Building Blocks in the Village: The Crise Block January 29, 1898

     What are building blocks? Toys for children, the name of a building with a group of stores, or a way to build a full picture of a person or location. Today we will look at the last two as they relate to a building on Railroad Ave, the Crise Block.

     In December I was asked if I could identify where the grandparents of friends had lived in the 1950s. Using the Interlaken Public Library’s digital newspapers, I was able to locate homes where they lived as well as other contributions they made to the community. At that time, it was noted as the Caward building on Railroad Ave. Other items helped to tie that comment with the earlier owners of the building.

  Shown is the northeast corner of Main and Railroad on the 1898 Sanborn Insurance map.

       The green building had recently been built for the Review office. To the left is the Crise Building. Like many early buildings it was designed to house two businesses and have living quarters above.

    Being located next door to the Review office, there were updates about the building and its uses over the years.

    Farmer Review Sat Dec 11, 1897: “Adam Crise has bought from Geo. C. Torbert the building next west of the Review office. Possession given January 1^st. Mr. Crise will move his meat market to this building.”

    Farmer Review Sat January 1, 1898: “Geo. C. Torbert moved his stock of groceries this week…and has given possession of the store to Adam Crise. In a few weeks we expect to welcome Mr. Crise into the building with an up-to-date meat market. He will take into partnership his son Charles, who for a number of years has been engaged with The A. C. Peterson Co.”

  Farmer Review Sat January 29, 1898: “Adam Crise & Son expect to move into their new meat market next week.”

     It is always interesting to have multiple sources for building history. In this case, one of those sources includes the diaries of Charles Crise. The collection at the Historical Society includes the years 1887 to 1904. The 1898 volume is only 5 inches tall, so all entries are fairly short.

    Sat. Jan. 1, 1898: “Went to the store and did the mornings work as usual. Then Lewis and I were busy all day cutting samples of dress goods and waiting on customers...About 8 Mr. Peterson paid me all up and I quit the Dry Goods business for the present to take up my new work Monday with my Father in the meat business.”

    Fri Jan. 28, 1898: “This morning found me up early and doing business some in the forenoon. In the afternoon I was down to the new building,”

    Sat. Jan. 29, 1898: “Was in the shop most of the day making sausage and waiting on customers. In the evening we had quite a little trade.”

     Mon. Jan 31, 1898: “Was around early did chores then was busy all day down to the new market. Cleaning and clearing up.”

    Tue. Feb 1, 1898: “Arose about 7 then was very busy all day down at the new building. About 4 the carpenter was all through and I cleaned the shop all out.”

    Wed Feb 2, 1898: “Arose about 7 then we were very busy all day moving. Had quite a little business with it all. In the evening had lots of visiting and sightseers. Closed up about 9:30.”

   Thur. Feb 3, 1898: “Came to the market at 6 and swept out and did the cleaning…we were very busy all day with customers and visitors. In the evening not much trade but lots of Callers.”

   As shown above, there are two sides to the building. Over the years a number of other businesses would be located in the building. These are a few of the advertisements or notices found.

     Farmer Review Saturday February 26, 1898: “Chas V Slaght has leased the east half of A Crise & Son’s building, Railroad Street, and will open a grocery store and tin shop.”

   Farmer Review Saturday May 4, 1901: “to the Cycling Public. Having opened my repair Shop in the Crise Block, I am prepared to do all kinds of Bicycle Repairing on short notice…W. W. Clarkson, Farmer, N.Y.”

    Interlaken Review May 15, 1908: Geo D. VanKirk, funeral director and Embalmer, Interlaken, NY Parlors in the Crise Block. Night calls at residence. Both phones.”

    Interlaken Review Friday, January 9, 1914: “The Village Library has rented the store on the east side of the Crise Block on Railroad Street [sic] and the books and furniture will be moved on Tuesday next. The library will not be open for the lending and receiving of books on that day but will re-open on Thursday in its new quarters.”

      Interlaken Review, January 12, 1917: “New Meat Market, G.L. Babcock, Prop’r… a New Meat Market in the Crise Block, on Railroad Street, and will at all times keep on Hand a choice line of Fresh and Salt Meats etc…”

       In addition to the stores there were also apartments for rent. Interlaken Review March 28, 1913: “Mrs. Melville is moving into the Crise block.” January 30, 1914: Seward Brooks is moving in the Crise block, in rooms vacated by Melville. He will have charge of The Goodman barn and run a livery and do general teaming. And this is where the story began, trying to find the apartment from the 1950s.

