Early Settlement

The first land grant in the area that would eventually become Elmira Heights was issued to Judge John Suffern in 1788. Grants were later issued to Thomas Whitney, Joshua Carpenter, and Mathew McConnell. Whitney was the first settler to build a cabin for his family. Other homesteads soon followed, including one built by John McCann who purchased land from Whitney. In 1830, Jim Carpenter built his Half-Way House inn for travelers to stay at while going between Elmira and Horseheads along Lake Road. The Erie Railroad first came through in 1849, carrying passengers and freight between Elmira and Watkins Glen.

Elmira Heights

Open land in Elmira Heights area Much of the land in what is now Elmira Heights was swampy and unproductive. Even General Sullivan avoided the area during his 1779 campaign.
Composite map from F.W. Beers 1869 Atlas showing area between Horseheads and Elmira that became Elmi By the 1890s, most of the land that would become Elmira Heights was held by just nine families, except for the former New York State Agricultural Society fairground which was owned by the county.
Elmira Reformatory, c. 1880s John McCann’s sons James and George sold a portion of their land to the Elmira Reformatory in 1871.

Early Settlement

Open land in Elmira Heights area

Much of the land in what is now Elmira Heights was swampy and unproductive. Even General Sullivan avoided the area during his 1779 campaign.

Composite map from F.W. Beers 1869 Atlas showing area between Horseheads and Elmira that became Elmi

By the 1890s, most of the land that would become Elmira Heights was held by just nine families, except for the former New York State Agricultural Society fairground which was owned by the county.

Elmira Reformatory, c. 1880s

John McCann’s sons James and George sold a portion of their land to the Elmira Reformatory in 1871.