December 27, 1944 Battle of the Bulge Death

Tucked between two tall bushes at Lake View cemetery is a simple military headstone. While it seems to be hidden away, each year a small American flag is placed at the site.

The stone marks the final resting place of the only known soldier or sailor from Interlaken who died in World War II and buried at the cemetery.

William D. Rappleye Military Headstone
Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken
Photo from the author's collection

Recognizing the 26^th Division notation and the death date it was likely Sgt. Rappleye died as a result of the Battle of the Bulge. This was confirmed by the notice in the January 19, 1945 Interlaken Review.

“William Rappleye, son of Snyder Rappleye, the former being a great, great, great grandson of William Rappleye, one of the original settlers of this country, was killed while in action under General Patton on December 27, [1944].”

Looking online additional information on this pivotal battle is quickly found.

On this day, General George S. Patton employs an audacious strategy to relieve the besieged Allied defenders of Bastogne, Belguim, during the Battle of the Bulge…Food, medical supplies and other resources eroded as bad weather and relentless German assaults threatened the Americans’ ability to hold out…

Enter “Old Blood and Guts,” General Patton. Employing a complex and quick-witted strategy wherein he literally wheeled his 3^rd army a sharp 90 degrees in a counter-thrust movement,Patton broke through the German lines and entered Bastogne, relieving the valiant defenders and ultimately pushing the Germans east across the Rhine.

One source notes that 20,000 Americans died over the course of this siege and battle.

Sgt. William Ditmars Rappleye was born April 6, 1925, son of Daisy Rose Denis and Snyder Charles Rappleye. They are buried beside their son at Lake View Cemetery.

After the close of the war the task remained of transporting war casualties to their final resting place. Interlaken Review July 23, 1948, under the heading, “World War II Dead Returned.”

“The remains of Sgt. William D. Rappleye, consigned to Raymond Hurlbut, Interlaken, N. Y., for delivery to Snyder C Rappleye, 350 Main St., West Orange, N. J., will be shipped July 21, 1948, escorted by T-Sgt. Arnold N. Stensland, of the U. S. Military Escort Detachment.”

Military Headstone Request, William D. Rappleye
Ancestory.com

Dewitt’s Diary, Wednesday, December 27, 1944

About 6 above, cloudy and cold south wind all day. Snow again tonight.

I went down to the east woods on my skis this afternoon. Scared out a fox.

There is a heavy crust on most of the snow. Hard walking except on skis.

December 25, The First…Christmas

If you were born before 1960 you may recall watching a Christmas special on December 9, 1965. That evening was the first showing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

As the program progresses, Charlie Brown comments: “Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Christmas is all about?!"

Linus: "Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please?”

And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. [Luke 2:4-14 KJV http://bibleornot.org/the-true-meaning-of-christmas-linus-speech/]

Over the years each of us have many firsts in our Christmas celebration. Today we look back at Dewitt’s recording of Christmas past.

Sunday, December 25, 1921

Edna and I went to Mother’s for dinner today. Snow and good sleighing on most of the roads today. Mother and father gave Edna and I a new washtub and wash basin for Christmas. Edna finished making a table runner for Mother last night.

December 25, 1928

The weather is fine. Edna’s folks and Eva and Henry were up today. Father gave me one of W.A.B.’s new books just out. A history of the Bassett family. He has been several years getting it out.

December 25, 1929

We went up to Eva’s with Edna’s father and mother. Had a good dinner. Came home at 5 o’clock. Sandy came over from Binghamton today. He was down to father’s when we got home.

December 25, 1930

We stayed home all day. Clear and plenty of sunshine today. A fine Christmas day. Money is scarce, and most people are not having much of a celebration this year.

December 25, 1931

Edna’s folks and Eva and Henry were over today for dinner. Catherine got her first doll today. She carried it around all day. A stormy day and getting colder. Temperature dropped from 34 to 20 and going lower.

December 25, 1932

Edna’s folks over today. We had a very warm day. Like summer. Warmest on record in Rochester and here. Temperature up to 66. Catherine got three dolls and a tricycle.

December 25, 1934

Snow and mild. Willard, Pete and I got the old red fox today. Pete shot him. He weighed 11 pounds and was about 54 inches long. Temperature 33 tonight.

December 25, 1936

Mostly cloudy. Muddy and a spring day. Temperature 45 at noon. My folks and Pete and Marian were down to A. VanFleet’s for dinner. We stayed home all day. Leland caught a muskrat this morning down by Munson’s. Catherine got a doll almost as big as she is.

