Agriculture

The first crop of tobacco in Big Flats was grown around 1850. Cigar tobacco quickly became big business. By 1915, there were over 2,000 acres under cultivation. The increasing popularity of cigarettes in the early 20th century caused a steady decline in demand for cigar tobacco. By 1957, there were only a few acres of tobacco left. Farming in general was declining in the 1950s. Landowners found they could make more money by subdividing their land and selling it off rather than by farming. Land once used for agriculture became the site of retail centers, industrial parks, businesses, and housing developments. Big Flats is now the retail center of the county.

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Big Flats

Tobacco harvest Image Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Tobacco harvest Tobacco was harvested by hand, then loaded onto wagons and brought to tobacco barns for drying. Tobacco barns were designed with louvered vents so that the hanging tobacco would cure quickly. Image Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Cigar factory, early 20th century During the height of tobacco production, there were five cigar rolling factories in operation in Big Flats. Image Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
“Dibble” or plant setter Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Twine bag and ring for tying tobacco Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Wooden cigar mold Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Cigar clipper Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Chief’s Daughter cigar box & cigars Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Cartoon by Eugene “Zim” Zimmerman Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Salesman's fertilizer sample case Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Setting hen Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Egg scale, 1940s Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Electric egg candler, 1940s Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Handmade sign, 1961 Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
This newspaper article provides information about the homemade sign. Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Consumer Square construction, 1994 Consumer Square, Arnot Mall, Mount Savior Monastery, Big Flats Community Center, Elmira Corning Regional Airport, and the adjacent corporate park were all built on former farmland.

Agriculture

Tobacco harvest

Image Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Tobacco harvest

Tobacco was harvested by hand, then loaded onto wagons and brought to tobacco barns for drying. Tobacco barns were designed with louvered vents so that the hanging tobacco would cure quickly. Image Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Cigar factory, early 20th century

During the height of tobacco production, there were five cigar rolling factories in operation in Big Flats. Image Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

“Dibble” or plant setter

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Twine bag and ring for tying tobacco

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Wooden cigar mold

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Cigar clipper

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Chief’s Daughter cigar box & cigars

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Cartoon by Eugene “Zim” Zimmerman

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Salesman's fertilizer sample case

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Setting hen

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Egg scale, 1940s

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Electric egg candler, 1940s

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Handmade sign, 1961

Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

This newspaper article provides information about the homemade sign. Courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Consumer Square construction, 1994

Consumer Square, Arnot Mall, Mount Savior Monastery, Big Flats Community Center, Elmira Corning Regional Airport, and the adjacent corporate park were all built on former farmland.