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Marlene Whiting, the designer and creator of the Brandywine Collection, lives and works in Yorktown, Virginia and still designs every Brandywine wooden building. Her dedication to her craft, and her attention to detail, inspired us to ask her to create a collection of miniature wooden buildings. In the Elmira Landmark Collection, we’ve chosen some of our favorite Elmira buildings and asked Marlene to reproduce them. Perfect above a doorway…or in any room in your home, it’s a conversation starter whether you live in Elmira or just have fond memories of your time here. Each building costs between $22.00 - $25.00 (depending on size usually) and includes a brief history on the back. $250.00 from each new building release is donated to a local charity.
The Chemung County Landmark Collection: 2009 Releases
- September 2009: (Old/Former) Southside High School ($5.00 charitable donation from each piece going to the Alzheimers Walk)
- TBA (probably November): A series of wooden wreathe ornament featuring area churches inside. Churches to be featured include: Park Church, Trinity Church, St Anthony’s Church and Centenary Church. During “Church Week”, 10% of ALL of these pieces sold, plus 10% of all other sales in the store, will go to area churches and their mission or charitable work.
The Chemung County Landmark Collection: 2008 Releases
- late-October: St Anthony’s Church
- November: Zim House (in Horseheads)
- December: St Nicholas Ukrainian Church
There is also a MYSTERY surprise coming out but until it is signed, sealed and delivered, I won’t mention what it is. Check back often. You’ll love it!!! UPDATE: Our Mystery is…..(drum roll please)….we are working with Brandywine and will release four wooden ornaments of our existing buildings. This year, we will be releasing the following ornaments in time for Christmas ($17.50 each):
- Notre Dame High School (to benefit Graduation Celebration)
- The Christmas House (in honor of our 25th Anniversary)
- Popcorn Truck (proceeds going to encourage them to keep popping along!)
- Welcome Sign for Elmira
The Chemung County Landmark Collection: 2007 Releases
- September 24, 2007 Centenary Church (with $250. of sales going to the church)
The Chemung County Landmark Collection 2006 Releases
Brand Park Memorial Pool
Built in 1926 by the Bintz Pool Company, the pool’s unique design is that of an upside-down hat. It was destroyed by flood in 1946 and rebuilt the following year as a memorial to World War II veterans. Today, it is believed to be one of only two such pools in existence. 12th in a Series: Available August 23rd.
Dunn Field
Built in 1938 to replace a wooden grandstand destroyed by fire, Dunn Field was a gift to the City of Elmira by banker and philanthropist Edward J. Dunn (1868–1927). It has been home to minor league teams of the Dodgers, Browns, Senators, Phillies, Orioles, and Red Sox with many players reaching the Major Leagues. Babe Ruth and Earl Weaver played there. It is the current home for the Elmira Pioneers. 13th in a Series: Available September 23rd.
Welcome to Elmira Sign
Located on East Church Street in Elmira, NY, against a backdrop of Twain’s study, this 3-dimensional sign features the likenesses of famous Elmirans: Brian Williams, Hal Roach, Ernie Davis, Mark Twain, Eileen Collins, John Jones, and Tommy Hilfiger. 14th in a Series: Available October 23rd.
Popcorn Truck
15th in a Series: Available November 23rd.
Special Edition Release: Notre Dame High School
The Notre Dame Project Graduation 2007 has teamed up with The Christmas House to offer a replica of Notre Dame High School. The back reads “Notre Dame High School in Elmira, New York opened its doors in September 1955. Notre Dame is a co-educational Catholic college preparatory school dedicated to providing an education focused on Christian values and academic excellence. Notre Dame is a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy.”
There are two shipping dates for this special edition release. Orders received by October 30 (or until the first allocation of 150 are sold) will be available for pick-up at The Christmas House starting on December 5th. Orders received after that date will have a March 1 date for availability. Shipping is an additional $5.00 if that is desired.
For more information on this special edition release ($22.00 including tax), please contact project coordinator Ruth Krusen at rakrusen@yahoo.com.
The Chemung County Landmark Collection
Arnot Art Museum
Built in 1833 as the home of John Arnot, in 1910 the mansion and its art treasures, valued at over 2 million dollars, were donated by the Arnot family for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an art gallery with free access to the public.
Chemung County Courthouse
Located in the County Seat of Elmira, New York, the courthouse was designated by Horatio Nelson White. It was erected in 1862 next to the original courthouse circa 1836 which still stands. It has been pronounced an architectual beauty of convenience and durability.