December 25, 1949

Temperature 15, clear, white Christmas. A nice Christmas day but strong south wind coming up. Temperature 32 at noon and sun out early in the day only. We have one of the blue spruce trees in front of house lit with colored lights this year.

Monday, December 25, 1950

Temperature 14. Snow flurries and colder with light northwest wind. An inch of new snow in the night. Snow stopped at mid-morning but snow blowing some. Coldest day at midday this winter to date. Got a new pocket book, 5-year diary for Christmas. Junior B [Bassette] brought me up a new fish line and billy for killing same.

Friday, December 25, 1953

The sun is coming up red and temperature 30 at breakfast time. A very beautiful Christmas day. We worked on the kitchen part of the day. Got a new diary today. Mom [Edna] gave it to me. Myron gave me a new weather vane for barn.

[Added a few days later: Some 500 killed by car accident over the long weekend Dec 24 to 27.]

Saturday, December 25, 1954

Temperature 20 Christmas day and some sunshine. Catherine came down from Rochester with boyfriend for dinner. A fine day. Warmer tonight and clear.

Dewitt’s Diary Thursday, December 25, 1980

Temperature ten below. A very cold day. Cold with frost in the air. North wind.

Got a nice pair of warm mittens from Howard and Catherine.

Mom got a new sweeper from Howard and Catherine for Christmas. Just what she needed.

Zero tonight.

December 21, 1988 Bombing of Pan Am 103

How often do we associate an event on the regional or national news with a special event of our own?

This Snippet was added to the list of dates because of its tie-in with a family event. December 21^st is Nicole’s birthday, and on that evening in 1988 we were gathering as a family to celebrate.

I recall Dad coming in the house and asking if we had seen the news. Being involved with dinner and getting ready for family coming over for dessert, the answer was no.

Most families have similar stories. The question that is being posed today is, “Have you written those stories down?”

In this digital age, with reports of activities and photos being posted on Facebook, Instagram, and other programs, are we losing the written and visual record of the family stories?

The historian in me often asks the question of others, “Have you written that down?” Some memories you want to forget, others need to be recorded.

The Interlaken Historical Society has several diary collections, farm journals, photo albums, and over 2000 pictures. They help to tell the stories of people, events and our community. The newsletter has shared numerous articles and stories about past events. Unfortunately, most of those items end in the 1940s and early 1950s.

As a family event this holiday season, or a resolution in 2018, consider working on recording the stories and memories.

End of sermon; I need to keep writing the family stories for Dani and others!

Dewitt’s Diary Monday, December 21, 1981

Temperature 10. Sun out most of the morning. Wind into the southwest at noon and temperature 30.

I am picking some beans. Been a cold morning.

Leland went to the Burg and got 1140 pounds of coal. Price $67.26

December 20, 1989 The Invasion of Panama

Author’s note: today’s Snippet is another of what I am calling an Op-Ed piece rather than just a historical item.

Veteran fraternal organizations have dates-of-service or location-of-service to qualify for membership. In looking at those dates-of-service for the American Legion, the shortest is from December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990.

While this "war" was avery short time period, there were still over 2,130,000* US soldiers serving during a time of war, and therefore potentially in harms-way. Along with the 27,000 in the Panama Canal zone, there were over 2.1 million serving at other locations within the United States, its territories and bases around the world. Many of the men and women were living away from their families.

As one speaker noted this past Veterans’ Day, “For veterans, our nation was important enough to endure long separations from families, miss the births of children, freeze in sub-zero temperatures, or bake in jungles and deserts.”

He continued, “Military spouses endure career interruptions, frequent changes of address, and a disproportionate share of parental responsibilities. The children deal with changes in schools, separation from friends and, hardest of all, the uncertainty of whether or not Mom or Dad will ever come home again.”
[Schuyler County Veterans’ Day program, Watkins Glen, NY November 10, 2017, copy provided to author.]

During this year there have been quotes from Dewitt’s diaries about times of war. He shared his feelings for the three long years that Leland was in the service. We have also read the stories of men and women who served. Equally interesting are the stories of those who participated in the community life while waiting for news from the front, or a training ground. They waited for a letter, or in more recent times a phone call, an email, or maybe Skype time.

Throughout the history of the Town of Covert, and Seneca County, there have been men and women serving in the military. From World War II until the 1990s our communities have had large numbers of military personnel and their families living here. The friendships developed through school and community activities across these years is one of the reasons some of us are more acutely aware of the needs to military families.

To our active duty military personnel, and those who have served in the past, we say, thank you! To the families of those same people, we say thank you! Your support of your family members is recognized and appreciated.

