Elma in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Elma Centre
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 7, 2019
1. Elma Centre Marker
prospered around R.R. depot
est. near here ca. 1870.
Coal & lumber dealers,
blacksmith, saloon, Post
Office & school built nearby.
Erected 2018 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 510.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the William G. Pomeroy Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 42° 49.623′ N, 78° 38.195′ W. Marker is in Elma, New York, in Erie County. It is on Bowen Road (County Route 242) 0.3 miles north of Rice Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2031 Bowen Road, Elma NY 14059, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, and in the Buffalo Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, on the Great Lakes, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Elma Town Museum (approx. 1.7 miles away); 1844 Springbrook Mill Gear Assembly (approx. 1.7 miles away); Big Flats (approx. 1.7 miles away); Elma Village Mill (approx. 1.7 miles away); Spring Brook (approx. 2.2 miles away); North Star Tavern (approx. 2.4 miles away); Lewis Northrup (approx. 2.4 miles away); East Elma (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elma.
this page online
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 7, 2019
2. Elma Centre Marker
View is northward. The railroad overpass is a line operated by the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 7, 2019
3. Elma Centre Marker
View is southward.
circa 1910
4. Elma Center Business District
Postmarked Aug. 5, 1910 this RPPC (real photo postcard) is of the Elma Center Businesses on Bowen Road. A fire destroyed these buildings in 1922.
Photographed by Brian D. Szafranski, 1910
5. Elma Center Railroad Depot
This RPPC postmarked in 1910 shows the Railroad Depot at Woodard and Bowen Roads in Elma Center. Regular passenger service ended in 1948.
Photographed by Brian D. Szafranski, circa 1913
6. Elma Center School
This RPPC depicts the Elma Center School on Bowen and Rice Roads (NW corner), and is postmarked January 1, 1914. Originally built in 1856 it was School #6, Rice District, then it was the Woodard District. Later on it was the site of the Elma Town Hall.
Photographed by Brian D. Szafranski, circa 1910
7. St. John's Lutheran Church
This RPPC (postmarked July 26, 1910) depicts the St. John's Lutheran Church on Woodard Road. This building was constructed in 1887.
Photographed by Brian D. Szafranski, circa 1955
8. Luders' Log Cabin Restaurant & Lounge
The color postcard shows a mid-1950's image of Luders' Log Cabin Restaurant and Lounge, located on Bowen Road (dead end portion) near the railroad tracks. The business also featured eight lanes in its Bowling Academy. It was the largest log cabin restaurant in New York State then, per period matchbook advertising.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2019, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 1,232 times since then and 101 times this year. Last updated on December 10, 2021, by Brian D. Szafranski of Elma, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 7, 2019, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on November 25, 2021, by Brian D. Szafranski of Elma, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
