Bonnie Traum - Bontraum1@aol.com

Two of my favorite restaurants were Lag's on Water St. for Veal Parm and spaghetti and The New England Kitchen which I believe was on Lake Street. They had the best Smorgasborgs. Makes my mouth water just thinking of them. Does anyone from the Southside remember Ostranders' Mom and Pop store on Reynolds Street?

Garth Rumsmoke <diarowdy@aol.com>

Anyone who was a really outdoorsman would remember the 1940s and getting up in the early a.m. to be on Catherine Creek before sunrise, just to have a spot to stand and fish for the spring rainbow trout. Maybe they remember the fishermen's night lights on the Finger Lakes. So many boats it looked like a small city after dark. Those were the best of the fishing years.

Dave Krolak - davek@mattnj.com

Absolutely a great website!

I can't forget The Cozy Corner (or was it Kozy Korner). It was another soda fountain/penny candy store, across from my elementary school, "George Washington".

Another great memory that just came to me was our milk delivery I forgot the name of the dairy, but in the early 60's our milk was still being delivered by a horse drawn wagon. The horse's name was Dolly. The milk man would jump out of the wagon with his basket filled with bottles and Dolly would continue on up the street by herself. She always knew just where to stop.

Thanks again for maintaining this wonderful forum for our memories!

Marianne Asher Cain, EFA '79

I grew up on Hendy Avenue in West Elmira....just around the corner on W. Church St. was Sheehan's little grocery store, run by Mr. and Mrs. Sheehan who lived across the street from us. We used to go there every day to buy ice cream treats and candy. They used to have banana fudgies - they were the best! Have not been able to find them anywhere since.

Also, my grandfather, George Ackerson, was the pharmacist at Brown's Drugstore on Hanover Square, Horseheads, and everyone called him Doc, this back in the 1950's. My grandmother, mother and uncle scooped ice cream there..they had wonderful homemade ice cream.

Enjoyed the site and will pass along to others who reminisce frequently about those wonderful times growing up.

Toni Brush, TAE '62 - feb359@infoblvd.net

How about Gingers Sugar Bowl in Elmira Heights where all the "hoods" hung out? The Wander Inn in Lowman where someone was always being thrown out of the window on a Saturday night? Also the Tally Ho out on 17. I also remember the Green Lantern but not where it was. Didn't the old Dahlia have live bands? And who were they? Thanks for this site - put a lot of names and places together for me.

DLeenancy@aol.com

How about Roy's Dairy on Lake Rd. I lived across the street from the dairy when I was attending Lenox Ave Elementary School. In fact, Miss Roy was one of my teachers at the school. I love this site, it is really a blast from the past.

Joe & Michelle - JimBeam750@webtv.net

Quigley's Liquor Store - Lake Street, my grandfather

 

Dick Shore, EFA Class of '57 - Rshore368@aol.com

I grew up in the El-Ric Shop (a card and rental book store) , 103 W. Church St. across from the Federation Pharmacy. My mother owned that store from 1937 to 1972. Next store was Wolf's Flower Shop, the cleaners, around the corner was Eddy Scala, the tailor. Also, the Army-Navy Store and Morrison's Hobby Shop on Railroad Ave. Next to Wolf's was the old Studebaker Garage with a wooden ramp inside that allowed cars to go up to the second floor. Across the street was Clute's Ford where I saw the first Thunderbird and Mustang cars. Down Church Street was Horwitz Bros. Paper Co. and the Joy Automatic where you could go into the booths in the back and play records, first 78's and then the 45's. And remember Friday and Saturday Nighters at the YMCA. Dances, old cartoons, and swimming in the cellar pool. I played in the band at the Friday and Sat Nighters in the fifties - The Bluenotes. Those were great times.

Jane (Dodson) Gransbury, EFA 1957 - dodson@nccn.net

Does anyone remember the fish fries at the Parkview Restaurant near Eldridge Park? They were the BEST!! How about the Enterprise Store on Water St?

What ever did happen to Crotty?

Thanks so much for all of the memories.

ZIEG107@aol.com

I remember getting ice cream cones and cherry cokes at Marty's Soda Fountain on the corner of Walnut and Logan Streets by Grove Park. Also the vending machine in front of the dairy on Fifth Street. Love this site. Wish downtown would come alive again. Loved the Sheehan Building.

