ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WENY) -- The fire that took place in Elmira Heights Monday night tore through the remainder of an old warehouse on Prescott Ave. Part of the textile industry, the building was one of the first to move into what's now known as Elmira Heights, as part of the Industrial Elmira Association.   

“It's certainly a loss in terms of a historic landmark for the community and a big chunk of the community's corporate history,” Chemung Co. Historical Society Archivist Rachel Dworkin said.   

Established in 1893 by five Elmira businessmen, the former Elmira Knitting Mills warehouse was originally built as a factory. Before it was called Elmira Heights, the idea for the Association was a planned community built around a series of factories that served as worker housing.   

Dworkin added, “There are thousands of people in the area whose ancestors have worked at that factory at one point or another.”    

For 70 years, hundreds of men, women, and children worked there, manufacturing and selling woolen, cotton, and silk goods and garments. The factory started losing money in the early 1960s, forcing it to close its doors for good in September of 1963.   

Chemung County Historical Society's Rachel Dworkin believes Elmira Heights lost a piece of their history in Monday night’s fire.   

“During both world wars, they had garment contracts, (making) underwear for the United States Military,” Dworkin said, adding, “They were an important part of our industrial base.”   

Following the closing of the factory, the building served as a warehouse for a handful of companies before a fire in 2016. That fire was caused by teens who intentionally set fire inside.   

At this time, the cause of Monday night's fire has yet to be determined.