Dewitt’s Diary December 20, 1949 and 1950

Tuesday, December 20, 1949

Temperature 32, clear.

Bunny and I tried for perch. I caught one pike and Bunny got some small perch.

Mild today.

Wednesday, December 20, 1950

Temperature 20 and cloudy. No wind this morning. It was a pretty nice day for Grandpa P’s funeral [Predmore, Edna’s father]. The flowers were beautiful, and he will be buried in Trumansburg. Edna’s mother is going down to Eva’s for a few days.

*https://dcas.dmdc.osd.mil/dcas/pages/Documents/WWT.pdf

^https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama

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.

December 14, 1923 Butchering Hogs

With the arrival of colder weather a new farm chore was added, butchering.

Throughout the 1920s Dewitt recorded the annual event. The phrase "trying out lard," is describing the process of "rendering" the lard, or making it into a usable by-product of the fat.

December 6, 1921 Fred Ike came and butchered today for us, 4 hogs. They will dress about 200 to 300 apiece. December 7, Cutting up meat all day. Father and mother up all day long. Mother and Edna are trying out lard. We have 465 pounds of hams and back. Also 12 pounds of nice lean pork, 42 pounds of tenderloin.

In 1922 the butchering and processing are recorded on three days. December 6, Fred Ike came up and butchered our three hogs today. December 7, cutting up and trying out meat today. Father and mother are up and helping. Did not get done today. December 8, we finished up the meat cutting and made our sausage. Packed ham shoulders and bacon in crocks and put brine on them.

December 13, 1923 Fred Ike butchered 4 pigs for us today.

December 16, 1924 Fred Ike came and butchered today. We killed seven hogs. Sold three of them. One each to Northup, W. Bassette, and A. Rappleye. 13 cents per pound dressed. Spring pigs were all light, dressed around 150 pounds.

December 9, 1925 We have 9 hogs to kill. Hogs are 16 cents per pound dressed this year. December 14, 1925 Fred Ike came and butchered nine pigs for me today. They weigh about 150 pounds dressed. Sold one to W.A. Bassett, and one to P. Harman. We are going to keep 4 for ourselves and the rest go to Williams of Lodi.

December 8, 1926 Butchered 10 hogs today. Fred Ike and his son-in-law done the butchering. December 9, 1926 Cutting up hogs and trying out lard. Mother and Father were up all day.

December13, 1932 Butchered our hogs today. Killed two and left one for sow.

Dewitt’s Diary December 14, 1923

Mother and Father came up and we cut up hogs and tried out lard today. Colder today and snow flurries, have about one inch, clear and cold tonight.

December 13, 1982 Cable T.V. comes to the Village

Not all events with significance in today’s world happened long ago. In November and December 1982, a new proposal was being presented within the village.

The idea of bringing Cable T.V. to the South Seneca area was the topic of a special public hearing held December 10, 1982 at the Ovid High School. The Minutes recorded in the Village of Interlaken records notes two members of the village board in attendance, Mayor Thelma Peabody and Clerk Kathleen Greule.

The proposal included costs, areas covered, and services provided, and these were explained by Cablevision Industries.

Three days later, on December 13, 1982, a Special Meeting of the Village board was held in the Village Rooms. Present were: Mayor Thelma M. Peabody; Trustees William Larsen, Howard Barrows, Richard Seymour, and Clerk Kathleen Greule. From the Town of Covert Board were Robert Hitchcock, Steve Selover, and Town Clerk Judy Boyes.

David Koehler, a Committee member of the South Seneca Group, reviewed the proposal and answered questions. It was noted that the Village would receive 3% of gross income from the operation of Cable T.V. within the village.

“Larsen moved the Village of Interlaken enter into a franchise agreement with Cablevision Industries, Inc. for services as outlined in its proposal and the mayor be authorized to sign same agreement. Second by Barrows and carried unanimously.” [Village Minutes, December 13, 1982]

Today when turning on the TV and having hundreds of channels to choose from, recall these former board members and the action taken 35 years ago.

Dewitt’s Diary, December 13, 1949 and 1950

Tuesday, December 13, 1949

Temperature 34 Rain enough and snow melting to make ditches start. Creek in the orchard started for the first time since last April.

New York City is in very bad shape for water.

I helped Willard R thrash beans this afternoon.

Today was a fine day. The sun came out and colder tonight.

Wednesday, December 13, 1950

Snow flurries today and southwest wind. The temperature is 26 to 32. Melting a little on roofs.

Went out and tried to start a fox with T. Boyes but no luck. No foxes right to home but a few a couple miles south of here.