Vickey Kincaid Paggio, TAE 68 - VPaggio@aol.com

I graduated from Thomas A. Edision High School in 1968 and one of my fondest memories is of Ray's Drug Store on the corner of 14th St. and Oakwood Ave. in the Heights. After every home basketball or football game we would all go there, they had the best fries and the cherry cokes were fabulous. And how about the Carousel Drive Inn on College Avenue across from TAE and the Red Barn on the Southside. But of course my best memories are of Eldridge Park where I met my husband. He worked in KiddieLand and I took my little sister there and 37 years later we still talk about the wonderful times at the park.

Jeannie Tuohy Hoffman, Rocky Mount, NC - Jeanube@aol.com

Just happened onto your website and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a Notre Dame grad (class of '67) but when I saw the Pitt's Goody Shop photo/commentary, I had to write. I went to Dr. Goldsmith (a dentist also on Penna Ave, across from Hagerman's Funeral Home), who gave his patients a certificate for a free ice cream after their exam.

But I didn't really need that because my Aunt Frances Tuohy was a "fixture" there for many years, on the other side of the counter. I wonder how many remember her?

...

Donald Paul, Jr. - Hathorn@stny.rr.com

I remember the police used to direct traffic from a concrete block in the middle of the Main and Water intersection and waved to us as we passed by.

I have not seen the Hygeia plant mentioned here.

Judy (Westervelt) Symonds, EFA61 - jusyms@webtv.net

I remember Elmira in the late Fifties and early Sixties...
the downtown area was booming and it was so much fun Christmas Shopping then...
Snowflakes falling, hitting your face, decorations everywhere and, at that time, people were happy and not as stressed as they are today...
Elmira was such a beautiful place and so peaceful, no problems...
You could walk the streets at any hour and no one would bother you...
Oh, yes. Give me back the good Old Elmira......

Rod Norgren, Leesburg FL - Cenzual2@aol.com

My God..how can anyone from the Class of '53 not mention Buzz Saw's Drug Store on Railroad Ave. & Church Street. All self respecting girls crossed the street rather than walk by Buzz's! The Kappa Epsilon dances at the Y on Fri. nite with Kirk Hobler and His Band. Rustic's of course but also the bar at Forgenzi's and the Hole N Wall dive where if you could get your quarter up to the bar..you drank! I remember passing many a summer afternoon playing Hearts at Hoffmann Park....shooting hoops at the J C Center on Sat. mornings...hanging out with my cousin Janet Case and some memories of romances and summers past on the Southside. Long time ago and I am saddened by what is now Elmira.. Hope it comes back.

Eileen (MacDonell) Mattoes, EFA 1955, dematos2000@netzero.net
now living in North Providence, RI and New Smyrna Beach, FL in the winter months

Places I remember are Gary's Candy Store on John St., while walking home from St. Peter and Paul's School, I would stop and buy penny candy and Fawn Soda, also A&P on the corner of John and High Streets. Then there was Stemmerman's Market on the corner of John and (I think) Sullivan Street where we used to buy all our groceries in the Forties. I used to live on Dewitt Ave. so I remember Hoppy, the Glass Man, on the corner of Dewitt and John Street - also Etkins Grocery on Dewitt Ave. Then there was a little grocery store owned by Fanny Ryan on Madison Ave. Do you remember Lovell's Bakery on the corner of John Street, Hemmingway's Flower Shop on Lake Street. Does anyone remember a little dress shop that was in a house that was located on Dewitt Ave. between Church and Market? I would like to know who owned it. I remember going there with my mother and buying dresses. It was owned by two women that lived upstairs over the shop. It was there in the Forties.

Thanks for this wonderful website.

 

 

 

William J. Cerny - bc885@juno.com

I remember when the Newtown Creek froze over, and a few of us brave souls ice skated all the way to Breesport and the old Jail that used to be on Franklin St. in Horseheads next to the creek. And the old livery stable across the road - old John Cowell's Barn. I`ll say one place that I used to enjoy was Gulka's Tavern - a great place for polka music and dancing on Washington & Lackawana, as I remember.

The Grotto was another . Someone mentioned the Rustic Gardens & the Hayloft out in Pine City. Both were great places. I have to again mention the Old Barn as well with the Woodhull Boys who were National Champions at the World's Fair in 1939. Roricks Glen was a little before my time, but I understand it was one of the biggest entertainment places in town.

Folks tell me excursions to Corning NY on a train with canoes to paddle back with your girl friend were part of the enjoyment of that day. Because most of my growing up was in Horseheads, I have to ask your readers if they recall Minnie Coral's Store, Louey Sayer's Meat Market, Whitaker's Grocery Store, Gustin's Furniture and Bostwick's on John Street? It was a great place to grow up in.

There was a place called Skalko's up in the Heights, another called Rupko's. Boy, they had the biggest mugs of beer of any place around.

