Lake View Cemetery
A History
At the time of the earliest settlers in this area the township of Ovid encompassed the entire 100 lot military tract. As more people moved into the area, the 100 military lots were sub-divided into three townships. Ovid was the northern half of the military lots, the southwest quarter became Lodi and the Southeastern quarter became Covert.
From 1797 until 1845 many of the burials were in family cemeteries in a corner of a farm field, on knolls or along Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. There were also several church cemeteries, including McNeil’s cemetery on the Ovid Gospel Lot, the Baptist Church of Farmer burying ground, (first burial in 1824) and the Reformed Dutch Church of Farmer burying ground (first burial in 1831).
On April 27th 1847 the New York State Legislature passed a law providing for the incorporation of Rural Cemetery Associations by lot owners. Ten prominent local citizens at a meeting resolved to form an association to be known as the Farmerville Rural Cemetery Association. Ten days later the Trustees of the Association voted to purchase one and a half acres of land from William Rappleye near the Baptist church burial grounds.
By similar action, a second group, mainly from the Reformed Dutch Church, formed the North Cemetery Association and purchased land from Abram Ditmars. Many of the earlier burials from the Dutch Reformed church burying ground were relocated to the new grounds on the road north of the village that connects the main Ithaca to Geneva “turnpike” with the lake shore area known as Morehouse landing.
On 23 June 1849 the North Cemetery Association of Farmerville purchased an additional portion of lot 34 from Abram Ditmars, thereby doubling the size of their cemetery. These first two purchases form much of the area of Lake View Cemetery along the front fence.
At a meeting of the officers of the North and South Cemetery Associations of Farmerville at the Reformed Dutch Church, Nov 26, 1860, it was resolved, the South Cemetery Association purchase two more acres of land adjoining the North, on the west and north of the same. Individuals owning lots in the south may take as many in said purchase of same size. Resolved that we will purchase 2 to 2½ acres more land than the above named if the people of this vicinity will subscribe a sufficient amount to pay the same.
On July 1st 1861, the Reformed Dutch Church resolved to form an association to be known as the “Farmerville Union Cemetery. The Trustees elected at that meeting were John Booram, Isaac Covert, Ira Almy and John P. Rappylee for one year terms. Abram Ditmars, James C Knight, Caleb H. Parshall and Jacob D. Wintersteen for two year terms. Bennett E. Bassett, Ansel Rappylee, Lockwood Hinman and John C. Hall for three year terms. The officers were John Booram (President), Ira Almy (Vice President, Superintendent & Sexton), James C. Knight (Treasurer), and Jacob D. Wintersteen (Secretary).
In August 1861 a set of By-Laws were adopted and the price of interment was not to exceed three dollars ($3) which is to pay for digging & filling graves and supplying plank for the same.
On December 2nd 1861, the Trustees of the Farmerville Rural Cemetery Association sold the original 1.5 acres from the South Cemetery Association, lot 50, back to William Rappleye.
At the March 1865 Annual meeting it was resolved that the Association purchase an additional five acres from Abram Ditmars. This purchase occurred on February 12, 1866. This purchase defined the maximum size of Lake View Cemetery until 1994.
After three successive ballots, at the annual meeting in 1874, 1875, and 1876, the name of the cemetery was changed to Lake View Cemetery Association. A final name change was made in May 1908 whereby the Association would be known as the Lake View Cemetery Association of Interlaken, New York.
Lake View Cemetery
The Facilities
The first burials at Lake View Cemetery were family and community affairs. The family bought the lot, and cared for it during the year. There was a Sexton, but his main responsibility was for the location of lots and digging of graves. Over the years, and even as early as 1874 the trustees had to take up the need for keeping the cemetery looking its best. Trees were cut, bushes pruned, stones straightened and the lawns mowed. The trustees met at the cemetery grounds in 1861 for a working discussion of where to place the main entrance, and the necessary driving paths. As you walk through the cemetery today many of these “avenues” are still visible either through the location of shrubs that border the lots, or the location of corner stones and the absence of grave stones between two sets.
One of the concerns noted in the early minutes of the Association meetings and the Trustees was the recording of the sale of lots. It was noted that several times a new map had been drawn, lot lines adjusted and the approved map placed on file in the county clerk’s office. Many of the lots along the front fence line are 11 feet wide (East to West) and 15 to 20 feet deep (North to South). When the area on the North side of the upper road was laid out, the sections were marked in 16 by 20 foot lots with a path running North to South after two rows of lots. Two books remain that detail the lot sales over the years. One dates from around 1876 as the pages are headed “Lake View Cemetery” on the left page and “Farmer Village, N. Y.” on the right page. The earlier lot purchases were copied into this book which was used until about 1910. The second and larger book contains a copy of the previous recordings along with lot sales up to the Spring of 1976.
A new fence along the south side was purchased in 1907 for $400. At the Annual meeting on March 4, 1907, A verbal report from the Superintendent, P.W. Rappleye, suggested the need of a receiving vault and a well. In April 1913 a committee was appointed to look into the costs and feasibility of building a vault. The vault was built prior to the Annual meeting of March 1915 at which time the treasurer noted money received for the vault $203.58. The costs for the vault were Thomas Briggs $903.25 and HP Minor $85.00.
On July 21, 1920 a Special meeting of the board of trustees was held. The object of the meeting was in regard to the erection of a Soldiers Monument, by the late Madison Covert, who left Lake View Cemetery Association one thousand dollars for the erection of a Soldiers monument and three thousand dollars for a Chapel. January 1923 the Trustees met to discuss the building of the chapel and on November 26, 1923 they met in the new Chapel. The annual meeting of 1924 notes that $3,000 was paid to Briggs & Kennedy for the Chapel, $11 for a stove and $44.98 for chairs.
The ordering of the monument for the Soldier’s memorial caused one of the few noted rifts in the ranks of the trustees. Two meetings, days apart and two separate votes were taken to determine which memorial company should get the order. On September 24, 1920 the vote was in favor of the Richard Hoare company of Ithaca. On the 29th of September a second vote was taken and again the Raymond Hoare Company of Ithaca defeated an Elmira company. The committee was instructed to purchase a monument from Mr. Hoare, whereupon the committee resigned and a new committee was appointed to carry out the vote.
Many people have cared for the cemetery grounds over the years and we are grateful to all for their time and labors.
Lake View Cemetery
The Association, A Corporation
The board of Trustees is elected by and from the lot owners as provided by the 1847 act incorporating Rural Cemeteries. In 1847 there were nine Trustees which was later raised to twelve. At one time it was suggested that six would be sufficient, but that item was voted down. Trustees are elected for a three year term, unless filling a vacancy, with four trustees being elected each year. Over the years the roll call has been answered by many prominent men and women of the community, and generations of families have succeeded each other. The current board consists of President Diane Bassette Nelson, Vice President John Hubbard, Secretary Gary Hunt and Treasurer Marcia Taylor. Trustees are: Sandi Bassette, Mark Beardsley, Jason Lisk, Cynthia McGlaughlin, Jim Mead, Chris Nelson, Dale Sowards and Roger Ward II.