Thursday, April 18, 2024 Then and Now

In response to a request for a picture of the old theater building on Main Street and the Library parking lot, I decided to give you a few views, Then and Now, along that stretch of Main Street.

Then, the Theater building

Theater building with a slice of the telephone company building and, on the right, a bit of the library

Now, with the theater removed. The parking lot with the north side of the telephone company and the addition on the south side of the library.

Then, the Library was originally the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Hinman. As such it had a front porch overlooking Main Street. When the home was sold after Mrs. Hinman died the new owner added a second story to the porch. In 1922 a grandson repurchased the home and gave it to the Village for the Library. The two-story porch was removed as part of that process.

1976 photo taken as part of the Bi-Centennial Between the Lakes book.

Now, the Library building with its Children’s Room addition and the new front porch, built on the footprint of the original family home porch.

Then, the Symonds home was also the telephone company offices.

That building was torn down in 1955 to make room for the new telephone building.

Now, the Interlaken Historical Society has their Community Life Museum in the former office.

One building has had few changes over the years, the Masonic Hall. The lower floor has had a variety of businesses, while the second floor houses the meeting and dining room.

Then, for most of us, the last building was known as the Liquor Store with various owners over the years. Originally there was an open front porch on the family portion of the building.  Later the porch was filled in.

Now, a residence.

I hope you have enjoyed this look at a bit of Then and Now on Main Street. Another time I’ll take a look at other sections of Main Street. All Then photographs are from the Interlaken Historical Society collections, the Now photographs were taken by the author.

Dewitt’s Diary Friday April 18, 1924, Ray and I and Charley went fishing in Ithaca. I caught three suckers in the creek up there. It rained all day. We all got wet some. Too cold to fish much yet—the wind swung into the north tonight at dark.

Today we've seen buildings which were significantly changed by human design. On April 18, 1916, a fire destroyed the building on the southwest corner of Orchard and Main Street. You can read more by clicking on the date.