Monday, September 22, 2025

C.H. Wheadon & Son

by Erin Doane, Senior Curator

An April 27, 1893 article in the Elmira Star-Gazette describes the embarrassing business troubles of Henry G. Wheadon, owner of C.H. Wheadon & Son. The shameful news was that Henry had filed not one but two chattel mortgages in the county clerk’s office. It was with “sincere regret and surprise” that Elmirans learned this humiliating news, according to the reporter. As a modern reader, I didn’t understand how taking out a mortgage was newsworthy or brought such public shame. So, I went looking for historical context.

C.H. Wheadon & Son label inside travel trunk, c. 1878

I first became interested in C.H. Wheadon & Son earlier this year when the museum received the donation of a lovely travel trunk from around 1878. Inside the trunk was a label showing that it was originally purchased from C.H. Wheadon & Son at 206 East Water Street in Elmira.

Trunk sold by C.H. Wheadon & Son, closed and open

Charles H. Wheadon, the company’s founder, was born in Hebron, New York in 1812. Charles married Cordelia Short and they had six children together, four of whom survived into adulthood – Frances, Mary, Charles F., and Henry. After years as a successful businessman in Homer, New York, Charles and his family came to Elmira in 1874. Two years later, he opened a new harness shop on Water Street across the street from the Rathbun House.

C.H. Wheadon & Son dvertisement, The Wellsboro Agitator, May 8, 1877

C.H. Wheadon & Son originally manufactured and sold coaches and harnesses. They sold road, track, and farm harnesses, sporting and tack goods, ladies and gentlemen’s riding saddles, trunks, traveling bags, and valises. The business became so successful that it expanded into the storefront next door and occupied 204-206 East Water Street.

C.H. Wheadon & Son advertisement listing all the types of bells available at the store – “All the latest styles. Largest line in the city”
Originally published in the Evening Star, December 1, 1888; reprinted by the Star-Gazette, May 24, 1953
Henry G. Wheadon was the younger of Charles H.’s sons and was the “son” in his father’s company. Henry’s older brother, Charles F., was already in business for himself when Charles H. opened his store on Water Street. He came to Elmira two years before the rest of the family to work for the Richardson Shoe Company. He started his own wholesale produce business before eventually partnering with Robert W. Barton in Barton & Wheadon, wholesale grocers and tea merchants.

Advertising calendar from Barton & Wheadon, 1908
By 1893, Charles H. had gone into retirement and Henry owned and operated C.H. Wheadon & Son. It was under his management that the business foundered. Henry was forced to give his father a chattel mortgage for the sum of $7,700 that covered all goods, wares, and merchandise in the store, including harnesses, leather goods, trunks, satchels, and handbags. He also gave a second chattel mortgage for the sum of $255 to L.M. Baldwin of Montrose, Pennsylvania covering one carriage and one set of coupe harness. A chattel mortgage is a loan secured by moveable personal property rather than real property. This type of mortgage was seen as a sign of poor financial management and was considered an act of desperation. Henry needed the money to pay off creditors in New York and Philadelphia. Many at the time thought it was a character flaw to be so far in debt and Henry certainly would have been looked down upon and pitied for it.  

Henry blamed this great business embarrassment on competition in his trade. C.H. Wheadon & Son sold goods at retail prices but there were jobbers (wholesale dealers) who sold the same things for less. He also lamented his general bad luck in the business. The G.E.S.S. medical company that occupied rooms above C.H. Wheadon & Son reportedly had seven fires in one year. Each time, the store below suffered water damage. The building’s basement had also flooded several times, damaging merchandise. 

Larger, national economic issues were also at play. The Panic of 1893, one of the most severe economic depressions in the U.S. to that time, began in February. The panic was caused by complex, nationwide issues but here’s a very brief, sweeping explanation: Overbuilding and speculation led to financial collapse of major industries including railroads and banks. The stock market crashed, leading to panic and a credit crisis. This all resulted in mass unemployment (up to 20% in some places), farm foreclosures, and more than 15,000 businesses going bankrupt. The failure of C.H. Wheadon & Son was most likely due to Henry’s poor business decisions but by the time he filed the chattel mortgages, the national economy was on the verge of collapse. 

