Quantcast RochesterSubway.com : View of Downtown Rochester from Kodak Tower
Rochester Subway
Subscribe for Email UpdatesBecome a Facebook FanFollow Us on TwitterRSS Feed Rochester History + New Ideas. Fresh from the Rochester Subway.

Topics


Rochester Subway Gift Shop


¤ Visit the Gift Shop


Modern Rochester Subway Map


Modern Rochester Subway Map

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


City of Rochester, New York


City of Rochester, New York

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


Rochester Neighborhoods Map

Rochester Neighborhoods Map

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


Rochester Subway DVD

The End of the Line - Rochester’s Subway (DVD)

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


Rochester Landmarks Poster

Rochester Landmarks Poster

¤ View Details

 | 

SOLD OUT


Work in Rochester

Work in Rochester

¤ View Details
¤ Buy from Amazon


Original Streetart by SPACEMAN

Original Streetart by SPACEMAN

¤ View All Spaceman Art


Old Rochester Photos<br>and Historical Views

Old Rochester Photos
and Historical Views

(Framed Reprints Available)

¤ View All Rochester Photos


Rochester Subway Cap

Embroidered Subway Cap

¤ View Details


Rochester Subway T-Shirt

Rochester Subway T-Shirt

¤ View Details


Rochester Subway Token T-Shirt

RTC Token T-Shirt

¤ View Details


Rochester RTC Token

RTC Token (1948)

¤ View Details

 | 

SOLD OUT


Roch. & Brighton Token

Roch. & Brighton Token
(1887-90)

¤ View Details

 | 

Add To Cart


Rochester Railway Co. Token

Rochester Railway Co. Token (1900-09)

¤ View Details

 | 

SOLD OUT


Rochester School Fare Token

School Fare Token (1948)

¤ View Details

 | 

Add To Cart


Rochester NYS Railways Token

NYS Railways Token (1909-38)

¤ View Details

 | 

Add To Cart


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (1941),
Rochester Rail Equipment

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (1938),
Subway & Broad Street

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (1942),
Rochester City Hall & Subway

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (c.1912),
Rochester’s Four Corners

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (c.1905),
Erie Canal Aqueduct

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (c.1928),
South Entrance to Subway

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway + Trolley Transit Passes

Original Subway, Trolley,
and Bus Weekly Transit Passes

¤ View All Transit Passes





Posts Tagged ‘old photos of Rochester NY’...

View of Downtown Rochester from Kodak Tower

Tuesday, November 17th, 2015

View of downtown Rochester from Kodak tower. [IMAGE: Rochester Public Library Local History Division]
By Mike Governale

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…

(more…)

Tuesday, November 17th, 2015
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 10 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]
By Mike Governale

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…

(more…)

Sunday, August 23rd, 2015
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Architecture, Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure | 18 Comments »

2015 Swimsuit Edition

Thursday, June 25th, 2015

Vintage swimwear. Rochester NY. [IMAGE: Albert R. Stone]
By Mike Governale

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…

(more…)

Thursday, June 25th, 2015
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | No 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]
By Mike Governale

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…

(more…)

Monday, April 27th, 2015
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Architecture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 10 Comments »

Canal Break!

Tuesday, December 9th, 2014

Looking north through the gap in the north wall of newly completed Barge Canal. A break occurred at Bushnell's Basin on May 19, 1911. [PHOTO: Perinton Municipal Historian collection]
By Mike Governale

On May 19, 1911, a 150 foot long break occurred in the wall of the New York State Barge Canal at Bushnell’s Basin. Construction on this section of canal had just been completed eight days earlier.

According to an article in the Monroe County Mail, it was a canal worker, John McCarthy, who at 4pm discovered water pouring through a narrow crack in the canal bank…

(more…)

Tuesday, December 9th, 2014
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure | 6 Comments »

Rochester’s Great Flood(s)

Monday, May 19th, 2014

A large crowd is gathered on Front Street to look at the flood at the other end of the street. Varlan's Hotel, Rosenberg's Pawnshop, Charles Adam's Sons Grinding, J.G. Zweigle's Sons, W.T. Bridle Furniture, William Pigeon Shoes, Hyman Davis Shoes, Genesee Provision Company, Myers Department Store, and the F.H. Loeffler Company are visible in the photo. March, 1913. [IMAGE: Albert R. Stone]
With all of the recent flooding external link in our area, RocSubway reader Michael Delaney wrote in and suggested, “a great idea for an article would be about the history of flooding in Rochester and the civil engineering that has gone into solving the issue. Beyond the dams, I’ve heard that there are huge storm sewer tunnels underneath the city. It would be very interesting to know more about it.”

