Elmira vernacular: Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira Maybe I should call this series of imprints "A city without a face". It somehow seems that way, despite some semblance of architectural and social coherence (especially in the Near Westside Historic District). It is not as gritty and fractured as Binghamton - well, few places in mid-to upstate New York really are, Kingston and Utica come to mind - but it also seems much less ambitious. It's most significant achievement probably lies well in the past: it was the starting point of the Chemung Canal, and a connector to the Junction Canal (corner of Washington and State) which - briefly - brought so much coal into Elmira that it was the logistical coal capital of the entire northeast region of the country. Major railroads followed the canal, and still played a huge part during both World Wars. Much of the extensive infrastructure is decommissioned these days, although the post-war National Highway Act in the 60s created quick road access with Route 17. At the same time, concepts of "urban renewal" swept the land, with decidedly mixed results, as can be witnessed in Syracuse, Binghamton and here. The flood of 1972 proved disastrous, and it appears as if the downtown area never really recovered. Water Street East certainly lacks vitality, and Clemens Square (not pictured) requires a complete makeover in my view. <br/><br/>Elmira is not a bad place to raise a family, though. Rent and real estate costs are low, and according to a recent study by an insurance group, it ranks as the fourth safest small community in the entire country (pop. under 150.000). However, once the children mature and reach college age, the area has little to offer to retain and employ them. <br/><br/>Visited on a rather mild Monday in mid-December with perfectly strange lighting. Olympus E-5 with PanaLeica Summilux and Elmarit lenses. <br/><br/>Thomas H. Hahn<br/>Ithaca, NY en-us (C) Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:12:50 GMT Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:00:20 GMT Documentary City Scenes http://hahn.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v15/p268304346-10.jpg Elmira vernacular: Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira 120 77 Waterfront in Elmira, NY, on a stormy day http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e12DED6F1

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Waterfront in Elmira, NY, on a stormy day http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e12DED6F1 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:24:50 GMT Industrial (Elmira Heights freight yard) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e156E75CF

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Industrial (Elmira Heights freight yard) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e156E75CF Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:26:21 GMT Bendix Machine Co., or the remains thereof (Elmira Heights) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e12D0F229

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Bendix Machine Co., or the remains thereof (Elmira Heights) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e12D0F229 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:32:41 GMT Look behind the scenes (Church Street) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e3E521020

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Look behind the scenes (Church Street) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e3E521020 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:05:04 GMT Stately Georgian Revival on Church Street, to be made into luxury condos soon http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e7AD2D14

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Stately Georgian Revival on Church Street, to be made into luxury condos soon http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e7AD2D14 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:06:10 GMT Harold's, on 104 West Water Street (late Art Deco style it would seem) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eFFDFFDA

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Harold's, on 104 West Water Street (late Art Deco style it would seem) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eFFDFFDA Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:46:14 GMT Comforting sign in winter weather http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e18B4F61F

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Comforting sign in winter weather http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e18B4F61F Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:55:00 GMT "Handprints of Pride", sort of. The building is empty (Water Street) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e25651B5D

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) "Handprints of Pride", sort of. The building is empty (Water Street) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e25651B5D Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:02:08 GMT Old storefront, now a Sub shop (with Christmas decorations; Elmira Heights) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e223DE70F

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Old storefront, now a Sub shop (with Christmas decorations; Elmira Heights) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e223DE70F Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:45:15 GMT Sports bar Roundin' Third http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eBB98FF2

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Sports bar Roundin' Third http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eBB98FF2 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:43:43 GMT Signature commercial buildings, empty, one block over from the city's main bank tower http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e11536E41

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Signature commercial buildings, empty, one block over from the city's main bank tower http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e11536E41 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:43:43 GMT Former law offices in the same block http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e1CECB267

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Former law offices in the same block http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e1CECB267 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:56:00 GMT Period style brickwork and pedestrian area around the Chemung Valley Historical Society museum entrance http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e1E3EED24

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Period style brickwork and pedestrian area around the Chemung Valley Historical Society museum entrance http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e1E3EED24 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:43:43 GMT Park Church, "open and affirming" http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eAA0E6D

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Park Church, "open and affirming" http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eAA0E6D Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:46:26 GMT Old firehouse, preserved and converted to the Elmira Heights Historical Society building http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e3715D39F

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Old firehouse, preserved and converted to the Elmira Heights Historical Society building http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e3715D39F Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:27:52 GMT Old vault in the Chemung Canal Trust Company building (dated 1833) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e32EF788F

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Old vault in the Chemung Canal Trust Company building (dated 1833) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e32EF788F Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:02:08 GMT Surprising view into and along East Gray Street http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e2D07D54B

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Surprising view into and along East Gray Street http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e2D07D54B Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:05:04 GMT Walking south along Davis, towards Church Street http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eF21F812

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Walking south along Davis, towards Church Street http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eF21F812 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:32:41 GMT Mark Twain's grave, unembellished and plain (Woodlawn National Cemetery) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e18894089

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Mark Twain's grave, unembellished and plain (Woodlawn National Cemetery) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e18894089 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:06:17 GMT Le garage http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e1E899B1F

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Le garage http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e1E899B1F Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:22:48 GMT Don't walk! Successfully remodelled Erie Railroad underpass (now ConRail). http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e502B8CA

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Don't walk! Successfully remodelled Erie Railroad underpass (now ConRail). http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e502B8CA Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:22:48 GMT The courthouse http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eCA446D4

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) The courthouse http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eCA446D4 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:24:27 GMT Basketball court in the county jail http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eF284C5

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Basketball court in the county jail http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/eF284C5 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:22:48 GMT Lake Street Bridge and old Howell factory. The bridge is closed for traffic, creating a disconnect http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e334272FC

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Lake Street Bridge and old Howell factory. The bridge is closed for traffic, creating a disconnect http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e334272FC Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:04:13 GMT Railroad Bridge crossing over the Chemung River (dated 1934) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e3F7819FC

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]]> th.hahn@gmail.com (Thomas H. Hahn Docu-Images) Railroad Bridge crossing over the Chemung River (dated 1934) http://hahn.zenfolio.com/elmira/e3F7819FC Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:45:15 GMT