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UP | City of All Seasons
A
Glance at Hornell
Location
Nestled on the
banks of the Canisteo River, along the railroad tracks, Hornell and
North Hornell are home to 13,000 residents. This railroad city from
the mid-1800s is located in Steuben County, which is the seventh-largest
county in New York State. Located at the heart of the northeastern United
States, Hornell is also within two hours of most of the major cities
in western, central and southern New York. At the crossroads of Routes
36 and 21, and just off Interstate 86 at Exit 34S, this is one of the
hubs of activity for the Southern Tier. Geographically, you will find
Hornell is just 60 miles south of Rochester, 90 miles southeast of Buffalo
and 40 miles west of Corning, as well as being within 300 miles of New
York City; Cleveland; Toronto; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and Pittsburgh.
History, nature, industry and education converge here. The nearby Finger
Lakes provide a host of recreational and nature activities. There is
great fishing to be found in the area's six lakes and four rivers, as
well as the local brook. There are two state parks and four county parks
just a short distance away.
Transportation
Highways
are not the only way to reach Hornell. Just three miles north of the
City is Hornell Airport with a 5,000-foot lighted runway, capable of
handling private and corporate aircraft and business jets. The airport
has 15 hangars available and takes pride in being a Supplemental Aviation
Weather Reporting Station (SAWRS). At the airport, Sterling Airways
offers jet and avgas fuel sales, aircraft charter service, flight instruction,
and aircraft rental. There has been a renewed interest in the local
railways, and a newly re-established rail link connects the Southern
Tier with other major rail lines. Hornell now has a rail connection
with Meadville in northeastern Pennsylvania. As part of the Southern
Tier extension, the 66-mile rail line between Hornell and Olean has
been reopened to serve local industries.
Communications
When it comes to staying globally connected, Hornell residents have
several available options. The Evening Tribune, Hornell's daily newspaper,
reports world, national and local news. Broadcast media include WLEA/WCKR
Radio from Canisteo Valley Broadcasting, WHHO/ WKPQ Radio from Bilbat
Radio, and cable television service. Internet and cell phone services
are also readily available. Home is eating cold watermelon together
on a hot day in the backyard and building a snowman six months later
in the same spot. Home is where I discover wonder and learn to dream.
It is where I find joy. Bill and Nancie Carmichael
Housing
Beneath
the towering maple trees of Hornell await dwellings for all ages, tastes
and budgets. Building sites for new homes, newly constructed homes and
single-family homes that give glimpses of history create an attractive
array of choices for the discerning homebuyer. Multi-story Victorian
homes, dating from the mid to late 1800s, have been well preserved and
lovingly cared for. Traditional colonial-style homes from the early
1900s feature fireplaces and large windows. Cape Cod-style homes from
the 1950s provide a cozy feel. Home prices typically range from $45,000
to $280,000 with an average price of $65,000. Funding through the Small
Cities Program provides financial assistance for basic improvements
to homeowners in two target areas of the city. Other housing options
include apartments, subsidized housing, mobile home sites and units
for older adults. On average, monthly rents are $400 for apartments
and $500 for houses.
History
Hornell's homes only tell part of the story of this city's rich
history. Take a seat now in beautiful downtown. Let's go back in time
for a bit, remembering how all this began. Native Americans from the
Iroquois Nation, who lived here until the white settlers came in the
1600s, originally inhabited this area. Most of them fought with the
British during the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War.
Judge George Hornell settled here in the Canisteo Valley in 1794 and
named his settlement Hornellsville. He owned more than 2,000 acres of
land and also operated a tavern, a gristmill and a sawmill. As if he
wasn't busy enough, he also served as the postmaster and as a member
of the State Assembly. The first school was established in 1810 with
Sara Thacher as the first teacher. At that time, the town was involved
in lumber, fur and agriculture trades - until the railroad arrived.
That event changed everything. The New York & Erie Railroad was chartered
in 1832, when railroads were being built to connect the Atlantic Ocean
to the Great Lakes. The 483-mile section that crossed the Southern Tier,
and went through Hornellsville, was the longest railroad in the United
States at that time. In 1850, the first wood-burning locomotive came
into town, and by 1851 this was the site of the primary maintenance
shop for the entire line. If anything broke down, it went to Hornellsville
for repairs. The local depot was built in 1880. The railroad was originally
built as a broad-gauge line with six feet between the rails instead
of the standard four feet, 8.5 inches, but in 1880 this was converted
to standard gauge because it was difficult for the line to connect to
other railways. Hornellsville became a city in 1888, and the name was
shortened to Hornell in 1906. At one time, the city had three hotels,
three banks, five silk mills, several woodworking factories, the fairgrounds
and horse racing park, a brewery, a shoe factory, a tannery, and even
an opera house! Rev. James Early founded the first hospital in 1890,
with a School of Nursing in 1939 and a School of X-Ray Technology in
1948. As the railroad continued to develop, so did Hornell. By 1927,
a diesel locomotive - the first in the country - hauled a passenger
train from Hornell to Meadville. But soon the railroad began to wane
as a primary means of transportation. By 1972, the railroad had gone
bankrupt. If that wasn't enough to damage the economy, Hurricane Agnes
hit the East Coast, washing out 200 miles of track with estimated damage
of $11 million. But Hornell is a city that rallies when times are tough
- and the tougher the times, the greater the rallying. In 1983, Morrison
Knudsen opened a business to overhaul passenger rail cars, locomotives
and New York City transit cars in Hornell. This was a great boost for
the economy. The business continued to grow and expand. In 1986, General
Electric and Westinghouse traction motors for transit cars were being
manufactured in the Hornell Motor Shop. And, in 1990, Morrison Knudsen
began manufacturing transit cars for the Chicago Transit Authority.
Change is inevitable, however, and in 1995 the Morrison Knudsen Transit
Division became the American Passenger Rail Car Company (Amerail). In
1997, Alstom Transportation from France purchased Amerail - and made
the important decision to keep the business in Hornell. Today Alstom
remains one of the largest employers in the area. History and renewal,
new development and tradition, descendants from well-known families
and transplants from other areas of the country - all of these elements
form the backdrop for life in Hornell. There is something for everyone
to enjoy and appreciate in the City of All Seasons.
