New Subway and Broad Street Bridge (Aqueduct) over Genesee River, Rochester NY, Vintage Postcard (Rollover the image to zoom)
Signed, Stamped, & Delivered 1938.
The front of this postcard boasts what was then the new Rochester Subway and
Broad Street bridge over the Genesee River. Actually, the bridge itself was nearly 100 years old, even
when this card was printed. The Subway tracks were laid in the bed of the existing Erie Canal Aqueduct
which was constructed in 1837. The Broad Street road-deck (lined with automobiles in the illustration)
was then built above the tracks in 1924. Although this card is stamped with a 1938 postmark it is probably
a bit older as the Rundel Memorial Library was built in 1934 immediately to the right of the bridge.
On the reverse, the personal handwritten message begins in English and then changes to German. Thankfully
the picture on the front says a thousand words because I dont speak a bit of German. As best as I
can decipher the message reads:
Dear Frank:
Thank you for your letter and also that letter from Foley.
Still haven't heard anything ("f.P." could mean "FROM PAUL").
Maybe today or tomorrow (illegible).
I'll let you know anything immediately.
We picnicked in a park yesterday.
Paul currently has vacation this week and next.
He still has a sore throat.
Otherwise everything's great - Even the beer.
Regards. Karl.
Translation submitted by Rich Rolwing. Thanks Rich!
This is an original, one-of-a-kind item once its gone its
gone. And were in no rush to let it go. If youre interested in owning this
piece of history please email us or you can order a reprint.
For a closer look at this postcard
rollover the image to the left.
Like most postcards from this era, the illustration captures beautiful
detail from a distant time. The subway operated at peek capacity during
World War II. But within a decade it would quickly be undone by the
growing popularity of the automobile.
The back of this postcard is just as fascinating as the illustration on
the front. If you can decipher the German handwriting, wed love to know
what it says! In 1938 a 1¢ stamp couldve sent this postcard anywhere in the U.S.
As it happened, this card traveled from Rochester to Chicago.
City Hall & Subway
This illustrated vintage postcard shows Rochesters old City Hall and the Broad Street Subway entrance. Postmarked 1942.
Typical Rochester Rail Equipment
This illustrated vintage postcard shows three of Rochester's trolley cars outside the E. Main St. Station. Postmarked 1941.
City of Rochester, New York Typographic Poster
An incredible piece of typographic art, straight from the pages of a 1910 atlas, and perfect for any modern Rochesterian to display proudly at home or in the office.
After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the subway) was built in
its place as a link between the five different railroads and interurban trolley
lines that served the Rochester area. As the industrial landscape of Rochester
changed, and highways replaced the railroads, the Rochester subway gradually
became a relic of a bygone era. In 1956 the subway was abandoned and much of
its route was converted into Interstate 490 built to connect Rochester
with the New York State Thruway (I-90). Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway.
RochesterSubway.com exists to help spark
public dialogue around how we can better connect the neighborhoods of Rochester
NY, surrounding communities, and their cultural offerings. Rochesters
future is written in her past. Let's rediscover it.