Downtown – Owego, New York
The Ithaca-Owego Railroad is the second chartered in the state and incorporated June 28, 1828. It crossed the village park to a terminus on the side of Ahwaga Park.
The Tioga County Court House was built in 1872.
Tioga promotes itself as “the Coolest Small Town in America.” The only problem with a title like that, is the least cool thing is to say that you are cool. Nevertheless there are many signs of cool like the large purple inflatable on a building, the Art Walk on the Third Friday of every month.
Historic buildings give a strong sense of place. There are three story brick buildings with corbelled brick cornice running the length of entire blocks. Some buildings are even higher at four stories.
There are more elaborate buildings with Victorian details including enrichments around windows, cornices, segmental windows, round arched windows and elaborate brickwork. Of these buildings several have been tastefully preserved. Ground floor storefronts on older and more ornate buildings are also in better condition that other simpler brick buildings in town.
An effort has been made to make Owego easier to navigate for visitors. One way this is done is a large scaled mural with a wayfinding map. There are also signs pointing to “Additional Shopping and Restaurants.”
