March 21, 2024 Springtime Sidewalks

       The current Spring like weather encourages us to get out and walk. In walking around the village of Interlaken you often find at the crosswalks of the older sidewalks, “T Briggs Interlaken, NY”. Who was Thomas Briggs?

        “A new cement walk has been laid in front of I.B. Weager's new house.” [Interlaken Review June 3, 1910] The article continued listing those who had applied for new cement walks, “John Dickerson, Thomas Briggs on Cayuga street; W.E. Peterson and the Reformed church parsonage, thus completing the north side of Orchard Street; Ford Rappleye, Lewis Covert, James Switzer and Thos. Freestone, on West Avenue. Mr. Freestone intends to continue the walk from the corporation line to and around his residence.” Once those walks were completed, there would be “two short pieces of poor walk on the north side of West Avenue, and it is believed they will fall in line and thus complete the longest and best strip in the village, this year.” These sidewalks were the work of Thomas Briggs.

       Mr. Briggs did more than build sidewalks in the village. Interlaken Review August 29, 1913, “Thomas Briggs had his horse drop dead while returning from Kidders last Saturday evening, where he is building a sea wall for Owen DeWitt.”

       Mr. Briggs was also involved with larger projects which remain in use today. Interlaken Review September 4, 1914, “The contract for building a vault in Lake View cemetery has been let to Thomas Briggs at $900. The building is to be of concrete, with a slate roof.”

       Two months later, Interlaken Review October 30, 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.”

       As you enter the cemetery, the Chapel is directly in front of you. Interlaken Review March 16, 1923, “The late Madison Covert bequeathed a sum to Lake View Cemetery for a memorial chapel to be erected in the cemetery. On Tuesday the trustees let the contract to Thomas Briggs and Frank Kennedy. The designs for this building were drawn up by A.D. Chadwick of Ithaca. The building will be located at the foot of the hill, facing the entrance, and will be put up this summer.”

       The Village of Interlaken Minute Book records a Special Meeting held on October 10, 1928. Several residents of Knight and Mechanic Streets met with the board requesting water for fire protection service for their streets. The minutes note, “Thomas Briggs to figure the cost of a reservoir for this.” There are payments made to Mr. Briggs shown in the minutes for 1929 but no further discussion.

       The Interlaken Review, October 11, 1929, had an article praising the work for the new reservoir.

       “Thomas Briggs, 58, died Friday, January 24th, 1930, at his home in Interlaken, after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Briggs was born in the town of Covert and with the exception of a few years spent in the west, had lived his entire life in this section, where he was widely and favorably known.” Interlaken Review January 31, 1930.

       He had served on the village board as street commissioner. In reflecting on all he had done for the community, the obituary noted, “evidence of his careful work will long exist.” Given his death in January the article concluded, “Vault burial at Lake View.” In the spring he was buried on the family lot.

       Wheeler A. Bassett wrote many items for the Review often adding much to a simple obituary or news item. This was very evident in the January 31, 1930, Interlaken Review:

     I am sure that I bespeak the voice of every citizen of Interlaken when I say that we deeply deplore the loss of our fellow citizen, Thomas P. Briggs. His has been a peculiarly useful and busy life. His name will long be remembered for it is written on every street in our village. Through his skillful work our village has been beautified and made more safe for everyone who walks its streets. What proved to be the last and crowning work of his life was the water reservoir built last fall on West Avenue. As one who watched the work as it progressed day by day, I can truly say that Mr. Briggs spared himself no effort in making this what we trust will be a great and lasting success. And the thought comes to us all that he possibly overtaxed himself at this time and brought on his untimely death. W. A. B.

       As you enjoy these springlike days and walking in the village or visiting the cemetery, I hope you will pause and recall Mr. Briggs for his work.

Dewitt’s Diary Friday, March 21, 1924, Cloudy and still this morning. Leon W. and I are working in the woods. I am freshening up my buzz pile today. The ground froze hard last night. Today is the first day of spring.

Snippet January 4, 1923 The Chapel at Lake View;
December 18, 1914 Receiving Vault

 Girl Scout Sunday, March 12, 1962

       In the collection of the Interlaken Historical Society are two boxes of memorabilia relating to the Interlaken Girl Scouts. These were donated by Kitty Ritter and Mary Willers, both longtime leaders.

March 12, 1964 Girl Scout Sunday bulletin insert

       For many years Girl Scout Week and Girl Scout Sunday were held in October. Interlaken Review October 28, 1949, “Sunday, October 30^th, marks the opening of Girl Scout Week. Girl Scout Week is celebrated every year during the week of Juliette Low’s birthday, October 31^st. Juliette Low, the Founder of the Girl Scouts in the United States, announced the beginning of the movement in March, 1912.”

       Later in the article it noted, “On Sunday, the Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Committee of Interlaken will begin their activities by attending the 10:30 service at the Baptist Church. Last year this service was held at the Interlaken Reformed Church.”

       Interlaken Review, October 27, 1950 “The week opens with Girl Scout Sunday, emphasizing that all Girl Scouts attend church in uniform.”

       At the Girl Scout national convention in the fall of 1953, “the dates of Girl Scout Week were changed to coincide with the annual celebration of the Girl Scout Anniversary on March 12.” Trumansburg Free Press, March 5, 1954.

       That article continued, announcing the dates for “Girl Scout Week, March 7-13. According to the president of the local Scout Executive Committee, this will be the first time that Girl Scout Week will be observed in March. Previously Girl Scout Week occurred in October.”

       Interlaken Review March 7, 1957, “Area Girl Scouts will join more than two million scouts across the country in observing Girl Scout Week, March 10 through 16…The week-long celebration commences with Girl Scout Sunday when Scouts will attend churches in uniform, with their leaders.”

