Old Businesses in the Town of Chemung
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Bacorn's Vegetable Stand, Formerly Rt 17, Now County Rt 60 below Narrow Hill, a portion of the Junction Canal is in the background. Contributors - Mike & Susan Aumick
The Bite Bar,
Located east of town on Main Street, (Co. Rt. 60) Old Rt. 17, near the RR Overpass at the start of River Rd. Originally part of the Rotary Gas Station and was a restaurant in the 1920-30's.
Located east of town on Main Street, (Co. Rt. 60) Old Rt. 17, near the RR Overpass at the start of River Rd. Originally part of the Rotary Gas Station and was a restaurant in the 1920-30's.
The Chemung House, a grand hotel, was built by Ashael Buck in 1828, it was located on the S.W. corner of Main & Washington St. While it was owned by Charles A. DeWitt in 1873, all of it burned to the ground, with DeWitt and his wife escaping with little more than the clothes on their backs. It was then rebuilt by James Warren by the mid-1870s as the hotel we know as the Morley Hotel.
The Chemung Hotel/Morley Hotel was built by James Warren in the mid 1870's. Warren sold the hotel in 1905 to a man in Waverly by the name of Walter D. Parks, with Milton Bodine being interim manager until William E. Howell bought it from Parks later on in 1905. Howell sold the hotel in 1916 at which time he decided to take up farming. It is unknown who was proprietor from 1916 to 1919. The Hotel was purchased in 1919 by Wright D. Morley (who owned and ran the General store from 1910 until 1919). Morley ran the Hotel until 1928 at which time he sold it. From 1928 until 1950, not a lot of information is known about the building, however, J.J. Weller ran the business from 1938 to 1944 and Vanderlykes had it in the 1950's. (in the photo on the right is: William E. Howell holding son Peter B., 1906).
John I. Ford opened his first store in 1897. He moved his business to “The Pyramids” in 1926 after the Pyramids Restaurant closed. He renamed his business the John I Ford & Son Feed Store.
Photo courtesy of Susan & Mike Aumick.
Excerpt taken from Ausburn Towner's 1892 History:
Directly across the street from the Ruggles store is the oldest store building now standing in the village.
It was built by Abner Buck, an uncle of George W. Buck, about 1833 or '34, but was not used as a store until 1838, when J.M. Baldwin, familiarly known as "Morg." Baldwin opened the place with a stock of groceries and carried on business there for about five years.
It passed into several different hands and for some time prior to 1868 was kept by Sawyer & Nichols. Martin Wood then purchased the store and continued it until 1885, when he disposed of it to Charles Murphy, who was in possession for two years.
In 1887 Reeser Brothers took charge of the store and continued there until the death of Willis Reeser, after which F.A. Reeser carried on the business until bought out in April, 1890 by George C. Baldwin, the present Proprietor." George C. Baldwin sold the store in 1893 to a man named Woodruff, who sold it to John I. Ford in 1897.
Photo courtesy of Susan & Mike Aumick.
Excerpt taken from Ausburn Towner's 1892 History:
Directly across the street from the Ruggles store is the oldest store building now standing in the village.
It was built by Abner Buck, an uncle of George W. Buck, about 1833 or '34, but was not used as a store until 1838, when J.M. Baldwin, familiarly known as "Morg." Baldwin opened the place with a stock of groceries and carried on business there for about five years.
It passed into several different hands and for some time prior to 1868 was kept by Sawyer & Nichols. Martin Wood then purchased the store and continued it until 1885, when he disposed of it to Charles Murphy, who was in possession for two years.
In 1887 Reeser Brothers took charge of the store and continued there until the death of Willis Reeser, after which F.A. Reeser carried on the business until bought out in April, 1890 by George C. Baldwin, the present Proprietor." George C. Baldwin sold the store in 1893 to a man named Woodruff, who sold it to John I. Ford in 1897.
Other Gas Stations - until more information is known, this is a list of gas station locations in the town, all on Old Rt 17c, Now, County Rt. 60.
Casterline's Rotary was located on the east curve, heading out of town, towards Waverly.
