![A Sibleyd's department store window display featuring a mannequin seated at a piano, a second piano, a saxophone and an accordion. (1940). [IMAGE: Rochester Public Library]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-sibleys-window-instruments.jpg)
The Atlantic Cities 
blog recently posted a map of U.S. cities with the highest concentration of musicians per capita. It probably surprised many people to see that Rochester ranked #9, immediately behind cities like Las Vegas, Portland, and New Orleans. But Rochester has a long history of music making. Remember Cab Calloway, Chuck Mangione, Eastman School of Music, the House of Guitars… We even have our own Rockin Rochester U.S.A. surf tune. Amazing!
Archive: ‘Rochester History’...
Sample the First 100 Years of Music in Rochester
Sunday, August 12th, 2012Tags: Cab Calloway, Chuck Mangione, East Rochester, Eastman School of Music, Edgar Sherwood, Florence Newell Barbour, George Gross, Goodwill, Henry Russell, House of Guitars (HOG), Irving Berlin, Kendrick Shedd, music, Percy Grainger, R. Nathaniel Dett, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sergei Rachmaninoff
Posted in Rochester History | No Comments »
A Race Riot in Fairport?
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012
Today marks the 48th anniversary of Rochester’s 1964 “Race Riot” . While doing a little research on the 1964 riot I stumbled upon a completely different (and lesser known) incident. This one could also be called a “race riot” and it occurred 44 years earlier, on the streets of Fairport, NY.
Tags: civil rights, Deputy Clarke L. Burlingame, Deputy Sheriff George Brasser, Fairport, Fairport riot, Jack "Cutie" Kauffman, James Noey, Joseph Avenue, race in Rochester NY, riot, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester riot
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 12 Comments »
Off the Beaten Path: Rochester’s Beach Avenue
Monday, July 16th, 2012
With all of this amazing summer weather lately, I’ve taken the opportunity to enjoy some long bike rides up and down the lower Genesee River Gorge. A few nights ago I made my way all the way up to the beach at Charlotte via Lake Ave and took the bendy turn onto Beach Avenue. Not too far beyond the Ontario Beach Pavilion I noticed the sidewalk diverges from the street, making a rather abrupt turn between some very handsome looking beachside homes. So, I followed it. And I left the city of Rochester far, far behind…
Tags: architecture, Beach Avenue, Charlotte Beach, hidden sidewalk, preservation district, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, secret sidewalk
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 9 Comments »
Genesee/North American Brewery Demolition. Photos by Rick U.
Thursday, July 12th, 2012![Genesee Brewery, demolition of historic Cataract Brewhouse. [PHOTO: Rick U.- RocPx.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-brewery-demolition-00.jpg)
I received a message yesterday from a RocSubway reader named Rick U. Rick wanted to share some of his images from Genesee Brewery’s (aka North American Brewery’s) demolition of the once historic Cataract Brewhouse. By now I’ve seen just about all I can stomach of this disaster. I mean, this is how we create jobs in Rochester? Building parking lots on historic buildings? BUT, putting all that aside, this series of images is quite exceptional. And these are just a sampling from a MUCH larger album which I’ve linked to at the bottom of this gallery. Take a look…
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Cataract Street, demolition, downtown Rochester, Genesee Brewery, North American Breweries, photography, Rick U., Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 4 Comments »
Rochester, New York Jigsaw Puzzle
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
I love collecting fun little bits of Rochester history. So a few years ago I bought this Rochester jigsaw puzzle on eBay. Well somehow it slipped behind my sofa and I just recently found it again. It’s like Christmas in July!
