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Hired Girls and Domestic Servants
By Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistIn 1847, Miriam Whitcher, wife of the Reverand Benjamin Whitcher of Elmira’s Trinity Episcopal Church, was struggling to find a hired girl. She wanted one who could make...
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Death of a Salesman: John N. Willys
by Susan Zehnder, Education Director John North WillysWhen an automotive tycoon and multi-millionaire died unexpectedly, leaving a highly unorthodox will, the stage was set for a scandal that would...
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Poles Dancing
by Monica Groth, CuratorPolish DollsCourtesy of Jackie DroleskiIn 1983, the Chemung Valley History Museum's Bank Gallery was filled with dancers costumed in bright boots, flower crowns, and...
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Sadie Belton or Millport’s Fairy Queen
By Rachel Dworkin, archivistEverywhere she performed, Millport native Sarah “Sadie” Belton received rave reviews. In 1881, the Columbus Daily Evening Republic wrote, “The singing of Miss Sadie Belton...
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Reached their Quota: The Short History of Elmira's Quota Club
by Susan Zehnder, Education DirectorElmira businesswomen were galvanized, back in the spring of 1919, by the news that a woman in Buffalo had founded the International Quota Club—an organization...
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Call the Midwife: Rose Spadaccino
By Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistBetween 1915 and 1935, Elmira midwife Rose Spadaccino delivered 551 babies, including five of her own grandchildren. Most of her patients were members of the city’s Italian...
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The First Four Decades of Milling in Chemung County
by Monica Groth, Curator Arnot Mill on Newtown Creek, painted by Mabel Shoemaker, 1973Living alongside creeks, rivers, and waterways has its many advantages. A river is not only a source of food and a...
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Young Historians at the Museum
by Susan Zehnder, Education DirectorAs a child on a field trip to a history museum, I remember being awestruck as I walked around a dugout canoe. It looked so different from any pictures I’d seen in...
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Elmira’s Gay Bars
By Rachel Dworkin, Archivist Since the 1600s, there have been bars and clubs catering to LGBTQ clientele in most major European cities. Today, such establishments are generally known as gay bars, even...
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Behind the Scenes
By Monica Groth, Curator This year, the Chemung County Historical Society celebrates its 100th anniversary. To kick off our commemorative year, we’ve opened the exhibit It’s About Time: Celebrating...
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Paved Streets
by Susan Zehnder, Education DirectorStreet grader in Chemung CountyDriving during the summer can often be frustrating. Sometimes it feels like every road you come across is in the process of being...
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Elmira Rolling Mills
By Rachel Dworkin, archivistThere’s something neat about shows like How It’s Made. If you, like me, have never worked in manufacturing, industrial processes can feel like something of a mystery. Over...
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A Woman in Uniform
By Curator, Monica Groth During World War II, some 16 million Americans served in the military, over 350,000 of whom were women. Chemung County is home to a number of remarkable female veterans. An...
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Fire Truck
By Susan Zehnder, Education DirectorIn 1923, the clang of a brass bell and the wail of a hand-pumped siren alerted people that a fire truck was on the way. Our current exhibit, “It’s About Time: 100...
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Introducing EmpireADC
By Rachel Dworkin We recently joined EmpireADC, or the Empire Archival Discovery Cooperative. EmpireADC is run by the New York State Library Network, which provides technical services to libraries and...
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Lethal Leaves: Arsenic Greens
By Monica Groth, Curator Green Bonnet, c. 1880This bonnet may be colored with arsenic green pigmentsIn 1775, the young chemist Wilhelm Scheele discovered that copper arsenate (a copper and arsenic...
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Part of the Heller Family Story
By Susan Zehnder, Education DirectorFor two dark nights, and one late afternoon, Woodlawn Cemetery was visited by hundreds of visitors who strolled the paths and listened to the stories of four of the...
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Trick-or-Treat
By Rachel DworkinAs a kid, I loved trick-or-treating. Who doesn’t love costumes and free candy? Most Americans agree with me. In 2022, there were 40.9 million trick-or-treaters between the ages of 5...
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Reclaiming Her Art: Francis S. Sinnett
by Monica Groth, CuratorToo often the work of women is overlooked or dismissed. In some cases, a woman's accomplishments are even erroneously attributed to a man. I came across an example of the...
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Participation
by Susan Zehnder, Education DirectorAt 5 am on November 7, 2023, our executive director arrived at work to unlock the museum’s doors. It was New York State’s General Election Day, and the Chemung...
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