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Archive: ‘Rochester History’...

A 100 Ton Discovery at the Port of Rochester

Monday, June 17th, 2013

Did an asteroid land in the parking lot at Ontario Beach? Not quite. This 100 ton hunk of slag is a remnant from an old steel mill. [PHOTO: Fred Amato]
David DiPonzio, a firefighter with the Lake Shore Fire District in Greece, sent me these photos (taken by friend Fred Amato) of a strange-looking crater in the middle of the parking lot external link at Ontario Beach Park. An asteroid? Uh, not quite. This may be the most interesting archeological find since RGRTA dug up the RKO Palace. That big rock you see in the center of the crater is actually a giant hunk of slag – left over from the iron or steel mill that once operated here…

(more…)

Monday, June 17th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 12 Comments »

Bull’s Head: Reports of Its Death Have Been Somewhat Exaggerated

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013

Rumors have been swirling around the internet that the famous Bull's Head that marks the historic Bull's Head section of Rochester has been lost in a recent demolition on West Main Street. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]
Rumors have been swirling around the internet that the famous Bull’s Head that marks the historic Bull’s Head section of Rochester has been lost in a recent demolition on West Main Street. It is true this landmark has recently lost several important neighbors, but for now, the Bull in Bull’s Head is still with us…

(more…)

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013
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Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 13 Comments »

History of Seabreeze Amusement Park

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Seabreeze Amusement Park. [PHOTO: Courtesy Seabreeze Amusement Park]
About two months ago I attended a presentation by Matthew Caulfield on the history of Seabreeze Park external link. Caulfield started working at the park when he was a young twenty-something whippersnapper. At some point he got himself a “real job” at the Library of Congress. Now in his 80′s and retired, he’s back doing what he loves, as the park’s archivist. The following notes and images are just a snippet of his entire presentation which he has assembled over time with the help of his friend Alan Mueller…

(more…)

Monday, May 27th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 21 Comments »

Public Forum: Development in Preservation Districts

Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Public Forum: Development in Preservation Districts
The Landmark Society external link is partnering with the Park-Meigs Neighborhood Association to hold a public forum on the evening of Tuesday, May 21 at 597 East Avenue external link. Up for discussion: the timely and controversial topic of new development in preservation districts. This is a community conversation you will NOT want to miss.

A panel of speakers, representing developers, homeowners, business owners, urban planners, and The Landmark Society, will offer their perspective, followed by an open question and answer session. Speakers include Wayne Goodman, Executive Director of The Landmark Society; Glenn Kellogg, Urban Advisors; Joe Hanna, Hanna Properties; Steve Vogt, Rochester Young Professionals. RocSubway contributor, Matthew Denker will also weigh in. Can new development benefit preservation districts? How can the new co-exist with the old? What is “good” development? These are some of the questions this forum will attempt to address.

Follow this link external link for more information.

Saturday, May 18th, 2013
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Posted in Events, Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Development | 2 Comments »

Hilton Hotels Eyes Some Interesting Old Buildings on Main Street

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

The Hilton hotel chain is strongly considering adapting this five-story former National Clothing Store on Main Street into a Hilton Garden Inn. [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library]
A recent story external link in the Rochester Business Journal had me pleasantly surprised to learn that the Hilton hotel chain is strongly considering adapting a five-story former clothing store at 155 E. Main Street external link into a Hilton Garden Inn. Around the corner at 25 Stone Street external link, a smaller two-story building (formerly the Stone Street Grill) would also be part of the 15 million dollar plan.

Normally I don’t get all revved up for national chains, but there are at least two REALLY good things happening here: Private interest/investment in Main Street (good), AND adaptive reuse of three or four old buildings (REALLY GOOD).

I also learned something very interesting about these buildings. What’s old may be new again…

(more…)

Thursday, May 9th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 14 Comments »

Spencerport Rail Bridge Removed

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

This old railroad bridge over S. Union Street in Spencerport was removed last week. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]
Remember this portrait of Bob Ross we spotted on a rail bridge in Spencerport a while ago? Built in 1924, that bridge once carried freight trains over South Union Street external link. The Democrat & Chronicle external link tells us tractor trailers have been hitting the bridge repeatedly for years. So it’s time to come down. Sorry Bob.

Daniel Azzolina has sent in a few photos of the bridge being dismantled. Enjoy…

(more…)

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 2 Comments »

Local Theatre Group Sets Its Sights on (another) Historic Church

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church at 42 Favor Street in the Cornhill Neighborhood. [PHOTO: J.R. Teeter]
Last September the Bread and Water Theatre group expressed interest in purchasing the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 660 West Main Street after learning that its owner had asked the City for permission to demolish it. That demolition request has been denied (for now). Meanwhile, the same theatre group now has its eye on another historically significant church…

(more…)

Thursday, April 18th, 2013
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Posted in Interviews, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 16 Comments »

All Aboard The Ontario Car Ferry!

