Local History

Local History Photos & Newspaper: August 1, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week.

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Local History Photo 1: Market Street, Corning, N.Y.

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Local History Photo 2: Overhead Bridge & Seventh Ward View, Corning, N.Y.

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Local History Photo 3: City Water Pumping House, Corning, N.Y.

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | August 1, 1925

1925.08.01 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

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Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays.

Local History Photos & Newspaper: July 11, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week.

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Local History Photo 1: Corning during the Flood of 1935

This photo shows the intersection of Walnut Street and West Erie Avenue in Corning during the Flood of July, 1935.

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Local History Photo 2: Painted Post during the Flood of 1935

This photo shows High Street in Painted Post during the Flood of 1935.

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Local History Photo 3: Painted Post during the Flood of 1935

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | July 11, 1925

1925.07.11 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

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Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays.

Local History Photos & Newspaper: June 13, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week.

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Last week, the library was on unexpectedly closed on Friday, due to unexpected water issues related to the construction work in the staff parking lost; which is why there was not a post last Friday. I will include in this post the historic newspapers for last week (6.6.1925) and this week (6.13.202).

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Local History Photos 1 & 2: Achsinessink Historical Marker & Monument

In the 1750s a group of the Susquehanna Delaware people built a village, Achsinessink, on the Chemung River in what today is the City of Corning. The village was destroyed by British and Iroquois forces in 1764; and the only signs of the Delaware people in the city today are the historical marker, located in front of the Corning Y.M.C.A. and the Achsinessink Monument which is in the Achsinessink Park in the Houghton Plot.

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Photo of the Week #3: Little Joe Tower from Wegmans Cafe

Our final photo for this week is actual a new one I took of the Little Joe tower from Wegmans Cafe, on May 18, 2025; so a historic building and a new photo!

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | June 6, 1925

1925.06.06 The LeaderDownload

The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | June 13, 1925

1925.06.13 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays.

Local History Photos & Newspaper: May 30, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week.

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Local History Photos of the Week

The photos for this week were taken by Joseph C. Platts who was an Erie Railway Express Agent during the 1940s. The photos were taken on the opening day of the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport, November 20, 1945. The photos, which survived the Flood of 1972, were graciously donated to the library’s local history collection by Mr. Platt’s daughter Carol Donovan.

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Usually this is where I post an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

However, back in 1925 Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30; and the Leader didn’t publish an edition on on that day. So instead of the usual edition, which was published an 100 years ago; I’m going to offer the edition the day before May 30 and the day after – so the edition for May 29, 1925 and June 1, 1925 (the Leader didn’t publish on Sundays in 1925 either!).

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | May 29, 1925

1925.05.29 The LeaderDownload

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | June 1, 1925

1925.06.01 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays.

Local History Photos & Newspaper: May 16, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week.

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Local History Photo 1: Bloods Business Notices for Corning, New York (1873)

From the New York Public Library’s Public Domain Collection

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Local History Photo 2: A Topographical Map of Steuben County, New York (1857)

From the New York Public Library’s Public Domain Collection

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Local History Photo 3:  Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin Von Steuben

(Baron Steuben was a Prussian army officer who came to American, became a General in the U.S. Army and trained troops during the Revolutionary War. Steuben County, New York is named after him)

From the New York Public Library’s Public Domain Collection

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | May 16, 2025

1925.05.16 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

–

Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays.

Local History Photos & Newspaper: May 9, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week for last week, which will be followed by the blog post for this week later this afternoon; last week I thought I had scheduled the local history post to publish on Friday, May 9; and only just discovered today, that in fact I hadn’t done so – sorry about that!

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Local History Photo 1: Erie Railroad Bridge, Painted Post, New York

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Local History Photo 2: East Section of Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y.

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Local History Photo 3:  Pier’s Corning Band

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | May 9, 1925

1925.05.09 LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

–

Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays.

Local History Photos & Newspaper: April 11, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the local history photos & vintage newspaper of the week.

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays; and the next post will be out on April 18, 2025.

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The local history photos for this week are from the book History of Steuben County New York With Illustrations And Biographical Sketches Of Some Of Its Prominent Men And Pioneers by Professor W. W. Clayton, published in 1879. This is a cool book and a newer and smaller edition of this title can still be purchased today. If you’re looking to purchase one though, just be aware a second volume, covering later eras, was published by Irvin Near in 1911 and it has a very similar title – so check the author; and that second volume too, is available for sale as a reproduction. And of course, both books can be viewed at the library.

But I digress! This is a cool book that features neat illustrations of a selection of prominent local residents of the day; and the photos I’ve taken of the book are a little rough – because, as I’m sure you can understand, I didn’t want to bend the binding of a book published in 1879 to get a really good shot.

Here is the title page of the book, just FYI (it is a library thing to like to share title pages!)

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Hiram Bostwick Corning Pioneer

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Original Corning Free Academy

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John & Louisa Storms Corning Farming Family

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Storms Family Home, Corning, N.Y.

