This image is the cover for the book Curiosities of Elmira

Curiosities of Elmira

Long known as the "Queen City" of New York's Southern Tier, Elmira has a colorful history to live up to that name. Strange events and offbeat characters populate the city's past. Eldridge Park once had a violent bear pit. The mysterious extinction of the Labrador Duck still baffles researchers today. Inventor Henry Clum, forgotten in time, was a pioneer of meteorology. From the bright lights of the city's lost vaudeville stages to the dark corners of the criminal underworld, Elmirans have found fame and infamy. Author Kelli Huggins takes readers on an immersive journey into the curious and unique past of Elmira.

Kelli L. Huggins

Kelli Huggins is a historian and museum educator with a master's degree in history and a certificate in museum studies. She has written articles for various history publications and has won awards for her research and museum work. Kelli likes her history quirky and frequently works on the history of human-animal interactions. She champions historical oddballs and those forgotten over time.

The History Press