Henry told the reporter that he planned to accept a position as a travelling salesman, something he had done before joining his father’s business. A week later, in early May 1893, the newspaper reported that Henry had left town. I don’t know if he ever came back to Elmira. On August 16, 1903, the Star-Gazette reported that word had been received that Henry G. Wheadon had died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 44. While the report stated that his remains would be taken to Homer, New York for burial with his family, he was actually interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles. 

After Henry left town in 1893, his father announced that he would be coming out of retirement to reopen the harness and trunk shop and resume business. This does not appear to have happened. Charles H. Wheadon, one of Elmira’s oldest citizens at nearly 81 years old, passed away on August 24, 1893 after a protracted illness.

Monday, September 15, 2025

We the People

by Susan Zehnder, Education Director

In 2004, the United States Congress passed 36 U.S. Code § 106  which recognized September 17th as Constitution and Citizenship Day. The purpose was to promote literacy and understanding of the American constitution.  While not a federal holiday, the law asks “each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year (to) hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.”

Does it count if we started things in July? On the 3rd of that month, CCHS held a community event at the Clemens Center to increase awareness of an oft quoted and important historical document. We called it the Constitution Read because that’s what took place: community members read aloud the entire constitution. We had invited anyone interested in reading, and available to join us, asking that they were 14 years old and up (future voters in four years) and that no one wore political buttons, hats, or t-shirts to the event. 45 community members signed up. Everything went smoothly. We were grateful to the Clemens Center staff and volunteers for helping us and to the audience of readers, friends, and family who stayed to listen. Reading the entire document, all 7,686 words, took an hour. When a section of the document had been changed or amended, we let everyone know by holding up a sign. The event was filmed and many readers shared that it was their first time hearing the whole thing, and asked when we would do it again. In the months since, groups from two southern states have contacted us wanting to know how they could do something similar.

Constitution Read event

Recognizing the importance of the constitution by having a special day was the brainchild of Louise Leigh. Born in 1914 in Gloversville, NY, she moved to Southern California to work as a medical technologist. Leigh became politically active with Republican causes and was appointed Presidential Elector, Delegate to two National Republican conventions, and served as the California Republican Assembly Historian. When she retired from her medical work in 1997, she taught English to immigrants, tutored children, and started a campaign to improve constitutional literacy. Her work was recognized and honored by various political and civic organizations including the Southern Division Federated Republican Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the National Center for Constitutional Studies.

In October, CCHS will continue to do our part to promote constitutional literacy. Starting October 3rd, until November 15th, we are hosting Voices and Votes: Democracy in America from the Smithsonian Institute's Traveling Exhibition Services. It is a detailed look at some of the complex issues surrounding our country’s vision and understanding of democracy. To go along with it, our Senior Curator and Archivist have put together an exhibit connecting local and national issues. We also have programs to share more information about the exhibit and the topic in general. On October 8th at noon, CCHS staff will talk about hosting the exhibit. On October 21st at 7 pm, Dr. Danny Lempert, a former political science professor and current Cornell University law student, will be speaking on “The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Past, Present, and Future.” On the evening of October 23rd, we are running a game night using materials from the exhibit to spark community conversations. On November 12th, at noon, members of the Chemung County Board of Elections will be sharing a behind the scenes look at what they do. Inspired by the exhibit, we are working with the Arnot Art Museum and holding a Vote! poster contest. Poster submissions are due in December and more details can be found in our exhibit and on our website. And not to be left out, all Elmira City School District first graders will again be creating flags to hang on display in our museum.  

Flags from last year's First Graders

The film recorded at the Constitution Read will also be showing in the galleries. We invite everyone to come explore the exhibit, participate in discussions, and try out the games. What does it mean to vote? Whose voices are heard? Who is an American? We may not all agree on the answers, but asking the questions offers us a chance to better understand our country and each other: we ARE the people of this great country.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America will be on display to the public October 3 – November 15th Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. To get the latest CCHS information, sign up for our e-newsletter by writing to CCHS@ChemungValleyMuseum.org for more information.