| 1776 |
While the Declaration of Independence
was being signed, Horseheads was a wilderness, inhabited only by Indians. |
| 1779 |
September 24th, Horseheads was born,
when General Sullivan ordered his army pack horses to be killed. |
| 1779 |
August 29th, Battle of Newtown, Sullivan-Clinton
Expedition against Indians and Tories |
| 1780 |
Nathan Teal, a Revolutionary War Soldier,
settled on land on South Main Street. |
| 1788 |
Original survey of Horseheads land was
made. Land was set aside for Soldier’s Claims. Government gave land instead
of cash bonuses. |
| 1789 |
John Breese, one of the first white settlers,
built log cabin on spot where he had camped when in General Sullivan’s
army. He brought his wife and new-born baby, Sarah, who was born February
18, 1789. |
| 1790 |
|
| 1793 |
Susanna Conklin was the first child born
in Horseheads on March 3, 1793. |
| 1793 |
John Breese’s log cabin became first
school house. Amelia Parkhurst was the teacher. |
| |
The Carpenter family built the first
hotel, called “The Halfway House”. It was half way between Horseheads and
Elmira Heights. |
| 1800 |
First log school built near site of Ryant
park. |
| 1802/03 |
Smallpox epidemic hit Horseheads, killing
most of the Indians living there. |
| 1805 |
Church services were held for Indians
and white settlers by Reverent Roswell Goff. |
| 1805 |
Nathan Teal built a sawmill near old
Conklin mill. |
| 1807 |
Nathan Teal deeded 144 acres of center
of village to James Sayre, stipulating part to be used for public burying
ground and part for use of local people. (Teal Park) |
| 1808 |
First log tannery owned by Solomon Moore
(near Mosher Block) |
| 1809 |
Colonel Brinton Paine kept tavern on
Newtown Creek. |
| 1812 |
The War of 1812 or afterwards, “General
Training” or “Muster Days” were held on north side of Bowman Hill Road,
on the flats across the bridge. Parades, drill and practice military evolutions
were performed by some 500 militia and rifle corps from all over the county.
Huge crowds gathered. |
| 1815 |
The first newspaper, “The Telegraph”,
started. It folded in 1849. This was the first newspaper in Chemung County. |
| 1815 |
A two room school was built on the “Meeting
House” lot, now Teal Park. |
| 1815 |
Two store frame community building erected. |
| 1820’s |
Country still very wild and untamed.
The state paid trappers and hunters for wolf and wildcat pelts. |
| 1825 |
Mr. and Mrs. Able Shute opened a grocery
store. |
| 1827 |
First church building, the “Marsh Church”
built beside the old cemetery at north end of the Holding Point. |
| 1828 |
Newtown was renamed Elmira. |
| |
Colwell built a hotel where the Marine
Midland Bank now stands. At that time there were more taverns than grocery
stores in Horseheads. |
| |
Abe Shute also opened a hotel. |
| 1929 |
Seneca and Susquehanna Lock Navigating
Co. were assigned to build canal …$300,000 appropriated. |
| 1830/33 |
Chemung Canal under construction. |
| 1831 to 1900 |
Peter J. Ward was a Civil War photographer
living in the area. He had an upstairs studio near Brown’s Drug Store.
Many old area photos were taken by this man. |
| 1832 |
New York and Erie Railway chartered. |
| 1833 |
Chemung Coal opened for business. The
Toll House was located in Horseheads. |
| 1834 |
St. Matthew’s Church incorporated. |
| 1836 |
The first county poor house was opened.
It was an old log building. |
| |
Horseheads was the social and political
center of Chemung County. Numerous political parties and meetings were
held at Pritchard Hall. |
| 1836 |
Chemung County organized March 29, 1836,
with a population of 7,463. |
| 1837 |
Horseheads, an area of 237 acres, was
incorporated as Fairport. |
| 1838 |
Horseheads was popular social center.
4th of July Celebration brought crowds from 50-mile radius. |
| 1840 |
John Relyea and Cyrus Barlow constructed
school building at cost of $2,200. The First Baptist Church was also founded. |
| 1841 |
First shade trees planted by Cyrus Barlow. |
| |
First wooden sidewalks built. |
| 1845 |
The original name of Horseheads was restored. |
| 1850 |
“Teal School House,” a four room school,
built on site of Teal Park. |
| 1855 |
One hundred fifteen acres of land added
to Village. |
| 1858 |
The “Horseheads Journal” started. |
| |
The area newspaper, “Horseheads Philosopher,”
merged with “Elmira Gazette.” |
| 1860 |
|
| 1862 |
Horseheads business section destroyed
by fire. |
| |
Joseph Rodburn, supt., built a new wood
frame County Home building. |
| 1863 |
Twenty-five acres of land added to village. |
| 1867 |
It cost the state $14.35 per year in
equipment and salaries to educate one child. |
| 1871 |
Village Charter revised. Corporate seal
to consist of three Horses’ Heads inside a circle. |
| 1873 |
Police and Fire Departments were organized.
