![On February 18, 1861, Abraham Lincoln addressed over 8,000 Rochesterians from his train's observation platform. He was traveling thru to Washington D.C. for his inauguration. [Cartoon from 'Mr. Lincoln and New York' © 2002-2011 The Lincoln Institute.]](http://rochestersubway.com/images/photos/abraham-lincoln-train.jpg)
Here’s a fun fact you can impress your friends with on this glorious Friday in Rochester… Today is the 150th anniversary of perhaps the most famous tour stops in Rochester’s history. On February 18, 1861 good ole’ Abe Lincoln popped in to say ‘Hey dudes!’.
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Today, February 18, in Rochester History: Abraham Lincoln’s 10 Minute Pop-in
Friday, February 18th, 2011Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Rochester, Rochester history, Savoy Hotel, this date in Rochester history
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff | 4 Comments »
Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) in Rochester This Week. Don’t Miss This!
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
This month Congress will begin reauthorizing federal highway and transit dollars. To kick things off, the U.S. Congressional Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will hold a series of field hearings around the country, including a February 18th stop in Rochester.
Tags: Accountable, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU), Empire State Future, Flexible, New York State Transportation Equity Alliance (NYSTEA), Reconnect Rochester, Rep. John Mica, Safe, U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | No Comments »
BBoy BBQ 2011
Thursday, January 13th, 2011
Every year the BBoy BBQ
showcases some of the best graffiti crews anywhere in the world—right here in Rochester NY. Live graffiti art, live music, DJs, breakdancing artists, food, etc etc… all free and open to the public. This year rumors are swirling around the Rochester Subway that something big may be brewing…
Tags: BBoy BBQ, Facebook, FUA, Graffiti, Graffiti Convention, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway | 5 Comments »
Mayor Duffy Submits Resignation. Oh, and uh, happy New Year.
Thursday, December 30th, 2010![Fireworks over Rochester. [PHOTO: Aaron Giambattista]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-new-year.jpg)
Effective at 11:59 p.m. Friday December 31 2010, Mayor Robert Duffy will no longer be Rochester’s Mayor. Duffy will be sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of New York on Friday night. The inauguration ceremony will take place at noon on Saturday, January 1.
Tags: Bob Duffy, Lovely Warren, Mayor Duffy, Mayor Patrick Duffy, New York, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester News | No Comments »
Crafty Rochester Subway Gifts
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
Did you know when Santa Claus is in a pinch to get toys delivered to all the good little boys and girls on time he jumps on the Rochester Subway? No, of course not—that’s stupid. The Subway closed over 50 years ago.
But, when his crafty elves are looking for gift ideas they check the RochesterSubway.com gift shop. That part is true!
Here are a few nifty ideas shared with me by Rochester Subway fans last year…
Tags: cufflinks, gift idea, Gift Shop, Glen Moscoe Jewelers, holidays, necklace, NYC Metro Cuff, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway map, South Clinton Avenue, subway gifts, tokens, transit tokens
Posted in Rochester Gifts, Rochester Subway | No Comments »
Mark Aesch Moves To Consolidate Upstate Transit Authorities
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
I just read an article in Sunday’s Albany Times Union that has me scratching my head. Mark Aesch, CEO of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, wants to consolidate
the four big transit authorities of upstate New York—Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. On the surface it seems to make sense. They each do the same thing in relatively similar cities in a single state. But does Aesch really believe consolidating operations across a 250 mile wide region will lead to better public transit service for all four regions? Or are we witnessing the beginning of a power grab?
Tags: Albany, Albany Times Union, Buffalo, Genesee Transportation Council (GTC), Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mark Aesch, mass transit, New NY Agenda, New York, public transportation, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Rochester, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), Rochester NY, Syracuse, transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Posted in Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | 5 Comments »
You Park Like An Asshole (.com)
Saturday, November 13th, 2010
You know that creepy dude at your office who always parks his Dodge Neon diagonally across two parking spaces so it won’t get dinged? Pisses you off doesn’t it? Well now you can do something about it.
