Hanover Square - 1880

his is another of Mike Paul's great photos. The Elmira-Horseheads Railway Company made regular daily runs between downtown Elmira and Hanover Square (where this photo was taken) in Horseheads. No more hitching Bessy up to the wagon for a 3-hour ride. The railway trip from Hanover Square to the corner of Lake & Water took just over an hour, leaving folks more time for shopping in the downtown stores and less time worrying that somebody might steal Bessy and the buckboard so they'd have no way home. Rustling horses wasn't just something that happened in the wild west in those days. Elmira had its share of horse thievery, too.

You can view more of Mike's photos of the Elmira area that he has shared with us by clicking here.