New Project with the Smithsonian

 by Susan Zehnder, Education Director

There is no life that is not geographic.

-Ruth Wilson Gilmore

I heard this statement back in July at a workshop for the first group of educators involved in a new Smithsonian program. Another way to put it is who we are is shaped by where we come from, and that is what participating students in Chemung County will be exploring this fall in the Smithsonian’s Democracy in Dialogue, Virtual Exchange program. They will connect with other students from across the nation to talk about how our local history shapes us.

The Smithsonian designed the program to be part of the national celebrations around the 250^th founding of our country, coming up in 2026. They intend for educators to foster conversations and connections among young people, 13 to 18 years old, from different parts of the nation, to build a deeper understanding of what makes us the same and what makes us different. The first group of facilitators in the program consists of 20 educators, all classroom teachers except myself as education director of the museum, and a librarian in Idaho. Eventually there will be 80 facilitators across the nation.

Students here in Chemung County have been paired with students from a school in Laramie, Wyoming over 1,700 miles away. 

The student conversations will take place virtually. Over the fall semester, they’ll also be sending things to each other through the mail as they get to know each other. My co-facilitator in Laramie and I have chosen the theme of The Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary as a way for students to think about local history they want to share.  We’re having them start by introducing themselves through a chosen object, one that means something to them, and then sharing with the group.

To introduce myself, 

I’ve chosen a treasured button box that I inherited from my grandmother. It is a 6-inch -tall, highly decorated metal box with a thin metal handle and attached lid. Long ago, in the 1920s, it held cookies and part of the Lorna Doone shortbread label is still visible. 

When shaken, it makes a rattling sound because, as long as I’ve known it, it’s held buttons. So many buttons, that the box is full. The buttons are extras or cast offs from clothes my mother and grandmother made, or ones that I purchased while making my own kids’ clothes or Halloween costumes. The buttons remind me of my mother and grandmother. They remind me of clothes that were made for me, or clothing I’ve sewn.  They remind me of people I love and the joy of creating something special for someone who loved me.

My artifact tells a story of women creating. Our students will be exploring artifacts in our collection, and  will have virtual access to collections in the Smithsonian. They’ll be selecting an ordinary object, like my cookie tin, or a person, place, thing, or an event that has had an impact on others. They'll share that story by creating a 3-to-5-minute movie that the Smithsonian has the option to post on their site, and that we will post on our social media.

As an example, consider the story of John W. Jones, a compassionate and hard-working man who overcame many hardships in his life, and what he did as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, stewarding people to freedom, and what he did as he carefully buried the soldiers that died at the Civil War Prison Camp, helped shape Elmira’s identity. He wasn’t from Elmira, but is buried here and his story is woven through Elmira’s history.

We are excited to see how local history and geography inform what the students choose to share with each other and what they create to add to the American story. Already, some of the students were interviewed on local television. 

At the project's conclusion, we will be sharing their work on our social media. The Smithsonian has the option of sharing their work too!

The project has begun, but there is still room in the program for interested students. Please help spread the word about this amazing opportunity taking place this fall. Students can expect to spend about an hour a week and must be between 13 and 18 years old. 

Questions? Please reach out to me at the museum during business hours #607-734-4167 or write me at Educator@ChemungValleyMuseum.org 

 

Students being interviewed by WetmTV 18 reporter Nicolas Dubina

 

At the Corners of Church and Main Streets

by Erin Doane, Senior Curator

Map of the City of Elmira from actual surveys by G.M. Hopkins, C.E., 1865

Jervis Langdon was an entrepreneur, an abolitionist, a philanthropist, and the father-in-law of Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain). In 1863, he bought property from Anson E. Ely at the northwest corner of Church and Main Streets in Elmira. Jervis’s family lived there for over 75 years and the home became known as the Langdon Mansion. We currently have the exhibit “Grand, Domestic and Truly Comfy” on display here at the museum through May 2025 which showcases the mansion and its furnishings.

Residence of Anson C. Ely. Photograph, early 1860s,
courtesy of the Mark Twain House & Museum

Jervis had major renovations made to his new home soon after he purchased it. The original was in the Greek Revival style. It was cube shaped with wood siding and a square cupula on top. Had had the structure enlarged and transformed into a three-story Italianate brownstone with several wings that telescoped from the back. Throughout the years, the Langdon family made more changes to the home, including adding a porte-cochere and expanding the veranda in the 1890s.

The Langdon Mansion around 1900

So, what did Jervis Langdon see when he looked out from his home across Church and Main Streets in 1865? To the east, across Main Street, sat Trinity Episcopal Church which was founded in 1833. The church itself was built between 1855 and 1858. It was constructed entirely of brick, including its steeple, which is unusual. In fact, it is one of only 11 churches in the world with a brick steeple.

Trinity Episcopal Church, 1860s

South of Trinity Church, across Water Street, was the First Baptist Church. The church we see on that corner today is a massive brick building, but when Jervis first took up residence in the neighborhood, it was a much more modest wooden structure with a square steeple. It was originally built in 1830 and expanded in 1847. After a devastating fire, the new, larger brick church was built in 1892.