     In the photograph below you can see the awnings on the buildings along Railroad, but in 1915 it was felt they were no longer attractive and efforts were made to have owners remove them. Interlaken Review Friday March 19, 1915: “The wood awning in front of the Crise block was taken down Wednesday. We understand others are to fall in line and help improve the appearance of the village. It is hoped that by July 1^st there will not be one left.”

       A meat market, bicycle shop, funeral home and apartments, just a few of the ways this 130-year old building has contributed to the community. I hope you have enjoyed this look at one of the local building blocks. In future Snippets I will look at several of the building blocks along Main Street.

Interlaken Historical Society photo #1167

 

Dewitt’s Diary Tuesday, January 29, 1924: Very mild today. Thermometer 40 today. Edna washed today. Father drove up this morning and got the hams and bacon out of the smoke house over to W.A.B.

I went to Ithaca in father’s car today. Went up and got my watch which I have had fixed over into a wrist watch for Edna. Mother had her watch up there too and I got that also. Been up there ever since Christmas.

I bought this diary at Ithaca today. I got back home at 2:30. A big bank robbery at Lyndonville, NY yesterday at 4 o’clock. 4-man job, $17,000 and got away in a car. 

 

January 21 Following A Rabbit Trail

 

       Have you ever taken a walk in the snow and wondered where the rabbit trails might lead? Given the current cold, snowy conditions, I decided to follow a few genealogical rabbit trails.

       During the summer of 2023, the Interlaken Historical Society received a gift which caused me to begin research on the Knight family. At that time my focus was on James and his son Edward. Then when helping at Lake View Cemetery, I noticed the headstone for Abram, James’ younger brother.

       Abram B Knight was born 28 July 1815, and died 28 August 1863, but no wife is noted on the headstone. When researching older families in this area, one of the first reference books to use is The Covert Family by Fisher, Covert and Patterson. It has excellent starting points, but at the same time, because it is collected from a variety of places and memories, there may be inconsistencies, or wrong interpretations. That book notes that Abram married Jane Wheeler.

       Starting with the basic information given, I began looking for more information for them. Jane Wheeler was born 6 October 1830, daughter of Nathan Beach and Ann W. Rappleye Wheeler. Abram and Jane were married on 11 February 1852, as recorded in the Interlaken Reformed Church. There are no children recorded for them in either The Covert Book or the church records. Abram died 28 August 1863 and is buried on lot 260 at Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken. Lot 260 is part of a group of lots owned by other children of Nathan and Ann Wheeler. It is across the pathway from Abram’s brother James.

       First rabbit trail: what happened to Jane that she is not buried with her husband? Looking further into The Covert Book, it is noted that she married Daniel Barnes Bryan in 1866 as his second wife. Jane died 3 March 1911, at Bath, Steuben County, and is buried at the Nondaga cemetery there.

       Jane’s obituary notes “Mrs. Jane W. Bryan died in Bath last week, Friday and was buried there Monday. She was a sister of O.G., D.C. and William Wheeler of this place…in 1866 she married the late Daniel B. Bryan…she leaves one son D. Beach Bryan.” [Interlaken Review March 10, 1911] So the first question is answered.

       Second rabbit trail: who was Daniel Barnes Bryan? I found that he is also a Covert descendant. Daniel was born 13 November 1810, in Ovid, son of George Byran [1777-1853] and Jane Covert Byran [1785-1866]. The family moved to Sonora, Steuben County between 1823 and 1828 [Covert Book page 92].

       Daniel married first Elizabeth B. Hollett, and this is where the rabbit trails go all over the map. The Covert Book, page 176 lists her birth as 15 January 1817, and death 17 January 1865. But the notation that her parents were P. S. and Mathilda Leonard Hollett is incorrect. Elizabeth’s headstone notes “wife of D.B. Bryan and dau of Rev. P Hollett, died Jan 17, 1865, age 48 years.”

       When trying to connect parents and children, especially in the era of Daniel and Elizabeth and their parents, the 1850 census is a wonderful starting point. That census is the first census to list all the members of the household. [June 1 Snippet]. Peter S. Hollett age 28 and his wife Matildia also age 28 are living in Yates County. While the names match the information in The Covert Book both are more the age of siblings, not parents. I did find them in Find-A-Grave confirming their ages, and that he was a doctor, not a Reverand.