$6,000 was spent on fire engine and equipment. |
| |
First concrete sidewalks were built. |
| 1874 |
Horseheads Grange first organized. |
| 1875 |
Fire Bell purchased. |
| 1876 |
Nearby Elmira Reformatory opened. |
| 1877 |
Horseheads Journal moved to Elmira and
became Chemung Greenbacker. |
| |
The first phone in Chemung was demonstrated
in Mr. J. Langdon’s office in Elmira. |
| 1878 |
The Chemung Canal closed. |
| 1878 – |
|
| 1910 |
Little growth during this time. The horse
and buggy, at 8 miles an hour, was the main way of traveling. There was
a horse block and hitching post in front of every house. |
| 1879 |
The first telephones in Horseheads were
great curiosity. The local telephone operator was located in office over
Don Wright store. |
| |
The “Chemung Greenbacker” moved back
to Horseheads and became the “Chemung Valley Reporter.” |
| 1879 |
Great Centennial Celebration of the Battle
of Newtown. |
| 1880 |
Rufus Platt bought Trembly House hotel
that stood where Marine Midland Bank is now and renamed it Platt House. |
| 1880’s |
Horseheads famous for its celery farms
to World War I. |
| 1881 |
|
| 1885 |
Horseheads was name North Elmira for
one year. |
| 1886 |
Eugene Zimmerman married Horseheads girl,
Mabel Alice Beard, and moved to Horseheads. |
| 1888 |
The average teacher’s pay was $465.44
per year. |
| 1889 |
First graduation from Horseheads High
School. The Town Hall and Fire Engine House were built for $8,000. The
first automobile, a 1-cycle, 14 H.P. Winton was seen in Horseheads. |
| 1892 |
Teal House School closed. A new brick
school on Grand Central Avenue opened. |
| 1893 |
“Horseheads Division” steam trolley ran
through Hanover Square. |
| 1895 |
|
| 1898 |
American Engineering Co. of New Jersey
began construction of Electric Railway known as “Glen Route.” |
| 1900 |
Regular service on Glen Route started.
Every half hour from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. It took 90 minutes from Elmira
to Seneca Lake |
| 1902 |
Citizens Telephone granted franchise
to erect poles. |
| 1904 |
Water and electric service installed
in village. Last great ball held at Platt House to celebrate installation
of services. |
| 1906 |
First hard surface road in Village. Ran
from Horseheads to Erin. |
| 1908 |
Hanover Square and immediate area held:
Winchester Optical (building and electricity was heated with steam), blacksmith
shops, a wagon shop, a marble works, a small ice house, The Platt House
(also had electricity and steam heat) with many sheds in back for the patrons’
horses, a bakery, coal yard, hardware store, harness shop, doctors’ offices,
a photo shop, large livery stable, carriage shop, large railroad depot,
feed mill, grocery and clothing stores, the post office, barber shop, cobblers
shop, the Hoffman Hotel, saloons, furniture store, boot and shoe store,
the W. Rose Carriage Manufacturers, Pritchard Hall (with stage and scenery). |
| 1910 |
Bandstand erected in Teal Park. |
| 1915 |
First concrete highway between Elmira
and Ithaca. |
| 1917 |
U.S. entered World War I, April 6th.
Six Horseheads men died in the war. Granite marker with bronze plaque was
later erected in Horseheads Memorial Park. |
| |
Village purchased street cleaner. |
| 1918 |
November 11th, Armistice Day……..end of
the war. |
| 1927 |
Platt House torn down. First National
Bank built on the location. |
| 1932 |
Radio station WESG opened (now WENY). |
| 1935 |
“Zim” died. |
| 1939 |
Horseheads Grange acquired new building
on West Franklin Street for its meetings. It was also used by community
organizations. |
| 1940 |
The Chamber of Commerce organized. |
| 1941- |
|
| 1945 |
World War II, forty five men from Horseheads
gave their lives. Granite marker with bronze plaque erected in Horseheads
Memorial Park. |
| |
Holding Point was established by U.S.
Army. It held military equipment and supplies as well as Italian prisoners
of war. |
| 1941 |
Growth of Horseheads spurred by Holding
Point. |
| 1942 |
Two fire companies consolidated into
one company, called the “Active Fire Co. of Horseheads.” The Exempt Fire
Association was formed with a Fire Commission. |
| 1943 |
Chemung County Airport opened. Horseheads
gained Victory Heights apartment houses. |
| 1944 |
Horseheads Women’s Club decided to start
a library for the village – each donated at least one book. |
| 1945 |
375 prefabricated homes built in Windsor
Gardens. |
| 1946 |
May 28, major flood hit area. |
| |
June 5th, twister felled 1,000 trees. |
| 1946 |
Police Department went on 24-hour duty
for the first time. |
| 1947 |
Radio station WELM opened. |
| 1948 |
Annexation of Holding Point area. |
| 1949 |
Horseheads Library moved to larger quarters
on second floor of Fire Station on John Street. |
| 1950 |
Communist invasion started Korean War. |
| |
National Homes began operation in Holding
Point. They employed 275 people. The produced prefabricated homes. |
| 1951 |
Schools in Horseheads area were consolidated
into the Horseheads Central School System. |
| 1952 |
Westinghouse Electronic Tube Division
opened. |
| 1952 |
Telephone “dial” service established
with toll-free calls between Elmira Heights, Big Flats, and Elmira. |
| 1953 |
WTVE television went on air. |
| |
Decision was made to build Horseheads
Swimming Pool. |
| 1953 |
Franklin Fisher, native of Horseheads,
Manager of Illustration Department for National Geographic Magazine died. |
| 1954 |
Hurricane Hazel hit area. |
| 1956 |
WSYE TV went on air. WEHH, Horseheads’
first radio station opened. |
| 1957 |
Big Flats branch of Corning Glass opened. |
| 1958 |
$600,000 administration building built
at Chemung County Airport. |
| 1959 |
Direct long distance telephone dialing
was introduced. |
| |
Library became Horseheads Free Library
and a full-time librarian was hired. |
| |
Library moved to Village Hall. |
| 1961 |
August 1st, grand opening of Grand Central
Plaza. 135,000 people attended. |
| 1961 |
Horseheads School District comprised
of seven schools serving 5,100 children. |
| 1962 |
Village employees moved into new Village
Hall, August. |
| 1963 |
Junior High School opened. |
| |
New Library was built on May Street. |
