September 1, 1936 Starting School

Dewitt’s Diary for September 1, 1936 is very brief, but the sentiment expressed is one most parents can understand. It was the start of school. For Dewitt’s daughter Catherine, a very significant day. She was starting school, and at the new school in town.

Dewitt, his brothers Myron, Lemuel, and Pete had all gone to school up the road from the homestead. Son Leland would have started his schooling at the same place.

Under the headline “Interlaken Central School To Open Term Sept. 1^st” the August 28, 1936, Interlaken Review noted the opening of the new school term and the list of teachers and administrators.

As you look through the list, depending on your age or length of stay in the area, many of the names will be familiar. A few were still at the school in the 1960s and early 1970s when I went to school, others were names familiar for their legacy in the community.

The faculty for the coming school year will be as follows:

D. P. Norton, Principal

Helen H. Currier, Vice Principal, English

Maurice L. Patterson, Mathematics and Science

Catherine Bassett, Latin and French

Sybil E. Adsit, Homemaking

Arthur H. Brokaw, Agriculture

Eva B. Dowers, Librarian

Eva Krutenat, Music and Drawing

Ruth Dence, Commercial

Russell Herrick, Physical Director

Pearl VanDusen, Junior High School, English and Mathematics

Grace Hiltbrand, Junior High School, Social Science

Elizabeth Hewlett, Sixth Grade

Martha Goodwin, Fifth Grade

Helen Tobey, Fourth Grade [most of us knew her as Mrs. Burr, and was our introduction to school as our kindergarten teacher.]

Phyllis Furbeck, Third Grade

Marian Hill, Second Grade

Harriet VanNostrand, First Grade

Sheldrake District—Bertha Munson

Ovid Center District—Gertrude Limner

It is interesting to note that while most of the local students would be attending the recently opened consolidated school building on Main Street in Interlaken there were still two rural schools in the district which remained open.

Dewitt’s Diary, Tuesday, September 1, 1936

Catherine started her first day of school in town today. She is six years old. (No weather)

August 26, 1935 Sale of the Flagg and Grant Homes

After discussions, petitions, votes and formal notices, the newly organized Central School District Board of Education announced the location for the new school building. North Main Street across from the Reformed Church, on lots occupied by James Grant and family and John Flagg and family.

Main Street homes of James Grant and John Flagg
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1487

The May 6, 1935 snippet related the dedication of the cornerstone for the new school building. What is interesting are the actual locations of buildings prior to the dedication. The new building is set back quite a ways from Main Street.

The huge front yard of the current school once held two homes, and a number of out buildings.

Layered map created by the author to show locations of former buildngs.
Google Earth and Sanborn Fire map.

The green and grays of the map are current buildings, lawns and roadways. The yellow drawings are from the 1930 Sanborn map of that section of Main Street. As shown the Flagg home is on the North edge of the school property while the Grant home is centered in the front lawn. Map created by the author.

By layering the two maps, the location of the homes and barns can be seen in front of the current building.

Notices appeared in the Interlaken Review throughout the Spring and Summer of 1935. On March 30, 1935, the Flagg barn was sold. A week later, April 8, the Grant barn went on the block. “The Flagg barn and outbuildings, and also a chicken house formerly on the Grant premises, will be sold at auction by the Central School Board at 10:00 o’clock Saturday morning, March 30…on the new school site.” [March 22, 1935 Interlaken Review]

“The Grant barn on the new school site offered at auction Monday morning…was sold to Frank Wright for $48., the garage going to LeGrande Cooper for $26. About a week previously the Flagg barn was struck off for $45 to the Fox Brothers of Townsendville, who have since removed the structure.” [Interlaken Review, 4/1/1935]

Notices were printed in the paper later in the summer for the August 26, 1935 auction of the houses themselves. The Notice of Sale listed the conditions, “all heating, plumbing and electric light fixtures as well as the …dwelling.” “It is understood that the purchaser of the Grant dwelling shall remove said dwelling and fixtures to the foundation within twenty-one days…and shall leave the premises free from old board, timbers…” “…the purchaser of the Flagg home will not remove any portion thereof until the 1^st day of October, 1935…shall entirely remove said Flagg dwelling and fixtures within twenty-one days from Oct. 1, 1935…”

It would seem the Flagg dwelling was being used as offices during the construction.

