![View of downtown Rochester from Kodak tower. [IMAGE: Rochester Public Library Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-state-street-from-kodak-tower-00.jpg)
Here is a neat view I came across while rummaging around in the Local History Department at the Rochester Public Library. The image is of State Street with downtown Rochester in the background, taken from one of the top floors of Kodak tower…
Archive: ‘Rochester History’...
View of Downtown Rochester from Kodak Tower
Tuesday, November 17th, 2015Tags: downtown Rochester, Granite Building, history of Rochester, Hotel Seneca, Kodak Tower, Lincoln Alliance Building, old photos, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Rochester NY, Sibley Building, Sibley's, Sibley's Department Store, State Street
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 10 Comments »
Inside the Abandoned Vacuum Oil Refinery
Tuesday, November 10th, 2015![Abandoned Vacuum Oil building. Flint Street, Rochester, NY. [IMAGE: Snoop Junkie]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/vacuum-oil-refinery-rochester-02.jpg)
By Snoop Junkie
Welcome to the old Vacuum Oil plant on the west bank of the Genesee River in Rochester’s Plymouth-Exchange neighborhood. Abandoned for nearly a century, there has been very little desire to re-develop this 26-acre site due to contamination. Now, the City of Rochester is aiming to use New York State’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas program 
to clean it up and plan for its future redevelopment. But as of today, this property is still highly toxic. And you guessed it—we’re going inside…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, ExxonMobil, Flint Street, Hiram Bond Everest, history of Rochester, Matthew Ewing, Mobil Oil Company, Plymouth Avenue, Plymouth-Exchange, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Snoop Junkie, Snoop Junkie Rochester Urban Exploration Squad, Socony Mobil Oil Company, Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Standard Oil, Standard-Vacuum Oil Company, urban exploration, Vacuum Oil, Vacuum Oil Company, Vacuum Oil Works
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development, Urban Exploration | 25 Comments »
Bell Tower from Rochester School #7, Rediscovered
Sunday, November 1st, 2015![When Bill Schmidt purchased his home on Lake View Park this summer, he became the lucky owner of the bell tower from School #7 in northwest Rochester. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-school-7-bell-tower-02.jpg)
Every so often we’re contacted by a lucky homeowner who discovers a neat little historical treasure hidden away in their basement or roof rafters – usually an old book or a subway token. Then there’s Bill Schmidt. When Bill purchased his home on Lake View Park this summer, he became the lucky owner of an old bell tower from the long-demolished School #7 in northwest Rochester…
Tags: architecture, demolition, Dewey Avenue, Fairview Heights, historic preservation, Lake View Park, Pierpont Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, school bell tower, Virgil I. Grissom School #7
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | 7 Comments »
Marshmallows and Rochester
Sunday, October 25th, 2015![The former Rochester Marshmallow Company factory located in the High Falls District. [PHOTO: India Lombardi-Bello]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-marshmallow-company.jpg)
Story via Rochester Brainery
This former Rochester Plumbing Supply building at 281 Mill Street has recently been renovated and converted into 14 new apartments in downtown’s growing High Falls district. This is an exciting development not only because of the new life it will add to this neighborhood, but because this building has a pretty sweet past…
Tags: High Falls, history of Rochester, history of the marshmallow, Joseph B. Demerath, marshmallows, Mill Street, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester Marshmallow Company, Rochester NY, The Mills at High Falls
Posted in Architecture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Apartments, Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
Meet Rochester Artist and Craftsman, Scott Grove
Monday, September 28th, 2015![Meet Scott Grove, a Rochester artist, sculptor, furniture designer, architectural preservationist, among other things. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/scott-grove-powers-building-maintenance-01.jpg)
On my almost daily walk along State and Main streets I’ve often noticed this boom lift blocking the sidewalks around the Powers Building . I’ve never given it much thought. I just figured Daniel Powers liked his windows really clean.
