Last time we left you at the Elmira Theatre and were going to meet you at Harold's Army Surplus Store. On our way the strangest thing happened - we suddenly found ourselves in a time warp somewhere on Church Street near Main. We have been here before - remember when we visited Langdon Plaza several weeks ago? We are standing in Church Street facing east. There on our left is the site where Langdon Plaza should be, except this picture was taken before the plaza was even built. You can see the outline of the Langdon Home through the trees. And more toward the center of the picture we can see old Trinity Church. Notice the inset has a more recent view of the church, but the lines and silhouette haven't changed much. On the right is Wisner Park and Park Church, site of the Preacher Beecher Statue. This photo is courtesy of the Chemung Valley Historical Society and the inset photo was taken by Marlene Swimelar Ascherl, SHS Class of 57. Trinity Church was built in 1852 at a cost of $30,000. Division occurred in the congregation in 1864 over issues surrounding the Civil War when 47 families at Trinity, representing intense Northern sentiment, seceded to form Grace Episcopal Church. They eventually constructed a church building on North Main Street across from Market Street on the site we knew in the 50's as the Colonial Theatre. Let's try again to meet at Harold's Army and Navy Surplus Store. But first let's run by the YWCA and see if the pool's open. Arney sometimes liked to take a swim and he might just be there right now. The YW is on the corner of Lake and Gray Streets just across from the Court House. |