       March 11, 1965, Under the Headline, “Girl Scouts Attend Rally, The Interlaken Girl Scouts and adult volunteers will observe Girl Scout Sunday, March 14. Go to the church of your choice.”

       Many of the articles announcing Girl Scout Week included lists of the girls and their rank along with the adult volunteers. One photograph in the March 12, 1964, Interlaken Review showed a group of Scouts serving refreshments at the P.T.A. meeting. Shown are Phyllis Boyes, Sue Bell, Midge Larsen, Carol Adams, Carol Barber, Doris Swartout, Sephanie Adams, Sharon Jackson, Roxie Waid, and Mrs. Barb [Paul] Adams.

       Several of the girls from the Interlaken troops also participated in larger national events. Margaret Willers attended the 1962 Girl Scout Senior Roundup at Button Bay, VT. The Historical Society has her “trading hat” from the event.

       Also in the collection is a copy of the letter written in December 1964 notifying Joan Leary and others that they had been selected to attend the 1965 Senior Roundup at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, representing the Tiotomca* Area Girl Scouts.

      After sharing a draft copy of this snippet with Joan Leary Young she shared a photo of herself in a 1935 uniform and Wendy Hanford in a 1929 uniform that they wore to school to help celebrate Girl Scout Week. Thank you, Joan.

       Included on the back of the 1964 church insert was the Scout Promise. It also noted that in the Tiotomca Area Council there were 3,300 girls.

       For all of those who were and still are involved in Girl Scouts, we have to say “thank you” to the adults who assisted along the way, many of them our mothers.

Dewitt’s Diary Wednesday, March 12, 1924: Edna ironed today. Cold northwest gale today. I trimmed trees this morning. Edna, Leland and myself went down to Mother’s tonight. Francis has been adding another “tube” to his Radio set. It sure makes it much better. All stations much louder.

Editor’s notes: *Tiotomca stood for the counties that made up the council, Tioga, Tompkins and Seneca.

In Dewitt’s Diary, Mother is Catherine Petterson Bassette wife of D.C. Bassette, and Francis is Dewitt’s youngest brother.

 Number Please! March 8, 2024

       Today when we want to call someone, we open our phone, find their name and call. No need to remember a number or use area codes or a 1 before the number. In the early 1900s it wasn’t that simple. Your call was handled by one of the ladies at a switchboard. For a time there were also two telephone companies. To encourage others to sign up with them, the Interlaken Exchange would publicize the names of the new customers.

       March 23, 1906,

Interlaken Review Among those who have put in Bell ’phones connected with the Interlaken exchange, or are about to be connected, are: Interlaken High school, Rev. E.B. VanAarsdale, Morrison Brown, Benj. Terry, L. C. Myer, Wm. H. Terry, Thos. Hyland, I. B. Wyckoff, Norman Wyckoff, Bert Covert, Bert Helfman, Marcus E. Sherwood, John Wixson, Geo. Helfman, Fred Quigley, Loren Reeves; Lewis A. Morgan, Samuel L. Wikoff, John E. Jones, Herbert Rappleye, Thad. R. Covert, Peter Townsend, A. D. Colgate, Wm. Rogers, Elmer Case, John Ike, Floyd Seeley, Fay Strong, Fred Medlock. When all are connected it will make 167 ’phones on the Interlaken exchange.

       The list of new customers continued, “The Bell telephone company are installing a larger board on their Interlaken exchange.” Interlaken Review June 12, 1908

       The February 26, 1909, issue of the Interlaken Review had a full listing of those in the community who had Interlaken Exchange telephones. With the header for the list was the comment, “Call by number to insure prompt service.”

Detail, Interlaken Review February 26, 1909

 

       Shown is a small piece of the total list. In addition to the name and number of the customers is a comment about location, residence vs farm residence, and type of business. They also list the locations of three pay stations. Not surprisingly, they are all at the public houses, “Goodman House, Robinson House and Hotel Roarke.” Not shown on this detail are the three Lehigh Valley Railroad Stations at Interlaken, Sheldrake and Covert. In total there are over 220 names of residents and businesses.

       Long Distance calls were not easy from home locations. The phone company encouraged subscribers to stop at the office and, “Use our toll lines and save time and money. Long Distance connections with 800 towns and 100,000 subscribers.” Interlaken Review February 26, 1909

       Interlaken Review January 28, 1910: “The Home Telephone Co. has just issued a new card directory of their Interlaken Exchange. Call at their office and get one. The complete list will appear in the Review next week.” That list contained almost 280 names.

       A notice in the December 30, 1910, Interlaken Review provided information relating to the Lodi subscribers. “LODI MOVES TO INTERLAKEN. By the time the Review reaches Lodi readers the N.Y. Telephone Co. (Bell) will have all its Lodi subscribers connected directly on the Interlaken exchange and will discontinue its central station at Lodi. This will facilitate matters for the company, and give Lodi subscribers a continuous service, day and night, as the Interlaken exchange is never closed.”

       Is this critical to early March 2024, maybe not, unless you are trying to research someone. If you are using the Interlaken Public Library digital newspaper collection, try searching for your person using the last name, first name format.

       I wonder how many of us have over 250 names in our cell phones. No need to look up or recall their number just search for their name.

     For a longer article about the early telephone service see January 15, 1931.

Dewitt’s Diary: Saturday, March 8, 1924, Cloudy and snow flurries today. The wind got around into the northwest and colder today. Had a heavy blizzard last night and got about 2 inches of snow in an hour and then it cleared away. I drew down the balance of my wheat. We had 456 bushels. Fifty bushels more than I expected. Dollar Day in town today.