George Campbell 's Grocery Store in town sold Socony-Mobil Gas in front of his store.
Walter Kirk's garage sold Esso Gas in town.
Tommy Ridler had a Texaco Gas Station on the west curve heading out of town towards Lowman.
Casterline's Rotary was located on the east curve, heading out of town, towards Waverly.
George Campbell 's Grocery Store in town sold Socony-Mobil Gas in front of his store.
Walter Kirk's garage sold Esso Gas in town.
Tommy Ridler had a Texaco Gas Station on the west curve heading out of town towards Lowman.
(The following information was gleaned from old newspaper articles and other miscellaneous clippings and booklets by contributor Mike Tuccinardi.)
In the photo on the left taken in 1907, these buildings were/are situated on the north side of Main St. on the corner of Washington St. and Main St. in the Town of Chemung, known as the General Store and the Grange Hall. A fire destroyed both original buildings in 1883. The store was rebuilt immediately, the grange hall after 1892. In 1907 F.L. Hood owned the general store. The building next to it, was the Masonic Temple, and was rented to the Grange, known as the Grange Hall. Today, 2014, it is known as the Masonic Temple and is still standing but had a steep pitched roof added to the building.
It is said that J.P. Howell who owned the Chemung Hotel, swapped ownership with Mr. Wright D. Morley, thus the name change of the Chemung Hotel to the Morley Hotel in 1919.
The General Store
Located on the NE corner of Main & Washington St's.
(Proprietor’s List)
Charles Ruggles owned the store from 1865 to 1883. When the building burned in August 1883.
Charles Ruggles & his son, Wilson. rebuilt the building immediately by a contractor named Secord from Waverly, NY and continued to conduct business in 1883 after the fire to 1896, at which time the building and property was sold. Wilson Ruggles died in 1893.
Duane C. King owned the store from 1896 until June 1900. The courts declared him bankrupt in October and the sheriff selling off merchandise in November 1900. At which time DeWitt Masterson, son of E.R. Masterson, moved into King's house and began operating the store in February 1901.
DeWitt Masterson was the next proprietor for 5 years from Feb. 1901 to 1905. (Another son of E.R.'s, Herrick, attempted to murder his wife and committed suicide in 1897. DeWitt's oldest son died of diptheria in 1900, while yet another son bled to death after a freight train cut his leg off in 1902. His wife and two of her sisters died within five years of each other between 1915 and 1920, young women.)
Frank L. Hood followed suit as the next owner for 5 years from 1905 – Nov. 1910.
Wright D. Morley owned the property from Nov. 1910 until 1919.
William E. Howell became proprietor in 1919 and kept the business until he sold it Dec. 31, 1932.
Leonard Ashley Sparling was next in line, buying the property January 1933. Walter Chase bought into the business as co-owner until 1936. Chase moved from Millport to Chemung and Sparling moved from Corning in 1930. He played on the baseball team and before his proprietorship, he ran a garage.
A father & son with the name of Dewey bought the store from Sparling and Chase in 1936. They owned and ran the business until 1949.
Another name was Robinson and it is not clear about length of ownership but appears to have been approximately one year.
John Winnick bought the building and business in April 1950 until 1964.
Bob & Ramony Sempler ran the business for only one year in 1964, paying rent to the Masonic Lodge. It appears that after this date, the Masonic Lodge owned the building and rented it.
Alice Curren purchased the business in 1964 and ran it until April of 1975.
Len Lysak the next proprietor ran the business for only 3 years, from 1975 until 1978
When Ida Post Smith purchased the business in 1978 and ran it for 10 years, until 1988.
A person by the name of Gorman ran a business, no other information is known about this person and Ernie Stedge used the property as an auction house. Dates not known.
It is said that J.P. Howell who owned the Chemung Hotel, swapped ownership with Mr. Wright D. Morley, thus the name change of the Chemung Hotel to the Morley Hotel in 1919.
The General Store
Located on the NE corner of Main & Washington St's.
(Proprietor’s List)
Charles Ruggles owned the store from 1865 to 1883. When the building burned in August 1883.
