June 21, 1916 Rev. VanArsdale Presentation

In June 2016, I was looking for something to add to the Interlaken Historical Society window display. What I found turned out to be more than just another artifact in the collection. In some ways, that artifact helped to bring this series of articles into being.

What I found was a walking stick just sitting in the holder along with a number of other walking sticks and canes. What attracted my attention was the gold head and engraved Masonic emblem. Knowing that Farmerville Union Lodge would be meeting one last time on June 21^st before going into summer recess, I planned to share the walking stick with the Masons before adding it to the window display.

Walking Stick presented to Rev. Elias B. VanArsdale June 1916 at
Farmerville Lodge Meeting.
Collection of the Interlaken Historical Society. 

 Imagine the surprise when showing the walking stick to several people noticing more than just the emblem on the head. The octagon sided head had four engraved panels and four decorative panels. The engraved panels note: Presented to/R.W. E. B. VanArsdale/ By Farmerville Lodge #183/ June 21^st, 1916

Needless to say, that was a bit of WOW, given the 100 years between the original presentation and when it would again be shared at a Lodge meeting.

One of four engraved sides on the VanArsdale walking stick.
Presented to Rev. Elias VanArsdale at the Farmerville Lodge meeting.
Collection of the Interlaken Historical Society.

The “who was Rev. VanArsdale,” and “why was he given the walking stick” became the focus of research. The results were shared at the Lodge meeting that night and in an article in the Summer 2016 Interlaken Historical Society newsletter.

Rev. Elias B. VanArsdale,
Pastor, Mason, Community Leader
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1159

Rev. Elias VanArsdale was born in 1869 in Highland Falls, NY, son of Rev. N. H VanArsdale. Elias followed in his father’s steps and attended seminary, graduating in 1893. He accepted a call from the Reformed Church at Farmer Village and moved into the Manse at the corner of Main and Orchard Streets.

Here Elias, and his wife Agnes, raised their family until 1916. In addition to his church duties Rev. VanArsdale also helped to found the Farmer Free Library and served as President from 1901 to 1916. In 1905, he was elected President of the Interlaken Union Free School Board of Education and re-elected for the next ten years. He is credited as sponsor in 1910 of the first Boy Scout Troop in Interlaken, also the first in Seneca County. Pictures of those early Scout troops are familiar items within the Historical Society collection.

A small plaque in the Lodge dining room gives a brief synopsis of his activities as a Master Mason: He joined Farmerville Lodge in 1903, served as Master in 1907, as Grand Chaplin (New York State) 1908-1909, and as District Deputy Grand Master 1910-1911.

So, having a bit of background on who Rev. Elias B. VanArsdale was, the question still remained, why in June 1916, was he presented with a gold headed walking stick?

Rather than try to decipher the minutes of that evening’s meeting, a search at www.fultonhistory.com quickly brought up the answer in the June 23, 1916, issue of the Interlaken Review. At the meeting on June 21, 1916, 79 members of Farmerville Lodge were present, and the visitors from 15 other Lodges brought the total to 130 in attendance. The article lists several of the dignitaries by name and title, including Rev. E. B. VanArsdale. After the regular meeting, the assembly adjourned to the dining room where food, a feast as noted, and toasts were offered.

The Interlaken Review article continues, “The event of the evening came when Professor E. R. Eastman of Walden, NY, a former principal of Interlaken High School, presented to Rev. E. B. VanArsdale … a handsome gold-handled cane.” He included in his remarks, “although the dominie is yet in his youth the ‘stick’ might assist him in his declining years.”

The sentiments expressed by Mr. Eastman echoed the thoughts of the Lodge and the community as the VanArsdale family prepared to move to New Jersey to be near his parents. One son, Lyle VanArsdale stayed in Interlaken, living on a farm on Route 96A near Bassette Road. Other members of the family would return, and still return, each summer to the cottage on Interlaken Beach Road.

Rev. Elias B. VanArsdale died April 15, 1937. When he left Interlaken in July 1916, he moved to North Paterson Reformed Church at Hawthorne, NJ and stayed there until his retirement in July 1936. Rev. and Mrs. VanArsdale are buried in New Jersey.

The walking stick was given to the Historical Society in 1989 by Lyle VanArsdale.

Dewitt’s Diary June 21, 1928-1932

Thursday June 21, 1928 Rain all day. We built a bean cooker for cooking beans for the hogs. My beans are up fine. Corn is getting weedy.

Friday June 21, 1929 Went over the bean field with the weeder.

Planted potatoes in the patch behind the barn. Jay Miller and family and Edna, Leland and I went to Geneva to a show tonight.

Saturday, June 21, 1930 Cut the roadside today. Cocked the alfalfa over again. Went to town tonight. Bought a creamer can and shipped cream today.

Sunday, June 21, 1931 Drove down to the lake this morning.

Tuesday, June 21, 1932 Planted one field of beans today. Went up and got Leland today. His throat is awful sore now and he cannot talk much.