![Seabreeze Amusement Park. [PHOTO: Courtesy Seabreeze Amusement Park]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/seabreeze-jackrabbit-and-trolley.jpg)
About two months ago I attended a presentation by Matthew Caulfield on the history of Seabreeze Park 
. 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…
Archive: ‘Rochester Images’...
History of Seabreeze Amusement Park
Monday, May 27th, 2013Tags: Alan Mueller, Arthur Long, Boardwalk Park, carousel, Danceland, Dreamland, George Long, Honeymoon Trail, Irondequoit, Jack Kirby, Jack Rabbit, Karnival Kourt, Matthew Caulfield, natatorium, Old Mill, Paul Moore, Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Rochester & Suburban Railway Co., Rochester Transit Corporation, Seabreeze Amusement Park, Town of Irondequoit
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 111 Comments »
Enhancing CityGate
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013![The abandoned Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Nurses' Building. [PHOTO: Mike Bouwmeester]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-iola-sanatorium-nurses-building.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Mike Bouwmeeester.
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Welcoming Costco and RGRTA to CityGate is great. Ignoring walkability and losing all historic buildings isn’t. Our community needs walkable places. We need development that calms traffic and makes walking easy and safe. Moreover, our community needs to preserve its historic fabric. We need development that repurposes old buildings for new uses…
Tags: AJ Costello & Son, Brighton, City Gate, CityGate, Costco, demolition, development, development plans, East Henrietta Road, Henrietta, historic preservation, Iola Campus, Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium, land use, Mike Bouwmeester, preservation, Rochester, smart growth, transit-oriented development, urban development, Westfall Road
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 10 Comments »
Manhattan Square Park Mural Erased
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013![The City recently painted over this mural, a fixture in Manhattan Square Park for probably 30 years. [PHOTO: Kristen Cavanaugh]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/manhattan-square-park-mural.jpg)
I haven’t been able to find anyone who knows exactly when this mural was painted, but it’s been a fixture in Manhattan Square Park for at least 30 years, says Charles Moreland, Executive Director of Rochester Parkour . The outdoor venue has been mostly abandoned for the past 10 years, but its concrete walls and irregular geometry make it ideal for practicing the fine art of Parkour. Charles’ group can often be found moving throughout the park. Yesterday Charles noticed the mural had been covered with a fresh coat of gray paint…
Tags: art, Charles Moreland, Chestnut Street, City of Rochester, downtown Rochester, Fringe Festival, Gay Alliance, Graffiti, Ian Wilson, Manhattan Square Park, mural, Roc Pride Festival, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Parkour, Wall-Therapy
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 18 Comments »
Until We Meet Again, Spider-Man
Friday, May 10th, 2013![Filming of Spider Man 2 in Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/spider-man-rochester-ny-01.jpg)
Hey kids, you know what today is? That’s right, Fun Foto Friday! I know you’ve probably had your fill of spandex-wrapped web-slingers, street closures, and NYC squad cars blowing up everywhere. But I just wanted to post some of my pics from the last couple days of Spider-Man filming. And I’d like to see yours too. If you were able to slip past the barricades and snag a few good shots, go ahead and post a link in the comments section…
Tags: Amazing Spider Man 2, car chase, downtown Rochester, film, Fun Foto Friday, Hollywood, Main Street, movie, NYPD, Rochester, Rochester NY, Spider Man
Posted in Events, Opinion, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 4 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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/national-clothing-store-rochester-2013.jpg)
A recent story 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 into a Hilton Garden Inn. Around the corner at 25 Stone Street , 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…
Tags: adaptive reuse, Burpee Seed Company, DHD Ventures LLC, downtown Rochester, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Hotel, Hotel Eggleston, James Vick, James Vick's Sons seed company, Main Street, National Clothing Store, Rochester, Rochester NY, Stone Street, Thomas Masaschi, Vick Quality Seeds
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 16 Comments »
Ban Life on the Lot: Rochester’s Junkyard Dogs
Monday, May 6th, 2013![Everyday, dogs like this one are used to guard, watch, or protect businesses such as car dealerships and metal recyclers while the property owners are absent. [PHOTO: Joel Helfrich]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-junkyard-dogs-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
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Rochester admittedly has its share of problems: socioeconomic, educational, and transportation, among many others. Most problems will take a great amount of knowhow, community support, and time to correct. The problem of “junkyard” dogs—dogs used to guard, watch, or protect businesses such as car dealerships and metal recyclers while the property owners are absent—is potentially quickly solvable. Simple solutions would be beneficial to the animals that spend their lives lost on the lots of this city.
