A couple of months ago, we looked back at some of the history we’d made during the COVID pandemic, in and around Steuben County. The chronicle of events that I’m compiling is now up to 124 pages, and today we’ll start by looking back to April 1, 2020, when we learned that Corning Incorporated Foundation, United Way of the Southern Tier, Triangle Fund, and Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes had established a $325,000 fund “to support organizations that provide vital human services across [Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler Counties] during this public health crisis.”

On April 2 Steuben County’s first death (an 89 year-old Bath Village woman) was announced. Four new deaths on April 19 (from Hornell, Wayland, and Corning) pushed the total deaths past 25 (from 23 to 27).

The Hornell area, where several nursing homes were badly affected, continued as the center of cases locally. School nurses and retired public health nurses were helping the County Health Department where needed. Sheriff’s deputies took over checking on those in quarantine or isolation.

Because of reduced demand from schools and restaurants, Hornell-area producers were dumping milk. Corning Inc. donated 150,000 masks to hospitals. Alstom donated masks, suits, and glasses. Regents exams were cancelled. Corelle laid off 500 people. People in many communities put up pictures of Easter eggs, for children to spot from the street.

A staff member at Hornell Gardens nursing home reportedly was fired after complaining about lack of PPE. Kanestio Valley D.A.R. made and donated masks. Steuben County parks closed all facilities. NYSEG donated over $50,000 to Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Corning Community College donated almost 30,000 pairs of gloves, plus other materials, to two hospitals. Siemens Painted Post donated 3000 face masks. A 102 year-old woman, who had survived the Spanish influenza, died of COVID in Hornell.

Corning-Painted Post School District lit up Memorial Stadium each Friday night to honor 2020 athletes and graduates. Colonial Days was cancelled in Painted Post. Many libraries, though closed, kept their wi-fi available for people on the grounds. Hornell, Prattsburgh, and Canisteo-Greenwood School Districts established multiple community hot spots for their students. Pizza Hut and Salvation Army announced multiple permanent closings in the area.

Corning Inc. withdrew its 2020 Estimate of Earnings. Corning’s Valor glass was earmarked for use as vials for vaccines, once developed. Thanks to increased donations, United Way of the Southern Tier gave an additional 2.46 million dollars to support those in need. GlassFest, Woodhull Raceway, and Gus Macker basketball tournament were all cancelled for the duration. All Memorial Day parades were cancelled.

On May 18, announced Steuben cases broke 250. Corning Pride conducted a vehicles-only parade. Corning City Council agreed to ban vehicles from part of Market Street during the summer, so that restaurants could set up more socially-distanced seating. This helped the restaurants, but hurt some of the retailers. Hammondsport adopted a similar program.

As of May 29, there had been announced 261 cases in Steuben County. The death of an 83 year-old Jasper man brought total announced Steuben deaths to 42. Although total cases would continue to rise in the county, no more new deaths would be reported until September 8.