September 13, 1873 Joining the Rails

There are several diary collections at the Interlaken Historical Society. One of those collections is from Wheeler A. Bassett. These volumes, part diaries and part farm journals, have come to the society from various family members.

Born on 24 July 1858, in 1873, Wheeler was 15 years old. In the single volume from that year, he records the comings and goings of family members and events within the community.

On August 28, 1873 he recorded, and later expanded on, the first train trip from Farmer to Ithaca. At that time, the rails ended north of the village.

The founders and sponsors of the Geneva and Ithaca Railroad planned a celebration to mark the joining of the rails at Romulus.

Morrison, in his Town of Covert volume on page 33, reproduced the program for the day. It lists the activities of the day, music, processions and the driving of the spike to connect the rails from North to South.

Wheeler Bassett was fascinated with the construction and potential of the trains. His diary entry for that day notes their trip to Romulus.

September 13, 1873 Diary page, Wheeler A. Bassett
Bassett Family Papers collection, Interlaken Historical Society

Uncle Murray and I went to the village in morning. Went to Leflers and got the horse shod.

Came home and father and I went to the vill. Took the first train for Romulusville and saw C. M. Titus drive the last spike on the I & G RR. Rained some. Had a fine dinner and free ride.

Came home middle P.M. Julia went to Aunt Fern‘s and brought Aunt Nelia home. Alice whet to choir meeting.

Dewitt’s Diary, Thursday, September 13, 1973

Temperature 50, clear and clouding up fast.

Worked over the wheat ground and Art Horton drilled it for me. 8 ½ acres.

Bob Akins and Ed Hayward thrashed my marrow beans. Maybe 30 bushel.

Lem and Alice were in this evening.

Special thanks to Wheeler’s grandchildren for sharing the many diaries and farm journals with the Historical Society. The 1873 volume was scanned and captioned by his grandson, Ray S. Bassett, several years ago. 

September 11, 2001 Less We Forget

In preparing the list of dates for this blog, there was never a question what event would be the topic for this date. Unlike most of the posts, this one is more my own thoughts and memories, more of an editorial than a report.

Political Cartoon, September 2016

Looking back to 9/11/2001, I recall hearing the news while at the Credit Union in Ithaca. I was scheduled to help with the primary at the Old Town hall. When the primary was closed in the early afternoon, I went home to watch the live coverage and to wait to hear from family members. Sonja was in high school, Nicole at Mansfield, PA, Chris at work and already in the fire department, and Everett at the hospital.

The songs, the stories, the pictures of the day and events remain in our memories, but do they also fade with time? Does the more recent critical issue press them to the back of the mind to be recalled each year as 9/11 approaches? We gather on Main Street in Ovid to march, or ride, or watch the silent parade; no blowing sirens or horns, no candy being tossed, just long lines of fire department equipment and uniformed fire fighters. At the end of the speeches, the laying of a wreath and the candle lighting ceremony we say, “Yes we remember and won’t forget.”

Photo by Karen Haas Nelson

As adults, we are sharing the past with the next generation, just as our parents taught us to remember years ago about Armistice Day, Pearl Harbor, and D-Day.

The photographic images from the three sites still stir the memories. The graphic images that appear on Facebook or other online sites and the notices for memorial events also stir our consciences.

In writing an essay, Sonja reflected on 9-11 and words from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. In her essay, she noted how his words still applied in 2001. 

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.  [quote from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863]

Those words are as true today for each anniversary of the events that changed history as they were on November 19, 1863 when Lincoln first spoke them.

Dewitt’s Diary, Friday, September 11, 1981

Temperature 50. 

A nice day for a change.

Picked 35 dozen of sweet corn for the Interlaken Firemen.

Mowed over some wheat stubble.

Dug 12 crates of Vicking potatoes.

September 9, 2011 Interlaken Fire Dept Assists in Southern Tier

Today’s blog begins miles from the Town of Covert in mid-August 2011 when a storm began forming out in the Atlantic Ocean. On August 20^th, the hurricane center received its first reconnaissance report from the Air Force Reserve aircraft. One report a year later noted,

“Based on its report, the hurricane center christened the squalling newborn Tropical Storm Irene. What mother’s milk is to a growing baby, water vapor from warm ocean water is to tropical cyclones…Irene was fed well and by Monday, August 22, had become the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season…A hurricane center forecaster opined that “It would not surprise me if this cyclone became a major hurricane at some time during its lifetime…” New York State Conservationist, August 2012 page 8

Hurricane Irene was forecast to make landfall in the New York City area, and preparations were made for that event. The NYS Conservationist article continued the story after the landfall at Coney Island.

“After the dire warnings, it seemed that New York City had dodged a bullet when Irene moved on. Life there would more or less get back to normal in a few days.” Page 10

What followed brought the story closer to the Town of Covert, but at that point without direct consequences. “Upstate New York was not so lucky. The storm’s heaviest rain-bands were west of its center, and as Irene rolled north, they ran headlong into the Catskills. The heavy, moisture laden air lifted as it passed over the mountains, intensifying condensation as it cooled. The effect was like squeezing a sopping wet sponge…too much rain, in too short a time period, for the land to absorb. The results were catastrophic.” Page 10

Two more named storms quickly followed in the Atlantic,

“One system gained tropical storm status as Jose for a few days before dissipating. Another, named Hurricane Katia, stayed well offshore.” Eyes turned to the Gulf of Mexico where a disturbed weather system became Tropical Storm Lee on September 1.”