Tags: animal rights, animals, dog, Joel Helfrich, junkyard, junkyard dogs, metal recycling, North Street, Portland Avenue, Rochester, Rochester NY, scrap metal, scrapyard
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 18 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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-guerilla-art-bob-ross.jpg)
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 . The Democrat & Chronicle 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…
Tags: demolition, Graffiti, rail bridge, railroad, South Union Street, Spencerport
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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/ame-zion-church-favor-street-rochester-01.jpg)
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…
Tags: 660 W. Main Street, A.M.E. Zion Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Bread & Water Theatre, Cornhill neighborhood, Favor Street, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, J.R. Teeter, North Star, Susan B. Anthony, underground railroad, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Posted in Interviews, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 17 Comments »
All Aboard The Ontario Car Ferry!
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013![Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Provide by Al from Wolcott, NY]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/baltimore-and-ohio-railroad-station-rochester.jpg)
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…
Tags: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Buffalo, Cobourg, ferry, Lake Ontario, Nick Tahou's, Ontario, Rochester, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad, Rochester NY, The Ontario Car Ferry Company
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 26 Comments »
Filling in: Parks and Reparation
Thursday, April 4th, 2013![Columbs Circle, maybe early 1970's? [PHOTO: andrewcusack.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/filling-in-reparations-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Dear readers, let’s take a short break from redeveloping Rochester. Instead, can we take a moment to consider that which we’ve lost? That which we can still repair?
This week, let’s talk about parks. Specifically, let’s talk about Lomb Memorial Park, and Schiller Park. But first, take a look at Columbus Circle in New York City (above). Oh man! Look at poor Christopher Columbus hanging out there all alone in the middle of traffic. At least he has a convenient parking spot for his car. Wait, what? You say that Columbus Circle doesn’t look anything like that? Well, I guess it doesn’t, now…
Tags: Andrews Street, Christopher Columbus, Columbus Circle, downtown Rochester, Franklin Square, Franklin Street, Freidrich von Schiller, Henry Lomb, Henry Lomb Memorial, Inner Loop, Lomb Memorial Park, Matthew Denker, New York City, Rochester, Rochester NY, Schiller Park, Upper Falls Blvd.
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 36 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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/david-bowie-mugshot-rochester-ny-01.jpg)
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…
Tags: Blue Cross Arena, concert, David Bowie, Dwain Voughns, Iggy Pop, James Osterberg, marijuana, mugshot, music, musician, pot, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Police Department, RPD, Thomas G. Presutti, War Memorial, War Memorial Arena
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 31 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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/university-of-rochester-rush-rhees-library-01.jpg)
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 , 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…
Tags: A.W. Hopeman and Sons, architecture, Arendt Willem Hopeman, Bloomfield, carillon, Fauver Stadium, Gordon & Kaelber Architects, Halloween Scare Fair, Harry Potter, Hopeman Carillon, Hopeman Memorial Chime, Immanuel Kant, Jeff Le, Michigan, Plato, René Descartes, Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, Rochester panorama, rochester photos, Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester, UofR, urban exploration
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 10 Comments »
13 Storefronts
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
I’ve given myself a photo assignment for 2013. Pick 13 subjects, and take 13 snapshots of each. Simple. We started last month with 13 mailboxes. This month I turned my lens on what I thought were some of Rochester’s most intriguing storefronts. These images were taken on the city’s east side, from Monroe Ave up to East Ridge Road…
Tags: 13 storefronts, 13x13x13, 819 Clinton Grocery, Big Deal Fashions, Boost Mobile, Clinton Avenue, Color Nails, Craft Company No. 6, Food, Main & Clinton, Main Street, Mellow Madness Tattoo Parlor, Monroe Avenue, North Clinton Avenue, North Union Street, Park Avenue, Portland Avenue, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, S and M Mini Mart, S&S Express, Schuber Liquor Store, South Avenue, storefronts, University Avenue, Zimmermann's Hots, Zips
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Images | 12 Comments »
The Rochester Landmarks Poster, by Richard Margolis
Monday, March 4th, 2013![Rochester Landmarks Poster [IMAGE: Richard Margolis]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-landmarks-poster-richard-margolis.jpg)
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…
Tags: Aqueduct Bridge, ARTwalk, Browns Race, Bust of Goethe, Center at High Falls, Charlotte Lighthouse, Colgate Divinity School, Cutler Union, Don’s Original, Driving Park Bridge, Eastman Theater, Erie Canal, First Universalist Church of Rochester, Genesee Brewery, Genesee River, George Eastman House, Geva Theatre, gift idea, Gift Shop, High Falls, Highland Park, Highland Park Diner, Hojack Swing Bridge, House of Guitars, Hoyt-Potter house, Jack Rabbit, Jines, Kodak World Headquarters, Lamberton Conservatory, Landmark Society, Let’s Have Tea, Little Theatre, Lower Falls, Main Street Armory, Memorial Art Gallery, Naval Armory, Nick Tahou's, Ontario Beach, Oxford Street Magnolias, Park Avenue, photo, photographer, Poet’s Garden, poster, Richard Margolis, Robach Community Center, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester Landmarks poster, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Rochester Public Market, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sam Patch, Schoen Place, Seabreeze Amusement Park, Seneca Park, Seneca Park Zoo, Stone Tolan House, Susan B. Anthony Square, The Powers Building, Writers & Books
