History of Corning, New York, USA

1854 - Corning
Corning, an important post-village of Painted Post township, Steuben county. New York, on the New York and Erie railroad, 301 miles from New York city. It is beautifully situated at the foot of a hill on the S. bank of the Chemung river, and contains from 15 to 20 stores, a bank, several manufactories, 2 or 3 hotels, and a foundry. It has an extensive trade in lumber and coal: 25,000,000 feet of dressed timber are estimated to be sent annually from this place down the Susquehanna. The Corning and Blossburg railroad connects it with the bituminous coal region of Pennsylvania. The Buffalo, Corning, and New York railroad connects it with Buffalo and Canada. Bridges unite the village to the communities of Knoxville and Centreville, on the opposite side of the Chemung river. Population, about 2000.
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.

1859
CORNING, a village of Painted Post township, Steuben co., in the state of New York, U.S., 213 m. WSW of Albany, on the S side of Chemung river, intersected by the New York and Erie railroad, and connected by a canal and Seneca lake with the Erie canal. It has also railway communication with the coal district of the state of Pennsylvania, by means of which it carries on an extensive trade in lumber, coal, &c.
A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859

1859 - DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN CORNING, N. Y.
CORNING, Thursday, Jan. 13. The large stone building, owned by R. E. Robinson & Co., and occupied by several persons as a flouring mill, furniture wareroom, confectionary and bakery, &c., was totally destroyed by fire at about 2 o'clock this morning. Loss $30,000; insurance $14,000. Supposed to be the work of an incendiary.

The New York Times
New York, New York
January 14, 1859

1868 - Glass Factory
Corning, N.Y., expects to have a glass factory, which will give employment to 200 workmen.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 13, 1868

1895 - Corning
Corning, a city of New York, one of the capitals of Steuben co, is situated on the Chemung River, and on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and the Erie Railroads, 290 miles W.N.W. of New York, 132 miles E.S.E. of Buffalo, and 16 miles W.N.W. of Elmira. It is a terminus of several branches of the Fall Brook Railroad system, which connect it with the coal-mines of Lycoming and Tioga cos., Pa., and with the New York Central system. It contains a court-house, 7 churches, the Corning Free Academy, a public library, 2 banks, several iron-foundries, manufactures of railroad-cars, extensive glass-works, stove-works, lumber industries, &c. Two daily and 2 weekly newspapers are published here. A bridge across the river connects Corning with Knoxville. Pop. in 1880, 4802; in 1890, 8550.
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

1896 - City of Corning
On the 26th day of October, 1825, that great thoroughfare of travel and traffic - the Erie canal - was completed and opened for its intended use, and great and immediate benefit accrued to the towns and villages along its route. During the ten years next following this event, the legislature was constantly besieged with applications for charters and for pecuniary assistance in the interest of other similar enterprises, nearly all of which were intended to be auxiliary and tributary to the canal first mentioned, and to cross the State from north to south, penetrating the vast lumber tracts of Southern New York and the unlimited coal fields of Northern Pennsylvania. Capitalists and merchants in Albany and New York, and also in the more prominent manufacturing centers of New England, were desirous that these lateral waterways should be established, for they eagerly sought both coal and lumber for business and speculative purposes, which commodities were not provided by the main canal. In ... Read MORE...

1912 - 41 DEAD, 50 HURT AS EXPRESS HITS EXCURSION TRAIN. At 65-Mile Speed Lackawanna Flier Crashers Into Crowded Cars Near Corning, N. Y.
ENGINEER IGNORES SIGNALS

Two Day Coaches Split in Two and a Pullman Crumpled Up by the Onrushing Locomotive.

VICTIMS KILLED IN SLEEP

A Few Passengers Who Rise to Learn Cause of Delay Witnesses of Tragedy.

SWIFTLY RUSH TO SUCCOR.

Injured Are Hurried to Corning Hospitals While Dead Are Laid Out for Identification.

MANY VICTIMS FROM HERE

Officials Blame Disaster on Express Engineer, Who, They Say, Ran By Warning Semaphore.

Special to The New York Times.

CORNING, N. Y., July 4. - Train No. 9, the regular train of Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, which leaves Hoboken nightly at 9 o'clock and is due here at 4:47 o'clock the next morning, was halted near Gibson, a small town three miles east of here, shortly after 5 o'clock this morning. In front of it was a freight train, stalled on the steep incline to Gibson, by the pulling out of a drawhead. An engine from the passenger train-two had been put on to surmount the grade at Groveland with a heavy excursion... Read MORE...

1916
Corning, a city of Steuben co., N.Y., is situated on the Chemung River and on the Lackawanna, the Erie, and the New York Central and Hudson River Rs., 17 miles WNW. of Elmira. It contains a court-house, the Corning Academy, St. Mary's Orphan Asylum, iron-foundries, extensive glass-, briok-, tile-, terra-cotta, and wagon-works, etc., and has lumber- and coal-industries. Coal is mined in the vicinity. A bridge across the river connects Corning with Knoxville. Pop. in 1880, 4802; in 1890, 8550; in 1900, 11,061.
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

1936 - March 26 - 200" telescope lens shipped, Corning Glass Works, NY-Cal Tech

historyorb.com

June 1, 1947: Corning Glass Works in N.Y. announced the invention of photosensitive glass

The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
June 1, 1947

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 counties in the Southern Tier: Steuben, Chemung, Tioga, and Broome. Dozens died and property damage ran into the millions as Corning, Elmira, Owego, Binghamton, and other communities suddenly found themselves under water. The flood destroyed the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, staggered the Penn Central, shut down Corning Glass Works for weeks, and devastated the Corning Museum of Glass―a major cultural resource. Lives and landscapes were forever changed when homes and businesses washed away in a matter of minutes. Henceforth, the region’s history became permanently divided into the times before and the times after the 1972 flood. Through stunning images, The 1972 Flood in New York’s Southern Tier chronicles the extraordinary destruction of twisted rail lines, devastated streets, exhausted recovery workers, rivers bursting their banks, cars on... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Corning:
Corning Museum of Glass: This is perhaps the most famous attraction in Corning. It's a must-visit for anyone interested in the art and science of glassmaking. You can watch live glassblowing demonstrations, explore the vast glass collection, and even try your hand at glassmaking in their workshops.

Rockwell Museum: Located in downtown Corning, this museum features an impressive collection of American art. It's housed in a beautiful historic building and offers a glimpse into the history and culture of the United States through art.

Heritage Village of the Southern Finger Lakes: Step back in time and explore this living history museum. You can wander through historic buildings, interact with costumed interpreters, and learn about the early settlers' way of life in the region.

Market Street: Corning's downtown area is a vibrant place to stroll, shop, and dine. Market Street is lined with charming boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. It's a great place to soak in the local ... Read MORE...