December 18, 1914 Receiving Vault at Lake View Cemetery

At the Annual meeting on March 4, 1907, “A verbal report of P.W. Rappleye, Superintendent, was given, suggesting the need of a receiving vault and a well.”

In April 1913 a committee was appointed to look into the costs and feasibility of building a vault.

Under the heading, “Shall We Have A Vault,” was an open letter to the lot owners at Lake View Cemetery. Board President, S. P. Stone outlined the needs and the costs for building a vault.

“One of the most urgent needs of our Cemetery is a receiving Vault…the means to provide this necessity, the occasion for which has been made apparent several times during the past winter.”

“Will you join the other Lot Owners in making this contribution of $1.00 or more each and by so doing enable us to provide the Vault without impairing the regular Cemetery fund, which are none too great at the best.”

He concluded with, “kindly advise the President…of your approval or disapproval of this proposition, at your earliest convenience, not later than the 1^st of May 1914.” [Interlaken Review April 3, 1914]

At a Special Meeting of the Board on July 2, 1914, “motion by D. T. Bennett and supported by D.C. Wheeler, that the amount of money for building vault shall not exceed one thousand dollars, motion carried.”

A second special meeting was held August 24, 1914 and the motion made and supported authorized the committee to spend $800.00, “but if in their judgement this amount isn’t sufficient they shall not exceed $1,000.00.” 

“The receiving vault in Lake View Cemetery is nearing completion.” [Interlaken Review, October 2, 1914]

“The vault being constructed by Thomas Briggs in Lake View Cemetery is nearing completion. In fact, all that remains is the fitting of the large iron doors, which have not yet arrived. It is a nice job and looks well.” [Interlaken Review, October 30, 1914]

Vault built in 1914, Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken
Photo from the author's collection

The weather of the past week, ground frozen and covered with over a foot of snow, proves the wisdom of constructing a receiving vault in Lake View Cemetery. The vault recently completed found its first use this week. [Interlaken Review December 18, 1914]

The same issue of the paper related the death of Mr. Arriet TenEyck Peterson at the home of her daughter in Owego. Mrs. Peterson “was the mother of Christopher Q., John B., and Abram C. Peterson, well known citizens of this town, all three of whom have passed away this year.” The obituary concluded with, “funeral was at Owego on Wednesday and her remains were brought to Interlaken and placed in the vault in Lake View cemetery, for burial later.”

Headstone, Mrs. Arriet T. Peterson, Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken
Photo from the Author's collection

At the Annual meeting of the Lot Owners on March 9, 1915, the treasurer noted money received for the vault $203.58; paid to Thomas Briggs for vault $903.25 and to HP Minor for Vault Doors $85.00. The remainder of the funds necessary for the vault was paid from the operating funds of the cemetery.

Detail of the doors on the vault at Lake View Cemetery
Photo from the author's collection

Dewitt’s Diary, Friday December 18, 1964

Temperature 18, windy from northwest. Ground barely white this morning.

Cold northwest wind and snow flurries after 9 o’clock. We worked in woods until it snowed us off.

About an inch of snow on ground when it cleared this evening.

We drove down to Lem’s but too windy and cool for fishing.

Temperature 9 clear tonight.

We got a box of fruit from Catherine. We have to go to Ithaca for it.