First Baptist Church, 1870s

First Baptist Church, 1890s

In the 1860s, there was still a burial ground next to the First Baptist Church. By the 1850s, they were running out of space for burials next to the church so Woodlawn Cemetery was created in 1858. Church sextant John W. Jones began moving graves from the First Baptist burial ground to Woodlawn Cemetery immediately after it opened but the task was not finished until 1877.

First Baptist burial ground, c. 1860

There were also strips of park land on either side of Main Street south of Church Street. It was probably nice for Jervis to have a park right across the street. His own property could be described as park-like, as well, with hundreds of trees and shrubs, flower beds, gravel paths, decorative urns, and fountains on the property. His wife, Olivia, personally oversaw the development and maintenance of the landscaped grounds.

View of the Langdons’ gardens, c. 1875

South of the Langdon Mansion, across Church Street and west of the park, was the Park Church. In 1846, 41 abolitionists broke from the First Presbyterian Church over the issue of slavery and formed the Independent Congregational Church of Elmira. Jervis and Oliva were among the founding members of the new church. The congregation built a white wooden church in 1851. Rev. Thomas K. Beecher arrived in 1854 and served as pastor until his death in 1900. By the 1870s, the congregation had grown so large that a new church was constructed - the large brick structure we see there today.

The Park Church and inset portrait of Rev. Thomas K. Beecher in 1854

The Park Church, 1905

Jervis Langdon passed away in 1870 and would not have seen most of the changes that made the intersection of Church and Main Streets what we see today, like the two large brick churches that dominate the area. The Langdon Mansion itself was torn down in 1939. We can, however, still enjoy of some of Jervis’s original view including the cool green space of Wisner Park and the red brick of Trinity Church’s steeple.

The Diarists of the 107th New York Volunteers

 By Rachel Dworkin, Archivist

The past is a foreign country, but, if you’re really lucky, you might just find a pen pal. As archivist at the Chemung County Historical Society, it is one of my great, and admittedly a little weird, pleasures to read historical letters and diaries. When it comes to the history of the Civil War, I am so lucky to work at the museum with the largest collection of diaries and letters from the 107^th New York Volunteers. History can be so dry with the dates and the facts and the battle casualty statistics. Letters and diaries though are intimate. They reveal not only what happened, but how the author felt about it in ways which help you get to know them as actual human people.

Although there were multiple Civil War regiments raised out of Chemung County, the 107^th is the only one to have a statue here in Elmira. The regiment was raised in the Summer of 1862 in response to Abraham Lincoln’s call for 300,000 more men. Two local congressmen, Robert Van Valkenburg of Bath and Alexander Diven of Elmira, personally raised and commanded the 1,021 men from Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben counties.  The regiment fought at the Battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg and participated in the Georgia Campaign and Sherman’s March to the Sea. They arrived home to Elmira on June 8, 1865 to a feast, a parade, and the start of the rest of their lives.

107th monument in front of the Court House on Lake Street

Here at the Chemung County Historical Society we have the letters and diaries of 18 different members of the regiment. In some cases, we have multiple accounts of the same day or battle from multiple people. What an author chooses to include (or not) and the way that they describe it, reveals interesting things about their personality, priorities, and education. We have several diaries from the regiment which cover the start of the battle of Chancellorsville. While they describe the same events, they are stylistically quite different.

One of my favorite diarists from the 107^th is Arthur S. Fitch of Company B. He was 18 when he enlisted as a corporal in July 1862 and quickly rose through the ranks. By Chancellorsville, he was a sergeant and ended the war as brevet captain. After the war, he opened a book store in Elmira and was a founding member in several veterans’ organizations. He described the first day of the regiment’s involvement in the Battle of Chancellorsville (May 1, 1863) like this:

“We had no more than got under way than the boom of the Artillery broke upon our ears not a mile in our front and we knew the ball was open. We went rapidly ahead, our Reg. having the advance. We were soon up with the artillery and the shot and shell flew over us pretty lively. No casualties, however and after an hour or two cannonading we were ordered to retire. It was only a move to feel the enemy’s position and no general engagement took place except in the left wing where the 5^th Corps had some fighting. Our Reg. had quite a skirmish for our knapsacks; while out, we had laid them off before entering the woods and on returning for them we were fired upon by Rebel skirmishers. We brought them all away, however, but ran a narrow chance of being captured, as the Rebs planted a battery on the very ground we had just left before we were out of range. We got back to camp about noon, quite fatigued as the weather was very warm. Nothing more transpired until near sun down when the enemy advanced and a fight commenced. Our Regt. and the 13^th N.J. were formed in the edge of a wood with the rest of our Brig. in our front. We were to support them and if they were forced to retire relieve them. Soon the Artillery joined in and then it became quite lively, the musketry volleys were rapid and we lay anxiously awaiting for our turn at the enemy, but the Indiana & other Regts. in our front held them in check and we lay quietly on our arms that night. Only casualty of Friday is Capt. N.E. Rutter of Co. I who was mortally wounded by a shell about sundown and died less than an hour after.”

