Business and Industry

Lumbering was the first big industry in Southport. By the 1840s there were 18 sawmills within the town limits. Seeley Creek and other waterways provided power for businesses like tanneries, and saw, woolen, and grist mills. Other early businesses included butchers, sugar bushes, quarries, a canning factory, and a cheese factory. The area was also well-suited to agriculture. In 1875, Southport was the top farming town in the county with 375 farms selling vegetables, fruits, butter, milk, and eggs to markets in Elmira and around the region. Tobacco became a major crop in the late 1800s.

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Southport

Evan's Mill, Bulkhead, c. 1870s Silas Billings built the first woolen factory in the Bulkhead area in 1821. Charles Evans purchased the factory in 1844 and produced coverlets and rugs there until 1877.
Coverlet fragment, 1837 In the 1830s and 1840s, several weaving operations produced double-woven coverlets in Southport. People could have their name and the year woven into the coverlets.
Section of a pulley from the old red grist mill at Bulkhead that was razed in 1959
Bolt salvaged from the old tannery at the Wells Railroad Station
Remington Rand plant, 1965 In 1936, Remington Rand began manufacturing typewriters and business machines in the former Willys-Morrow plant on South Main Street. During World War II, it produced the Norden bombsight for the U.S. Air Force.
Remington typewriter courtesy of the Southport Historical Society
Dalrymple Gravel, c. 1930s There were quarries in Christian Hollow and near Pine City in late 1800s. In 1902, the Dalrymple family started a gravel supply operation. The business expanded greatly after World War II and continues to operate today.
Rorick’s Glen postcard Rorick’s Glen was open in Southport from 1901 to 1918. The park entrance was on West Water Street in Elmira. A bridge over the river took visitors to the park where there were rides, gardens, hiking paths, picnic pavilions, a theatre, a restaurant, and a dance hall.
Trolley tokens Rorick’s Glen was created by the Elmira Water, Light & Railroad Company as a destination for its trolleys.
Luncheon plate from the restaurant at Rorick’s Glen
Souvenir cup showing the view from the Indian Steps at Rorick’s Glen
Hand corn husker used on a farm in Pine City
Milk bottles from Bower Dairy, mid-20th century

Business and Industry

Evan's Mill, Bulkhead, c. 1870s

Silas Billings built the first woolen factory in the Bulkhead area in 1821. Charles Evans purchased the factory in 1844 and produced coverlets and rugs there until 1877.

Coverlet fragment, 1837

In the 1830s and 1840s, several weaving operations produced double-woven coverlets in Southport. People could have their name and the year woven into the coverlets.

Section of a pulley from the old red grist mill at Bulkhead that was razed in 1959

Bolt salvaged from the old tannery at the Wells Railroad Station

Remington Rand plant, 1965

In 1936, Remington Rand began manufacturing typewriters and business machines in the former Willys-Morrow plant on South Main Street. During World War II, it produced the Norden bombsight for the U.S. Air Force.

Remington typewriter

courtesy of the Southport Historical Society

Dalrymple Gravel, c. 1930s

There were quarries in Christian Hollow and near Pine City in late 1800s. In 1902, the Dalrymple family started a gravel supply operation. The business expanded greatly after World War II and continues to operate today.

Rorick’s Glen postcard

Rorick’s Glen was open in Southport from 1901 to 1918. The park entrance was on West Water Street in Elmira. A bridge over the river took visitors to the park where there were rides, gardens, hiking paths, picnic pavilions, a theatre, a restaurant, and a dance hall.

Trolley tokens

Rorick’s Glen was created by the Elmira Water, Light & Railroad Company as a destination for its trolleys.

Luncheon plate from the restaurant at Rorick’s Glen

Souvenir cup showing the view from the Indian Steps at Rorick’s Glen

Hand corn husker used on a farm in Pine City

Milk bottles from Bower Dairy, mid-20th century