August 15, 1963 The Bee Hive Torn Down

The once graceful and useful building which stood at the corner of Main and Cayuga Street was taken down, and today a state historical marker reminds us of its existence and importance.

The Bee Hive, corner of Main and Cayuga Street
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #471

In the months and weeks leading up to, and following the demolition work, the Interlaken Review had several items.

John Kellogg, executor for the estate of H. P. Minor, had a notice in the paper on May 31, 1962. Listed in the Real Estate section, “The property located on the corner of North Main and Cayuga Sts., known as the Bee Hive…”

In the fall of 1962 the Masons of Farmerville Lodge #183 visited the Beehive. “A visit to the building that was used one hundred and thirty years ago for Masonic meetings was the feature of the program when Farmerville Lodge recently observed ‘Historical Night’…the original Farmerville Lodge was chartered in 1823 and met for a few years on the third floor of the Beehive.”

The April 18, 1963 Interlaken Review had a picture and caption, “The beginning of the end for a local landmark as workmen start the job of demolishing the “Beehive.”

The work was interrupted when the site again became a beehive, “…when workers disturbed bees in the old chimney.” Ithaca Journal 7/24/1963 article by Barbara Bell.

The same article listed a few of the owners over the years, “Mrs. Jennie Morse, Mrs. Arthur Blauvelt, and H. P. Minor.” Built as a tavern with a large third floor for meetings, it was used as a private home, and apartments. “Its location on the main street of the village made it an ideal place for multiple community gatherings and endowed its title.” [Bell, Ithaca Journal, 7/24/1963.]

After the site was cleared a new building, a home, was built there.

Bruce Clark, in a "Letter to the Editor" in the August 15, 1963 Interlaken Review included information on the building’s past, and also summed up a feeling many of us have when an older building has to be taken down. “It is sad to think…that the basic needs of our economy…prevented its restoration as a memorial to the lost past of Interlaken; our lost ideals and lost hopes, demolished to the benefit of the so-called social mongrelization. We will always remember the Beehive as a symbol of our youthful excesses.”

Thankfully the Historical Society has pictures of this and many of the other buildings that have been removed.

Dewitt’s Diary, Thursday August 15, 1963

Temperature 52, clear. The sun is out and it is very cold and it looks like the end of summer. I hope not.

Leland plowing some summer fallow ground that weeds come up on. Will put it into wheat. I pulled wild carrot on one lower field. A nice day. Cool temperature 68 at noon, partly cloudy and north wind.

I helped Bob Akins finish his oats combining this afternoon.

Drove down to Lem’s at the lake this evening. Betty and Jim were down there. Lem and Alice gone back to Rochester for the day.

Cool and mostly cloudy this evening.