Corning in Steuben County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Brown's Cigar Store

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2021

1. Brown's Cigar Store Marker

Inscription. Built in the late 1870’s, the building housing Brown’s Cigar Store is one of the oldest on Market Street. It is designed in the Victorian Gothic style with contrasting brick work highlighting the architectural features. The Cigar Store storefront has been left perfectly intact and exhibits cast iron elements that were manufactured by the Elmira firm of Turner and Pond.

John Comosh, a retired acrobat world renowned for his “triple-somersaults”, opened a book, news and tobacco store here in 1889. In 1903 it was known as Drake’s Smoking Parlor and has remained a cigar and news store ever since.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 42° 8.601′ N, 77° 3.284′ W. Marker is in Corning, New York, in Steuben County. It is on West Market Street just west of Pine Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, facing Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 West Market Street, Corning NY 14830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, and in the Southern Tier. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Market Street Historic District (a few steps from this marker); Concert Hall Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Born in Corning

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Galvin and Haines Insurance (about 400 feet away); The Rockwell Museum (about 500 feet away); Corning Glass Works Roll of Honor (about 500 feet away); The Southern Tier Roller Mills (about 500 feet away); Ecker Drug Store (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corning.

Also see . . . Brown's Cigar Store. This is the original storefront of Brown's Cigar Store. The decorative cornice is pressed metal with cast iron columns. At the base of the lower right column you will notice the foundry name, Turner & Pond, from Elmira, New York. This facade, tiled entryway and interior floor are one of the very few original storefronts remaining on Market Street. (Submitted on June 23, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2021

2. Brown's Cigar Store Marker

Corning’s Gaffer District Buildings Alive
Historic and Architectural Walking Tour
4 West Market Street
Building 10

Brown's Cigar Store Building (<i>northeast corner</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2021

3. Brown's Cigar Store Building (northeast corner)

(view showing cast iron storefront detail • marker visible at far right)

Brown's Cigar Store Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2021

4. Brown's Cigar Store Building

(marker visible on cast iron column near center - between door and window • the famous “Owl of Market Street” is represented in the elaborate brickwork below the cornice at the center of the building • Brown’s Cigar Store relocated to adjacent building on right in 1989)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 757 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 23, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.