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Oct 25, 2023

Elmira history: Historian traces roots of city's parking meters

The first mention of “parking meters” in the Star-Gazette was on July 17, 1935.

The first mention of "parking meters" in the Star-Gazette was on July 17, 1935. An article announced that Oklahoma City would be the first in the nation to charge its citizens a fee for parking on its streets. Meters were installed every 20 feet, and the charge was 5 cents for one hour. How funny that probably sounded to Elmirans.

The following year, 1936, brought the parking meter idea to Mayor Rolland Marvin of Syracuse. Marvin marveled at inserting a nickel and giving the motorist one hour. At the end of the hour, a single motorcycle officer could do the work of a squad of parking checkers. The Automobile Club of Syracuse urged the city not to install meters. They didn't give a reason.

In the Star-Gazette on July 23, 1936, Albany citizens complained that "this parking meter proposition is another nuisance which the motorist must vigorously combat … [as it] puts another tax on the already overburdened car owner."

Within two weeks, Elmira's city manager, Colus C. Hunter, was investigating the notion locally.

Notices about meters began appearing in our newspapers. In August 1936 came a blurb about Californian residents opposed to parking meters. In September 1936, Buffalo's City Safety Commission recommended a 90-day trial of metered parking. In December 1936, a town in Ohio claimed they were pleased with their new meters, although they did suffer vandalism to some machines. In February 1937, Watertown, N.Y., announced it would give parking meters a six-month trial. In March 1939, Kansas City parking meters collected $45,000. In June 1939, slugs were found in Wilkes-Barre meters.

Elmira was still contemplating the idea on Sept. 29, 1939. The Star-Gazette reported that our Association of Commerce invited a parking meter manufacturer to visit and "explain and demonstrate the devices." Downtown merchants believed that "installation of meters would solve the problem of parking space in the business area. It would eliminate the parking of cars by clerks and business/professional men most desired by customers of retail establishments."

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The parking meters were claimed to pay for themselves quickly and return substantial revenue to the city when the installation cost was paid off.

Then came months of "Letters to the Editor" with citizen opposition to the idea.

On Oct. 17, 1939, the Star-Gazette featured an article that sent two reporters to Geneva to scope its situation. Geneva installed 139 meters in their downtown with "vociferous backers and equally vociferous opponents." Reporters interviewed a local alderman who said the comments received worked out better than expected. The alderman also stated that enforcement would either make or break the system. Tickets had to be given.

Elmira was not yet ready to make a hasty decision. Lake Street merchants were discussing the idea on Oct. 19, 1939.

A short article in Star-Gazette on Jan 24, 1940, claimed the parking issue was dormant in Elmira.

A short article in Star-Gazette on May 9, 1940, said Elmira was getting closer to a decision.

A front-page article in Star-Gazette on May 17, 1940, said parking meters were "probable."

Finally, after weeks of meetings, on July 9, 1940, Elmira City Council authorized a six-month trial of parking meters in the business section. Three hundred fifty meters were ordered at the cost of $65 each. Parking tickets would be $1 for first offenders and $2 for repeat offenders. The first day with the meters was Aug. 29.

Our first broken meter was due to an intoxicated youth on Oct. 2, 1940, on Fox Street. The youth was allowed to go to jail or join the military. He chose the military. He also had to pay for the meter.

The City Council meeting on March 3, 1941, permanently retained the parking meters in Elmira.

On May 9, 1941, the Star-Gazette reported that Elmira's parking meters yielded $16,613.70 since their installation in August 1940. Adjusting for inflation, that number today would be $339,365.00. Not bad for 10 months of operation.

Diane Janowski is the Elmira city historian. Her column appears monthly.