The city of Binghamton was founded where the Chenango River empties into the Susquehanna River; the city encompasses several riverside parks.
The Susquehanna, the largest river system on the east coast, provided the first means of inland transportation in this area throughout the colonial period. It enabled goods and supplies to be brought to the interior, and provided access to downstream markets for leather, timber, and crops.
In the nineteenth century, rail lines followed the rivers through the Appalachian mountains.
I have two sets of images related to Binghamton. The first, comprised mostly of linen postcards circa 1940, presents attractive natural scenes around the city and a view of the stately courthouse. This set includes one unmailed card from 1920.
This is the set that is published here.
The second set, comprised of postally-used cards circa 1910-1920, contains images of great public buildings in the city. These cards will be published as postcard stories over the course of a few weeks.
View of the City From South Mountain Park
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Chenango Valley State Park
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Nicholson Bridge on the Lackawana Trail
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Courthouse in Binghamton
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Junction of Chenango and Susquehanna at Memorial Park
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Comments: 16
I thought you would appreciate the scenes, Dannielle.
Kate and I are at work on some postcards that include some other beautiful buildings in Binghamton.
:-(
I have not been in Binghamton for many years, Prima Donna, but I intend to hear Dannielle's jam there some time.
It's a tremendous river system, Ron.
I saw Dannielle's photo of the Court House. Hasn't changed much.
There was a photo display at the Johnson City Library ("Your Home Library") a few years back that showed the extent of a huge flood in Binghamton's past that affected businesses across the street from this building (if I remember correctly.) Since then, huge (ugly) flood walls were built to keep the Susquehanna off the streets.
Alas, there is no park whatsoever up there now. The drive to the old location was astounding: the houses were grand and imposing all the way up the "mountain", and it was hard to pay attention to street signs when I was busy trying to see all the beautiful structures.
But, when I got to Gillen Road, where the park was, there was nothing but a huge round concrete structure that actually appeared to spoil the properties on either side of it -- surely it was there first and whoever built those houses should have known better!
There was nothing but "developed" land and then unusably steep hillside.
Oh, dannielle, I am very sorry to hear this.
Your description of the "way it used to be" sounds delightful.
Have you seen the recent photo of the Courthouse that was posted by Dannielle S.?