For those who grew up in Chemung County or have lived here long enough, there’s sure to be special memories of places or people to share.

So much local history is passed down through storytelling and reminiscing. Let’s share some here!

It still saddens me a bit to see what the East Side of Elmira looks like now. One memory that sticks out is walking home from Sts. Peter and Paul School on High Street. We’d walk past a Pharmacy, I think, called Carey’s on the corner of Madison Ave. and Water Street. There was a Diner across the street called Madeline’s I believe. We lived in a duplex on Water Street several houses down from Josephisons and Kennedy Valve. On our way home we’d pass an auto repair garage opened by a man named Matt Dipetta. My Dad and he were friends. He’d give me a quarter to go to the Diner to pick up a coffee for him; black with two sugars. I was younger than 10 years old but remember. Down from his garage was a junk yard called Webb’s, Webbey’ or something like that. My Grandmother also lived on that same Street and I’d stop in to get a hug when I saw her resting on her sun porch.

I’d come to the corner of Sullivan Street and Water and there was this big two story house, dark color, with a big tree in front. The tree was so big its roots raided up the side walk to a small peak. Crossing the Street, there was a store on the corner owned by the Schecter family and our house was next to that. Now I was under 10 years old so my spelling of things could be what they sounded like to me at that age. There were actual neighborhoods, beautiful tree lined streets, corner Mom and Pop stores, bakeries and neighbors who watched out for and paid attention to what was happening in their neighborhood.

Another memory that has stayed with me all these years is about a walk to school. I went to Beecher School for Kindergarten and First Grade. I was walking to school and a car was following me. I can’t remember the Street name but as I approached the corner, there was a Bar I think with houses across the Street. The name of the bar (I think it was) sounded to me like Shine Rumbles lol. The car was still following me and a man was calling to me. A Black lady was sweeping her front porch, saw what was happening, and came charging down her stairs, broom raised and yelling “you leave that child alone”. The car took off and she walked the rest of the way to school with me. That’s how it was, whether you knew the people or not, we were all connected. Neighbors and a cohesive group of people who cared for each other. I miss that today.

Since I drive up Lake Street in Elmira twice a day, I can't help but think about getting my haircut at Doug May's barbershop.

I can still picture him in my mind, a nice older guy and he always had Archie comic books for kids to read while waiting. I also remember the clippers he used had a little vaccum on the attachment. When you were done he'd give you one of those little Dum Dum lollipops too if I remember correctly.

The building is still there and serves as a reminder of simple things like getting a haircut.