Short Tours of Elmira Downtown

Cappy's will stay!

2011-05-21T08:57:00.001-04:00

Many of us were stunned to learn that Joe Caparulo--son of Cappy himself--is retiring for health reasons. He sold the property and planned to sell the store.

The store is already sold: to a woman who wants to run it like Papyrus in NYC. It is a stationery and gift shop with several locations downstate and a significant online presence.

Best of luck to Ms. Amana Vlasic with her "new" endeavor. We look forward to meeting with her.

For those who follow this link to our original Cappy's photoblogging, you may also be interested to know that the viaduct walkway in the first photo is getting a facelift! I had blogged about this earlier in Little Pond, but I think that the ongoing work makes a much better story.

Go see it all.

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Little Pond

Sunny Day Downtown, Elmira, New York

2007-10-16T23:07:00.000-04:00

The Geo Tracker is left behind for repairs at Elm Chevrolet, and I am left to my own devices on a warm October morning.

Shank's Mare it is. I've a camera, monopod, and a full gig of memory for shots and videos. And a plan. I head over to the viaduct and hang a right at Church Street and Railroad Avenue, moving north.When I was young, the average person would take a train to go to another city. In many metropolitan areas, this is still the norm. Other cities have returned to heavy use of the rails, but not Elmira. What a shame. I hate flying, and can no longer drive long distances. Used to be a sign like this would have signaled the end of a homecoming trip. Now it is just a memory. Not even my memory, because I am from central Massachusetts.

Here is the real reason I brought my camera with me. This is not an abandoned building. It is owned by the Hilliard Corporation, and is relatively protected by being adjacent to the factory complex, directly behind it.
While I was snapping pictures of this wonderful relic, I was overwhelmed by the ghosts of long-dead railway riders, swarming around the building. Images of full skirts and travelling jackets, smart hats and walking sticks were worn or carried by tired people, glad of a moment to stretch their legs. Or maybe a lone passenger, standing on the platform, looking over the little City of Elmira.Just before I began blogging this building, I Googled the words "Elmira railroad station" and got a site for a lovely little piece of history in Canada. Maybe someday we can make another such site for our own little station. For now, it is derelict: a favorite of photographers such as myself.

At my back is a spire familiar to all downtown denizens. It serves as a beacon to lead me to my next stop. I am very glad we have a beautiful sunny morning for photos.

The skies are crystal clear and the air is perfect. Monday morning and the world is bustling.
One of the most imposing houses of worship in the city is not located on Church Street. This is St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church. Kitty-corner across West Clinton Street are the St. Patrick's Apartments. They are no longer affiliated with the Diocese of Rochester, but the facade has been wonderfully preserved and it looks exactly as it did when it was a Parochial School.

The church was recently renovated, and is now the center for the main parish cluster here in Elmira. Clustering has encouraged local Catholics to visit all our churches, and I have attended Mass there a number of times. Directly across the street is my favorite store in the whole commercial universe.

My daughter used to live in one of the upstairs apartments.
Here are closeups of the little murals on either side of the entryway. They are scenes from stories by Mark Twain. When he was still Samuel Clemens, Twain came to Elmira to visit a friend of his youth. That friend introduced him to his future wife, Olivia Langdon. They would spend summers in Elmira.

Here is the first peek through the door. It always gives me an initial feeling of pande- monium, followed by an overall sense of comfortable clutter being the norm at Cappys.

The place is chock-a-block with gifts, books, cards, cosmetics, fashionable accessories, and even shoes. It is a bad idea to alert a friend to something in the place, especially if that person is likely to put off investigating. The turnover of product is unpredictable. See something you like? Better snap it up, or someone else will...

Anywhere a product can be displayed, some goody has been set. My daughters and I have literally never gone in with a list and left empty- handed.

Once the VeggiGirl KT actually told me we would probably not find an item. I laughed until she told me she wanted a Buddha for a male friend.

