By Tom Dimitroff

In 1996, New York State required each county to establish its own 911 emergency system.  As part of this effort in Corning, New York — located in Steuben County — it was necessary to assign names to all of the city’s alleys.  I was appointed chairman of the committee tasked with this responsibility.  Upon reviewing the scope of the project, I realized the city had a large number of alleys.  At our first committee meeting, I proposed we call them “lanes” instead of “alleys,” believing it would be more appealing for residents whose homes faced them.  I also advised against naming them after individuals, based on past experiences where people felt either offended or left out when names were chosen.

The committee, composed of dedicated members, engaged in thoughtful discussions and various suggestions.  When the time felt right, I proposed naming the lanes after the work of Frederick Carder, a renowned glassmaker who had a profound impact on American decorative glass and lived in Corning from 1903 to 1963.  His artistic contributions, in color, technique, and form, are displayed in homes and museums across the country.  Beyond his artistic legacy, Carder also made significant civic contributions by founding or co-founding important local institutions such as the Corning Rotary Club, Corning Country Club, and the Corning City Club, and serving as a long-time school board president.

The committee ultimately approved the idea of naming lanes after Carder’s glasswork.  However, this decision led to the committee assigning me the task of generating the actual names.  During this process, I was approached by the Chief of Police and Fire Chief, who explained that their departments used an alphabetical system for alley access that had long been in place.  They asked that this system be maintained.

To accommodate both the emergency services and the new naming concept, I created a list of lane names based on Carder’s work, arranged alphabetically to match the existing emergency response layout.  For example, lanes were named Alabaster, Aurene, Burmese, Cintra, Diatreta, and Florentia—each beginning with successive letters of the alphabet and tied to Carder’s glass creations.  I brought this compromise back to the committee, and it was approved.  We then presented the plan to the city council, where it also received approval. Today, these lane signs stand as a lasting tribute to Frederick Carder’s artistic and civic legacy in Corning.

David’s obituary and information about his memorial service have recently been posted. David’s life was many-faceted and interesting, and he will be missed.  https://www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com/obituaries/julian-ellett-jr