Then, last week while at the Fringe, my RocSubway teammate Joanne Brokaw got introduced to Scott Grove. As it turns out, Scott is that guy hanging high up over Rochester’s sidewalks—and he’s not cleaning windows…
Tags: architecture, artist, Bausch & Lomb Headquarters, Daniel Powers, downtown Rochester, Eastman Theater, H.H. Warner Building, historic preservation, Jonathan Child House, Neighborhood of the Arts, Piano Works Mall, Powers Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, Scott Grove, sculpture, State Street, University of Rochester
Posted in Architecture, Art + Culture, Interviews, Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Exploration | 4 Comments »
Remembering the Old Rochester Monroe County Airport and Murals
Sunday, August 23rd, 2015![Do you remember the mural at the old Rochester Monroe County Airport? A reader asked if we could share photos of it. [IMAGE: Rochester Public Library Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-monroe-county-airport-00.jpg)
I received an email last week from George Conboy, Chairman of Brighton Securities. He asks, “Have you seen anywhere a photo of the transportation mural that was behind the long ticket counter at the old airport? I remember it as a vaguely Art Deco theme of general transportation with an emphasis, of course, on air transport.”
Mr. Conboy explained that he used to fly a lot during the “glory days” of air travel back in the 1960s when he was a kid. “I just liked that old mural. I used to see it all the time and it has always been in my mind.”
This is a great question. I had been told of this mural before but have never seen it myself. Photos of it online are practically non-existent, so this one will require some digging…
Tags: airport, art, Art Deco, Brighton Securities, George Conboy, Greater Rochester International Airport, history of Rochester, infrastructure, Monroe County Airport, mural, old photos of Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, rochester photos, transportation
Posted in Architecture, Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure | 18 Comments »
Inside the Abandoned Camp Haccamo, Penfield
Wednesday, August 12th, 2015![Abandoned Camp Haccamo, Penfield NY. [IMAGE: Snoop Junkie]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/camp-haccamo-rochester-56.jpg)
By Snoop Junkie
Since 1955, Camp Haccamo has been a fun filled getaway for both adults and children with varying mental and physical disabilities. First established on Panorama Creek Drive in Penfield (just behind Panorama Plaza), Haccamo was free to the 300 plus campers per year who participated. But in 2009 camp organizers ended their relationship with the town of Penfield and moved to Rush, NY – while, oddly, leaving quite a bit of stuff behind…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, Camp Haccamo, Monroe County Rotary, Penfield, Penfield NY, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rotary Sunshine Camp, Rush, Rush NY, Snoop Junkie, urban exploration, Wegman's
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration | 46 Comments »
Rochester’s Carousel is “Not Garbage Art”
Sunday, August 9th, 2015![This painted picaninny panel on Rochester's Dentzel carousel has been the subject of debate since the confederate flag was removed from South Carolina's State House in July. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-ontario-beach-carousel-04.jpg)
By Mike Governale with help from Carlie Fishgold.
In 1867 Gustav Dentzel founded the Dentzel Carouse Company in Philadelphia, PA. In 1905, Gustav’s “Duchess” menagerie carousel opened at Ontario Beach Park where it has since entertained many generations of Rochesterians.
Recently, a debate has erupted concerning one of the ride’s painted panels; two black children—or more accurately, picaninnies—being harassed by a rooster. Stereotypical depictions of black children such as these were intended to dehumanize blacks and provide entertainment for whites at their expense. There’s no debate here. It is what it is. The question is what do to with the panel…
Some have called for it to be removed or replaced with something different. Others believe it should be preserved – either in place, or in another setting where it can be used to educate future generations about America’s history and the pitfalls of racism and bigotry.
