“The Oral
History Project of the Interlaken Historical Society, was instituted through
the interest and effort of Helen Burr. Helen had attended an oral history
workshop by the Regional Conference of Historical
Agencies in 1977.” So begins the introduction of the Oral History Project
book, published in 1997.
Helen Burr was a
kindergarten teacher at Interlaken Central School and volunteer with the
Interlaken Historical Society.
An article in
the January 20, 1982 Interlaken Review shared comments
from Helen as well as other information on the project. Helen noted, “Oral
history tapes constitute a fairly new technique in recording local history and
genealogy. By virtue of my personal mode of interaction with the narrators,
there is little structure and no formality...” “The narrators are friends and
acquaintances over the years and personal recall is most popular with me. Most
of the tapes indicate how people feel about their present situation, how they
reacted to events in the past, and how they look to the future. Each tape is a
part of the history of the person.”
In addition to
interviewing Dewitt and Edna, she also visited with Jannette Medlock Marten,
Marguerite Dowdle Lee, Morris Pell, Joseph Dickerson, George Kellogg, Harold
Daily, Aubrey Smith, Grace, Ernest and Mrs. Duane Hiltbrand, John V. Kellogg,
Daniel Thayer, and Nell Leonard Rockwell. Many of the
interviews focused on the Halstead Canning Factory and the people involved.
Others were about life in the community.
Helen concluded her
comments in the article by noting, “Being a recorder for the local oral history
project has been a privilege. Friendships have been made, renewed and
strengthened, and it looks like a lifetime project for me! Future interviews
are in the works.”
Other interviews
were conducted including James VanNostrand, Pearl and Alice Hazzard, Ted Day
and Maurice L. Patterson.
Copies of each of
the tapes were available at the library for people to listen to, but many felt
they should be shared in written form. In the mid-1990s “the tapes were
transcribed by C. Ann Carter…editing by Maurice Patterson, Bill Gates and Walt
Steesy preserved style and individual flavor while insuring continuity and
historical accuracy. (Oral History Project 1997, Introduction, page 5).
Over the years
Dewitt would note in his diary comments about planting for the canning factory.
May 5, 1936 “Planted one acre of peas for the factory today.” Later in the
season he would be told when to harvest the peas. June 29, 1936, “I cut my acre
of peas this afternoon.”
Edna worked at
the canning factory for several summers as well.
Dewitt’s Diary
Tuesday, July 5, 1927 and Thursday, July 5, 1979
July 5, 1927 Temperature 50.
We are cutting peas today. The peas are not very good owing to dry weather.
Drew five loads to the canning factory.
July 5, 1979 Temperature 47,
mostly cloudy. Northwest wind.
Scything under
the young apple trees.
Mrs. Eddie Burr
came and talked about the canning factory in the town in relation to we growing
peas and corn. Put it on record.
A very cold day,
about 60 on south porch for a high.
The Oral
History Project volume is available at the Interlaken Historical Society.
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