The auction took place and under the headline, “Interlaken Central School Sells Houses” the report was printed. “The Grant house went under the hammer for $510, and was purchased by Wirt Frost, of Trumansburg. The Flagg house was struck off to W. Brinkerhoff of Lodi Center. The bid was $95.” [Interlaken Review September, 1935]

Once the new school was in use, the old brick building just up the street was torn down.

Dewitt’s Diary,  August 26, 1933-1936

Saturday, August 26, 1933

We went through Watkins Glen last night. The water was sure high.

Clean and north wind today.

40 persons were killed along the coast by storms.

Sunday, August 26, 1934  No entry

Monday, August 26, 1935

Took Lorraine to Spencer today.

Edna stopped to see Minnie.

Wednesday, August 26, 1936

Cloudy and a few drops of rain. Plowing today.

June 27, 1900 Cornerstone for the New School

Today’s Snippet is another that does not require a lengthy introduction. The following is taken from the Farmer Review Saturday, June 30, 1900. The new school was being built on the lot two houses north of the Reformed Church. The building was torn down in 1938 and a ranch style home sits on the site today.

Picture postcard with the school building.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #

Wednesday, June 27, 1900, will long be remembered by the people of this section as a red-letter day for Farmer, the occasion of the laying of the corner-stone of the new union school building which the taxpayers of district No. 14 have voted to erect at a cost of $10,000.

The Board of Education issued an invitation that the corner-stone be laid with Masonic ceremonies, which invitation was accepted by the Grand Lodge thru Farmerville Lodge No. 183.

Most Worshipful Charles W. Mead, Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York, issued an edict authorizing Most Worshipful William A. Sutherland of Rochester to conduct the ceremony, which he did in a very impressive manner, assisted by Grand Lodge officers, the ceremony being witnessed by at least 2,000 people, while another thousand could not get within the grounds.

The Grand Lodge was formed as follows:

Most Worshipful. Wm. A. Sutherland, of Rochester, acting grand master. 

Right Worshipful Hiram L. Hutchens, of Canandaigua, deputy grand master. 

Right Worshipful Clarence A. MacDonald, Seneca Falls, senior grand warden. 

Right Worshipful Chas. H. Burt, of Phelps, junior grand warden. 

Right Worshipful George A. Stubbs, of Geneva, grand treasurer. 

Isaac H. Stout, A. M., of Albany, grand secretary. [formerly of Farmer/Interlaken, see also June 24, 1923]

Rev. F. J. Allington, of Sheldrake, grand chaplain.

Right Worshipful J. Hungerford Smith, of Rochester, grand marshal. 

Worshipful W. T. Bowlby, of Willard, senior grand deacon. 

Worshipful Charles R. Keyes, of Lodi, junior grand deacon. 

L. F. Smith, Trumansburg, grand steward 

M. W. LaBoyteaux, Romulus, grand steward 

Rev. E. S. Annable, Lodi, grand steward 

John E. Richardson, Waterloo, commissioner of appeals.

About 200 members of the fraternity were present and formed in the Baptist church park at three o'clock and marched to the school house site, in the following order:

Miller Band, Farmer, Grand Lodge Officers, Lodi Lodge, No. 345, Willard State Hospital Band, Union Lodge, No. 114, Ovid, Farmerville Lodge, No. 183 [Interlaken], Visiting Delegations, Union School Scholars.

Four better addresses were never heard in Farmer. Hon. Wm. A. Sutherland's reputation as an orator was well known in southern Seneca altho our citizens never before had the pleasure of hearing him. He was listened to attentively, frequently applauded and his well-chosen words are treasured in the memory of all who heard him.

