140 Years and Counting in Corning 

by Robert Mitchell

The beginning of The Salvation Army in Corning, N.Y., 140 years ago sounds awfully familiar to the history of the organization itself in the United States. 

“We were peppered with rotten fruit and whatever people could find to throw at us, which is typical of many Salvation Army corps entering new communities,” says Major Anita Stewart, the current corps officer in Corning. “But they were very resilient and persevered.” 

Salvationists first showed up in this small city in New York’s Southern Tier in 1884 just four years after The Salvation Army officially landed in America. They began preaching to people in the city’s bars, but the message was not initially well received. Some early Salvationists ended up in jail, but these odd people wearing uniforms, banging drums, and parading along playing musical instruments were not deterred. They continued preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and haven’t stopped for the last 140 years in this city known for its glass industry. 

Stewart says by 1886 the local police department assigned an officer to protect The Salvation Army, which eventually began to gain acceptance when people realized the ministry was there to help. The organization has occupied several buildings along Market Street, a prominent road in town, over the decades. The Salvation Army also began work in nearby Elmira in 1884. 

“For us, it’s been 140 years of service to the Steuben County community and changing lives and meeting needs in the name of Jesus Christ,” Stewart says. “That’s our theme. 

“We are a safe haven for people to come into. The Salvation Army always seems to serve the worst and the downtrodden, so the success has been in people coming to serve alongside us to help us meet our needs since 1884.” 

Loving shepherds lead the flock 

Many fine Salvation Army officers “called by God,” Stewart says, have graced the corps over the decades and built bridges to the community to help the city’s impoverished. 

“It’s the resilience and fortitude of the officers and their trust in God that paved the way to fulfill the mission that William Booth had through them,” she says. “They were used as a vessel. Over those 140 years were there problems? Absolutely. But I believe when you have a calling in your life, and God has ordained our church to be established, that if we follow His leading and will, that it will be successful. That’s what has happened.” 

One of the more successful programs at the current corps is its Kid’s Café, led by former public school administrator Mary Ellen Monahan. Children from all over Corning come for games, Bible lessons, food, homework help, fun, and more. 

“The Salvation Army here in Corning is very connected to the community,” says Monahan, who has volunteered to lead the Kid’s Café for 15 years and also serves on the local advisory board. “It’s very flexible in meeting needs.” 

For example, as the community emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, The Salvation Army offered an all-day program so kids could bring their computers and connect with teachers for live lessons. 

“I felt very strongly at the time that we needed that,” Monahan says. “That’s an example of pivoting to meet a need, and I think it’s one reason they’ve been successful here. People know they can get help here and they’re treated fairly. 

“If there’s something we don’t have, we can advocate for them in terms of school issues and housing and whatever they need. We’re advocates for the community.” 

The Kid’s Café meets every day after school and is a full-day program in the summer. Many parents have come back with their own children to tell Monahan they attended the program as kids. 

“It allows the community to have safe and affordable child care,” she says. “We have a strong connection to the schools and counselors, so we kind of keep track of the kids and help them and their parents. This program is also a way to meet more parents who might have more needs of their own that we weren’t aware of, so some of the parents take advantage of the other services we have. It serves an underserved population.” 

The memories remain 

Terry Reade, who worked at the corps as the social services coordinator from 2009 to 2022, says love for The Salvation Army runs deep in the community. A devastating flood in 1972 damaged many buildings in Corning, but The Salvation Army escaped unscathed, and the help provided endeared the organization to residents. 

“People around here still remember that,” Reade says. “They would come in and make a donation and say, ‘I remember when The Salvation Army helped my parents during the flood.’ They’ve never forgotten.” 

The Salvation Army has held several events to mark the 140th anniversary, including a Christmas in July fundraiser, a Sept. 8 barbecue, and a restaurant competition to raise money. A dance is also in the works, and the kettle kickoff later this fall at the Corning Country Club will mention the anniversary. 

Stewart and her husband, Major John Stewart, came to Corning two years ago to fill in for a few weeks. After his death in November 2022, she decided to stay on to help revitalize many of the church’s ministries; besides the Kid’s Café, there are worship services, the Shepherd’s Table soup kitchen, a food pantry, substance abuse recovery groups, Bible studies, and a young adult fellowship. 

“This Salvation Army—and many others I’ve attended—I’ve often wondered how we’ve survived for so long,” Stewart says. “It’s not a journey we can do alone. It’s people in our community who believe in our mission to save souls and reaching out with William Booth’s theme of ‘Heart to God, Hand to Man.’ When they come alongside us, it’s a beautiful experience where we’re working together as one community meeting the needs of those who are lost. 

“We’re more alive and well than we have been in the past.”