October 6, 1950 First Fire House Sold

The Village Board had voted in September 1950 to sell the first fire house property on Main Street, (now 8377 Main Street).

The property was acquired on June 9, 1891. Patrick and Alice Mathews sold to Eldred Frost, supervisor of the Town of Covert, “all that tract or parcel of land, situated in the Town of Covert…described as commencing in the centre of the highway in Main Street Farmer Village, forty-eight South of the southwest corner of land of Amos H. Leet and running East seventy-one feet; thence South sixteen feet, West seventy-one feet North sixteen feet along the centre of the highway to the place of beginning…”

Included in the deed was the intended purpose of the building, “…to be used  only for the accommodation and benefit of the fire department of Farmer Village and to be under the control and care of the Board of Trustees duly elected by the said Fire Department.” The resolution, as printed in the Fire Department minutes, goes on the explain that the Fire Department was no longer using the building, and that Theodore Day, then supervisor of the Town of Covert, should sell the building to the Village of Interlaken.

The “resolution was duly moved by Ainsworth Gardener, seconded by Clarence Haskins and unanimously Adopted. Signed James L. Daily, Homer Stewart and Chas. J. Wickes, trustees.”

At the October 6, 1950 meeting, the three bids were recorded, $1,100, $1,285 and $1,250. “On motion by Morehouse, seconded by Hildebrand that the old fire house be sold to the highest bidder, which is Daily Bros at a price of $1,285.”

There are several artifacts relating to the building as fire house. Possibility the most recognizable, is the photograph of Main Street with the fire bell prominently featured, even though the building itself is not shown.

Main Street looking south. The fire bell, in front of the original fire house is on the left.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #96.

Daily Brothers owned the building for a number of years. The law office of Victor Mount was on the first floor and an apartment was created on the second floor.

One of the features of the building, from its creation was its “central stairway.” The door on Main Street opened to a landing and stairway. To the left was the door into the law office; going up the stairs there were two doors, one right, one left. It was this central staircase that prevented Seneca County from tearing down the old Darling Restaurant. While they started the work, they had to board up the exterior. After purchasing the building in 1980, we completed the demolition of the south portion, put in windows in place of the south doors, and made a single-family home out of the old fire house.

Today, the front of the building has a double window where once the fire equipment came and went from the building.

Dewitt’s Diary, October 6, 1949 and 1950

Thursday, October 6, 1949

Temperature 42, partly cloudy and mild. Trees are very beautiful now. I saw just a little frost down by Halstead’s spring across the road.

We began pulling beans today. Most beans are not a very good crop, too dry most of the time.

Brooklyn 1, NY 0.

Friday, October 6, 1950

Partly cloudy and cool, temperature 38. Frost in the orchard this morning.

Setting up field corn this afternoon, after finishing the sweet corn.