ABC News ran a story today about a brilliantly simple web site with printable notices you can leave under that jerk’s windshield-wiper…
Tags: ABC, automobile, car, NBC, parking, Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester News | 10 Comments »
Would We Build the Subway Today? Commentary By Chris Matthews
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010Hardball talkshow host Chris Matthews had posed a very blunt question for President Obama, Democrats & Republicans, and America at large…
Tags: Chris Matthews, Hardball, high speed rail, highspeed rail, infrastructure, MSNBC, New York, NY, President Obama
Posted in Opinion, Transit + Infrastructure | 1 Comment »
Rochester’s (inspiring) Old Railroad Stations
Saturday, November 6th, 2010
Lots of news has been brewing lately over the future of Rochester’s beat-up, 32-year-old Amtrak station on Central Avenue. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter recently announced that a $1.5 million federal stimulus grant has been awarded to New York state to plan for a new multi-modal station on the site. A $2.5 million appropriation to pay for the station design is expected to pass Congress next month. And Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo has just made it abundantly clear
So for now, let’s just assume that something very interesting is in the works for our pitiful excuse for a train station. This is the perfect time to take a step back in time—to be inspired by Rochester’s grand old stations…
Tags: Auburn Railroad Shed, Bragdon Station, Broad Street, Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad, Claude Bragdon, Clinton Avenue, Court Street, Erie Railroad, Eugene Sintzenich, Exchange Street, High Falls, history of Rochester, Lehigh Valley Railroad, Main Street, New York, New York Central Railroad, old photos, old photos of Rochester, railroad, railroad station, Rochester, Rochester Amtrak Station, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Saint Paul Street, vintage postcard, vintage views
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff | 21 Comments »
72 Conkey: The Tide May Be Turning
Thursday, November 4th, 2010
I can’t put my finger on it but for some reason this little building in an all-but-forgotten part of our city has claimed a big spot in my heart. Maybe because it’s human nature to root for the underdog? Maybe I see the story of Rochester being played out as some sort of metaphor—it’s storied past and it’s uncertain future? And so we fight—with everything we’ve got—to turn the tide.
Tags: Bret Garwood, City of Rochester, Clifford Avenue, Conkey Avenue, Jim Fraser, Jo Dickinson, Rochester, Rochester Fire Department, Rochester NY, urban renewal, urban revitalization
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 1 Comment »
Struggle in Smugtown: A History of Rochester’s Working Class
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010Shawn Wilkinson, a friend and member of Reconnect Rochester, recently tipped me off to this documentary; Struggle in Smugtown. “Smugtown” is the not-so-flattering nickname given to Rochester by newspaper writer G. Curtis Gerling and also the title of his book Smugtown, USA. The “Struggle” refers to that of the working man and woman. I think you’ll find this to be a fascinating look into the social and economic history of our little town.
Watch all 15 segments of this film
(including this one on Transportation in Rochester).
Tags: Flour City, Flower City, history of Rochester, movie, Rochester history, Ronald G. Pettengill Labor Education Fund, Struggle in Smugtown, video
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | No Comments »
See What’s Possible at 72 Conkey
Sunday, October 24th, 2010![With a little help from Photoshop, I've taken a shot at illustrating how the storefront at 72 Conkey Avenue could look if the City gave local resident Jim Fraser a chance to apply his skills and vision to the property. [Illustration: Mike Governale]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/72-conkey-avenue-after-cropped.jpg)
As an artist, I think I maybe I see things in the world around me that other people can’t or just don’t want to. I find myself squinting all the time; trying to imagine what could be. I can’t look at a paper cup without imagining what it might become if Jonathan Ive had his way with it. I know there are a lot of people who probably see 72 Conkey Avenue as nothing more than an eyesore; and then there are people like me who see something different. And that boys and girls, is why there’s Photoshop…
Tags: Bill Johnson, Bret Garwood, City of Rochester, Clifford Avenue, Conkey Avenue, Evergreen Street, Genesee Land Trust, Ibero, Jim Fraser, Jo Dickinson, photo, Photoshop, Project Hope, Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY, urban renewal, urban revitalization
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
Help Save 72 Conkey — Part III
Thursday, October 21st, 2010
Yesterday the little boarded up Victorian house on Conkey Avenue caught the attention of Rachel Barnhart, reporter for WHAM 13 News. And for all of my ranting and raving on this site, I could never have told the story as eloquently as she…
Tags: Bret Garwood, City of Rochester, Clifford Avenue, Conkey Avenue, Evergreen Street, Ibero, Jim Fraser, Jo Dickinson, Project Hope, Rachel Barnhart, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban renewal, urban revitalization, WHAM
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development, Video | No Comments »
Help Save 72 Conkey — Part II
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010![The Rochester Fire Dept. put these gaping holes in the roof of 72 Conkey 5 days after RochesterSubway.com readers emailed the City asking to please save this historic building. [PHOTO: Jim Fraser]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/72-conkey-avenue-demolition.jpg)
If you responded to my plea last week and sent an email to Bret Garwood asking him to stop the demolition of 72 Conkey Avenue, I offer you my sincerest appreciation. As “coincidence” would have it, less than a week after that post on RochesterSubway.com the City Fire Department used the 1879 Victorian building to hold a training session. The photo above was taken on October 18. Now there are great big gaping holes where there was once a roof.
Is this really happening? I know Mr. Garwood received dozens of emails from RocSubway readers, members of Reconnect Rochester, and myself. I can’t help but ask myself is this act in response to those letters? Is the City reading our letters and giggling to themselves? Come to think of it, I didn’t receive a response to the email I sent last week… did you?