After all, why would anyone but a Buddhist have a statuette of a Buddha? Then, Oh-me-of-little-faith, began to think we might not find it. When we were done, we had located three different Buddhas, and there might conceivably been more.

At Cappy's, items are scattered everywhere. Many are literally hanging from the ceiling. On top of that, it is important not to neglect the merchandise that is below waist level. Here, people are not exaggerating when they say they looked both high,
and low for a gift. I took many pictures, but these few were the most represent- ative of the sense of organized chaos I get whenever I shop Cappy's.

One of the best things, I think, about this post: Cappy's does a very brisk shipping business. They are excellent shippers; we even sent a Galileo thermometer to our folks in Maine through them. It arrived unscathed, glass, liquid and all! That's very good news for the reader who likes to shop online.

Best of all: they have a wonderful web site!

(If you want to order, you will need to call the number on the home page.)

Next was a quick trip into Langdon Plaza for hiking shoes. All these pictures taken without benefit of proper walking shoes! The new ones from Panosian's Famous Brands fit the bill perfectly. I wore them to walk home.

One Last photo of a lovely painted lady on Church Street. My first encounter with it was as a customer at a hair salon. My hair cutter has since moved, at least twice, and finally retired.

This building was damaged by a terrible fire one night a few weeks back. It was badly damaged out back and they say it might be razed. Too bad. We lose a lot of lovely ladies that way around here.

This style is what I would call Victorian Canal Town, all cupolas and mansard roofs.

If you love this sort of architecture, we have an excellent resource in the Near Westside Historic District and their website. Take a look.

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Little Pond

Promenade Update--The Schtunks

2006-10-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

If you've ever had the chance to peruse my little tours of Elmira Downtown, you may recall a short piece regarding a possible renovation and upgrading of the walkway under the what we locals call the train trestle.

Recently the Star-Gazette--and the local television news, for that matter--have been running items to celebrate the acquisition of state and federal funding for the project.

I was surprised that nowhere in any of those pieces is there mention of the man (and his department) who did all the researching, visionary, not to mention legwork, for the project.

Business as usual at the local level.

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Little Pond

Heh Heh--read the comments section in the Star-Gazette post for local reaction to the Promenade!

Weekday spring morning at the library

2006-04-27T09:32:00.000-04:00

The corner of Main and Gray. Good place to start any tour in Elmira. Lady inside the Community Bookstore gots lots of info; what she doesn't have, her patrons do. Look for chatty pensioners and their pets. I began to wander about, looking for good photos.

2006-04-27T09:29:00.001-04:00

Heh. But of course.

2006-04-27T09:28:00.000-04:00

Went around the corner, to the Main Street side and some breakfast at "the" Cafe. Be very careful ordering here. The portions are huge, huge, huge! Best to select a couple of sides instead. Beats the heck out of the fast food places.

2006-04-27T09:26:00.000-04:00

Just beginning to look greener here. Wisner park will be busier this summer, especially on Thursdays, when the farmer's market occurs.

2006-04-27T09:24:00.000-04:00

Very shortly this entryway will be properly leafed out for spring. An inviting haven on a busy downtown day.

2006-04-27T09:23:00.000-04:00

Familiar facade to any Church Street commuter. Other building nearby have been designed to complement the Steele. Just across the highway, though, the architecture goes back to Works Progress days, or even earlier.

2006-04-27T09:21:00.000-04:00

Books and stuff. A perfect haven for many different types of people. Steele Memorial is a wonderful, short tour for a quick-pick-me-up on a weekday.

2006-04-27T09:18:00.000-04:00

Not just for kites, but also flags. That's Quezacoatl, isn't it? The kites used to be strikingly colorful here, but now the decor is punched up with bright colors all around.

2006-04-27T09:17:00.000-04:00

Halfway up the stairs, the kites are ubiquitous. With the broad floodplains and plenty of updraughts, the Elmira, NY area is excellent for kites, and famous for sailplaning.

2006-04-27T09:15:00.000-04:00

Mean looking critter. The creator must be thrilled to have it so prominently displayed.

