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.