Isaac H. Stout, A. M., was in His happiest vein as he looked over the crowd, nearly every person present being acquainted with him, for he was brought up here and for so many years was principal of this school, and even now he calls Farmer “home.” He was heard with great pleasure. Revs. Allington of Sheldrake and Annable of Lodi ably represented their calling.

We hear the wish oft expressed that all the speeches be printed

The vocal music was under the direction of Prof. J. M. Chadwick. Miller Band did themselves great credit.

Union Lodge of Ovid was accompanied by the Willard State Hospital Band, 22 pieces, under direction of Prof. Wm. White. After the exercises, they favored the people with a band concert from the Gambee house balcony, which was much enjoyed. They play a high grade of music, every man proving himself an artist. All hope to hear them in Farmer again.

Cornerstone for the new school 1900
Author's personal collection

The corner-stone is from Ohio, of sandstone, and in raised letters shows the date: “June 27, A. D. 1900, A. L. 5900,” with a square and compass. [Today it is on display in front of the Interlaken Historical Society’s Farmers’ Museum].

Click here to see the program of the event and the items placed in the cornerstone.

To see a recreation of this event, plan to attend the Town of Covert Bicentennial Celebration on Saturday, July 29, 2017, at the Firemen’s Field.

Dewitt’s Diary June 27, 1934-1936

Wednesday, June 27, 1934 Edna went to the Burg today. I went fishing.

Thursday, June 27, 1935 Helped Willard put up some alfalfa for the start of haying. A shower at noon. I cultivated some corn. I caught two lake trout last night.

Saturday, June 27, 1936 Showers this morning and they are much needed. My oats are ready to head out and only eight inches tall. Many fields of Spring grain are very poor because of lack of rain. Corn is very short and a poor stand.

May 6, 1935 Cornerstone for the New Central School

Interlaken Review, May 10, 1935, “Large Crowd Attends Cornerstone Exercises.” After discussions on a site for the new Central School building, planning, voting on the funding, and getting the shovels in the ground, the day had arrived to celebrate the beginning. Unlike the 1900 school cornerstone event (coming June 27, 1900) this event was smaller, but had the same sense of accomplishment.

“A large group of people assembled at the new school site on North Main Street, Monday afternoon, to witness the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the Central School building now being erected to provide improved school facilities for the children of the central district.”

The day’s events began with a parade of 300 school children, led by the Interlaken Central School Band. This most likely was a short parade as the school building was across Main Street and north three buildings.

Included in the speakers were Principal D. P. Norton, Mernette L. Chapman, Superintendent of Schools, Duane S. Lyman, Architect, Maurice Rowley, General Contractor, and James A. Harris, State Department of Education.

The Hon. Leon S. Church, President of the Interlaken Central School Board presided over the “laying of the Cornerstone.”

The three local clergy also participated: Rev. R. D. VanWagenen of the Reformed Church, G. Stuart Hogan, Pastor of St. Francis Church, and Rev. George K. Hamilton, Pastor at the Baptist Church.

The May 3, 1935 High School Notes in the Interlaken Review, noted the selection of Marjorie Wilcox and William Stout to participate, but did not include what they would be doing. Miss Wilcox read the history of the school houses in Interlaken, while Mr. Stout read the list of items to be included in the cornerstone.

The Interlaken Historical Society has three pictures from that time period. Two of the cornerstone event and one of the ground work for the new building. 

The new school sits well back from Main Street, as such, work was started before the two houses or their out-buildings were torn down or moved away. The building on the upper left is one of the buildings which would be moved Summer 1935.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1484.

Professor Norton and others at the dedication.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1486

Professor Norton and the cornerstone.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #2123

The Cornerstone is behind a bush on the front corner of the school, closest to the driveway. I’d like to thank Doris Jennings and the school administration for allowing me to go behind the bush and take this picture during Spring Break.

Dewitt’s Diary, Tuesday May 6, 1930

A fine baby girl Catherine Ada Bassette was born today at 1:30 to Edna and I. Dr. Swift and Mrs. McEvoy are attending her. Edna was very sick but is feeling better tonight.  (No weather data recorded)

Monday, May 6, 1935

Strong south wind and rain this afternoon. Edna is coming home tomorrow. Thermometer was 35 and a good frost this morning. 