2006-04-27T09:14:00.000-04:00

The back of the eagle kite. It's amazing anything that massive can float; but these are all working kites.

2006-04-27T09:13:00.000-04:00

There's always a huge variety of anything being exhibited at Steele. Kites are a spring regular. Quilts are popular, too.

2006-04-27T09:12:00.000-04:00

One more kite, just for fun. Note the display case below, full of tiny miniatures of a civil war battle. Also, get a load of the huge chess set!

2006-04-27T09:11:00.000-04:00

Note the desk and the floor display rack for size approximations. There are books on the rack about kites and chess, naturally.

2006-04-27T09:09:00.000-04:00

This popular activity is an everyday occurrence at Steele. Storytelling with a tour of the facilities. It's good to hear a non-hushed voice, although the adults are busily hushing the kids.

2006-04-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

Survivor quilt, women's answer to "survivor guilt," donated by a lucky lady. The writing squares are well-wishes from family and friends. And so down the stairs, into the pretty spring sunlight.

Riverfront Park revisited

2005-10-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

Took Ellie downtown to enjoy the sun. We lucked out entirely, with some two hours of pure sunlit heaven, just before the rains started again.

If you're interested in the complete tour of the Park go here.

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Little Pond

2005-10-15T12:11:00.000-04:00

Do you remember our blocky fountain from our Riverfront Park blog? I promised to learn its name. And here it is. The Park is a direct result of the 1972 flood caused by Tropical Storm Agnes.

2005-10-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

Our Cascade must be running on Chemung River water. It's drier during the summer and quite full right now.

2005-10-15T12:07:00.000-04:00

The Cascade on a misty morning.

2005-10-15T12:06:00.000-04:00

The plaque refers to the greening of Downtown Elmira. Many feel the greening is what drove away the businesses that left after the Flood of 1972. Don't think so. A service economy replaced the retail district. Takes a while, but many people now live downtown.

Grape Tree in the Fall of 2005

2005-10-15T12:03:00.000-04:00

Remember the Butterfly Tree? It changes quite regularly. I finally caught up with it, now a grape tree in celebration of our bountiful grape harvests up on the Finger Lakes.

2005-10-15T12:01:00.000-04:00

Then there's the heading home part. Ellie's ready for a short visit to the Fishing Ramp. Quick, before the rain starts.

Apples for Animals

2005-09-25T11:51:00.000-04:00

Hey all you horsey people and deer lovers.!!

You've probably noticed our apple trees, at the corner of Guinnip and First on the city/town line. Those apples are for the taking. We use no pesticides and they are generally not fit for humans. But they are great for feeding stations and snacking horses.

2005-09-25T10:55:00.000-04:00

Feel free to pick from the trees and please, please, grab any bagged ones you may see. I'll come to the door and wave. And the GrandDog will bark her butt off at you.

You're welcome. And thank you.

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Little Pond

When it's too hot downtown...

2005-08-02T14:48:00.000-04:00

...We go where it's cool. Pack a picnic hamper and head up to Harris Hill, New York. Bring the dog: Ellie will be there, too. You'll find us at the overlook, listening for the gliders and their towplanes.

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Little Pond

Welcome Input from ECTC

2005-07-16T20:47:00.000-04:00

A local agency (paid by your tax dollars, dear Hometown Tourist) has responded to our griping posts by offering the illustrated Elmira Promenade Priliminary Design Study of June 2005 for your perusal. I'm posting two of the graphics below, more later if you show your interest. Leave a comment.

Mr. Jay Schissell of the Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council indicated that we are encouraged to post these enhanced computer simulations, with this caveat:

"Keep in mind that display areas for local artists, museums, school and the library is an important component of the Promenade project that will hopefully make it a "destination."

I hope he will not mind some of my editorializing.