Entirely hand drawn, this 513 piece puzzle is jammed with local landmarks, businesses, and fun historic facts. Now I realize I’m a total geek-dork, but I could stare at this thing for days picking stuff out—it’s THAT much fun…
Tags: Cinema Theater, Col. Nathaniel Rochester, Colgate Divinity School, downtown Rochester, Eastman Theater, Ebenezer 'Indian' Allan, Frederick Douglass, George Eastman, German House, High Falls, Hiram Sibley, I-490, Irondequoit, Jonathan Child, Kodak Tower, Liberty Pole, Monroe High School, Punch's Nuts, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, Sam Patch, Seneca Park Zoo, Silver Stadium, Susan B. Anthony, Toronto, WXXI
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History | 9 Comments »
Visualizing Ethnic Boundaries in Rochester
Monday, May 21st, 2012![This is a map of racial and ethnic populations (and divisions) in Rochester. It was created by Eric Fischer using 2010 Census data. Inspired by Bill Rankin's 2009 map of Chicago. [FLICKr: Eric Fischer]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-ethnicity-map.jpg)
When I saw this image of Rochester I was immediately struck. Pointillism is a style of painting in which small, distinct dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image. Think of works by masters such as Van Gogh or Georges Seurat like A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatt 
. From a distance we see one thing. Upon closer inspection we may see something entirely different…
Tags: 2010 U.S. Census, Bill Rankin, Eric Fischer, ethnic makeup of Rochester NY, ethnic makeup of the united states, Georges Seurat, pointillism, race & ethnicity map, race in Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester neighborhoods, Rochester NY, segregation
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 2 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Cataract Brewhouse
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? Over the past two weeks we’ve reviewed at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost. Those include the Flatiron Building, Station 55, Hoyt-Potter House, Lehigh Valley Railroad Station (Dinosaur Bar-B-Que), Parazin Building, Partners Building, and the Powers Building.
Tonight the Preservation Board and Planning Commission will hear public comments and decide whether or not 13 Cataract will join the ranks of the reborn, or go the way of Rochester’s Bragdon Station and others.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Cataract Brewery, Cataract Brewing Company, Cataract Street, From Eyesore to Opportunity, High Falls, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Teoronto/Smith Block
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, From Eyesore to Opportunity, High Falls, Mill Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, State Street, Teoronto/Smith Block
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | No Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Powers Building
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Eagle Hotel and Tavern, Four Corners, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Hamlet Scrantom, Main Street, Main Street Four Corners, Powers Banking House, Powers Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, State Street, Value Properties
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 6 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Partners Building
Monday, April 2nd, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Entercom Rochester, F2 Design, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Handler Grosso Durfee Associates, High Falls, James Durfee, Mill Street, Norry Management Corp., Partners + Napier, Partners and Napier, Partners Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, Wolf Group
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | No Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Parazin Building
Friday, March 30th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Ben Kendig, Browns Race, From Eyesore to Opportunity, High Falls, Mill Street, Parazin Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, Selye Fire Engine Company, Triphammer Mill, WXXI
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 1 Comment »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Lehigh Valley RR Station
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Carpe Diem nightclub, Court Street, Dinosaur Bar B Que, From Eyesore to Opportunity, John Stage, Lehigh Valley Railroad, Lehigh Valley Railroad Station, Max Farash, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 3 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Hoyt-Potter House
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Bero Architecture, Corn Hill Neighbors Association, Fitzhugh Street, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Hoyt-Potter house, Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 11 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Station 55
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Costanza Enterprises, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Railroad Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, Station 55
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 12 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Flatiron Building
Monday, March 26th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Flatiron Building, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Paul Kramer, Rochester, Rochester NY, University Avenue
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 6 Comments »
What to the Slave is the 4th of July?
Sunday, January 15th, 2012![An engraved portrait of Frederick Douglass, noted African-American abolitionist. Douglass was an active abolitionist in the Rochester area and a sought-after lecturer after the Civil War. After his home on South Avenue was destroyed by fire in 1872 he moved to Washington, D.C. [PORTRAIT BY: Ritchie, Alexander Hay, 1822-1895.]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/frederick-douglass-portrait.jpg)
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day we are hopefully reminded of the inspiring actions and many speeches by an individual who dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom and basic human rights—not just for one group, but for all people.
Of course, in Rochester we also remember other individuals who made tremendous contributions to this ongoing effort… Susan B. Anthony for women’s rights and suffrage. And Frederick Douglas (depicted above) for the abolition of slavery.
One speech in particular, given by Douglas on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, is arguably one of the most momentous oratories in American history. It’s one that helped set the stage for the transformation of America from a country that was, in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “half slave and half free” to one which was at least on its way to guaranteeing the “blessings of liberty” to all men (and eventually women)…
Tags: anti-slavery, civil rights, Corinthian Hall, Corinthian Street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Isaac and Amy Post, Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sophia Street, Susan B. Anthony, underground railroad, What to the Slave is the 4th of July?
