Town of the Week

Come with us to Elmira, New York; just listen in.

Elmira, New York
December 19, 1998
(rebroadcast from April 26, 1995)

If you have a passion for gliding, you already know of the Harris Hill Glider Port, home of the National Soaring Museum. It's located in south-central New York State. Harris Hill overlooks the Chemung Valley, where it's possible to sail for hours without landing.

But long before gliders soared aloft, Judge Emanuel Coryell used to stop in the valley at Nathan Teall's tavern on his way between home and the state capitol of Albany. He would be effusively welcomed by Teall's six-year-old daughter, Elmira. The Judge liked her so well, that in 1825 he renamed the town for her....from Newtown to Elmira.

This is Mark Twain country, he did much of his writing at Quarry Farm, and his study is preserved at Elmira College. His life is also portrayed each summer on stage at the Mark Twain Musical, considered one of the state's main attractions.

If you visit, you'll see the Clemons Performing Art Center, Arnot Art Museum and the farmers market on Tuesdays. Elmira is a mix of architectural styles, from Greek revival and Queen Anne, to second empire and Tudor revival.....all included in a walking tour of the city's historic west side.

It's a town of 33,000 people manufacturing auto brakes and clutches, rail cars, and machine tools. This is the southern tip of the Finger Lakes region, home of some 40 wineries and the first Gannett newspaper, it's where you'll find our Town of the Week, Elmira, New York.