A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | April 11, 1925

1925.04.11 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

Local History Photos & Newspaper: March 28, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the Local History Photos and vintage newspaper of the week.

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays; and the next post will be published on April 4, 2025.

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If you’ve every read the terrific local history book History of The Corning Painted Post Area: 200 Years in Painted Post Country by Thomas Dimitroff & Lois Janes, you may recall that early in the book the authors make mention of an 1851 travel guide that features vintage descriptions of our area; that book, Harper’s New York And Erie Railroad Guide Book by William Macleod is in the public domain and can be found and downloaded via Google Books. In addition to the description of locations along the New York and Erie Railroad of the day, the book also features some neat illustrations and three of them follow as the Photos of the Week. The photos are followed by a link which will allow you to view and/or download to view a copy of the Railroad Guide Book.

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Local History Photo 1: Corning circa 1851

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Local History Photo 2: Painted Post circa 1851

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Local History Photo 3: Elmira circa 1851

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Harper’s New York And Erie Railroad Guide Book (1851) by William Macleod

Harper Brother’s New York and Erie Railroad Guide Book 1855Download

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1925.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | March 28, 1925

1925.03.28 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!

Notable Locals, Volume 1

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Notable Locals is, as noted on the library’s website “An ongoing exhibition at the library about people from the Corning area who have made an impact locally, regionally and across the world.”

This get-the-word-out-about-neat-people-who-have-lived-locally-in-the-past project consists of a display in the library (near the microfilm machines), a handout featuring information on the nine people (also included as PDF within this post); and a blog post that spotlights the nine people and/or groups.

The Notable Locals display will be updated, and a new information PDF and blog post created for nine new people/groups bi-annually.  

And here are our first group of Notable Locals, listed in alphabetical order:

The Beth Israel Congregation of Corning

Young members of the Beth Israel Congregation are shown in a 1950s era photo, from The Evening Leader

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Chief Cornplanter (1752 – 1836)

Chief & Diplomat of the Seneca People
 

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Charles Corwin (1883 – 1954)

Choirmaster, organist, music educator, founder of The Corning Philharmonic Symphony and co-founder of Corning-Pained Post Civic Music

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Isabel Walker Drake (1856 – 1936)

Early photographer who captured snapshots of local life in late 1800s & early 1900s

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Dr. Lucy Maltby (1900 – 1984) 

Educator, home economist & founder of the Corning Glass Works Economic Division & Test Kitchen; shown here, forth from the left in the back row, with her 1917 North Side High senior class.
 

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Rev. Robert F. McNamara (1910 – 2009)

Corning native, historian, theologian and co-founder of the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society

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Col. William Murrell (1845 – 1932)

Union Army soldier, state legislator, newspaper editor & education advocate who came to the region later in life becoming a State Commander of the local chapter of the Civil War veterans group the G.A.R.  and worked on educating the local African American community. 

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Margaret Higgins Sanger (1879 – 1966)

Corning-born women’s health & birth control advocate, founder of Planned Parenthood
 

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James “Deacon” White (1847 – 1939) 

Caton native, baseball pioneer, catcher, third baseman and member of the baseball hall of fame
 
 
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And here is the entire Notable Locals, Volume 1 PDF:

Notable Locals Display Newsletter No 1 Updated 2 5 2025Download

Have a great day!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

Local History Photos & Newspaper: January 31, 2025

Linda Reimer , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi everyone, here are the Local History Photos of the Week!

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Local History & Newspaper blog posts are published on Fridays; and the next post will be published on February 7, 2025.

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Local History Photo 1: Pine Street and Erie Avenue looking South, Corning, N. Y. Postcard

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Local History Photo 2: Overhead Bridge & Seventh Ward, Corning, N.Y. Postcard

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Local History Photo 3: Pine Street North from First Street, Corning, N.Y. Postcard

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A Glimpse of Local Life: A Hundred Years Ago!

Here is an entire issue of The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. published on this day in 1924.

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The Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. | January 31, 1925

1925.01.31 The LeaderDownload

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Have a great weekend everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Local History Online Library Resources:

Heritage Quest: Heritage Quest is the library’s online genealogy service, and it includes access to census records and other research sources; it can be accessed by going to the Online Resources page, on the library’s website, and scrolling down until you see the link for Heritage Quest:

https://www.ssclibrary.org/research/online-resources/

Once you’ve clicked on the Heritage Quest link, you’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN. If you have questions about how to use Heritage Quest, please feel free to let me know – my email address is reimerl@stls.org

–

Enjoy the photos and be well everyone,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Library Local History/Creation Station Resources:
At the library you can scan your photos and slides to create digital family albums and slideshows; and even use one of the Circut machines, and other Creation Station equipment, to help you create a special paper family history album.

Also of note, we have local papers including the Corning Leader, Corning Evening Leader, Corning Journal and Corning Daily Journal, on microfilm from 1840 to the present — so you can visit the library and research local history and your family tree if you wish!