As a young lad growing up in Horseheads my friend and I loved to watch the old Pennsy train with it`s shrill whistle and pusher engine come rolling through town heading north needing the extra power to make it over the hills in Watkins, I guess . That old steam engine was a sight to behold back then.

More of Horseheads: I recall Sponsburgh's Radio & Electric Store on corner of John & Lake, Ostrander's Barber Shop on the Ave, Charley Baker's Insurance next to Jack Cohen's. Across the street there was Mallory's Soda Fountain, Bentley & Bush Law Offices, Dr. Leets. and Dewey Whipple's Chrysler-Plymouth Garage. On Ithaca Road was GLF Feed Co., Bud's Garage, Zeigler's Florist. To support all these in the trucking business was Sullivan Bros. and Rodabaugh's Trucking Company.

In Elmira, places that are memorable to me - the Home Dairy (one of the first cafeterias I ever experienced ) on Water Street . The State Grill, (next to the bank ). One that comes to mind that some of your readers might remember is a bowling alley that used to be upstairs next door to the Capitol Theatre.

Phyllis Dunbar Mitchell (SHS 48), Savannah GA - jsmitchell1@worldnet.att.net

I love this website!!! This is my second time writing and I really look forward to reading all of the new "remembers."How about The Elms restaurant on Lake Road - they had the best steaks around. And I loved roller skating at the Grotto rink (before it was renamed Joycrest). Many hours were spent there. Again, thanks a bunch for all of the wonderful memories. Keep up the good work!!!

Therese Forte - Hockeygram@yahoo.com

As I was enjoying this wonderful web site, I thought of a few more sites that we had. Kelly's Drug Store on North Main next to The Elmira Arms Co. They had a soda fountain with the best sundaes and phosphates.. The Ormond Hosiery Shop was next to Iszards. During WW II, they would ration nylon stockings -you would have to stand in line. If you were lucky, you were able to buy a pair. The establishment across from Sam's on East Washington Ave. was Gulka's.

My father-in-law was a musician and had a Trio that played there on Friday nites. The name of the barber shop across from Rossi's Bakery on West Washington Ave . was Vic's Barber Shop. Before Vic, John Dilallo had it. The name of the cafeteria on East Water Street was the Home Dairy. My mother and her friends liked to eat there. I remember her telling me about it.

Does any one remember Savino's Shoe Store? It was on Railroad Ave., but later moved to North Main St. Now it's Savino's Liquor Store. I remember The George W. Peck hardware store next to the Capitol Theater . I would go with my Mom to shop there They had everything .I was impressed with the beautiful dishes, china and glassware.

Do you remember Jesse Green Furrier on W. Water Street. They used to be next to The Elmira Catholic High School. This is great and I am enjoying it so much Thank You..

William J. Cerny - bc885@juno.com

I can`t forget Moretti's up on Hatch & 5th Street.That was exceptional. And I can`t leave out the Casa Blanca up in Horseheads.

I would doubt if there are many who remember Fay Bardin's Barber Shop upstairs over Van Auken's Candy Store in Horseheads. I mention it because Zim of famous Zimmerman cartoon fame used to draw pictures of Horseheads` most prominent characters on the mirrors that surounded the Bardin's shop.Quite comical to see.

The old A&P Store was on the corner below on Lake & John Street and Whitman's Barbershop was across the street . I certainly can`t close without mentioning the stone turnstile monument that used to be in the middle of Hanover Square. Or the streetcar turnabout at that point. Would anyone remember all that ?

I think about businesses no longer seen such as Coughlins Beer Distributers, Karam's Grocery Store on the Southside (I was in the Navy with Sammy), Thatcher Glass Co., Elmira Knitting Mills in the Heights ( where Schwiezer Aircraft first started), Fawn Beverage Co., up in Horseheads. There were grocery stores like Jessup's on The Avenue, Marcoccia's on the Watkins Road, Brickers and Woodards on Sayer Street, just to name a few. Also the Ford Garage is gone, Blodget's Gas Station, Dean & Lee Feed Co. and the Dairyman's League Plant.

And how about the Horseheads Bank , the HHDS Savings and Loan Assoc., Dr. Brooks dental office, Hibbard's Hardware, Victory Chain store , Chappel's Bookstore, Kahn's Jewlery, Jack Cohen's, Bell's grocery store , the Rosar Grill , Benny's Tavern, and the Grand Union just to name a few . All in Horseheads, of course, and have become history.

