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #370. 

Lehigh Valley Railroad Depot at Interlaken, looking south along the street side of building.
Note the horse and wagon at the freight loading dock.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1862.

Dewitt’s Diary Sunday, June 13, 1926

Uncle Scott died today. He suffered terrible all the week. Died about 11 o’clock.

Mr. P and wife [Predmore, Edna’s parents] drove in a few minutes.

[Daniel Scott Rappleye was married to Dewitt’s aunt, Anna Bassett.]