Situated at the intersection of the Genesee River and Erie Canal, Rochester’s geography has blessed—or cursed—us with a long long history of great floods. Before the construction of the Mount Morris Dam (1948-1952) records indicate the City of Rochester had experienced severe flooding about every seven years between 1865 and 1950. Talk about a pesky problem.

Digging into all of the engineering marvels that have spared modern Rochesterians from most of these high waters could easily span many pages. And I promise to dedicate future posts on the subject. But for now, I want to show just how bad this problem was by highlighting just one flooding disaster that occurred in late March, 1913…

(more…)

Monday, May 19th, 2014
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 12 Comments »

Powers Building, Main & State Streets, 1968

Friday, February 28th, 2014

The Powers Building at Main & State Streets, 1968. [PHOTO: Winters, via Library of Congress]
Check out this great photo of the Powers Building from 1968. Notice the workmen up on the ledge of the Mansard roof. Down at street level a shiny new, streamlined façade as been awkwardly forced on top of this 1869 building…

(more…)

Friday, February 28th, 2014
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 8 Comments »

Historic Rochester in 3D Stereoscope

Monday, November 25th, 2013

3D Stereogram of High Falls (c.1885) [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library]
From the 1850’s to the 1930’s stereograms were considered cutting edge home entertainment technology. Two photos taken at the same time from slightly different angles would be view together using a special set of lenses called a stereoscope. The result would be an ever so subtle (yet mind-tingling) simulated 3D view…

(more…)

Monday, November 25th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 5 Comments »

What Is This Strange Water Feature?

Friday, September 27th, 2013

I have seen these concrete triangles in the river before. But I had never noticed the spring water bubbling up. What is this strange water feature? [PHOTO: Michael Krauklis]
Last week a reader, Michael Krauklis, sent me this picture and asked two perplexing questions. Michael said, “I’ve worked downtown just next to the Broad Street bridge for 11 years now, and the entire time there has been a strange feature in the river just south of the bridge external link. Upon first glance it appears to be a spring, in the middle of the river, but with further inspection one can see the carcass of an old abandoned structure surrounding it… What was the original purpose of this and where is the water is coming from?”

I have seen these strange concrete triangles in the river myself, and I know there are more than one of them. But I had never noticed the spring water bubbling up! In either case, I had no good answer for Michael. So, I started digging. Here’s what I found out…

(more…)

Friday, September 27th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration, Video | 21 Comments »

Historic Brighton Village

Monday, February 25th, 2013

Former site of historic Brighton Village. March, 2010. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]
This weekend, Wegmans closed their current East Avenue store so they could transition into their new, larger building external link. 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…

(more…)

Monday, February 25th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 18 Comments »

Meet the Babcocks: A Typical American War Worker’s Family

Sunday, January 27th, 2013

The Babcocks, an American family. Rochester, NY. March, 1943. [PHOTO: Library of Congress]
Yesterday, the archival photo blog, Shorpy external link, shared a great photo of the Babcock family from Rochester NY. The image is one of a collection of 38 photographs external link by Ralph Amdursky for the U.S. Office of War Information. The series shows how the Babcocks, a “typical American war worker’s family,” lived in 1943 during the height of WWII…

(more…)

Sunday, January 27th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 12 Comments »

West Main Street. c1908?

Friday, January 11th, 2013

View of Main Street, Rochester, NY. c.1908. [PHOTO: Detroit Publishing Co. via Library of Congress]
Here’s one heck of a photo – Rochester’s Main Street around the turn of the last century. It was snapped from a fire escape at 102 W. Main, near the corner of N. Plymouth Avenue, looking east. Make sure you click on the image and zoom all the way in for all the incredible detail. Across the street you’ll notice some pretty major landmarks. The most obvious one being Hotel Rochester on the far right…

(more…)

Friday, January 11th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 17 Comments »

Proof, Santa Is Real

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

Two little girls have a chat with Santa in front of the Duffy-Powers Department Store on the corner of W. Main and Fitzhugh Streets, Rochester, NY. Printed in Rochester Herald, December 24, 1914. [PHOTO: Albert R. Stone collection]
It’s December 24, 1914, and two fashionably dressed little girls have Santa Claus cornered at the entrance to a downtown Rochester department store. And they are absolutely spellbound. Be sure to click on this image for a closer look. If this is not the definition of the holidays I don’t know what is. I like to imagine what the girls were saying at this moment; “Hey shouldn’t you be at the North Pole making our toys?! … Can we swing from your beard? … You know, you don’t look nearly as fat in real life, Santa.”