Charles Ruggles & his son, Wilson. rebuilt the building immediately by a contractor named Secord from Waverly, NY and continued to conduct business in 1883 after the fire to 1896, at which time the building and property was sold. Wilson Ruggles died in 1893.
Duane C. King owned the store from 1896 until June 1900. The courts declared him bankrupt in October and the sheriff selling off merchandise in November 1900. At which time DeWitt Masterson, son of E.R. Masterson, moved into King's house and began operating the store in February 1901.
DeWitt Masterson was the next proprietor for 5 years from Feb. 1901 to 1905. (Another son of E.R.'s, Herrick, attempted to murder his wife and committed suicide in 1897. DeWitt's oldest son died of diptheria in 1900, while yet another son bled to death after a freight train cut his leg off in 1902. His wife and two of her sisters died within five years of each other between 1915 and 1920, young women.)
Frank L. Hood followed suit as the next owner for 5 years from 1905 – Nov. 1910.
Wright D. Morley owned the property from Nov. 1910 until 1919.
William E. Howell became proprietor in 1919 and kept the business until he sold it Dec. 31, 1932.
Leonard Ashley Sparling was next in line, buying the property January 1933. Walter Chase bought into the business as co-owner until 1936. Chase moved from Millport to Chemung and Sparling moved from Corning in 1930. He played on the baseball team and before his proprietorship, he ran a garage.
A father & son with the name of Dewey bought the store from Sparling and Chase in 1936. They owned and ran the business until 1949.
Another name was Robinson and it is not clear about length of ownership but appears to have been approximately one year.
John Winnick bought the building and business in April 1950 until 1964.
Bob & Ramony Sempler ran the business for only one year in 1964, paying rent to the Masonic Lodge. It appears that after this date, the Masonic Lodge owned the building and rented it.
Alice Curren purchased the business in 1964 and ran it until April of 1975.
Len Lysak the next proprietor ran the business for only 3 years, from 1975 until 1978
When Ida Post Smith purchased the business in 1978 and ran it for 10 years, until 1988.
A person by the name of Gorman ran a business, no other information is known about this person and Ernie Stedge used the property as an auction house. Dates not known.
Grange League Federation (GLF)
A feed mill located next to the Chemung Train Station. Photos from the 1940's.
Courtesy of Mike & Susan Aumick and Mike Tuccinardi.
A feed mill located next to the Chemung Train Station. Photos from the 1940's.
Courtesy of Mike & Susan Aumick and Mike Tuccinardi.
Norm & Harry Gunderman's Texaco Station on Katydid Curve (Rt 17) County Rt 60. Chemung, NY 1931 - 1970
Contributors-Mike & Sue Aumick
Contributors-Mike & Sue Aumick
Kirks Garage owned and operated by Walter Kirk who purchased the old John I. Ford's feed store property on the N.W. corner of Washington and Main St in Chemung in 1926. Walter came from Halsey Valley, where his father was a blacksmith and lived to age 91. Walter was in business for 50 years, closing in 1976. He was married to wife, Lena for 53 years, and died in 1986 at age 81.
Contributors - Susan & Mike Aumick & Mike Tuccinardi
Contributors - Susan & Mike Aumick & Mike Tuccinardi
The Junction House (Baker House) was believed to have been built by Andrew Foulke. William Guthrie became proprietor between 1855 and 1870. The imposing seventeen room hotel was built around the time of the Erie Railroad expansion through the Town of Chemung, in the early 1850’s. Robert Batterson was proprietor in the 1870's. Charles DeWitt became proprietor sometime during the 1880's. Mr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Reynolds, were proprietors of the building from 1887 until January of 1892. Stephen and wife, Athendia died at their home. The former, January 26th and the latter the 27th. Cause of death was pneumonia and grippe. At the turn of the century (1900), Harold D. Baker, Proprietor, saw it fit to change the name of the Junction House to the Baker House or Hotel Baker as it was known. Mr. Baker sold to Ernest S. Marcy circa 1905 to 1910. Harold Baker died in 1920. Ernest S. Marcy and John E. Skinner, partners; were notified to stop selling liquor at the “Baker House” on October 1, 1916. which was located at the corner of Railroad and Chemung St in Chemung, NY Although the Volstead Act of 1919, (The National Prohibition Act) didn’t take effect until 1920, some areas of the country went dry before this date as was the case with the Town of Chemung. Elmira, at that time was the only place in Chemung County where a legal drink could be purchased. In 1917 Marcy and Skinner both signed a Town of Chemung petition to allow liquor licenses. Among the familiar names signing the petition were Harry Gunderman and Charlie Liddy.