Arthur S. Fitch, ca. 1880s

 Bartlet Bennett enlisted in Company E at age 25 along with his younger brother Sylvester in July 1862. He joined as a private, but was a sergeant at the time of the Battle of Chancellorsville. I don’t know much about his life before the war. After it, he lived in Elmira and worked as a railroad flagman. While Fitch practically wrote a novel, Bennett wrote a poorly-spelled haiku. “May 1, 1863, The enemy atact us; laid on arms all nite. Built brest works.”  

Bartlet & Sylvester Bennett, 1862

 Russell M. Tuttle was a 22-year-old from Almond, New York who enlisted as an orderly sergeant in the 107^th immediately after graduating from the University of Rochester. He joined Company K, which was under the command of his uncle, Allen Sill. Tuttle had been promoted to second lieutenant shortly before Chancellorsville. After the war, he went on to be the editor of the Hornellsville Times and founder of the Hornellsville Public Library. His diary entry is happy medium between Fitch’s and Bennett’s.

“May 1st: Advanced on the road to Fredericksburg to cover a movement of Gen. Mead on Bunk Ford. Came back, and then went back to get knapsack. Slight skirmish. Back to camp and had a fight. 27^th Ind. ahead of us. Capt. Rutter was struck by a shell. Poor fellow, a sharp fight along the line. Slept on our arms.”

Russell M. Tuttle, ca. 1860s

I keep a diary myself every night. On the scale between Bennett and Fitch, I’m more of a Tuttle.  

Swimming in Wool

by Erin Doane, Senior Curator

There’s nothing better on a hot summer day than taking a dip in some nice cool water. For centuries people have used lakes, rivers, oceans, and pools to help beat the heat. But what if you had to wear layers of thick, heavy wool to go swimming?  That doesn’t sound refreshing at all.

Women posing for a studio portrait in bathing clothes, 1890s

Swimming as a recreational activity, especially for women, is a relatively new idea. By the mid-1800s, the growing middle class found themselves with more free time and disposable income. With railroads allowing for faster and less expensive travel, vacations to the shore where people would swim, surf bathe, and dive became very popular.

While women could go to the beach, they were required to preserve their modesty. They did this by wearing loose, full-length bathing gowns made of thick wool or canvas that wouldn’t cling to their bodies when they got wet. These outfits had high necks and full sleeves. They sometimes even had weights at the hem so the skirt wouldn’t rise up in the water. Another option was known as the Princess suit which was a one-piece garment of a blouse attached to trousers. A calf-length skirt was worn over top. Because of the restrictive, heavy clothing, women didn’t so much swim as just walk out into the water then walk back to shore again.

Two ladies testing the water, c. 1900, Harry B. Mitchell photographer

Actual swimming was left to men. Before the 1800s, it was typical for men to swim nude but as Victorian modesty took hold, men were required to also wear swimsuits. Their suits were also made of wool with long legs and sleeves but were much more form-fitting. As the 1800s progressed, men’s swimwear lost its sleeves and the length of the legs shortened to allow more freedom of movement.

Swimming the old fashioned way, 1890s, Robert Turner, Jr. photographer

Women wanted to move around more easily in the water too but the evolution of their swimwear was much more gradual. The bloomer suit, named after suffragist and dress reformer Amelia Bloomer, with shortened trousers underneath a short-sleeve tunic became increasingly popular through the middle of the century. Women wore these shorter suits with stockings and shoes to maintain their modesty. Through the late 1800s, the trousers became shorter until they could no longer be seen under the skirt. Knit fabric, while still made of wool, made for more comfortable suits. In France, women’s swimsuits lost their sleeves entirely and bottom hems rose all the way to the knees.

Local swim fashions c. 1900, Harry B. Mitchell photographer

In 1900, swimsuits with a sailor-style collar were very popular. They were typically made of dark colored fabric, still to preserve modesty, but were of a lighter weave. White trim around the hem and collar was also quite fashionable, as was wearing a soft cap or straw hat to complete the ensemble.

Edith Miller and Eva Derby modeling swimwear on March 8, 1901

The first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. Swimming was one of the men’s events. In 1912, women were permitted to also compete in swimming in the Olympics. Leading up to women’s entry into the sport on the world’s stage, swimwear underwent major changes. In 1907, Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman was arrested for indecency at Revere Beach in Boston for wearing a fitted one-piece swimsuit that bared her arms and legs. The new style, though considered risqué, was much more practical for swimming and quickly caught on.

Annette Kellerman, early 1900s, from loc.gov

Swimsuits continued to become lighter and smaller through the 1910s and 1920s. Men’s and women’s suits actually looked strikingly similar during the 1920s. Both were one-piece garments with tank-style tops and straight overskirts with attached shorts underneath. They were also still made of wool. Some were even made locally. The Queen City Knitting Mills on Scottwood Avenue in the Elmira Heights manufactured wool bathing suits in the early 1900s.

The Carr family in Keuka Lake, 1929

By the 1930s, swimsuits were finally being made of different fabrics like cotton and rayon, and later other new synthetic materials. Swimmers during that era must have found the change refreshing.

Clinton Island in the Chemung River, c. 1910s