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Little Pond

ECTC vision under the viaduct

2005-07-16T20:46:00.000-04:00

Coming in from the opposite direction, with our back to Church Street. Transportation Center at left. Love the colors, love the light. My only objection is that the hanging art will cut back on the natural light. I prefer the area as open as possible under the trestle.

ECTC vision of the Transportation Center

2005-07-15T20:45:00.000-04:00

Note how the colors would tie into the existing buildings' scheme. Gives it an almost organic look. The busses would load on the other side of the viaduct.

Train Trestle: The Viaduct

2005-07-09T13:23:00.000-04:00

Word is out that the Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council is aiming to spruce up the railroad viaduct that bisects our little town. Plans are to transform the old "eyesore" into a Promenade. Sounds good to me, as long as they promise to restore or rehab the derelict train station along the way. Quite costly even in theory, to the tune of a couple of millions, the plan would install better lighting and resurface just about everything from top to bottom. Gone would be the white, gray, blues and green, and various shades of sand and sandstone would be used instead.

In fact things wouldn't be all that different than they are now, just newer and cleaner, a little more elegant. I like that, too. As a life-long fan of trains and railroads, anything that preserves and protects the viaduct appeals to me personally. Love to watch those trains passing through our little corner of the earth.

So, dear Hometown Tourist, start on West Gray Street, about a block east from the Community Bookstore. All our downtown tours start there. Stop in for a snack and chew the fat with authentic Elmirans. If Louis is there, give him my love.

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Little Pond

Viaduct: Railroad Avenue and West Gray

2005-07-09T10:19:00.000-04:00

Our back to the parking garage on West Gray Street; facing Church Street. This is a primary boarding area for the County Transit System. Looking three blocks up, where the defunct railroad station awaits some serious rehabilitation and restoration. But that's another blog. Let's cross under the trestle.

Overdue Paint Job

2005-07-09T10:16:00.000-04:00

Local businesses keep attractive landscapes. Many people wait for their rides under the viaduct, especially in rainy weather. We are long overdue for a new paint job.

Viaduct at Transportation Center

2005-07-09T10:14:00.000-04:00

This shot shows where the busses load for the Chemung County routes. The long distance busses board on the other side of the Transportation Center, across from the Post Office. While I like the blues and greens, they represent our old bus company and no longer apply.

Toward Riverfront Park

2005-07-09T10:11:00.000-04:00

Looking backward towards Water Street. Just beyond the greenery is Riverfront Park, blogged earlier here. The chipped paint is unfortunately obvious and faces our recently remodeled Clemen Center.

Clock Kiosk on West Gray

2005-07-09T10:09:00.000-04:00

New take on an old favorite. A modern clock tower with advertising kiosk faces West Gray Street just beyond the viaduct.

Transportation Center Walkway

2005-07-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

This little planting provides a much-needed touch of green in this concrete habitat.

2005-07-09T10:06:00.001-04:00

A travelers' oasis, with benches. Never busy, although often occupied.

North of Church Street

2005-07-09T10:06:00.000-04:00

Coming around the Transportation Center, we are now facing the Steele Memorial Library and the Viaduct crosses Church Street.

Window Box Garden

2005-07-09T10:05:00.000-04:00

A cheerful sight on a cloudy day. What is that sign?

2005-07-09T10:04:00.000-04:00

Thank you, Volunteer Master Gardeners and Citizen Pruners.

2005-07-09T10:02:00.000-04:00

An eyesore? Depends on the beholder. So lets scrape the peelings and repaint, already.

Remember by Morning with Louis?

2005-07-06T10:53:00.000-04:00

A comfortable, indoor visit to the Mark Twain Hotel Museum is now available. Go alone, or with an intimate little group. Maybe you, too, will meet someone nice enough to fill you in on the local lore and details.

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Little Pond

An Independence Day Tour of Wisner Park

2005-07-04T00:12:00.000-04:00

This is the perfect place to make a quick tour in honor of Independence Day. Downtown Elmira has this little gem; Wisner is actually a memorial park. Go to the corner of North Main Street and West Gray. Two quadrangles perfectly maintained by people dedicated to the memory of our heroes. Even the trees are carefully pruned to give a nice high canopy, enhancing the light and the safety of the walkways.