Yes, I am forever grateful to you, Mr. Photographer, for capturing this moment in time. A moment which would have otherwise been lost somewhere in the ether, has been wrapped up and handed to us with a great big bow. Yes, Virginia, Santa is real. Oh, and if you’re wondering where exactly this conversation with Santa took place…

(more…)

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 6 Comments »

B. Forman Co.

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

A view of the the fac̨ade of the B. Forman Co. store at 46-50 Clinton Avenue South. Christmas decorations are visible. c.1930. [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library]
For the past few days we’ve been doing some holiday window shopping at the old Sibley’s and McCurdy’s department stores. “But, WAIT! What about B. Forman’s?…” you say? Well, I searched around a bit, and though I wasn’t able to find many photos of window displays from B. Forman Co., fear not… I’ve got something you might like. Newspaper ads from December 18 – December 25, 1929! Don’t say I never gave you anything…

(more…)

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 6 Comments »

Window Shopping at McCurdy & Co.

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012

The McCurdy & Norwell Company department store was located at 285-291 Main Street East, at the corner of Elm Street. The display windows are crowded with goods. The store occupied several attached buildings of various heights and styles. c.1901-1913 [PHOTO: Albert R. Stone Collection]
Do you remember window shopping at the big downtown department stores? Freezing cold holiday shoppers all pressed up against the plate glass like moths to a porch light. Dreams of sugar plums and reindeer and presents under the tree were fueled by these sparkling menageries of the latest and greatest stuff. The displays themselves were an art form; and drawing people in off the street was the ultimate goal. In all but our largest metros, scenes like these have been lost as retailers gradually moved to suburban malls. Yesterday we went window shopping at the old Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Co. department store. Today let’s browse a series of pictures (also from the Rochester Public Library) documenting some of the windows at McCurdy & Co. department store in downtown Rochester more than 70 years ago…

(more…)

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 3 Comments »

Window Shopping at Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Co.

Saturday, December 1st, 2012

An exterior view of Sibley's as seen at nighttime and decorated for Christmas. 1939. [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library]
Do you remember window shopping at the big downtown department stores? Freezing cold holiday shoppers all pressed up against the plate glass like moths to a porch light. Dreams of sugar plums and reindeer and presents under the tree were fueled by these sparkling menageries of the latest and greatest stuff. The displays themselves were an art form; and pulling people in off the street was the ultimate goal. In all but our largest metros, scenes like these have been lost as retailers gradually moved to suburban malls. This series of pictures from the Rochester Public Library documents some of the windows at Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Co. department store in downtown Rochester more than 70 years ago…

(more…)

Saturday, December 1st, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 13 Comments »

Rochester’s Rundel Library on Ghost Hunters: ‘Due Date with Death’

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Rundel Library will be featured on an episode of SyFy Channel's 'Ghost Hunters' on November 28th.
This Wednesday night, SyFy Channel will air a new episode of Ghost Hunters featuring Rochester’s Rundel Library (and possibly the subway tunnel). Sally Snow, Assistant Director at Monroe County Library, says the show approached them initially about the abandoned Rochester subway. “As scary as the subway is, the library is where the real haunting action is,” Snow said. “All I can say is that they found stuff, for sure. I can’t say what until the show airs.”

The Ghost Hunters team spent two full nights investigating the tunnels and the Rundel building. Sally says she’s never experienced paranormal activity in the library first hand, but she has seen security camera footage of a door opening and closing by itself. “This is a door that usually requires a really good tug to get it open. It’s very strange.”

Now personally, I’m not saying I believe in this stuff, but here’s the story of one mysterious death which occurred on this very spot in 1902…

(more…)

Monday, November 26th, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester News | 5 Comments »

Never Before Seen Photos of RKO Palace Theater

Sunday, October 7th, 2012

Rochester's RKO Palace Theater during demolition. 1965. [PHOTO: D.O. Schultz / Rochester Theater Organ Society]
A few weeks after we discovered the RKO Palace Theater floor at the site of RGRTA’s future transit center, Russ Shaner, president of the Rochester Theater Organ Society external link contacted me. These were the guys who saved the old Wurlitzer pipe organ from the RKO Palace before the building was demolished. And as it turns out, one of their founding members, D.O. Schultz, captured a treasure trove of photographs and left them with the Organ Society before he moved to Florida years ago. Russ asked RochesterSubway.com for help, both archiving the photos, and sharing them with you, the public. Yesterday you saw part 1, and now, here is part 2 of this awesome collection…

(more…)

Sunday, October 7th, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 16 Comments »

Earn 75,000 Bonus Points for travel with the Chase Sapphire card when you use this referral link.

