Downtown

Iszard's Blueprints The opening of the new Main Street Bridge in 1921 along with the opening of the new Iszard's department store drew more people downtown. The new Iszard’s building cost $350,000 and was four stories high and “completely fireproof.”	Mark Twain Hotel Construction The hotel cost $1,000,000 to build along with a $75,000 widening of Gray Street. The ground floor of the new hotel had 12 retail stores, including a hairdresser and barber shop.	Mark Twain Hotel The hotel was managed by Horace L. Wiggins and Lewis N. Wiggins. The Wiggins family managed hotels for five generations. Horace Wiggins managed the 1,500 room Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia and was the Director of the United American and United Hotels Corporation.
Mark Twain Hotel Brochure The hotel hosted parties, business meetings, dinners, and dances. Its rooms all had modern conveniences and could be rented for $2-$9 per day.

The growth of Elmira’s downtown was greatly assisted by the completion of the Main Street Bridge in 1921. This was followed by the opening of a new Iszard’s department store and the luxurious Mark Twain Hotel. Iszard's was considered to be the most modern store in the area. In addition to clothing, luggage, and home furnishings, it offered its customers refreshments in its tea room. The Mark Twain Hotel was another vital component of Elmira’s downtown. In addition to providing a variety of accommodations for tourists and travelling businessmen, it served as a center for the city’s social life, hosting parties, formal dinners, and dances.

Iszard's Blueprints

The opening of the new Main Street Bridge in 1921 along with the opening of the new Iszard's department store drew more people downtown. The new Iszard’s building cost $350,000 and was four stories high and “completely fireproof.”

Mark Twain Hotel Construction

The hotel cost $1,000,000 to build along with a $75,000 widening of Gray Street. The ground floor of the new hotel had 12 retail stores, including a hairdresser and barber shop.

Mark Twain Hotel

The hotel was managed by Horace L. Wiggins and Lewis N. Wiggins. The Wiggins family managed hotels for five generations. Horace Wiggins managed the 1,500 room Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia and was the Director of the United American and United Hotels Corporation.

Mark Twain Hotel Brochure

The hotel hosted parties, business meetings, dinners, and dances. Its rooms all had modern conveniences and could be rented for $2-$9 per day.

Downtown