2005-07-04T00:10:00.000-04:00

Start your tour here. It is likely there is someone inside who can regale you with stories about the memorials you are about to visit. There are books and maps to the area here. Then head straight down West Gray toward the First Arena, in the upper right. Our first stop is across the street.

2005-07-04T00:07:00.000-04:00

This is a nifty statue, if only because it gives a pretty complete picture of the Spanish American War, largely fogotten by most Americans. In fact most of these memorials are like history lessons. Head past the statue to another one facing North Main Street.

2005-07-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

Thomas Beecher with his back to the church he pastored. He was a close friend of author Samuel Clemens and the Langdon family, who used to live across from the church.

2005-07-03T23:02:00.000-04:00

Let's continue across the street, around the spreading triptych of marble, the memorials to our foreign wars of the 20th Century. Behind them is a minimemorial, sort of an engraved prayer, with something different on each side. Note the gazebo behind it, just in front of the Baptist Church. This is really a beautiful, peaceful park, perfectly set up for a quiet meal on most days.

2005-07-03T22:58:00.000-04:00

Coming up Main Street, headed south, we are presented with three related memorials. The battles and the names of the fallen, all engraved. Each of the three is a complete history lesson in itself. They are beautiful and touching memorials. This is to our heroes of World War II. Likely we may know relatives of those whose names are engraved here.

2005-07-03T22:55:00.000-04:00

The centerpiece is dedicated to World War I. This was the Great War, the last of the conventional wars, before the Atomic Bomb. Yet millions still died.

2005-07-03T22:53:00.000-04:00

The third and last of this triptych is dedicated to those who died in the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts. Again, the lists and the seats with the battles.

2005-07-03T22:52:00.000-04:00

This elegant memorial is my favorite. It is dedicated to our fallen peace officers. It faces the Mark Twain Hotel. That's another blog at a later date. Say a prayer for all our fallen heroes, and thank a veteran or serviceman for our freedom. We are the lucky ones: Every day is Independence Day here.

Main St to Church to Clemens Pkwy to Gray

2005-07-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

Our little downtown has some very interesting architecture and a charming mix of both new and old. We are going around just two blocks, passing under the railroad viaduct. There was a time when the viaduct defined two halves of the town. Now the Clemens Center Parkway creates the dividing line. We will treat the little streets being used by the transportation center and the county buses as part of our block.

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Little Pond

A quick tour of Little Sights to See Downtown

2005-07-03T12:27:00.000-04:00

All downtown visits should start here. The Community Bookstore has maps and people who know the area. The owner is happy to help. We are going to walk around one block. Head across Main Street and look west on Gray to the little white sign.

2005-07-03T12:24:00.000-04:00

From the distance I read PARK CHURCH, but closer up, it's just a No Parking sign. Cute.

2005-07-03T12:23:00.000-04:00

The stately and historic Park Church. The Rev. Thomas Beecher was a personal friend of that renowned diehard agnostic Samuel Clemens. Clemens, aka Mark Twain, used to walk all the way down from Quarry Farm on East Hill to visit Beecher.

Crystal Eastman Marker

2005-07-03T12:21:00.000-04:00

Why is this attached to the Park Church? Go to Pages from the History of Elmira to find out.

2005-07-03T12:19:00.000-04:00

On Church Street, headed towards the Clemens Center Parkway. A small, glassed-in building on the edge of Wisner Park contains the Popcorn Truck, kept in mint condition for all local events and parades.

2005-07-03T12:17:00.000-04:00

Come on an event night to see this marquis in its glittering glory. It's visible from far up the Clemens Center Parkway. Just below, on Gray Street is something a little unusual.

2005-07-03T12:16:00.000-04:00

These signs are handpainted on glass windows. In reverse, I guess, it's got to be tricky. These novelties change with the seasons and the upcoming events.