Ernest Marcy owned the Baker House circa 1911 to fall of 1919. His partnership with John E. Skinner: including the dates are not clear. From 1911 to 1915 Marcy had been trying to sell a 17 room hotel with two outbuildings and 1 or 2 acres of land. In March 1915, he took out an ad in the Binghamton Press listing a hotel for sale, as the only place having a license between Binghamton and Elmira. In the fall of 1919 Marcy sold to Mr & Mrs Simcoe who in turn sold it to Mr & Mrs Charles Peterson, February 1920. At that time it was renamed to the Peterson Hotel.
Ernest Marcy owned the Baker House circa 1911 to fall of 1919. His partnership with John E. Skinner: including the dates are not clear. From 1911 to 1915 Marcy had been trying to sell a 17 room hotel with two outbuildings and 1 or 2 acres of land. In March 1915, he took out an ad in the Binghamton Press listing a hotel for sale, as the only place having a license between Binghamton and Elmira. In the fall of 1919 Marcy sold to Mr & Mrs Simcoe who in turn sold it to Mr & Mrs Charles Peterson, February 1920. At that time it was renamed to the Peterson Hotel.
McKinney Hotel - Although at this time not much is known about the McKinney Hotel, it appears on the 1869 map of the town at the intersection of Railroad St and Chemung St. Today, Chemung St. was changed to the name Railroad St. The hotel's existence is at a very busy time in the history of the town with the Canal, river and train travel running through the town. We will continue to look for information regarding the McKinney Hotel in hopes we can find interesting history on it.
Contributor of the photo - Mike & Susan Aumick
Contributor of the photo - Mike & Susan Aumick
Pine Grove Tourist Cabins and Tydol Filling Station was located on (Rt 17) County Rt. 60, 1/4 mile before Katydid Curve on the right headed east. Destroyed by the Flood of 1972. Owned by the Limoge and Crum Families. Contributors - Mike & Susan Aumick
The Powerhouse – trolley sub-station was built in 1907. It closed with the shutting down of the trolley in 1933. At an undetermined date the building was converted to the Fire House. In 1973 it was torn down to make room for the new and current Fire House.
“The Pyramids” restaurant and dance hall opened for business in December 1922 with Guy Ford & Ernest L. (Robert) Bradley as co-proprietors. In February 1923 they sold dance cards for the year. There were big events there throughout 1923, however, in December, there's an item in the Star-Gazette that says the Pyramids had been taken over by two men from Elmira, Howard Kolb and R. Sullivan. However, in March 1924 the Star Gazette shows Robert Bradley selling proprietorship of a store so he can devote more time to the Pyramids. On Decoration Day 1925, an ad ran in the newpaper announcing the Pyramid under new management and in Sept. 1925 there was another re-opening. It became a feed store owned by John I. Ford & Son in 1926. In the 1970's it was known as Hammond's (Dance) Hall. This building was located to the east of the Powerhouse and today the location would be east of the Firehall. It originally was located next door & east of the Trolley Power House which became the first fire station of Chemung, New York.
Tatanka Herbal Remedy, Old Indian Tonic
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The Warren/Campbell Grocery Store was built by James Warren in the early 1900's. It was located across the side street (Railroad St) from the Chemung Hotel. George W. Campbell operated a grocery store here from 1916 on. He sold to Elmer Weston at the end of 1926 along with the $800/yr postmaster job from Campbell as well. This building eventually became Elmer Weston's Serv-u Save-u.