Eugene "Zim" Zimmerman

Eugene Zimmerman, known as “Zim,” was a nationally renowned caricaturist and resident of Horseheads. He was the president of the American Association for Cartoonists and Caricaturists and created illustrated correspondence course textbooks in cartooning, comic art, and caricature that were used across the United States. He created ads that were used in the local area and cartooned and lampooned prominent citizens in books such as A Foolish History of Horseheads. Zim also designed the bandstand in Teal Park, which was dedicated on September 15, 1910. His daughter, Laura, donated his house and its contents to the Horseheads Historical Society upon her death in 1980.

Zim Working in His Studio
Postcard by Zim
Drawing by Zim
Zim Cartoon for Judge magazine
Pen and Ink used by Zim from the collection of the Horseheads Historical Society
Palette and Paintbrush used by Zim from the collection of the Horseheads Historical Society
Zim House The Zim House at 601 Pine Street was built in 1890.
Fire Extinguisher, c. 1890s Hayward hand grenade fire extinguisher from the Zim House in Horseheads, from the collection of the Horseheads Historical Society
Fire Extiguishing Apparatus Patent After a disastrous fire at St. John's military academy in Manlius, New York, Eugene Zimmerman began working on an automatic fire extinguisher. His son was attending the school at the time and lost all of his personal belongings in the fire that started in an unoccupied room. Zim's invention, which was patented in 1902, would automatically release a spray of fluid if a fire broke out.
Zim Cigar Box, early 20th century E.W. Cannon owned and operated a cigar making company in Hanover Square. Although Zim did not smoke cigars himself, he let Cannon use his name on a nickel perfecto cigar. (from the collection of the Horseheads Historical Society)