When this disaster started, I started keeping “The Coronavirus Chronicles” for Steuben County Historical Society – gathering Steuben-specific news and information – not just for our own use, but for researchers fifty years from now. Even though it’s Steuben-specific, of course much of it applies, at least in general terms, to our neighboring counties as well. By the way, using 14-point type this “Chronicle” is now up to 118 pages and counting!

So – looking back 14 months, what was going on right here where we were all making history?

Our very first entry, on March 11, was a first-hand account of new out-patient procedures in place at the Bath V.A. Medical Center.

On the twelfth we noted that Corning Community College had cancelled in-person classes for the rest of the semester, while the Leader had ordered everyone except circulation people to work from home. (They were still home as of the last I heard, last month.)

County Manager Jack Wheeler and County Public Health Director Darlene Smith strongly recommended limiting or cancelling public meetings. They ended County-provided Baby Café and congregate meals in Corning, Bath, and Hornell. They stated that the County was testing for the virus locally, and could send samples to Albany for faster turnaround if needed.

Church closings started as of the 13th, and a long list of school activity cancellations began – Hammondsport school play, Bradford ChillFest, Section V athletic events, and more more more.

Toilet paper was facing a critical shortage! Paper towels and sanitary wipes were also in short supply. Angry Oven Pizza in Bath announced that it would throw in a free roll of toilet paper with every delivery – while supplies lasted.

The Rockwell and Corning Museums closed on the 16th, and County Health closed all schools for a month. Distance learning began, and some districts, including Bath, delivered student lunches and breakfasts for pickup at specified locations. Eventually many districts would adopt at-the-door delivery.

On advice of Southern Tier Library System, all 49 libraries in five counties closed for a month. My wife was picking up her paycheck, so we happened to be in Bath’s Dormann Library when the director announced that that was the last day! She suggested that everyone load up with books and movies, which we did. I also decided to get one last vanilla chai smoothie from the library’s Chapters Café! On the first day the café reopened, 14 months later, I got another one.

Village elections were postponed to coincide with the April 28 primaries.

Arnot Health, including Ira Davenport Hospital, ended all visitation and elective surgery on March 17.

On March 18, the first confirmed case in Steuben County was announced. Non-essential county employees were told to stay at home, and no drop-ins were allowed at county offices. Most banks and similar institutions either closed branches, or opened only for window service. The V.A. Centers in Bath and Canandaigua adopted a no-visitors policy (with some exceptions), limited access in other ways, adopted remote consultations wherever possible, and screened veteran patients more closely.

On March 23 the state ordered most non-essential businesses closed, and Steuben County Historical Society did so. Supermarkets reduced hours, and retailers offered curbside pickup.

The Southern Tier Shopper suspended publication for two weeks.

S.C.H.S. released Sidewalk History Spotting: Walking (or Driving) Tours in Steuben County, to “provide a vehicle for getting some fresh air and exercise (even if socially distanced), besides spotlighting some of our communities and pointing out a little history.”

On March 30, County Health announced a running total of 28 cases, which was a one-third increase in 24 hours. By the next day there were 36 cases, and the first deaths in the region were being announced. Stay tuned… from time to time in future weeks we’ll continue this look into our recent past.