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Provide by Al from Wolcott, NY]
I get a ridiculous amount of email here in the Rochester Subway. Most of it isn’t really worth sharing but occasionally I get a diamond in the rough. So here’s one from the mailbag…

Al from Wolcott, NY sent me this great photograph today along with a question. He writes, “Someplace on the internet I recently ran across a comment that the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad terminal was the place where people boarded a passenger train for Charlotte and then got on a boat for a trip to Cobourg, Ontario. Can you confirm this?” Yes. Yes I can. But first, let’s look closer at this photo…

(more…)

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 11 Comments »

Local History Classes at New “Rochester Brainery”

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Rochester Brainery
Danielle Raymo and Stephanie Rankin, two recent college grads, have just opened a new and exciting business in Village Gate. Rochester Brainery brings fun and affordable learning experiences to the public with sort of a no-strings attached philosophy. They seek out people in the community to come in and run educational workshops on various topics of interest, and anyone can sign up to take a class…

(more…)

Friday, March 29th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester News | 3 Comments »

Pot Holds Bowie in Rochester

Monday, March 25th, 2013

David Bowie's mugshot after being arrested in Rochester NY for possession of marijuana. [PHOTO: Provided by Todd Hess]
It was 37 years ago today when the greatest photo in RPD history was taken. David Bowie was in town on his 1976 World Tour. After giving a performance at the War Memorial Arena on March 20, Bowie was arrested in a hotel suite in the early morning hours of March 21. Three others were also booked including James Osterberg, or Iggy Pop, the “godfather of punk rock.” This infamous mugshot was taken when the rockstar returned to Rochester and pleaded “not guilty” to the felony drug charge in Rochester City Court. This was the story printed in the Democrat and Chronicle the morning of March 22, 1976…

(more…)

Monday, March 25th, 2013
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Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 19 Comments »

Climb Up Inside UofR’s Rush Rhees Library

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

University of Rochester's Rush Rhees Library, originally completed in 1930 and named for Rush Rhees, the university's first president (1900-1935). What do you say we climb up inside this? [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]
She’s a thing of beauty, don’t you think? Hundreds of thousands of square feet packed with mind-strengthening knowledge, all wrapped in 16 stories of brick and limestone, and capped off with 6,668 pounds of bronze bells. It’s the largest musical instrument in the city of Rochester, and also one of the top 50 research libraries in North America.

Proudly watching over the Eastman Quad external link, Rush Rhees Library at the University of Rochester seems to call out, “Come to me. Come to me and get your education on.” Personally, I’ve always wondered what the views are like from the top of that bell tower. What do you say we all climb up inside there and race to the top? Let’s go…

(more…)

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 10 Comments »

The Rochester Landmarks Poster, by Richard Margolis

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Rochester Landmarks Poster [IMAGE: Richard Margolis]
When I first moved to Rochester’s Swillburg neighborhood thirteen years ago, my favorite place to eat was Highland Park Diner. I remember this Rochester Landmarks poster, by Richard Margolis, hung over one of the booths there. I used to stare and study those landmarks all the while shoveling Aunt Bee’s Homestyle Meatloaf into my face. Ah, my first taste of Rochester. Today I own that poster, and I’ve now been to all but one of the 38 landmarks on it. It’s a great feeling!

Now you can get your hands on a copy of this Landmark poster from the RochesterSubway.com Gift Shop, and start checking them off your list too. Can you name all 38 landmarks? No peeking! The answers are after the jump…

(more…)

Monday, March 4th, 2013
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Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 2 Comments »

Historic Brighton Village

Monday, February 25th, 2013

Former site of historic Brighton Village. March, 2010. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]
This weekend, Wegmans closed their current East Avenue store so they could transition into their new, larger building external link. The new store replaces a historic area that was once the center of Brighton in the 19th century. The old Village of Brighton was served by the Erie Canal (now I-490). The canal was rerouted in the early 20th century and the entire area was annexed to the City of Rochester in 1905…

(more…)

Monday, February 25th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 18 Comments »

The Old Barber House

Monday, February 11th, 2013

The old Barber House at the corner of Short Tract and Oakland Road in the Town of Portage. [IMAGE: Emily Stauring]
John Failings Barber settled in the area of Portage, NY during the pioneer days. He struggled with tragedy and hardship and eventually became a prosperous farmer and banker. He built this home—which he called, “Chestnut Place”—on the corner of Short Tract and Oakland roads external link. Before I continue, please be advised, this house is on posted private property.

Emily Stauring external link is a photographer from Arkport, NY. She took most of these photos while out for a drive with a friend…

(more…)

Monday, February 11th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 25 Comments »

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