Bill Dentzel is the great-grandson of Gustav Dentzel. In a letter to Rochester’s Preservation Board dated August 4, 2015, Bill suggests that the panel may be moved, but should not be discarded as “garbage”…
Tags: African-American, Bill Dentzel, Charlotte, Charlotte Beach, Dentzel carousel, Dentzel Carousel Company, Edward P. Dentzel, Gustav Dentzel, historic preservation, Monroe County, Ontario Beach Park, Ontario Beach Park carousel, picaninny, preservation, race in Rochester NY, racism, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Preservation Board, slavery, William H. Dentzel
Posted in Art + Culture, Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News | 15 Comments »
A Carousel of Debate: The Preservation of Ridicule
Friday, August 7th, 2015![Dentzel carousel at Ontario Beach Park. Rochester, NY. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-ontario-beach-carousel-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Carlie Fishgold, Associate Editor at POST Magazine and Independent Scholar. Submit your story today.
For those in the Rochester community who have a hard time understanding why the Dentzel carousel painted picaninny panel disallows African-American families and children from a carefree experience at Ontario Beach Park, I encourage you consider that you are not the butt of the joke…
Tags: African-American, Carlie Fishgold, Charlotte, Charlotte Beach, Dentzel carousel, historic preservation, Landmark Society of Western New York, Monroe County, Ontario Beach Park, Ontario Beach Park carousel, picaninny, preservation, race in Rochester NY, racism, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Preservation Board, slavery
Posted in Art + Culture, Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News | 39 Comments »
Inside Rochester’s Abandoned Walters Psychiatric Building
Wednesday, July 8th, 2015![Inside the abandoned Walters psychiatric building. [IMAGE: Snoop Junkie - Rochester Urban Exploration Squad]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-state-hospital-walters-building-04.jpg)
The complex of the Rochester Psychiatric Center (a.k.a. Rochester State Hospital or Monroe County Insane Asylum) is legendary among urban explorers and history fanatics alike. Originally built in the early 1800s as the Monroe County Almshouse (or poorhouse), new buildings and facilities were gradually added to care for the mentally ill.
Although the hospital still operates to this day, a few buildings were closed in the mid-1990s and now sit in various states of decay. One notable example we’ve explored previously is the towering 16-story Terrence Building which looms over Elmwood Avenue. Another is the sprawling Walters Building (originally known as the Orleans Building) which we’ll be exploring today…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, David Paul Ritton, Dr. Charles La Moore, Dr. Eugene H. Howard, Dr. John L. VanDeMark, Elmwood Avenue, Howard Buildings, insane asylum, Joseph Goder trash incinerator, mentally ill, Monroe County Almshouse, Monroe County Insane Asylum, Mrs. Gertrude Ehinger, Mrs. Mary McClelland, Orleans Building, photography, Robert Grahan, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Rochester Psychiatric Center, Rochester State Hospital, Snoop Junkie, Snoop Junkie Rochester Urban Exploration Squad, South Avenue, Terrence Building, Terrence Tower, urban decay, urban exploration, urban explorers, Walters Building
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration | 45 Comments »
Aerial Drone Footage of Rochester Subway and Carnegie Building
Friday, July 3rd, 2015![Aerial drone footage of Rochester; the subway and Carnegie Place after fire. [IMAGE: Ander Kazmerski]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-carnegie-building-drone-video-01.jpg)
A good friend of mine, Ander Kazmerski , just posted some sweet drone footage of Rochester. The video focuses on two sites – the Rochester subway and the Carnegie building on Goodman Street just after its devastating fire. I don’t think I need to say much about it. These images speak for themselves. You’ll definitely want to go full-screen with this one…
Tags: abandoned places, abandoned subway, abandoned subway tunnel, aerial photography, Ander Kazmerski, Carnegie building, Carnegie Place, drone, drone video, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway photos, urban decay, urban exploration, urban ruins
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | No Comments »
2015 Swimsuit Edition
Thursday, June 25th, 2015![Vintage swimwear. Rochester NY. [IMAGE: Albert R. Stone]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-vintage-swimsuits.jpg)
School’s out, Sea Breeze is open, and summer is officially in full swing. But before you head out to the beaches this weekend, take note of the latest trends in swimwear. You don’t want to be caught looking silly wearing last year’s style.
