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History of Elmira, New York, USA
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The New York legislature established the Township of Chemung, now Chemung County, in 1788. The settlement of Newtown was soon established at the intersection of Newtown Creek and the Chemung River. In 1792, the settlement at Newtown joined with the Wisnerburg and DeWittsburg settlements to form the village of Newtown. In 1808, the village officially changed its name to the Town of Elmira, at a town meeting held at Teal's Tavern. It is said the town was named after tavern owner Nathan Teal's young daughter, but that story has never been confirmed. In any case, the City of Elmira, also called "The Queen City", was incorporated in 1864 from part of the town of Elmira and the village of Elmira. The remaining part of the town of Elmira exists still, surrounding the city on the west, north and east.
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Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Elmira, New York, USA
History, News and Stories of Elmira, New York, USA

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Elmira was settled in 1788 by Captain John Hendry
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
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1854 - Elmira
Elmira. n post-village, capital of Chemung county. New York, is situated in Elmira township, near the junction of Newton creek with the Chemung... Read MORE...
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Elmira was incorporated in 1865
1884 - Mr. P. Sexton, of Elmira, N.Y., will soon have a new eyelid.
Mr. Sexton, as will be remembered, was the engineer of the train that rain through a sea of burning oil near Bradford, Pa., last January. He was... Read MORE...
1885 - Mrs. Loper, aged ninety-seven years, is still living at Elmira, N. Y.
When she first settled in that vicinity the county contained only six families, and animals indigenous to that part of the United States were found... Read MORE...
1886 - FOUR MEN KILLED - Victims of the Explosion of a Locomotive Boiler
A few minutes after 3 o'clock the other afternoon an engine of the Beech Creek Railroad blew up with tremendous force near Elmira, N. Y. Five men... Read MORE...
1888 - Fire
Another One.
Elmira, N. Y., March 10. – The explosion of a lamp in the press room of the Elmira Gazette at 8 o’clock yesterday evening, followed by... Read MORE...
1890 - FIRE CAUSED BY AN EXPLOSION. THE LOSS WILL PROBABLY REACH TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
ELMIRA, N. Y., June 30. - Lewis Neilson, an employe in the hardware store of Barker, Rose & Gray, at the corner of Water and Lake Streets, was sent... Read MORE...
1892 - TO ETERNITY ! FOUR PEOPLE KILLED INSTANTLY BY TRAIN NO. 5. A CROSSING HORROR. AN ACCIDENT THE ENGINEER DID NOT SEE. THREE CORPSES ON THE ENGINE PILOT. THE GHASTLY DISCOVERY MADE WHEN THE TRAIN REACHED THE DEPOT.
WHAT THE ENGINEER SAYS.
HE WAS GETTING HIS DINNER PAIL OUT WHEN THE TRAIN PASSED OVER THE CROSSING - THE VICTIMS, RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY - ONE... Read MORE...
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1895 - Elmira
Elmira, a city and the capital of Chemung co., N.Y., and the largest town on the Erie Railroad between Paterson and Buffalo, is situated on both... Read MORE...
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1916
Elmira, a city and the capital of Chemung co., N.Y., is situated on both sides of the Chemung River, in a wide and fertile valley, at the mouth of... Read MORE...
1946 - STATE OF EMERGENCY - Flood Waters Cover Elmira Business Area
ELMIRA (AP). - Flood waters six inches deep swept through Elmira's main business district today and Mayor Emory Strachen declared a state of... Read MORE...
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1956 - September 10 - WSYE TV chan 18 in Elmira-Corning, NY (NBC) 1st broadcast
historyorb.com
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1972 - Hurricane Agnes
"In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes hit the East Coast with a monstrous and devastating force, bringing a deluge across multiple states and slamming four... Read MORE...
Elmira, New York, USA Genealogy
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Updated: 2/11/2020 9:11:33 AM
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