May 1, 1968 School Merger Vote

Voters in the Interlaken Central School District and the Ovid Central School Districts went to the polls in a special election. They were voting on the question to merge the two districts.

As a high school student, I was aware of the process, had even been through it before with other options. Looking back, I don’t recall any of the discussions before the vote and only a feeling of disappointment after the approval. Some of us had been ICS students since Kindergarten. Now with three years to go changes would be coming.

There are boxes of materials at the Interlaken Historical Society on the whole process of the election, and copies of articles written by people who were involved in the decisions and what happened in the years following.

In this year of celebrations, one more date to remember, and yes, I suspect celebrate. In 1968 the new school didn’t have a name; that came in the following year as suggestions were taken for a name and mascot.

Happy Birthday South Seneca Central School!

Dewitt’s Diary, Wednesday May 1, 1968

Temperature 37 rainy. Some rain early this morning. We drove to Canandaigua and Geneva. Exchanged a part for the plow so we have the correct piece.

Bought some onion plants in Geneva. Leland got the oil changed in the car in Geneva.

Temperature 44 at noon. Home at 1 o’clock. We voted on the proposed Ovid-Interlaken school merger today at 2 o’clock.

Misty rain today at 5 o’clock and temperature 40.

The school merger was voted O.K. but not O.K. by the tax payers.

Cooler at the end of the month so was no record for warmth.

April 10, 1956 Wheeler Elementary Building Occupied

The April 12, 1956 Interlaken School District Board meeting minutes have a short paragraph relating to the building project that began in 1953.

The timeline printed in May 1956 as part of the upcoming dedication, notes May 7, 1953, donation of 12 acres of land by William D. Wheeler adjacent to the school site.

Over the next three years Architects would be hired, land cleared, bond issues approved and two major buildings would be added to the Interlaken campus.

It is interesting when reading the official minutes of an organization, such as the school, to find just how little has to be recorded, and how much the board members heard but didn’t have to record.

Such is the case with this building project. Each month the board heard an update on the project, and that is what the minutes note. Not what was said, nor what was happening, unless there was a change order needed. They also approved, and recorded, the bills related to the work.

Sometimes, the work didn’t proceed as hoped. At the beginning of the 1955-56 school year, “Mr. Norton suggested that the opening of school be postponed another week. School to start Monday September 19, 1955.” [September 8, 1955 Board of Education Minutes]

On April 12, 1956, all that changed, occupancy and a need to hire a casher being noted. 

Detail, April 12, 1956 Interlaken Central School Board Meeting Minutes

This was the fourth building project for the school at this site. The first was the 1934-36 project, constructing the main building (cornerstone laying May 6, 1935, a Snippet for next month.) Project number two was the garage in 1942. Project number three was an addition, work dates November 1948 to October 1950.

As the project of a new gymnasium and elementary school progressed the board decided that they should each be named for gentlemen dedicated to the community and education. The elementary building was dedicated to William D. Wheeler, and the gymnasium, to Darwin P. Norton. This was especially fitting as Prof. Norton, as many would call him, was retiring at the end of the school year. 

On Sunday, May 20, 1956, the dedication and celebration of the completed building projects took place.

There have been many more projects since then. Each generation of parents and students have seen changes. Within today’s students there are third and fourth generations of families that have attended school at the Interlaken building, and no doubt the same can be said for the Ovid campus as well.

1960 Interlaken Central School, the new elementary building is on the upper right side.
The D. P. Norton Gymnasium is in front of it.
Interlaken Historical Society photo #2049 

Google Earth looking north, 1956 elementary building is the right side of the white roof area.

Dewitt’s Diary, Tuesday, April 10, 1956
Temperature 28, clear. A beautiful morning. Ground is frozen where it is bare. 
We took the boat down to Sheldrake Point and tried for lake trout. Lake very muddy and high, no fish.
Cleaned out the brooder house this afternoon.