July 27, 1907 Frontenac Burned near Union Springs

The beginning and the end, two parts of the story of this Cayuga Lake steamer.

The maiden voyage was June 4, 1870, there were numerous items in the early days of the new Cayuga Lake Steamer.

“Fast Time—The new steamer Frontenac, made her regular fifty mile trip in 3 hours and 3 minutes, making ten landings, with an average of three minutes each. That would be accomplishing the trip of fifty miles in 2 hours 38 minutes. Good time for Cayuga Lake.” Auburn July 8, 1870

The Ithaca Daily Journal July 18, 1870, carried a description of a trip taken that day. “The new steamer Frontenac goes over Cayuga Lake like a bird…The trip up the lake this forenoon, with a fine breeze, was a perfect luxury, and if this terrible hot weather continues, we can recommend nothing better for a relief to our citizens than to take to the Cayuga Lake Steamer until there is a change.”

Or for something different, you could take an evening cruise. “The steamer ‘Frontenac’ has been secured. She will leave Cayuga at 7:30 P.M., stopping at Union Springs and Aurora. All who love ‘by moonlight and starlight to bound o’er the billow,’ are invited to participate.” The cost for this trip was “single tickets one dollar; lady and gentleman’s ticket a dollar and a half. Refreshments may be obtained on board the boat, and good music will be in attendance.” Ithaca Daily Journal August 9, 1870.

“Two new boats, the Frontenac and the Wilcox are running regularly on Cayuga Lake, and are met at Goodwin’s Point by the Taughannock House omnibus.” Ithaca Daily Journal

Tragic Ending, July 27, 1907

The Interlaken Review, like many local and regional newspapers carried the story of the end. “The Cayuga lake steamer, Frontenac, the largest vessel on Cayuga Lake, was entirely destroyed by fire last Saturday afternoon near Aurora…” (Interlaken Review August 2, 1907)

The main points of the tragedy included the wind, “A strong wind was blowing, some say 40 miles an hour, making it the roughest lake seen in five years. It was so rough that a landing could not be make at Aurora, where many were waiting to board the steamer…” When smoke was discovered coming from the pilot house, pumps were turned on and an attempt made to put out the fire. Also on fire were the life boats.

The captain had the boat grounded, and passengers were given life preservers. Even though they were only in water 7 feet deep, and about 50 feet from where people could walk, the clothing of the day and general confusion caused the loss of eight lives, seven ladies and a four-year-old boy.

Over the years, many articles have been written about the event. One article in the New York Archives magazine, Summer 2008 issue carried an article about the fire, “Fire on the Frontenac” by Sharon A. Andrus.

The almost iconic picture of the burned-out steamer sums up much of the article. “Fire in the midst of water, wind, and waves: these were the parameters for a steamboat tragedy in central New York at the turn of the century that still haunts the communities, the families—and the archives.”

Working from sources in an archive we can build a picture of many of the events from history. I hope this blog is a testament to the value of having and using archival materials for sharing the stories of our past.

Dewitt’s Diary Friday, July 27, _____

The temperature was 85 at noon today. We painted on the south side of the house today. Went down to Lem’s this evening. Caught some carp from Lem’s dock.

Corn and beans are growing well. My field corn is just beginning to show a little tassel.

Everything in the garden looks swell. Plenty of moisture.

Rye grass and all stated in the field corn. 

July 26, 1953 End of Korean Conflict

Sometimes, like today, the idea behind the article isn’t so much a historical event, as a reflection on another topic.

Dewitt’s diary for this date ends with the comment, “They signed Korean treaty which should stop the War in Korea tonight at 9 o’clock.”

Looking up the Korean War to get a better idea of the timeline I was struck by the difference in the date. History records the end of the war as July 27, 1953.

It is in reading, and understanding time zones, that explains the difference.

Ithaca Journal, "Today in History," June 20, 2017 “Summer begins at 9:24 p.m. Pacific time/10:24 p.m. Mountain time 11:24 p.m. Central time (12:24 a.m. Eastern time June 21).