For 2015, that vintage look is back, and we’ve dug up some real classics – from Rochester’s old natatoriums to the shores of Lake Ontario…
Tags: Charlotte Beach, Durand Beach, Durand Eastman Beach, Lake Ontario, natatorium, old photos, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, Ontario Beach, Ontario Beach Park, Rochester, Rochester NY, South Avenue Natatorium, swimsuits, vintage bathing suits, vintage clothing, vintage fashion, vintage swimsuits, vintage swimwear
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | No Comments »
Kodaki San, and The Girl From Kodak Town
Sunday, June 14th, 2015![The Girl From Kodak Town [IMAGE: AbeBooks.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/the-girl-from-kodak-town-01.jpg)
During the early 20th century consumer photography—and Kodak in particular—was itself an emerging market, much like wearable technology today. People were super excited about these new photographic gadgets. But Eastman Kodak Company didn’t sit back and wait for customers to come to them – they advertised, and they were creative about it.
In fact, film and cameras weren’t the only things coming out of Kodak Park. In 1917, Kodak employees produced and performed an operetta (or a short musical) entitled Kodaki San. One of the featured songs was this piano tune and ode to Rochester…
Tags: Arthur A. Penn, Eastman Kodak Company, Ella Hoffmeler, K. Parkinton Booster, Kodak, Kodak Park, Kodaki San, Lyceum Theatre, music, Nan Cleary, Rochester, Rochester music, Rochester music history, Rochester NY, Rochester songs, The Girl From Kodak Town
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History | 8 Comments »
The Glen House – Rochester’s First Water-side Retreat
Monday, April 27th, 2015![In 1870 Ellwanger & Barry (and other wealthy investors) owned a spot along the west bank of the Genesee River gorge known as Maple Grove. At the time, the Lake Avenue streetcar line stretched all the way to this point, and in an effort to stimulate traffic on the trolley line, they had built Rochester's first water-side resort; the Glen House. [PHOTO: 'Rochester's Lakeside Resorts and Amusement Parks' by Donovan Schilling]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/glen-house-rochester-ny-01.jpg)
In 1870 Ellwanger & Barry (and other wealthy investors) owned a spot along the west bank of the Genesee River gorge known as Maple Grove. At the time, the Lake Avenue streetcar line stretched all the way to this point, and in an effort to stimulate traffic on the trolley line, they had built Rochester’s first water-side resort; the Glen House…
Tags: Charlotte, City of Rochester Steamboat, Eastman Kodak, Ellwanger-Barry, Genesee River, Genesee River Gorge, Glen House, history of Rochester, Kodak Park, Lake Avenue, Lake Ontario, Lake Ontario Steamboat Company, Maple Grove, Maplewood Park, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, Ontario Beach Park, riverboat, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Seabreeze, Sylvan Stream
Posted in Architecture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 11 Comments »
Return to Sykes
Thursday, March 12th, 2015![Abandoned Sykes Datatronics building on Orchard Street. Demolition work has been going on since the fall. [PHOTO: Anonymous]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/return-to-abandoned-sykes-datatronics-building-04.jpg)
About a year and a half ago we shared some photos from inside the abandoned Sykes Datatronics building on Orchard Street (south of Lyell Ave). That building was part of a complex that was home to many different companies from 1915 until Sykes Datatronics (a computer company) left in 1992. Demolition crews have been slowly deconstructing the property since the fall…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, building collapse, City of Rochester, Delco Appliance, demolition, Lyell Avenue, Northeast Electric Company, Orchard Street, Riley Park, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Sahlen’s Stadium, Sykes Datatronics, Whitney Street
Posted in Architecture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Exploration | 8 Comments »
A Tower to Rival Eiffel’s Designed in Rochester NY?
