Today and then - Elmira NY

[@TheLiger23]

it's my home where I grew up. it's where I was born and it's where I'll be buried when I die. Elmira is my home and I love the town despite her age and appearance for it will always be my home no matter where I go.

[@margaretpeary1413]

Seeing this video is so enlightening to a younger generation who have missed the excitement of appreciating a part of the history of the Elmira-Corning area. We lost all this hustle and bussel to the building of an enclosed mall and numerous all-in-one stores. It's notable that community is diminished when "Downtown" gathering is lost. We still have visions of Christmas shopping in cities like Philadelphia, New York and yes, Elmira and some of wish it hadn't ever changed. Walking down Main Steet with animated store window displays of snow scenes with children and animals playing, everything all lit up with decorations and bright lights. There were cold noses and bundled up little ones. It was a fantasy land come alive. Oh, if it could just be that way again.

[@just_foxbea76]

I live here

[@radhakmathews3350]

Lots of memories about how God’s grace and blessings I was able to share.

[@commonconservative7551]

what was the name of the hot dog place that had ground beef for topping and they steamed the buns and one end would always be soggy?..it was real close to the chemung river and some shopping?.i think everyone went there with their grand parents

[@joelsmith942]

Wher is Terri Hall on the Elmira welcome sign?

[@aliceburns]

Thab

[@ItzNiekoyo]

Even though I sometimes hate living in suck a small town I can't imagine living anywhere else.. Elmira is amazing.

[@impala666]

At 1:48 Schanaker's...my grandmother worked there in the '50s....never seen a picture of it....just heard the stories.

[@MissRailfan]

grew up in elmira both north and south side..... the mark twain hotel hasnt been a hotel in YRS i was told as a kid. still has a plaque with MARK TWAIN on it... wheres Elmira correctional? or Miller Pond? Grove Park? great pics but the other spots that made Elmira ELMIRA. LaFrance's, Rand company next to SHS made type writters.

[@DylanNotBob]

This area was also known as "Hellmira" during the civil war. It was one of the worst POW camps. More than 12,100 Confederate soldiers were incarcerated there; of these, nearly 25% (2,963) died from a combination of malnutrition, continued exposure to harsh winter weather, and disease from the poor sanitary conditions on Foster's Pond combined with a lack of medical care.

[@JulianChild]

The word that comes to mind is 'charming.' Very nice film and it made me feel good inside. It would not have done so if we included 'before' pictures of, as DylanNotBob notes, "Hellmira." Is that a thing best forgotten? I don't think so, just as we should not forget the harm done and loss endured to/by our own country. I only learned of our unfortunate history last year. It was what put everything into perspective for me; the missing piece of the puzzle as to what makes up Elmira, today. But, Dylan, there are other videos explaining the events of 1864-1865. This film is nice in that it points out that a certain charm overtook our area for a while. So thank you for this submission, MrBill.