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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/brighton-village-east-avenue-wegmans-01.jpg)
This weekend, Wegmans closed their current East Avenue store so they could transition into their new, larger building . 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…
Tags: Andy Olenick, architecture, Brighton Branch of the Rochester Public Library, Brighton School No. 2, Brighton Village, Cyrus Oriental Rugs, demolition, East Avenue, East Avenue Wegmans, Fountain Bleu Coiffures, history of Rochester, Kate Lays, Kate Lotz, Martin Brewer Anderson School No. 1, Old Brighton Antiques, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Safelink Supply, Upstate New York Alarm, Wegman's, William Billinghurst, Winton Road
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 18 Comments »
Filling In: Monroe Ave
Thursday, February 21st, 2013![This week's edition of 'Filling In' looks at some small changes that could make Monroe Avenue even better. [PHOTO: RocPX.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/monroe-avenue.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Last week RocSubway learned that developer Thomas Masaschi is converting the old Ted Cohen’s Office Furniture store into three upscale penthouses, lofts and retail space on the first floor. You know the place ; behind the Hess gas station on Monroe Ave. So we thought, for this week’s edition of “Filling In,” why not look at Monroe Ave, and how we could make one of Rochester’s most walkable strips even better! We’ll focus on a few small changes that could be implemented quickly, and then a few bigger ideas for the corridor going forward…
Tags: 7-eleven, Amherst Street, Arby's, Autozone, Barnes Dance, Brueggers, Dac Hoa, diagonal crosswalk, Dunkin Donuts, Filling In, Goodman Street, Matthew Denker, McDonald's, Monroe Avenue, Oxford Street, Pizza Hut, Rutgers Street, Sumner Park
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 66 Comments »
13 Mailboxes
Friday, February 15th, 2013
I don’t know why, but I really like the number 13. Some people go out of their way to avoid 13. Not me. In fact, I’m about to embark on a yearlong project for 2013. I’m going to pick 13 random subjects. Take 13 snapshots of each. And we’ll see if we can paint a portrait of Rochester.
Let’s start with the seemingly mundane mailbox. Most of these snapshots were taken near Sea Breeze…
Tags: 13 mailboxes, 13x13x13, mailbox, mailboxes, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Images | 4 Comments »
Fortified Rochester
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013![Dehumanizing architecture like this has been popping up all over Rochester for decades. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/fortified-rochester.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
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You do not have to be a designer to see that Rochester has a problem—well, a number of problems, actually. That we continue to make the same mistakes, however, regarding design of our built environment, is perhaps one of the most egregious. This column highlights some of the worst offenders in Rochester—some of which are still being built…
Tags: architecture, City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles, East Avenue Wegmans, EchoTone Music, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, James PB Duffy School No. 12, Joel Helfrich, McDonald's, Mike Davis, Postler & Jaeckle, Rochester Riverside Convention Center, South Avenue, South Wedge, urban design, Wegman's
Posted in Architecture, Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 68 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]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/abandoned-barber-house-portage-ny-01.jpg)
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 . Before I continue, please be advised, this house is on posted private property.
Emily Stauring is a photographer from Arkport, NY. She took most of these photos while out for a drive with a friend…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned house, abandoned mansion, abandoned places, Barber House, Burned Over District, Cayuga County, Chestnut Place, Emily Stauring, Graffiti, Joan Schumaker, John Barber, John Failing Barber, Luke Myer, mansion, Marjorie Frost, Nathaniel Alward, Nunda Historical Society, Oakland Road, photography, Portage NY, Portageville NY, Robert Gath, rochester photos, Roy Gath, Short Tract, Tom Cook
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration | 64 Comments »
Filling In: Capron/Geva
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013![Our second installment of 'Filling In' looks at developing the parking lots between Capron Lofts and Geva Theater. [IMAGE: Google Streetview]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/filling-in-capron-street-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Welcome back! Last week we looked at a block that almost had it all. This week, let’s see what we can do on a much larger scale with a block that needs a little more work. A roughly 600’x600’ square mega block at the southern entrance to downtown. There are a few good things going on here; Geva Theater , Capron Lofts , Plan Architects . And, a few not so good; a sweeping highway off-ramp, a GIANT parking lot across the street from TWO garages, and random weedy surface lots…
Tags: Capron Street, Clinton Ave, Clinton Avenue, development, downtown, downtown Rochester, Filling In, Geva Theater, infill development, Matthew Denker, Merkel Donohue, Rochester, Rochester NY, St. Mary's Place, urban design
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 19 Comments »
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