Monday, March 9th, 2015
The Atlantic’s CityLab recently posted some late nineteenth-century designs for a Great Tower of London. The first one in the stack was a 1,355 foot sky scraping behemoth designed in Rochester USA…
Tags: architecture, Emily Morry, England, G.T. Otis, G.T. Otis and C.F. Crandall, General Elwell Stephen Otis, Great Tower in London, London, M.T. Otis, North Clinton Avenue, Otis Day, Otis Elevator Company, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Library, Scientific American, Spanish-American War, YWCA, YWCA building
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History | 8 Comments »
Neil Real Estate Co.
Wednesday, February 18th, 2015
Have you ever discovered a piece of living history in your own home? It can be a thrilling moment when something that’s been hiding under your feet (or above your head) for decades suddenly reveals itself, opening a little window onto the past.
Last week Brenda Washington sent us these photos and a note that read:
“Hello! I have a home in the Highland section of town (circa 1870) and have a really cool wooden block “for sale” sign that was found in the attic, from Neil Real Estate Co. Its a pretty cool sign… Never have seen one like it!”
We know the feeling, Brenda. And we’re happy to share your discovery. Here are the photos of the sign and an old Rochester business directory Brenda also found from 1921 showing an old advertisement for Neil Real Estate Co…
Tags: Brenda Washington, Neil Real Estate Co. Inc., real-estate, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History | 5 Comments »
Lost Time Capsule Beneath Rochester’s Lost Front Street
Friday, February 13th, 2015![Nick Brayer preparing to lay a time capsule under Front Street, Rochester. 1893. [PHOTO: Rochester Municipal Archives]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/front-street-time-capsule-rochester-ny-01.jpg)
This week’s Fun Foto Friday is a snapshot from 1893. That’s Nick Brayer, an engineering contractor working on a new sewer beneath Front Street in downtown Rochester. In his hands is a tin box. It’s not a sewer pipe. It’s actually a time capsule and he’s preparing to lay it at the project site to be buried. Looks like quite the event; a crowd of neighborhood kids have formed behind him to get in on the photo op.
Fast forward to 2015 and the burning question for readers of this blog will undoubtedly be: Where is this capsule now? And what’s inside…
Tags: Front Street, Fun Foto Friday, Nick Brayer, Rochester, Rochester NY, sewer, time capsule
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 8 Comments »
What is this Birdhouse-looking thing in Genesee Valley Park?
Friday, February 6th, 2015
A recent email from a RocSubway reader asks: “There is a building on Moore Road in Genesee Valley Park that looks like some kind of bird house, maybe a pigeon coop. It’s so close to the edge of the [University of Rochester] property that I wondered if it was theirs, rather than part of the park. Someone is taking care of it as the paint doesn’t appear to be that old. Thought its origin might be interesting. Any ideas?”
I’ve noticed this building before too, and because of those tiny holes in the upper level, I’ve always assumed it was a birdhouse. But I admit, I really am not sure. So I asked JoAnn Beck, Senior Landscape Architect with the City of Rochester…
Tags: birdhouse, dovecote, Erie Canal, Frederick Law Olmsted, Genesee Valley Park, JoAnn Beck, Maplewood Park, military blockhouse, Olmsted Brothers, park, Rochester, Rochester NY, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Posted in Architecture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | No Comments »
From the Ashes of Carnegie Place
Monday, February 2nd, 2015![Last week, Carnegie Place was largely destroyed by fire. [PHOTO: PuddleJumper Photography]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-carnegie-building-fire-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Puddlejumper Photography.
Submit your story today.
Last week, Carnegie Place was largely destroyed by fire. Its life spanned some of the most crucial and drastically changing times in Rochester’s history. I had a chance to stop by after the fire and take some photographs of a building I have always enjoyed; in a part of town that was vibrant and still is the heart of the arts movement in Rochester…
Tags: Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie building, Carnegie Place, Champion clothing, Champion Products Inc., demolition, fire, George Eastman, Goodman Street, history of Rochester, Memorial Art Gallery, Neighborhood of the Arts, NotA, Prince Street, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY, rochester photos, University Avenue, University of Rochester, University of Rochester women's college, UofR
Posted in Architecture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Exploration | 16 Comments »
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