  Most Popular...
  1. Inside Rochester’s Terrence Tower(views: 68.8k)
  2. Pot Holds Bowie in Rochester(views: 39.1k)
  3. University of Rochester’s Lost Swimming Pool(views: 37.6k)
  4. Inside Abandoned Medley Centre (a.k.a Irondequoit Mall)(views: 35.4k)
  5. Inside Rochester’s Abandoned Walters Psychiatric Building(views: 35k)
  6. The Old Barber House(views: 33.4k)
  7. History of Seabreeze Amusement Park(views: 30k)
  8. Deep Inside Rochester’s Big Old Sibley Building(views: 27.3k)
  9. Abandoned Glass House(views: 23.8k)
  10. Durand Eastman Park and the Lady In White(views: 22.1k)
  11. Rochester Mafia, the Banana King, and the Infamous “Barrel Murder”(views: 20.6k)
  12. Abandoned Girl Scout Camp Beech-Wood(views: 19k)
  13. Exploring the Caves of Rochester, NY(views: 18.6k)
  14. Inside the Abandoned Vacuum Oil Refinery(views: 16.8k)
  15. Inside the Abandoned Camp Haccamo, Penfield(views: 15.9k)
  16. The Best Holiday Light Displays in Rochester v1.0(views: 15k)
  17. Inside 65-67 Chestnut St. – Old Hotel Richford(views: 14.5k)
  18. Martha Matilda Harper – Innovator in Beauty and Business(views: 13.8k)
  19. Abandoned Theme Park: Frontier Town(views: 13.7k)
  20. Rochester’s Mercury Statue, Up Close and Personal(views: 12.1k)

Topics

  • Architecture (64)
  • Art + Culture (126)
  • Events (110)
  • Freebies (9)
  • Interviews (32)
  • Opinion (110)
  • Other (15)
  • Reader Submitted Stories (126)
  • Rochester Apartments (6)
  • Rochester Destinations (106)
  • Rochester Gifts (19)
  • Rochester History (203)
  • Rochester Homes for Sale (13)
  • Rochester Images (208)
  • Rochester News (378)
  • Rochester Subway (51)
  • Rochester Subway Stories (17)
  • Subways Around the Globe (11)
  • Train/Railroad Stuff (47)
  • Transit + Infrastructure (208)
  • Uncategorized (22)
  • Urban Development (261)
  • Urban Exploration (62)


  • Earn 75,000 Bonus Points for travel with the Chase Sapphire card when you use this referral link.

    Rochester Subway Information

    Get Email Updates...
    Stay up-to-date on Rochester-related stories, artifacts, and ideas that you won't find in the mainstream news. Totally free, never spammy, and you can unsubscribe at any time.


    ¤ See Past Issues
    ¤ Our Privacy Policy

    Links

    Get Involved...

    ¤ Reconnect Rochester

    Related Blogs...

    ¤ A Town Square
    ¤ Moderate Urban Champ
    ¤ Our Tiny Earth
    ¤ The Rochesterian
    ¤ RocVille
    ¤ Rust Wire

    Resources...

    ¤ RochesterDowntown.com
    ¤ Rochester's Public Library
    ¤ ROCwiki


    Earn 75,000 Bonus Points for travel with the Chase Sapphire card when you use this referral link.



    Want to Advertise
    on RocSubway?
    Drop us a line.


    Other ways to follow RochesterSubway.com...

    Subscribe for Email Updates

    Email

    Become a Facebook Fan

    Facebook

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Twitter

    RSS Feed

    RSS

    Questions + Comments

    For questions about the Rochester Subway Poster or about your order, please email [email protected].

    Want to SAVE Shipping Costs?
    Buy the Subway Posters at these local shops...

    About the Rochester Subway Poster...

    ¤ Parkleigh [ ...map it ]
    ¤ Poster Art [ ...map it ]
    ¤ Rochester Public Library Store [ ...map it ]

    ¤ Rochester Subway Poster Press Release
    ¤ Article by Otto M. Vondrak
    ¤ Design by Mike Governale

    More About The Rochester Subway

    Help Support...

    ¤ Rochester Subway (Wikipedia)
    ¤ The End of the Line - Rochester's Subway, DVD
    ¤ Abandoned Subway Photos (Opacity.us)
    ¤ Walking the Rails (YouTube Video)

    ¤ Friends of RochesterSubway.com




    RochesterSubway.com