If you go further back in time . There was Al Edward's farm machinery store on South Main Street facing Fletcher Street. Faulk's gas station, a Gulf station in front of Alart Motor Co. Further down Lake Street, Gustin's Funeral Home, Wigstens Dairy Mart, Further yet Hagar's Atlantic gas station. I have to mention my old alma mater, the old grade school and high school that was on The Avenue, of course.

Dick Reidy - ElmiraReidys@yahoo.com

Remember Madame Halina's Dance School for ballet and tap--with her dance capades at the end of each year.

Center Street Park with the pool that was handy for the neighborhood children to take swim lessons.

 

Cece, HH '74 - PeaceToYou2002@wmconnect.com

My memories don't go back as far as some, (HH'74), but I remember going to a place on Water Street - Ideal Hotdog??? when I was a teenager. Great sauce on the hamburgers, and cute guys working the counter. It might be the same one that moved to Centertown Plaza years later when Chemung Canal took that section of Water Street for the bank.

Larry Tifft - laredw@juno.com

I'm not sure of the spelling, nor did I see it---Dooher's Drug Store at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Franklin Street.

Very interesting site!! I graduated in '65. My recently deceased sister, Virginia Tifft graduated in '58 I think. Thanks for the memories.

Betty Elliott - bet727@aol.com

How about the old St. Charles Church on East 11th Street and Grand Central Ave. in the Heights? We use to go there during school hours for religious instructions.

 

 

William J. Cerny - bc885@juno.com

Having opened up a whole new vista for those of us who like to reminisce about Elmira, let me extend some of those areas I most remember. First, we have to count all the industry that made the place great. American La-France, Ward La-France, Kennedy Valve Co., Remington Rand (formerly Willys Morrow Plant), Hilliard Clutch, Eclipse Machine, Hardinge Bros., Elmira Foundry , Lenjo Fabric Knitting Mill, American Bridge Co., Schweizer Aircraft Co. just to name a few.

But one of the most unique was the little airport run by, I think, Ray Banfield ) where the present airport is . I remember seeing Wiley Post landing there the year he and Will Rodgers were killed . It was some kind of promotion I believe.

Along with that comes to mind the number of people riding the rails searching for work also in those days . And hobos asking for a handout, at times . And later seeing the Glider meet at Harris Hill with some of the German airman competeing in the meet . I remember a lot of small companies, such as Montgomery Ward, Sears
Roebuck, Elm Chevrolet, Carroll Motors, Kobacker's Furniture Store, the Elmira Star Gazette.

Mary - gg1149@webtv.net

I graduated from EFA in 1935, which makes me MUCH older than most. I lived in West Elmira on West Water Street and graduated from Hendy Avenue School, then on to EFA. Does ANYONE remember the Pig Stand just beyond the point?

Also The Springs, a dance hall just outside of town on the road to Waverly. I remember listening and dancing to many of the Big Bands there. I especialy remember Duke Ellington. Rorick's Glen Dance Hall was also a fun place. Many of our school dances were held at The Federation Building, the Masonic Temple, Mark Twain Ballroom and the Elmira Country Club.

We heard Ozzie and Harriett (later The Nelson Family) at Eldridge Park. I remember when the Keeney Theatre was first opened. A big event. And we used to have to wait for the trains to go by on Water Street at the busiest block downtown. Meagher's Restaurant near the southwest corner of Lake and Water was a busy place during prohibition. It was next door to the Gas and Light Building. And Flanigan's is a department store I didn't see mentioned.

My maiden name was Pitts but I never heard of the Pitt's Goodie Shoppe mentioned in some of the memories. It brought back fond memories to hear the names of so many places that were there over 60 years ago. The skating rink at the corner of West Church and Hoffman was our winter hangout. Atwater is another old dairy.

BJ Holleran - FrogLady@stny.rr.com

What about UNCLE TOM'S on Davis Street close to # 2 School. If you had a good report card you received some penny candy. When we were expecting our first child I'd go there for coke syrup.

I'm having a senior moment, but there was an establishment across the street from Sam's that was a friendly place to enjoy a Friday nite.

As usual you have created a great site for golden memories. Thanks

Therese Forte - Elmira Catholic High School Class of '48 - thermforte@yahoo.com

What wonderful memories we had growing up here in Elmira. Does any one remember the Lovely Dress Shop on College & Roe Avenues? They had beautiful clothes. Many girls bought their prom and wedding dresses there. My mother worked there for 35 years - until they closed. Then there was Strauss's Men's Shop on N. Main St. across from Iszards. The Mark Twain Food Market next to Iszards...

How about Fanny Farmer's Candy Shop. We had so many great places to shop back then.

I enjoyed this so much.