2005-07-03T12:14:00.000-04:00

This has to be original ironwork. At the back entrance to the Clemens Center, on Gray Street, facing the Post Office and Transportation Center.

2005-07-03T12:13:00.000-04:00

I remember my little ones thinking this was some magical entrance. They were disappointed until the time came to coil down the central chute! Fun is where you find it.

2005-07-03T12:12:00.000-04:00

This is the Gray Street entrance to Clemens Square. It was oh, so very modern in its day. Now its truly novel only to little children, although exposed infrastructure considered unusual today.

2005-07-03T12:10:00.000-04:00

Also called the Bingeing Gardens by those who know. VeggieGirl KT tells me this is the only local restaurant where the Chinese food truly includes Chinese vegetables.

2005-07-03T12:08:00.000-04:00

From the Beijin Garden we can see the tree covered Wisner Park. It's actually a memorial park. But that's another post to come July 4th.

2005-07-02T18:31:00.000-04:00

Any tour of downtown begins and ends at the Community Bookstore. The corner of North Main and West Gray Streets. You can get your maps and information here. If you're lucky, maybe Louis will be here to regale you with tales of the locals.

2005-07-02T18:28:00.000-04:00

Little picture in the middle is the owner's sister rendition of The Community Bookstore. Stop and chat with the owner; she's a font of information.

2005-07-02T18:18:00.000-04:00

Hungry? Breakfast, snacks and lunch here. Always a visitor or two. Just outside and around the corner, on Main Street, theres a small cafe, if you're ready for a huge meal.

2005-07-02T18:13:00.000-04:00

Even more seating for visitors. Need to take a load off and escape the weather? The selection changes regularly, but books of local flavor and interest are always available.

2005-07-02T18:10:00.000-04:00

This little fellow is a frequent visitor to the Bookstore. He's a lovely gentleman with nuzzles for everyone. Can't wait to introduce him to Granddog Ellie.

2005-07-02T18:08:00.000-04:00

This is the view of the Community Bookstore from the First Arena. Between the First Arena and the Clemens Center, there is a lot happening any given week in Elmira. Check at www.stargazette.com for events and enjoy our little city!

Good Things Come in Small Packages

2005-07-02T16:14:00.000-04:00

They do indeed. This is the tiny town that housed the college I chose three decades ago. I was amused by its presumption and enchanted with its remoteness. No one would ever find me here. Wrong.

First my husband found me, wooed me, and married me. Carried me off to Washington, DC where we simply didn't belong. Moved our growing family to Annapolis, MD, where only the wealthy seemed to thrive. And finally returned to his roots in Elmira, New York.

Two nobodies headed nowhere settled here. But Elmira, New York is a funny place. Two nobodies and their children can do rather well here. It's a country sort of city. Or maybe it's a city for the countryside. I don't know. I always felt that New England was God's Country. Lately, though, New England seems so suburban, more so than even the suburbs of Elmira. It's a country sort of city where the suburbs, well, they are really the countryside. Five minutes' drive in any direction leads to farmland or even wilderness. Try that in New England these days!

But the utilities of a city, and the sensibilities of the country coexist here. You know, I dearly miss the New England of my childhood, but I truly love the Elmira of the here and now. And that's the only reality that matters at any given time.

We can credit that to its people, especially those of my husband's family, my neighbors--many of whom are transplantees like me, my coworkers at the Elmira Star-Gazette, and of course the people of Elmira. Elmirans, black and red and white and yellow (to be totally politically incorrect). They are the "locals" of all my blogs. To which I humbly include myself (with secret, but great, pride). I love the "locals" because they love me. Despite my lingering accent and strange outside ways. Never in my life, and surely nowhere else, have I ever seen such all encompassing acceptance and enjoyment of each person with all her quirks as I have found here.

Welcome to Elmira. A country sort of city, with the biggest heart in the world. These are tiny tours of a little city, smack in the middle of nowhere. You're gonna love it.

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Little Pond