Chemung Valley, NY [Paperback]

Diane L. Janowski (Author), Allen C. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: Images of America (Arcadia Publishing) | Publication Date: December 9, 1998

Authors Diane L. Janowski and Allen C. Smith combine an interest in the evolution of the commercial and residential landscapes in their home town with an exquisite collection of images in The Chemung Valley. This engaging pictorial history captures the people of Elmira, New York, at work and at play and preserves the memories of yesteryear. In The Chemung Valley, discover the people and places of Elmira's early days as well as scenes from other areas of Chemung County, including Horseheads, Elmira Heights, Big Flats, Pine City, and Pine Valley. The images in this edition, all of which were selected from the permanent collection of the Chemung Valley History Museum, represent all aspects of life in these communities. Both authors are award-winning creative photographers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Diane L. Janowski is a professional artist who enjoys genealogical research, and Allen C. Smith serves as Director of Naglee Fine Arts in Elmira. With an active and extensive history of involvement in the community, Janowski and Smith add a carefully researched text to the photographs to complete a unique view of the Chemung Valley. All proceeds from the sale of this book are dedicated to the preservation of collections at the Chemung Valley History Museum.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (December 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738500178
• ISBN-13: 978-0738500171
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,015,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chemung Valley Is My Home, April 6, 2008

By 

G. Knorr "EIguy" (State College, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chemung Valley, NY (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful pictorial history of the Chemung Valley (a great majority of the photos from the late 1880s through the early 1950s are from Elmira) which will certainly give one a brief but vivid history lesson of the area in New York state's Southern Tier. I am pleased and even prouder to say I lived six terrific years of my adult life there (I was not born in the Chemung Valley), but quickly learned to seek out and appreciate this area's fascinating historical past and what the land and its people contributed to society in the United States. It is the burial place of Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain, (who's wife was from Elmira and the place where he penned much of his great work) and the home as well as the burial place of the late, Ernie Davis, the first African American Heisman Trophy winner in college football. (Several current Elmira residents have told me Ernie Davis was a gem of mankind this area can boast as its own.) Many of the photos show some of the neat little shops which existed in Elmira's downtown and the shop owners to boot--many of whom are identified. This treasure also includes many photographs of the recreational activities and sites residents enjoyed at a time we will likely never see again. If one grew up in the Chemung Valley (I envy you) it might be fun to compare how the area looks today to what it looked like in yesteryear. The captions with the photographs are wonderful as well. I feel very fortunate to have this hard-to-find softcover book in my collection. It reminds me of "home"--which it ALWAYS will be in my heart.