Dewitt would often make notes throughout the day in his diary. Today’s is certainly an example when he begins with the morning temperature, notes what happened during the day, and then at the end of the day records a final item. There is also a degree of hope, “should stop,” in his words.

Dewitt, born in 1899, knew veterans of the Civil War, classmates who served in World War I, and the waiting for letters from his son, Leland, and his return from World War II.

Whatever date is used, July 26 or July 27, the end of the Korean war was an event to be thankful for, and another chance to be hopeful for peace.

Dewitt’s Diary, Sunday, July 26, 1953

Temperature 70, strong south wind and mostly cloudy.

The sun was out steady most of the day and it was hot. Temperature 85 at 7 o’clock this evening. We stayed around home all day.

Some are combining oats. Wheat is too high in moisture.

Lake water is very warm.

Report is for thunder showers for late tonight and tomorrow.

They signed Korean treaty which should stop the War in Korea tonight at 9 o’clock. 

July 23, 1887 First Issue of the Saturday Morning Review

Many local people received the local newspaper on Saturday, July 23, 1887. A few copies of that original survive and the Interlaken Historical Society has one copy.

Thomas P. Hause, editor and owner had served as an apprentice in the Ovid Independent office. In the first issue of the Saturday Morning Review he included a short piece from the June 8, 1887 issue of the Ovid paper.

“…will commence the publication of a seven-column folio paper at Farmer Village about the middle of July…Mr. H. is a good printer, and will get out a paper which the people of our enterprising sister village will take pride in sustaining. We wish Mr. Hause and his venture the utmost success and prosperity.” That first issue was prepared at “his office and residence in the house opposite the Reformed church.”

The following week two other nearby newspapers sent compliments which the Review shared.

By the Trumansburg Sentinel, “The first number of the Farmer Village Review appeared Saturday. It is neatly arranged and well printed, and well edited. Mr. Hause is evidently going to give the Farmer Villagers a good newspaper. Will they support it?”

From the Waterloo Observer, “It opens well and is not to be sneezed at. Editor Hause has an army of county correspondents already.”

T. P. Hause would continue to provide not only news but leadership within the community for many years to come. On July 1, 1904 after several other name changes, the paper became the Interlaken Review, and so it has remained. 

T. P. Hause would continue “to own and publish it until his death in 1929.” At that time, “Fred Blauvelt, an employee of Mr. Hause, bought the newspaper…publishing it for 17 years.” Geneva Daily Times, August 18, 1955

The notes about Mr. Hause and Mr. Blauvelt were part of the announcement of the fourth owners of the Interlaken Review, Duane and Wanda Waid. The article noted that Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Dickerson had owned and published the paper for the past 10 years.

Almost 20 years later the Waids sold the now expanded newspaper to Paul Dickinson. (Interlaken Review February 13, 1975) The sale included the Ovid Gazette and Trumansburg Free Press which Duane and Wanda had purchased over the years. Like their predecessors at the newspaper office, Duane and Wanda were, and still are, very involved in our community.

Today the Interlaken Review and its companion weekly papers are owned by Finger Lakes Community Newspapers.

Dewitt’s Diary, July 23, 1937…1940

Friday, July 23, 1937 We finished cutting winter wheat today. I caught a mess of perch and rock bass tonight.

Saturday, July 23, 1938 Rain early this morning. Showers around us but not much rain here. I mowed the orchard and cut some other weeds around the wheat field.

Sunday, July 23, 1939 Layed around home all day and watched everything wilt from the drought. I went to the lake a little while tonight. Reported drought reaching into Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Tuesday, July 24, 1940 Drew in two load of hay and then a shower. Went fishing, got some nice perch. Warm today.

July 20, 1902 The First Big Flood

As we look at history and events, occasionally the only hint we have is a picture. This picture from the Interlaken Historical Society collection shows a flooded Main street in July 1902. We don’t have a letter telling of the details of the flood as we did for the 1935 flood earlier this month.

