September 4, 1937 Old Home Day Celebration

Interlaken was planning an Old Home Day event. The Interlaken Review headline of August 6, 1937 announced the dates and a few plans for the celebration September 3, 4, and 5, 1937.

Old Home Day, or other community reunions, were a common event at that time. An article in the July 23, 1937 Interlaken Review noted “Old Home Day is a good time to honor those persons who have worked many years to make the community a better place in which to live, instead of waiting to make eulogies.” Earlier in the article it was noted that “the season of ‘Old Home Days’ will be underway throughout Central New York during the next few weeks.”

There was also a recommendation, “Somewhere on the program should be an opportunity to challenge the community to make some major improvement during the year ahead…a new school building, or improvement to the present building…organization of a community council; and increasing the facilities for wholesome play for children…”

It was indeed a season of “Old Home Days.” In searching for articles on the planned Interlaken September event, numerous other dates and locations resulted, and those because somewhere on the page Interlaken was included. These listings came from Lockport, Waterloo, Ovid, Deruyter, Watkins Glen, and the Interlaken Review itself. In publicizing the cash prize of $10 for the best decorated store, the item immediately preceding it told of Odessa’s upcoming Old Home Day event.

Interlaken Review, August 27, 1937

The headlines and stories detailed events of the weekend. A Friday evening banquet for “200 members of the ‘old school’ will gather tonight in the new Interlaken Central School auditorium for a banquet...” [Interlaken Review September 3, 1937, most of those attending would be former students of the old brick school across the street. See May 6, 1935 Snippet]

In one article, the hope was for 400 to attend the events of the day. The headline on September 10, 1937 stated “Threatening Weather Fails to Dampen Enthusiasm of Crowd Estimated at More than Two Thousand People.” The front-page articles reported on the days and carried lists of Special and Parade Prizes. [Click here to see articles and headlines]

Interlaken  Old Home Day, Saturday, September 4, 1937
Corner of Main and Railroad. The Firehouse is on the corner
Interlaken Historical Society Collection #57

Interlaken  Old Home Day, Saturday, September 4, 1937
Interlaken Historical Society Collection #55

Interlaken  Old Home Day, Saturday, September 4, 1937
Interlaken Historical Society Collection #56

Dewitt’s Diary, Saturday, September 4, 1937

Old Home Day in Interlaken. Big crowd and parade. 

Lem and Alice and Pete and Marian were home. 

Very hot all week. Showers today.