History of Hornell, New York, USA

1854 - Hornellsville
Hornkllsville, a post-township of Steuben county, New York, on the New York and Erie railroad, 342 miles from New York city. The village is situated on the Canisteo river, about a mile W. of the railroad station. The inhabitants are principally engaged in the lumber trade. The Homellsville and Buffalo railroad connects it with Buffalo, 90 miles distant. Population of the township, 2637 ; of the village, about 1200.
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.

1879 - The Hornell (N. Y.) Times records the marriage of a man in Le Roy to his sixth wife,
four of them being sisters, and the last one being the youngest. He says: "When you get into a good family stick to it."


St. Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
December 27, 1879

1895 - Hornellsville
Hor'nellsville, a city of Steuben co., N.Y., on the Canisteo River, and on the Erie Railroad, 332 miles W.N.W. of New York, 91 miles E.S.E. of Buffalo, and about 60 miles S. of Rochester. It is at the junction of two divisions of the railroad, one of which terminates at Buffalo and the other at Dunkirk. It contains 9 churches, a con vent, 2 national banks, 2 other banks, a public library of 10,000 volumes, a free academy, a business college, railroad repair shops, 3 daily and 3 weekly newspaper offices, and manufactures of mowing-machines, electric supplies, furniture, wire fencing, "Jersey" fabric, gloves, silk goods, leather, shoes, &c. Pop. in 1890, 10,996.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1895 - Blizzard - THE STORM STILL HOVERS OVER THE UNITED STATES. IT IS SEVEREST IN THE EAST. TRAFFIC ALMOST ENTIRELY AT A STANDSTILL -- RAILROAD TRAINS BLOCKADED -- BUSINESS PARALYZED -- PEOPLE FROZEN TO DEATH AT SEVERAL PLACES...
...Snow Drifts Forty Feet High.
Hornellsville, N. Y., Feb. 9. - An unknown man is said to have been frozen to death at Wellsville yesterday. A party tried to drive from here to Dansville, but found the snow drifts over 40 feet high and had to come back. No trains are now moving...

The Delphos Daily Herald
Ohio
February 9, 1895

1895 - FAST FREIGHT WRECKED - Three Men and Ten Valuable Horses Were Killed.
Hornellsville, N. Y., May 13 - A bad wreck took place on the western division of the Erie three miles west of here. Fast freight No. 92 was thrown in the ditch by a broken wheel, and ten cars were piled up in a confused heap. The accident occurred when the train was making fast time, and the cars were on that account completely shattered.

One of the cars that was in the wreck was from Mercer, Pa., and contained horses that were being taken east to enter the races. There were 18 horses in this part that were attended by their grooms.

Three men were killed in the wreck, and all of them were grooms. Their names are unknown, FOSTER, one of the managers of the car of horses had several ribs, both arms and a leg broken. It is thought that besides this he has sustained internal injuries. The physicians say that he cannot live.

Two other men whose names are unknown were severely injured. PATRICK SHANNELLY, a brakeman, was thrown in the air when the accident occurred. An ankle was... Read MORE...

1896 - The City of Hornellsville
When pioneer Benjamin Crosby and his immediate followers came into the Upper Canisteo country they little thought the lands on which they settled would ever become the site of a prosperous village, and much less, a thriving metropolitan city; and it is equally doubtful if even those enterprising early settlers George Hornell, Dugald Cameron or Ira Davenport ever contemplated such a substantial growth and development as the locality enjoyed as the result of their first efforts. "Yeoman" Benjamin Crosby purchased from Solomon Bennett, "gentleman," great lot No. 8, for three hundred pounds, and George Hornell bought of John Stephens lot No. 7, for one hundred and eleven pounds, each tract containing 1,600 acres of land and lying, in part at least, within the present city limits.

However, the earlier growth of this locality was by no means rapid, but rather by steady yet sure advances did the village succeed the hamlet and the city in turn supersede the village. The first beginning in... Read MORE...

1908 - Fatal Wreck on Erie.
The westbound Wells-Fargo express train on the Erie Railroad, crashed into an eastbound freight at Hornell. Two were killed and four were injured. The dead are: L. H. HELMER, engineer of the express train, of Hornell, and JAMES CANNON, fireman of the express, of Andover.
The injured include the fireman of the freight train, a man named McGEE, of Salamanca; JOHN FIELD, conductor of the express train, of Binghamton; W. H. POST, head messenger, of Hoboken, N. J., and WILLIAM HUBERTON, of Wellsville. The express, which carried no passengers, was running forty-five minutes late. The trains had orders to meet and pass at 'Jx' tower. It is asserted that the freight train failed to get out of the way of the express in time. The wreck occurred near a curve, and the heavy express train, running down a steep grade with seven cars, hit the freight head-on. Both locomotives were wrecked and about fifteen cars were piled up. HELMER was burned and mangled under the wreckage. The wreck took fire and ... Read MORE...

1913 - Page House at Hornell burned Down Today
Hornell, Feb. 19. - The Hotel Page on Main Street was destroyed by fire today. The building was owned by the Page estate. The loss to the building and contents will be about $80,000, partially insured. A force of men tore down the big livery barns located in the rear of the hotel in order to prevent the fire from spreading to them.
Olean Evening Times
New York
February 19, 1913

1916
Hornellsville, a city of Steuben co., N.Y., on the Canisteo River and on the Erie and the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Rs., 60 miles S. of Rochester. It is the trade-centre of a large agricultural region and has commercial and academic schools, railroad repair-shops, and manufactures of railway and electric supplies, furniture, leather, woollens, sash, doors, and blinds, etc. Pop. in 1890, 10,996 ; in 1900, 11,918.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1948 - FOUR DIE IN HORNELL FIRE; Eight Are Hurt as Former Park Hotel, a Landmark, Burns
HORNELL, N.Y., April 17 (AP) - Four persons perished, eight were injured and a score were helped to safety today when fire destroyed a three-story business and rooming establishment.
The New York Times
New York, New York
April 18, 1948

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Hornell:
Hornell Erie Depot Museum:

Explore the town's history at the Hornell Erie Depot Museum. Learn about the Erie Railroad and how it shaped the community.

St. Ann's Academy:

Visit St. Ann's Academy, a historic Catholic school building. It's a beautiful piece of architecture and offers a glimpse into the town's educational history.

Maple City Savings Bank:

Take a stroll through the town and appreciate the architecture, including the Maple City Savings Bank building. It's a classic example of early 20th-century design.

Shawmut Park:

Enjoy some outdoor time at Shawmut Park. Whether it's a picnic or just a leisurely walk, the park provides a relaxing environment.

Hornell Area Arts Council:

Check out any events or exhibitions hosted by the Hornell Area Arts Council. It's a great way to support local artists and immerse yourself in the town's creative scene.

Letchworth State Park:

While technically outside Hornell, Letchworth State Park is a short drive away and ... Read MORE...