 

Goodman Hotel, 1902 Flood. Note the open space on the right;
in the future the Interlaken Sales company building would be located there.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #142

Having a date, a newspaper search becomes necessary to get additional details.

The July 25, 1902, the Farmer Review carried a front-page article on the flood of the previous weekend, and then a few tidbit items on a later page.

Under the headline Record Breaking Rain the article goes on to describe the rain and its effects on a number of locations.

“Friday and Saturday were disagreeable, rainy days, filling the earth with moisture. Sunday opened with a drizzling rain … and from two until three o’clock it fairly poured, at least an inch of water falling…the streets became creeks and the creeks roaring rivers, carrying everything floatable—trees, stumps, fences, etc.”

“These streams poured a vast amount of water into Cayuga lake, raising that body of water over six inches between 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon and 9 o’clock Monday morning.”

For those staying lakeside, “the water came quickly and quietly, so the occupants of two cottages there had to move in a hurry, the ladies being carried on the backs…to higher ground…Comparatively little damage was done to lakeside property, however, and repairs have now all been made.”

A few bridges survived with just the gravel underneath carried away; other bridges were washed out making travel much more difficult. “Several rods of the railroad track were washed out just south of the canning factory. A work gang had it in order soon, delaying travel only an hour or so.”

The flood “ruined most of the wheat in shock, but fortunately, only a small part had been cut. That standing on the stalk is reported as growing.”

The article concluded, “It was the greatest flood ever known in this section.”

As a follow-up item, “Cayuga Lake is about two feet higher than it was July 4^th. It will probably remain at its present level all summer.”

One mill owner was reported as “tickled by Sunday’s freshet.” “Chas. Saylor, owner of the Ovid Centre mill…has been bothered to get a good dam, one that would hold any amount of water. Charley has the old dam plowed and loosened way back, and the water made a clean sweep of it. Now he will put up the boards and have a pond that will keep the wheels going a long time.”

Dewitt’s Diary Sunday, July 20, 1969

Stones wet early, temperature 65.

Picked raspberries and mowed lawn.

Everything is the flight of Apollo 11. They landed on the moon at 4:17 this afternoon. Later they walked on moon for almost 2 hours and 40 minutes. They took samples of the surface. Mounted the flag.

We went to bed when they went back into the space craft at 1:30 tonight or Monday morning.

The space craft (Eagle) will leave the moon around mid-day tomorrow after they, the crew, rest for several hours. They will join the mother ship which is circling the moon with one of the Apollo crew on board. 

July 19, 1947 New Sunoco Gas Station Opens

The Interlaken Review, July 25, 1947, carried the article, “New Gas Station Opened in Interlaken.”

The newly built station was located on Main Street on the lot where the former Leet garage and home had been located. The Leet building was moved to Powell Road where it still stands today. 

Former Leet garage and home on Main Street
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #940

An item in the June 27, 1947 Interlaken Review noted, “Franklin Bassette, son of Myron W. Bassette, informed us recently that he and his family are returning to Interlaken. Mr. Bassette will be the new proprietor of the new Sunoco gasoline station being built on Main Street.”

The July 25^th article carried details about the new business. “The Drake Oil Co. of Auburn, have opened a Sunoco Gas station on North Main street…the station is under the management of Franklin Bassette, a former Interlaken boy.”

The article noted that both Franklin and his wife had served overseas during the war. “He saw foreign duty from August ’44 in the 26^th Infantry division until December ’45…in September of ’46 he married Miss Annette Heaton...a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Nursing…joining the Army Nurse Corp, where she also was on foreign duty in the Mediterranean theater of war.”

“This gas station is newly constructed and modern in every respect.”

“Franklin…is willing and capable of caring for your needs in the many services this station has to offer you. Mr. Bassette’s wife will be in the office to take your orders and see that they are carried out.”

Invitation to attend the opening day of the new Sunoco Station
Author's personal collection.

 As with every new business, before and since, the article ended with, “At the opening last Saturday, a very cordial welcome was extended to the Bassettes by their many friends, and in turn the Review Staff wishes them a very successful future.”