       I will spare you the rabbit trails trying to find the correct Rev. P Hollett. It involved following Peter S. through a number of sources. Eventually, Rev. Peregrine Hollett was located. An 1891 Watkins Express article provided many details on the family. I spent considerable time pulling all of the pieces together and working to update listings on Find-A-Grave for Elizabeth and her siblings.

       At last, we come back to Jane Wheeler Knight Bryan. She lived in Sonora and Savona for a number of years before moving to Bath. She was the mother of two children, Daniel Beach and Anna Elizabeth. Daniel was born 7 March 1868, married twice and died 11 February 1937. Anna born 6 November 1873, died 4 August 1906, noted as died single. “JR Wheeler and Mrs. N Campbell went to Bath last Monday to attend the funeral of their niece, Miss Anna Bryan, who died on Saturday as result of surgical operation the previous Tuesday.” [Interlaken Review August 10, 1906]

       If you are wondering why I spent this much time on rabbit trails, Jane was a sister to Mary R. Wheeler who married Jared B. Bassette, my ancestors. The rabbit trails continue and my copy of The Covert Book contains many scribbled notes from those trails.

       Following rabbit trails can be an interesting, and frustrating, way to stay warm on these cold snowy winter days. Thank you for coming along on the trail.

Dewitt’s Diary Saturday, January 21, 1950, Temperature 20, cloudy and acting like snow. The ground is white this morning. The wind is back in the south. Getting ready to buzz some wood. Moved the brooder house. Shot a couple of rabbits across the road in Halstead’s evergreen patch. Saw eight deer in a bunch one mile east of Townsendville this afternoon. Temperature 30.

 

14 January 1924 International Order of Odd Fellows

 

14 January 1924 Seneca Lodge No 694 International Order of Odd Fellows

“ODD FELLOWS INSTALL” was the headline of the article in the Interlaken Review Friday, January 18, 1924. “On Monday evening last [January 14, 1924] District Deputy Grand Master Clyde Stewart and staff installed the following officers of Seneca Lodge No. 194, International Order of Odd Fellows.” The list of names and their titles followed. Most of the men are well known within the community and its history. For ease of reading, I’ve only listed the names. Rev. R. D. Van Wagenen, Joseph Dickerson, Adin C. Manning, John B. Moore, Charles F. Teed, Floyd Drake, Henry G. Wikoff, Clyde Stewart, Owen Young, Duane Hiltbrand, John Stewart, Wm. Starrett, Bert Slaght, Homer Ball, Howard S. Miller, Omer Doolittle, W. S. Burr.

       The article noted, “After the installation refreshments were served and a general good time enjoyed, music being furnished by Messrs. Miller, Harmon, Manning, Burr and Wilcox. A number were present from the Lodi lodge.” This installation would have been held in the meeting room on the second floor of the Case Block. Today the Case Block is home to GunBlack and Alarmtech Systems.
[I H S photo #2065]

 

       This story actually begins in 1894. The March 17, 1894, issue of the Farmer Review noted, “Last Wednesday F.J. Philips of Geneva instituted an IOOF Lodge at Farmer. It will be known as Seneca Lodge, No. 694, and starts off with a membership of thirty.”

       Commenting on the membership the paper noted, “The membership is composed of the best citizens, a majority of whom are young men under thirty years of age. A large number of visiting brothers from Trumansburg, Geneva and other places were present and assisted in working the initiatory degree upon eleven candidates.” Many of the men, were members in other Lodges and moved their membership to Seneca Lodge to be part of the charter group.

       The list of charter officers were: “W.C. Smith, A.C. Manning, Geo. P. Butler, Chas. Starrett, Geo. VanKirk, M.T. McCarthy, W.C. Demun, Alfred Slocum, Chas. Teed, Fred Peterson, Fred Taylor, Wm. Cully, Hiram Bloomer, Bert Mundy and W.H. Good.”

       Over the years other items were noted concerning installation of officers, meetings and events. “1895 Charles Teed is Noble Grand [presiding officer] of Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF.”

       Interlaken Review April 13, 1934: “At the annual Past Grands District meeting held at Waterloo last Wednesday evening, April 11, Joseph M. Dickerson, of Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF, was recommended for District Deputy Grand Master” [presiding officer of the district].

