Recently discovered artifact turns out to be a boat pier
ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- A little over a week ago, we brought you a story of what was believed to be the discovery of pillars to the old toboggan ride near Fitchs Bridge. However, just recently, the historian for the Town of Elmira, Scott Deming reached out to us and tells WENY News those pillars actually belonged to the old Weaver Hotel boat pier. Deming says the old toboggan ride is actually located underneath the north end of where the current Fitch's Bridge is today.
He says he knows this because the pillars lay east of where the old Fitchs Bridge used to be, and the old toboggan ride was west of where the old bridge stood. Deming adds, this is where the boats were rented from.
"So, all the old pictures you see people in row boats and things out on the river. That's where all these boats were tied up, at this dock and they were rented from that spot. Basically you rented a canoe for the day and spent the whole day on the river in a canoe," says Deming.
Scott also tells WENY News, not much of the past remains along the river because the flood of 1972 washed out what remained of the old hotel and pier.