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 4 Comments »
Cataract Brewery Architect Died 77 Years Ago Today
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
A new web site, SaveCataract.com , and a mountain of information on Rochester’s endangered Cataract Brewery building has surfaced this week… The accomplished life (and death) of its architect… Original architectural drawings… And new documents submitted by North American Breweries to the Zoning Board (see the section called Offers to Buy Cataract). Ready? Let’s dive right in…
(more…)
Tags: A.C. Wagner, American Brewing Company, Anheuser-Busch, architecture, Bavarian Brewing Company, brewery architect, Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, Genesee Brewing Company, High Falls, Highland Brewery, Joel Helfrich, Kalmback and Geisel, KPS Capital Partners, Liberty Brewing Company, Merchants Ice Company, New England Brewery, New England Fruit Company, North American Breweries, Rich Wagner, Rochester NY, Standard Brewing Company, Steigmaier Brewery
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway | 21 Comments »
1930’s Postcard Decoded
Thursday, October 20th, 2011
I’ve had this postcard in my collection for a few years now and it’s one of my favorites for a couple reasons. It’s late 1920’s (or early 30’s) and depicts the brand new (at the time) Broad Street and Rochester subway tunnel. The Rundel Library is not shown where it normally would be (to the right of Broad Street) because it hasn’t been built yet. But I also love this card because of the handwritten message on the back. It’s always been very mysterious to me — because it’s in German!
Rich Rolwing, a RochesterSubway.com reader, recently emailed me and very excitedly offered to translate the message. And so the mystery has finally been solved! Here it is, as written in 1938 from Karl (presumably visiting Rochester from Chicago)…
Dear Frank:
Thank you for your letter and also that letter from Foley. Noch immer nichts gehoert f.P. Vielleicht heute oder morgen. Lass dir dann gleich wissen. Waren gestern beim einen Park picnicen. Paul hat jetzt Vacation diese und naechste Woche. hat immer noch Halsweh. sonst alles schoen auch Beer.
Thank you for your letter and also that letter from Foley. Noch immer nichts gehoert f.P. Vielleicht heute oder morgen. Lass dir dann gleich wissen. Waren gestern beim einen Park picnicen. Paul hat jetzt Vacation diese und naechste Woche. hat immer noch Halsweh. sonst alles schoen auch Beer.
Gruss. Karl.
And the English translation…
Tags: aqueduct, Erie Canal Aqueduct, Genesee Aqueduct, old photos of Rochester, prohibition, Rich Rolwing, Rochester, Rochester history, rochester images, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, vintage postcard
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 1 Comment »
Prohibition in Rochester
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011![The Doud Saloon on Front Street in the late 1800s. [PHOTO: Local History Division, Rochester Public Library.]](http://rochestersubway.com/images/photos/doud-saloon-rochester.jpg)
A much anticipated documentary on the prohibition era will air Sunday night on WXXI. Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tell the story of “the rise, rule, and fall of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution” which outlawed alcohol and tossed everything we thought we knew about America upside down.
The following is an excerpt from a 1992 edition of Rochester History magazine, edited by Ruth Rosenberg-Naparsteck, City Historian…
Tags: American Brewing Company, Bartholomay Brewery Co., Cataract Brewing Company, Clarissa Street, Doud Saloon, Frankfort Tavern, Front Street, Genesee Brewing Company, Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, prohibition, Rochester, Rochester Brewing Company, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Ruth Rosenberg-Naparsteck, speakeasy, Standard Brewing Company, temperance movement, Wehle Baking Company
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 1 Comment »
Today, August 25, in Rochester History: Railroad Disaster Claims 29; Injures 62
Thursday, August 25th, 2011![Scene of terrible disaster on Lehigh Valley Railroad near Rochester N.Y. on August 25, 1911. [PHOTO: A. Newman, Copyright 1911]](http://rochestersubway.com/images/photos/lehigh-valley-railroad-wreck-1.jpg)
One of the deadliest accidents* in our area’s history took place exactly 100 years ago today. 29 people were killed and 62 injured when a Lehigh Valley Railroad train derailed about 20 miles east of Rochester. According to investigators at the time, it was a defective rail on a 400 foot bridge in Manchester, NY that shattered into seventeen pieces and sent at least 3 of the cars into Canandaigua Outlet. Newspaper reports described the scene as a “twisted and splintered mass of wreckage.”
Tags: history of Rochester, Lehigh Valley Railroad, Manchester NY, old photos, old photos of Rochester, rail, rail crash, railroad, Rochester disaster, Rochester history, rochester images, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Shortsville NY, this date in Rochester history
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff | 21 Comments »
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