First Baptist Church
Elmira, NY

familiar sight to Elmirans frequenting the downtown area, this church was built on the site of two previous Baptist churches in 1892. The land was originally donated in the late 1820s by Jeffery and Elizabeth Wisner, after whom the park adjacent to the church is named. Two churches were subsequently built by the church membership - one in 1830 and the other in 1849 prior to building this current edifice.

Located on the corner of Main and Church Streets, with its brick facade, it has been a landmark in downtown Elmira since its beginnings. In 1964 and in 1975 the state Baptist convention was held there. This postcard was donated to SHS58.org by Richard Verguson, formerly of Elmira and now residing in Florida. He says he picked it up at a recent family reunion in Elmira.