Tags: 19th Ward, Bret Garwood, City of Rochester, Clifford Avenue, Conkey Avenue, Evergreen Street, Genesee Land Trust, Genesee Street, Ibero, Jim Fraser, Jo Dickinson, Project Hope, Rochester, Rochester Fire Department, Rochester Jewish Orphan Asylum, Rochester NY, urban renewal, urban revitalization
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 4 Comments »
iPhone Band Rocks It Out On NYC Subway
Monday, October 18th, 2010
The latest subway performance making the rounds actually has a tech-angle. A band known as Atomic Tom recently staged an “impromptu” show on the B train, but played one of their songs using only iPhones. The video was uploaded to YouTube and has since logged more than 633K views.
Tags: Apple Computer, Atomic Tom, B Train, iPhone, New York, New York City, New York City Metro, New York City Subway, subway video, video, YouTube
Posted in Art + Culture, New York City Subway, Subways Around the Globe, Video | No Comments »
You Can Help Save 72 Conkey Avenue
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010![Jim and Jo are in the process of saving and restoring 6 abandoned Rochester properties. They want to save this storefront on Conkey and Clifford Avenue. The City wants to tear it down. You can help. [PHOTO: heckeranddecker.wordpress.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/72-conkey-avenue.jpg)
Jo and Jim are quite a remarkable pair. She is a retired school teacher. He works for a company that makes all kinds of machine parts, gauges, and valves. Together they represent nothing short of divine intervention for the City of Rochester.
See, Rochester has a ‘list’. On that list are 200 properties, residential and commercial, that have been given the death sentence. These buildings are on the City’s Demolition List
Tags: Bret Garwood, City of Rochester, Clifford Avenue, Conkey Avenue, Evergreen Street, Genesee Land Trust, Ibero, Jim Fraser, Jo Dickinson, Project Hope, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban renewal, urban revitalization
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 14 Comments »
Councilmember Carla Palumbo: “We Have a Transportation Plan”
Friday, October 8th, 2010Can I just say I love WXXI, public radio, and the Bob Smith Show. One day the topic might be the economy or politics; the next might be how to avoid lead poisoning. His guests are always relevant and the conversation is always thought provoking. Also, what other show (besides Wease) can a guy from a blog called RochesterSubway.com call and actually be put on the air?
Yesterday, Councilmember Carla Palumbo was Bob’s guest and the topic was the Mortimer Street Bus Terminal. Most of the callers denounced the project for it’s poor placement or lack of inter-connectivity with other modes of transportation. I wanted to try to move the conversation forward—beyond just this one project.
Take a listen to the show and pay special attention to Carla’s answer to my question at around 45 minutes in…
(more…)
Tags: Bob Smith Show, bus station, bus terminal, Carla Palumbo, city council, Councilmember Palumbo, mass transit, mass transportation, Mortimer Street, public transportation, Rochester City Council, RTS Transit Terminal, transit, transportation center, Transportation Plan, WXXI
Posted in Interviews, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 10 Comments »
River Romance and the Subway. Saturday 10/9
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010![The Canal Society of New York State will be hosting tours of the Broad Street Aqueduct and subway tunnel this weekend. [PHOTO: Dag Lindquist]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-dag-lindquist.jpg)
Two weeks ago the World Canals Conference took Rochester by storm and offered the public a glimpse inside the Broad Street Aqueduct Bridge and abandoned subway tunnel. Thousands attended and many tour-goers shared their great photos on our Facebook page . Did you miss all the fun? Well I’ve got good news for you. This Saturday, October 9th, you’ll have another chance to explore Rochester’s historic underbelly…
Tags: aqueduct, Broad Street, Erie Canal Aqueduct, Facebook, Genesee Aqueduct, photo, River Romance, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, subway tour, World Canal Conference
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Urban Exploration | 1 Comment »
Vote for Your Favorite Rochester Subway Photo…
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
Word of our Rochester Subway Facebook photo contest has gotten out. At least 20 photos have been uploaded to our Facebook wall since Sunday night and the votes/Likes are piling up. The photo with the most “Likes” by midnight Friday will win a Rochester Subway Poster modern or old-style. All of these photos are outstanding—only one will be crowned. So if you haven’t voted for one (or all of them) yet… hop on over to the RocSubway Facebook page and give that little “Like” button a workout. Or upload your own photo. Here’s a look at the front runners…
![Like' this one? Go to Facebook.com/RocSubway and vote! [PHOTO: Brian Killmore]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-brian-killmore.jpg)
Tags: aqueduct, contest, Facebook, free stuff, Freebies, photo, photography, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, subway tour
Posted in Events, Freebies, Rochester Subway | 1 Comment »
Rochester Subway Tour and Facebook Contest. A Win-Win.
Saturday, September 18th, 2010
I’m raising the stakes on Sunday’s Subway/Aqueduct Tour
Tags: aqueduct, contest, Facebook, free stuff, Freebies, photo, photography, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, subway tour, World Canal Conference
Posted in Events, Freebies, Rochester Subway | 7 Comments »
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