Chemung County Historical Society
Built in 1834 in the Federal style, this building was the original home of the Chemung Canal Bank, and is where Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) did his banking while summering in Elmira. One of the oldest buildings in downtown, it is now owned and operated by the Chemung County Historical Society. 6th in the series.
Old New York State Armory
Erected in 1886 on Church Street, the Armory orginally housed two companies of the 100th Battalion. Now owned by the City of Elmira, it is an annex to City Hall.
Elmira City Hall
Elmira’s City Hall was built in 1896 for $118,000 and was designed by the prestigious architects, Pierce and Bickford. The pediments are terra cotta figures representing agriculture, science, and the arts. Heavily damaged by fire in 1909, it was rebuilt to be fireproof- a revolutionary idea at that time.
Old Post Office/Courthouse
Built in 1903, it replaced an office in the Masonic Temple. The lobby contained Vermont marble walls and staircase and featured oak woodwork. The building cost $275,000.
“The Elmiran” Trolley
A reproduction of a 1910-era streetcar, “The Elmiran” is built on a bus chassis using fixtures from an original trolley. The trolley offers daily historical tours of the Elmira area during the summer months.
Mark Twain Study
Built as a gift for Twain in 1874 by his sister-in-law Susan Crane, the Study is shaped like a riverboat wheelhouse. Twain, born Samuel Clemens, wrote some of his most famous works in the Study on Quarry Farm. In 1952 the Study was moved to the campus of Elmira College.
The Christmas House
Architects Pierce and Bickford designed this Queen Anne Mansion and it was built by Justus B. Harris in the 1890s. It was purchased by Daniel Sheehan, local mayor and dry good store owner, in 1904. An apartment building since 1942, it was converted by Elaine and Tony DiBiase into The Christmas House in 1983 and became a Painted Lady in 1989.
Old Steele Memorial Library
Built in 1923 with a $110,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation, it replaced the original library at Lake and Market Streets. It was one of only a few Carnegie-financed libraries which did not carry the Carnegie name. It is now known as the Chemung County Commerce Center, housing the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce and other offices.
Park Church
Built in 1872, the revolutionary building plan provided a sanctuary for 1300 adults as well as a kitchen, nursery, dance hall and theatre. Its pastor for the first 40 years was the Rev. Thomas Beecher, a staunch abolitionist and brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Trinity Church
Built in 1857 at a cost of $30,000., this building replaced the original 20-year-old structure which stood at Church Street and Railroad Avenue. A “Memorial Room” was donated by Marianna Arnot Ogden in 1882.
Suggestions for Future Elmira Landmark Releases
- The Brand House
- The “Old Eagles Club”/Community Arts Building
- Eldridge Park Carousel
- S.F. Iszards Building
- Mark Twain Building
- Old Fannie Farmer Candy Store
- St Patrick’s Church
- St Josephs Hospital
- St Mary’s Southside
- Elmira Reformatory
- Pierce’s Restaurant
- Moretti’s Restaurant
- Old St. Joseph’s Maternity Hospital
- St Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church (the oldest Catholic Church in town)
- Foster House
- John Jones House
- Sullivan’s Monument at Newtown Batterfield
- Ernie Davis Statue
- Former Southside High School
- Hazlitt Building
- Old Railway Station
- Catholic Church
- Teal Park Bandstand
- Original Horseheads High School
- Pudgies Pizza
- O’Brien’s on Wavery Hill
- Lovell’s Ice Cream (this has been suggested by a few of you!)
- Whipple Lumber
- Barracks No. 3
- Coca-Cola Building (2nd Street)
- National Soaring Museum
- Downtown Landmarks such as the department stores (Rosenbaums, Iszards, Gorton Coy and Furmans, Jesse Green, Werdenbergs, Woolworth/Kresge, Newberry’s, Fanny Farmers, etc), Theatres (Roxy, Colonia, Capital, Keene) THANKS to Joyce & Bob for these ideas!
- American Hotel (thank Joe J. for the idea!)
- Langdon Home
- Union Station (5th Street)
Thanks to all of you for contributing ideas for upcoming years!
Do you have an idea for a building that we should ask Marlene to consider? Click here to email us your ideas and we’ll put it on our list to consider. Generally, we release 2–3 buildings each year.
Seasons of the Heart Collection
One of Marlene’s most popular creations, the Seasons of the Heart Collection, features a wooden home for each month of the year. In most cases you can guess what month the building represents by just looking at the colorful flag hanging outside the buidling, or by taking a peek at what you are able to see on the home’s windowsill or front porch. As with the Elmira Landmark Collection, these buildings are flat wooden buildings that capture the magic of each month and season of our year. Prices for the Seasons of the Heart Collection range from $13.50 - $18.00.