       Interlaken Review June 15, 1934: “Seneca Lodge No 694 and Bernice Rebekah Lodge No 333, IOOF will observe memorial exercises Sunday, June 17. Members will meet at the hall at 2:30 and go to the cemetery, which exercises will be held at 3:00 o’clock. Members please bring flowers.” The local women’s group for the IOOF were known as Rebekah Lodges.

       Interlaken Review December 6, 1935: “The burial service [for Bert Slaght] was in charge of Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF, of which he was a member.”

       The reason for the decline of Seneca Lodge is not known. But in June 1938 Seneca Lodge and Banner Lodge of Lodi were consolidated. Interlaken Review June 10, 1938: “Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF, of Interlaken, has been merged with Banner Lodge at Lodi, the final consolidation taking place on Thursday evening of this week at Lodi, where all meetings will be held in the future.”

       Later that year a Fair was planned and the Interlaken Review on December 9, 1938, noted “Several local men are members of the different committees, as when Seneca Lodge surrendered its charter, quite a number of memberships were transferred to the neighboring lodge at Lodi.”

    The member badges with ribbons are in the Interlaken Historical Society collections. The ribbons are especially interesting as one is pre-1904 and therefore Seneca Lodge Farmer, and the other is Seneca Lodge Interlaken.  

 

Dewitt’s Diary Monday January 14, 1924 Sold my yellow eye beans to Bradley. Drew two loads down to Van Lews elevator this morning. Roads are rough, Cold northwest wind today.

January 6, 1862 A Civil War Enlistment

 

January 6, 1862 A Civil War Enlistment

       With the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861 and the battles that followed, President Lincoln had issued calls for over 115,000 militia to be recruited and trained. Throughout 1861 and into 1862 Seneca County responded as men joined units and headed to training camps.

       One Covert recruit was Lyman B. Welton, born 11 July 1840. He was the son of Josiah and Hannah Welton. The New York State Adjutant General’s report noted, he “enlisted at Lodi, to serve three years, and mustered in as private, Co. H 102^nd New York Infantry, on 6 January 1862. [Later] promoted corporal, no date; re-enlisted as a veteran, 30 December 1863; wounded in action at Pine Mountain, Ga., on 15 June 1864; promoted sergeant, 25 July 1864. He was absent, wounded, at muster-out of company.”

       Additional items add considerable information about his service. A news item in the Suffolk County News Sayville, NY 13 September 1912 tells of a letter Welton sent to William Kaler of Sayville. The letter contained “a postal card bearing two photographs of the same man…Lyman B. Welton…one as he was fifty years ago… and the other as he is today. Mr. Welton was shot on the field of Gettysburg and would have died had it not been for Mr. Kaler who carried him off the field, and according to army surgeons, saved his life.” The article concluded with, “both men are planning to go to Gettysburg on the first of next July, when they will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the battle.”

       It is very possible that Welton was discharged for disability following that July 1863 injury given the notation that he “re-enlisted as a veteran 30 December 1863.”

       As for when he got out of the service, “fifty-two years last Tuesday—or on May 9th, 1865…was discharged from service in the U.S. army after four years service in the field. The ceremony took place at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Last Tuesday friend Welton celebrated the event.” Interlaken Review 11 May 1917.

       Following the war, he returned to Seneca County and was an officer in the William E. Avery Grand Army of the Republic Post of Interlaken. He attended the dedication of several of the monuments at Gettysburg and one at Antietam. “Lyman B. Welton has been notified of his selection as one of the 50 survivors of the old 102d regiment who are to be sent to Gettysburg September 19th to attend the unveiling of the monument to Gen. Slocum. The state pays the transportation of all these representatives.” Farmer Review August 1, 1902

       “John L. Ryno and Lyman B. Welton, veterans of the Civil War and members of William E. Avery Post, G.A.R., will leave tomorrow morning to attend the memorial exercises at the unveiling of monuments to the memory of Gen. Alvin Doubleday and Gen. John C. Robinson on the Gettysburg battlefield, which takes place Tuesday, September 25 [1917]. Ithaca Journal September 22, 1917

       In September 1920 “Lyman B. Welton and wife arrived home Monday night from Antietam, Maryland, where they witnessed the unveiling of the New York monument.” Interlaken Review, September 24, 1920.

