Interlaken Historical society - A Great Place To Research Our Community

Important Dates in the Development of the Town of Covert and the Village of Interlaken Many of these dates were compiled for the Seneca County Bicentennial and the Village of Interlaken Centennial, both in 2004. Others have been added since then. Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version, then use your back button to return to the list. The Historical Society has research materials and additional photographs on many of these events. Stop in to visit, or email us at information@interlakenhistory.org.
July 25, 1782	Military Tract created to compensate Revolutionary War soldiers
March 5, 1794	Onondaga County established from the Military Tract
March 5, 1794	Town of Ovid created within Onondaga County
March 8, 1799	Cayuga County created from Onondaga County
February 16, 1803	Baptist Church of Covert established, known as Baptist Church of Ovid and Hector. Under Elder Thomas the church became the Mother Church spinning off 12 additional Baptist Churches Covert Baptist Church Page
March 29, 1804	Seneca County created from Cayuga County
March 19, 1810	Ithaca & Geneva Turnpike Incorporated
1811	Corduroy road completed
1812	First schoolhouse in Farmerville in a log cabin and later, a frame building. Called Farmerville Academy
June 12, 1814	Captain Hathaway’s Company a unit of the New York Volunteers proceeded to the Niagara Frontier
January 31, 1815	Post Office established at Mc Call’s store- first in Seneca County
April 7, 1817	Town of Covert created from Town of Ovid and included in the establishment of Tompkins County
April 13, 1819	Town of Covert returned from Tompkins County to Seneca County
May 8, 1819	Name of Post Office changed from Mc Calls Store to Farmer
October 18, 1819	Union Baptist Church in Christ organized in Farmer
Early Summer 1820	First Steam Boat on Cayuga Lake (The Enterprise) Passengers avoided stage coach ride from Ithaca to Geneva
March 8, 1824	Post Office established at Pratt's Corners, now the Hamlet of Covert
January 26, 1826	Town of Lodi established from Town of Covert
June 28, 1828	Bethel Chapel of Covert organized
November 28, 1830	Reformed Church of Farmerville organized. Formerly called the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
March 30, 1843	Military Lots No. 34, 40, 41, 42 in Township of Ovid annexed to Town of Covert
1847	The South and North Cemetery Associations were formed
February 10, 1850	Universalist Church formed
March 12, 1850	Annual Meeting of the Town of Covert held in new Covert Town Hall
May 5, 1856	Post Office established at Port Deposit
1860	The South and North Cemetery Associations were merged to form the Farmerville-Union Cemetery
1863	John M. Chadwick detailed to organize a band for the 3^rd Brigade and was later appointed leader. Band mostly comprised of members of the 126^th New York Volunteers
November 20, 1865	Name of Post Office changed from Farmer to Farmer Village
1866	Inception of taxing all landowners to support Common Schools grade 1 to 6
1867	Farmerville Institute, a select school operating in Farmer Village
October 28, 1869	Farmer Union Free School opened
June 4, 1870	Maiden voyage of largest and last steamboat (The Frontenac) on Cayuga Lake. Burned on July 27, 1907. Eight lives lost
September 13, 1873	Geneva & Ithaca Railroad completed
April 2, 1874	Farmer Grange No. 160 organized
June 4, 1874	Cornerstone laid for the St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church
July 4, 1876	One thousand people gather at the Baptist Church of Covert to hear the first ringing of the new bell to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence
September 30, 1876	Geneva & Ithaca Railroad came under control of Lehigh Valley Railroad
December 30, 1880	The Big Fire started from hot ashes dumped in a wooden ash barrel The bottom half of the picture shows the building roofs of the structures that were destroyed, on both sides of Main Street.. Note the American Hotel in the center top of the photograph, it would be destroyed by fire in 1891.
1891	Fire destroyed the American Hotel at the corner of Railroad and Main Street. The Goodman Hotel would be built on the site.
February 17, 1891	Cataract Engine and Hose Company No. 1 organized in Farmer Village
May 26, 1892	Name of Post Office changed from Farmer Village to Farmer
1895	Phone Service provided by Seneca Telephone Company
August 14, 1896	Universalist Church property sold and used as a bean elevator. Bell given to the Fire Company. Building burned on July 23, 1904
1900	Secondary school approved in Farmer
July 1902	Summer rains bring floods to many locations. Shown here is the Goodman Hotel surrounded by flowing water.
1903	Ovid Electric Company organized
March 2, 1904	Village of Interlaken Incorporated
1904	Farmer Union Free School and Farmer Academy became Interlaken High School
May 20, 1904	Name of Post Office changed from Farmer to Interlaken
1911	O.G. & D.C. Wheeler Banking Company moves into new bank building.
April 1, 1911	Covert Grange No. 1227 organized with 46 charter members.
1913	Originally built in 1857 the "Little Gem" formerly a church in Searsburg, town of Hector, was moved, piece by piece, and rebuilt on land purchased from Abram Wightman to become the Covert Grange Hall.
April 18, 1916	Weager Mill (formerly the Ryno and Longstreet foundry) destroyed by fire at the corner of Orchard and Main Street.
1921	Hinman family purchased, restored and gave to the Village of Interlaken the former Hinman home for a public library.
1922	Monument honoring the members of Company C, 126th NY Volunteers dedicated at Lake View Cemetery.
July 1927	Camp Barton (Boy Scouts of America) established on the grounds of the Frontenac Hotel


July 1, 1934	Interlaken Central School organized, the new building opened for classes January 1936
July 1935	Severe summer thunderstorms devastated the area causing flooding and much damage to roads, railroads, buildings and crops
1939	Robinson Hotel fire, now the site of the Quik Shop gas station.
1940s	Honor Roll on the front lawn of the Library honors the man and women from Interlaken who are serving in the US Armed Forces.
1950s	Trumansburg Telephone Company opens new telephone office, Main Street Interlaken
October 31, 1951	Interlaken Historical Society formed to preserve the history of South Seneca County
October 15, 1954	Hurricane Hazel damages homes, farms and businesses leaving them without electricity or telephone service.

1963	New Post office opens on site of former Bergen Home, Main Street at West Avenue

May 1, 1968	Voters approve merger of Interlaken and Ovid Central Schools, now know as the South Seneca School District

April 25, 1970	Covert Grange #1227 disbanded.
	The members joined the Interlaken Grange, with meetings continuing to be held at the former Covert Grange Hall.
June 1972	Hurricane Agnes rained on the area for days prompting flooding and emergencies throughout the region.
1976
1978	Hamlet of Covert becomes a Historic District

June 1986	The Goodman Hotel, built after the American Hotel fire in 1891...
	...came down in one day.
March 2004	The Village of Interlaken celebrated its 100th Anniversary with an open house at the Village Hall. On display were a number of historical documents and memorabilia.
June 2004	Olde Home Day 2004 Celebrated the Centennial of the Village of Interlaken and the Bicentennial of Seneca County. Past and present members of the Interlaken Fire Department were recognized as the Citizens of the Century.