Lee did not become a hurricane, and only lasted a few days as a tropical storm, so that “by the time its remnants reached New York, Lee was no longer even a cyclone. But while drifting over the Gulf’s warm waters, Lee accumulated a huge reservoir of water vapor.”

Once over land the rains fell, and the result repeated what happened when Irene’s moisture was wrung out over New York’s mountains.

The rainfall from two plus days totaled upwards of 12 inches near Binghamton, and the Broome County area. The Susquehanna River rose to record levels, overflowing retaining walls and flooding downtown Binghamton and other communities. As with Irene, losses ran from hundreds of millions of dollars when they could be measured to uncountable sums in lives upended and dreams ruined. New York State Conservationist, August 2012  page 12

We’ve often heard the comment “water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.” Flooding causes another set of issues, water everywhere but no way to use it in fighting fires.

As with so many disasters, there are volunteers in our communities who respond when called, willingly leaving home and family to aid others. Two volunteers from the Interlaken Fire Department packed bags for an unknown length of absence.

Afterward, the following short statement was prepared about their time in Broome county.

A tanker crew from the Interlaken Fire Department was deployed through the NYS State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan on Friday September the 9th [2011] to assist in providing fire protection in the southern tier. The floods left the area without working water systems for fire protection, requiring additional tanker support. [Living in rural areas, we know how important tankers and tanker shuttles are to fighting a fire when the hydrants are miles away.]

After arriving at the Broome County Emergency Operations Center, Interlaken 501 was dispatched to the Endwell Fire Department as part of their first alarm response for structure fires. During Saturday, Interlaken 501 responded mutual aid to the Johnson City Fire Department for an apartment fire at 78 Crocker Ave.

Endwell Fire Department released 501 late Saturday when their water and storage systems were operating at levels required for firefighting.

Interlaken’s heart and best wishes go out to all effected by the floods. Those affected will need everyone’s continued support for some time.

Dewitt’s Diary, Wednesday, September 9, 1925

Temperature 44 last night. Trying to rain this morning.

Frances received a card from the University of Michigan today. He is going to college there on the 15th of September.

We picked three loads of sweet corn again today.

September 7, 1922 From Dewitt’s Diary, It’s a Boy!

Thursday, September 7, 1922

A baby boy was born to Edna dear and I this morning at 4 o’clock. Edna was a sick girl all night but she got along alright because she had a good nurse and doctor.

Jennie Hunt is taking care of her and am still trying to find someone to help in the house.

Leland Francis weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces. Dr. Hill was here all last night and left this morning at 5 o’clock.

Dewitt’s Diary, Friday, September 7, 1945

Bought a tractor of M. Boyes today. 
Went after it and drove it from Ovid home. 
Leland's birthday, he is 23 years old. 
Very hot again today. All has been very warm this week.

[Leland was still in Europe]

September 5, 2008 Ground broken at Sampson Cemetery

Today’s Snippet is another one best taken from the published articles.

Navy veteran Lewis Kime was one of the first sailors who received basic training at Sampson Naval Base before he headed to Guam in 1942 to serve in World War II.

On Saturday, Kime, 85, a Romulus native who was a deep-sea diver, was among nearly 200 veterans who attended the groundbreaking of the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Sampson State Park.

The cemetery site was home to the Naval Training Station at Sampson starting in 1942 and was later used as an Air Force Basic Training Center. Many of the more than 400,000 sailors who trained there went on to fight in every major naval battle in World War II. More than 300,000 airmen received their basic training at Sampson from 1950 to 1956.

“They trained here on the peaceful shores of Seneca Lake and the next day, they were on military vessels on their way to other countries, and they were here and in the air over Korea the next day,” he said.

Kime was among veterans representing the different service branches who were called on yesterday to use shovels and break ground symbolizing the project’s start, although Nozzolio told the 300 people on hand that “much work is still to be done” before the first veteran can be buried “on that hallowed ground.”

Finger Lakes Times article by CRAIG FOX    Sep 7, 2008 

For any who may wonder about a Covert connection to the Sampson Cemetery, several come quickly to mind.

One of Annette Bassette’s first nursing positions in this area was at the Sampson Hospital. She would often talk of needing roller skates to get from building to building.

In 1953 Franklin Bassette was a member of the Fire Department at Sampson. The Fire House is being remodeled into a visitor center.

From the Sampson Cemetery website, “The Cemetery's first committal service and burial took place in September that year. Mr. Clinton C. Van Gelder, a Korean War-era veteran who served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956, died on Jan. 22, 2010, at the age of 77. He was laid to rest at Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011.” [Mr. Van Gelder lived in the Town of Covert.]

A final connection.  Buried at the Sampson cemetery is granddaughter Dani Nelson’s great-grandfather, and her namesake, Daniel Marvin.

Photo by Karen Haas Nelson

Dewitt’s Diary, Friday, September 5, 1958

Temperature 64 degrees, cloudy. Some cooler today.

Took some sweet corn to town and a couple bushels of peaches.

Picked the Bartlett pear tree by the south porch, 4 bushels of pears from it.

Drove down to Lem’s but he did not come down from Rochester this evening.

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.

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)