       Over the years Mr. Welton also provided lists of local men who served in the Civil War. These were published in the local paper and these lists provide a starting point for further research.

       He died 12 December 1926, the last but one of the GAR Post, and is buried at Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken. He was survived by his second wife Elizbeth who died in 1935. They were married in 1895.

Dewitt’s Diary Thursday, January 6, 1949 I took some feed to town this morning. Mild & froze a very little this M[orning]. I helped Bob Aikens this A[fternoon], buzz a little wood and move a load of straw. Mild again tonight.

WE Avery GAR Post

A New Year, A Renewed Project

 A New Year, a Renewed Project

       During the 2017 Bicentennial for the Town of Covert I produced 200 “Snippet From the Past” items to share the history of the Town and Village. When they were done, I was done with the project, at least for a while.

       In recent weeks several people have commented on the value and enjoyment of reading the Snippet items either on this blog or in the printed copy produced by the Interlaken Historical Society in 2018, which, by the way, includes an index.

       This new project will not be as intensive as 2017. There is no goal to have 200 items in one year, more likely 5 or 6 per month. The hope is to continue for a few years, rather than just one.

       So where does one begin to find new items to share? An interesting question that I have pondered, and thankfully a number of answers surfaced. There are buildings that no longer exist, or the businesses that once occupied the space but are now forgotten or lost in the files, more fires that impacted the community over the years, and people and their stories that need to be shared. Of course, there are lots of photographs in the Interlaken Historical Society collection that can be shared along with their history or story.

       To begin this year though, let’s take a look back 100 years ago at what the January 4, 1924, Interlaken Review had to share about the community.

       Good news for the Cemetery, “Over 100 owners of lots in Lake View cemetery took advantage of the special offer of endowment for $25 during 1923. This fee is now back to original price of $50. The endowment fund now amounts to $10,000.” 

       Bad news for a local distillery. “When deputy sheriff Grover Terry went to serve a warrant charging assault on Thomas O'Brien, east of Ovid, he discovered a still in operation. O'Brien now faces a more serious charge.” I suspect his customers weren’t too happy either.

       January 1^st means taxes. “Unpaid school taxes in the towns of the county reported are Covert, $1,168.46; Lodi, $168.43; Ovid, $148.92.” That is the total amount due, not one person’s bill. And the collector’s notice of hours and locations, “…will be at the store of M.S. Wiggins, Interlaken; First National Bank, Trumansburg; Town Hall, Covert; to receive taxes...On all other days between January 2 and 31, inclusive the tax book will be at the store of Maynard S. Wiggins.” We should be thankful there is only one location for payment of our town and county tax bill.

       Two fires in nearby towns were included in that same Interlaken Review. “Last Monday morning a cow kicked over a lighted lantern in the barn of Patrick Harrington…The barn and contents and a wagon house were destroyed. Loss about $7,000 partly covered by insurance. His house caught fire but was saved.” The second was a house fire in Ithaca. Miss Anna Smith of Lodi received good news about her room in Ithaca, “she was the only occupant whose possessions were unharmed either from fire or water. Five people…lost everything and eight others suffered damage from the water.”

       “The railroad people are before the Public Service commission asking that the road west from Foote's Corners to the railroad track…be abandoned…Better wait until the new state road, under construction for the past two years, is completed through that section.” In looking at older maps, the road from Foote’s Corners to Route 96 is an extension of Deerlick Springs Road and is shown on the map, with the label "Freestone."  

       Over the coming months I will be looking into a lot of the old stories and I hope you will come along to see what has been found.

       Most of the “Dewitt’s Diary” entries will be taken from 1949 and 1924, being 75 and 100 years ago. Dewitt Bassette was my great-uncle and the Interlaken Historical Society has his collection of diaries from 1921 to 1982. I used these in 2017 to add to the story of the day, or in some cases, they were the basis for that day’s blog. They included both weather and other bits of news that were important to him.

 

Dewitt’s Diary Tuesday, January 1, 1924: A very mild winter to date. No snow and a good many warming days. Myron [his brother, my grandfather] has his Radio set. There is several dozen sets in and around town. My set works very good. I am wintering 5 horses: Dork, Buster, Morgan and two greys Nell and Bill. I have 4 head of red Durham steers and 3 cows and Black Creek Prince our Shorthorn Bull, 1 sow and 70 white Wyondotte [chickens].

Dewitt's Diaries