Frank Bassette in front of the newly opened Sunoco Station, Main Street
Author's personal collection

Other owners would follow. Most recently the building served as the local office for the Farrell Messler Insurance agency, and today is the Village of Interlaken Offices.

Dewitt’s Diary Saturday, July 19, 1947

Cloudy and rain and cooler. Worked on porch getting ready to paint it.

July 15, 1927 Dedication of Camp Barton, Frontenac Point

At the Southeast corner of the Town of Covert is a point of land. This spot has seen a number of different uses over the years.

In the 1830s William Carman had his ferry service from “Frog Point” to Lansing. [Snippet May20, 1836]

L. H. Owens of Trumansburg purchased the site with its warehouses in February 1869, as noted in the Watkins Express of February 18, 1896. “Mr. L. H. Owen of Trumansburg…has purchased of Mr. Gregg the Warehouse and other property at Trumansburg Landing.” It was a destination for shipping goods out of the area. Trumansburg Sentinel noted that “bushels of wheat and oats” were shipped up the lake to the canal.

L. H. Owen Warehouse at Frontenac Point
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #1609

On April 1, 1869, the Watkins Express reported that “L H Owens was appointed post master at Trumansburg Landing.”

As the property changed hands, so did the use of the land. It was still a stopping point along the lake; now people rather than goods were the focus.

The Farmer Review reported in the June 8, 1889 issue, “The Hotel Frontenac was formally opened on Thursday, Travis Band furnished the music.”

Hotel Frontenac
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #2329

 The first seasons for the Boy Scout Camp, Camp Barton, were held at what became the North Point area of Taughannock State Park. When the state began construction of the park, the Boy Scouts looked for another site.

Through a collective effort, land was purchased at Frontenac Point and the building of camp began.

By July 1927, the camp was ready and a day of celebration planned.

Among Samuel Brogan’s dedicatory remarks are these comments.

Our purpose is to dedicate this property to the eternal welfare of American boyhood… Our objective is to establish a seat of learning, a practical school of experience where human contacts will reveal lessons untaught by books… while vocational in its aspects, is primarily dedicated to the development of the soul of youth.”

However soon the time may come when we shall relinquish the direction of this camp to another generation, I prophesy that the time will not come when the music of these waves will cease to echo in the memories of Barton's sons, when the voice of our night shall lose its melody, or the spirit of unselfish service engendered here shall have passed away; for when our sons, like Odysseus, behold the rosy fingered dawn, they will stand erect before their Creator, tasting that divine reverence which leads to an appreciation of all that is beautiful and true.

This ground is hallowed. It is dedicated to human progress, and to the divine right of youth to make each generation better and nobler than the last.

I still recall my first walk up the gorge to the base of the falls for the OA ceremony many summers ago. Ten Scouts stood along the trail, with a sign for each of points of the Scout Law. The Scout Law was something the Webelos had been working on as they prepared to move from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

Over the years I would visit camp many times, first as a Scout’s parent, then as the parent of a staff member, as a day camp staff member, and most recently, as a visitor, sharing with that session’s Scouts information about the Civil War.

The lake, the food, the times shared there are all a part of each Scout who has stayed in camp. And yes, “each generation is better and nobler than the last.”

Click here to read Mr. Brogan’s complete speech. [Reprinted from the 75^th Anniversary booklet]

Dewitt’s Diary Friday, July 15, 1927

Rain this afternoon.

We drove down to the Ice Cream Picnic today at the Baptist Church.

I went out with Charly Doolittle and caught a young coon. He weighed about 24 pounds. We was out all night. 

July 12, 1926 Crops for the Canning Factory

Dewitt’s Diary Monday, July 12, 1926

Cool and clear this morning.

Cut and drew the rest of my peas making 9 load. 

They brought $85 per acre net.

Picked some cherries.

Sold some broiler and old hens this morning.

See also July 5th, when Dewitt and Edna recorded their memories of the Canning factory.