"A heart attack Wednesday night brought death to Willis G. Besemer, 80, life-long resident of the settlement bearing his name. He was the only station agent who ever served at Besemer Station of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Mr. Besemer became ill last July, shortly after the Lehigh abandoned its branch line from Ithaca to Van Etten. Besemer Station was the first stop out of East Ithaca. He never fully recovered.
Born in the community where he lived a lifetime, Mr. Besemer helped his father, Josiah, build the depot in 1875. Timber cut from the family woodlot was used. He often remarked that he had handled every stick in the building.
He was appointed agent and held this position for nearly 60 years, retiring only when the stop was eliminated shortly before the entire line was abandoned.
Besemer Station was a center of community activities in the days of the health resorts at Slaterville. Besides being used for storing coal, lime, flour and feed for more than 35 years, and for nearly 50 years it served as the community post office."
"Death Takes Veteran Station Agent," Ithaca Journal, December 31, 1936, 3.