Chemung Canal Bank Building
| Company type | Bank |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking and financial services |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Headquarters | Elmira, New York , United States |
| Products | Deposits, financial capital, credit |
The Chemung Canal Bank Building, situated at 415 East Water Street in Elmira, New York, Chemung County, New York, holds the distinction of being the oldest commercial structure in Elmira. Its construction commenced in 1832, aligning with the inauguration of the Chemung Canal. The building became home to the bank in 1833 when the Chemung Canal Trust Company was established to oversee deposits and provide financial capital and credit. It functioned as the bank’s main office for seventy-six years before accommodating various local law firms for an additional fifty-six years. Since 1976, ownership has been held by the Chemung County Historical Society. Due to its architectural and historical importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Uses
The Chemung Canal Trust Company was chartered in July 1833 and began operations by October of that year, occupying this building until their move in 1920. Subsequently, the property was acquired by the Arnot Realty Company. Over time, it served as office space for legal practices such as the Sayles, Evans, Brayton, Palmer, and Tifft Law Firm. In the early 1980s, the Chemung County Historical Society purchased the building and transformed it into a regional history museum known as the Chemung Valley History Museum on the ground floor. The second story houses the Booth Library, a public research facility, while the third floor is dedicated to storage of collections.
Appearance and features
This edifice exhibits a blend of Greek Revival and Traditional Federal architectural elements, constructed primarily from brick with stepped gables—a notable contrast to the mostly wooden buildings common during that period. A stone stoop adorned with decorative wrought iron railings leads to an interior layout featuring a spacious central hall bordered by one or two rooms on each side, accompanied by a large staircase. The second floor originally served as living quarters for the bank manager. The foundation rests on a stone basement distinct from separate vault foundations located on the east and west sides; notably, vault space on the west side was leased to gas company offices.
In 1868, an additional third floor was constructed to provide rental apartments. A renovation carried out in 1903 by Pierce & Bickford added two vaults designed for book and currency storage, installed mahogany counters, terrazzo floors, extra restroom facilities, coupon booths, and enhanced ventilation featuring indirect heating and summer fans. The Chemung County Historical Society undertook restoration efforts in 1993 to preserve many original architectural details.