June 24, 1923 Isaac H. Stout Memorial Dedicated

In 1918, Wheeler A. Bassett, in his retrospection of the village, wrote this about Isaac Stout.

In the summer of 1900 a new building was dedicated and the present high school building was erected. Prof Isaac H. Stout made the principal address at the laying of the cornerstone. During the 1870's Prof Stout was the efficient teacher of the Union school for nearly ten years, and later held a high position in State educational work.

My pen fails me when I try to do justice to this beloved teacher. How fitting it is today that our High School banner is inscribed with the letters I.H.S. For these initials still bring inspiration to the old scholars, and we try to think they have something to do with our old teacher, I. H Stout.

The sentiments expressed there were shared by many others. Professor Stout died in November 1903 at his residence in Albany. In 1922, former students and colleagues proposed a monument to honor him.

A notice in the May 12, 1922, Interlaken Review requested, “Anyone having a list of scholars who in any one year attended school when Isaac H. Stout was teacher in Interlaken please send such list next week…”

A week later, on May 19, 1922, there was a Wanted item in the paper. “Wanted-A 5 or 6 foot by 4 or 4 ½ foot boulder, with smooth face, suitable for a monument to the late Prof. Isaac H. Stout, to be placed at Interlaken High School. Anyone knowing of such a boulder within 20 miles of Interlaken communicate with L. A. Morgan.”

While the plan had been a June 1922 dedication, the June 23, 1922 paper carried a notice, “the committee in charge of the Isaac H. Stout memorial have found it impossible to have the same ready for dedication this commencement as planned. The memorial will be completed during the summer and dedicated in the fall or during commencement week in 1923.”

Many former students had replied to the invitation to be a part of proposed memorial.

The memorial “was dedicated on Sunday afternoon [June 24, 1923] in the presence of about 300 people, most of whom were his pupils or acquaintances.” [Interlaken Review June 29, 1923]

Plaque dedicated to Isaac H. Stout, now on the front lawn of the South Seneca ElementarySchool.
Author's personal collection of photos. 

When the “old high school” was torn down and the current school building completed, the boulder and plaque were moved to the front lawn.

Dewitt’s Diary Sunday June 24, 1923

Eva and her mother were here all day. Mr. Predmore went to Ovid.

I bought some ice and made some ice cream today.

Thunder showers this afternoon. We sure need rain.

Saturday, June 24, 1972

Temperature 60, cloudy.

Le and I drove to Interlaken Beach. The road to Lem’s is all under water. Water up to Lem’s steps in front of his cottage.

All docks are a float. We got to Lem’s through the woods.

A sad sight. You cannot believe your eyes.

Some 12 inches of rain reported in western N.Y.

Looking at Cayuga Lake from the porch/steps of the cottage.
Spring 2017 photo from author's collection.