![African-American dancers among the performers at Bardos' Inn in Gates, N.Y. c1930-1935 [PHOTO: Albert R. Stone Collection]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/african-american-dancers-rochester-1930s.jpg)
The Landmark Society is reaching out to the Rochester community to gather facts, events, places, and stories that have been important in the lives of ordinary African-Americans in Rochester. We need your help with this important project…
Posts Tagged ‘Rochester NY’...
The Rochester African-American Landmarks Project Needs Your Help
Monday, August 19th, 2013Tags: African-American history, African-American landmarks, Austin Seward, Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester News | 1 Comment »
The Little Free Libraries of Rochester, NY
Wednesday, August 14th, 2013![The Little Free Libraries of Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-free-library-00.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Chris Clemens.
Submit your story today.
In an effort to promote literacy and the love of reading, two businessmen out of the Mid-West have been operating a grassroots, ground up neighborhood rallying effort to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to read. Since 2009 the group has been making available little wooden stands that at first glance look like large birdhouses, but are actually little, free libraries…
Tags: Arbor Drive, books, Chestnut Hill Road, Chris Clemens, free stuff, Freebies, Hartsville Lane, library, little free libraries, little free library, Newcrest Drive, Rochester, Rochester NY, The Curious and Uncommon, Whitlock Road
Posted in Art + Culture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | 5 Comments »
ROC Low Line: A (new) Proposal for Rochester’s Abandoned Subway
Monday, August 12th, 2013![Nine RIT students collaborated to design a subterranean urban park inside the old Rochester subway called the ROC Low Line. [RENDERING: RocLowLine.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-lowline-aquaduct.jpg)
Over the years there have been many proposals for the reuse of Rochester’s abandoned subway tunnel. Some would like to see the tunnel preserved and turned into a living museum 
open to the public. Others would like to turn back the hands of time even further, converting the tunnel back into a water canal – as it was part of the Erie Canal pre-1920s.
Even today as the City continues to take steps towards the latter option, new ideas continue to surface. The most recent concept comes from RIT’s architectural program, and a very interesting student project being called the ROC Low Line…
Tags: abandoned subway, Alexandra Bush, Allison LaChance, aqueduct, Aqueduct Bridge, architecture, Bridget Carney, Broad Street Corridor Master Plan, development plans, downtown Rochester, Dr. Alex Bitterman, Jennifer Danielle Harper, Kate Krueger, Matt Burke, Priyanka Sondhi, Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester Low Line, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway tunnel, S. Adam Stoker, Sergey Selyuzhitskiy, The Lowline, underground park, urban parks & trails, urban planning
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 17 Comments »
The Walls of El Camino
Friday, August 9th, 2013![Art from the Wall Therapy project along Rochester's El Camino Trail. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/wall-therapy-el-camino-trail-rochester.jpg)
I went to a big expensive university to study art for four years. I’ve traveled to Italy and marveled at the work of the great masters. I’ve gone out of my way to tip-toe through all the fancy art museums and galleries in New York and Toronto.
Earlier in the week I rode my bike down Rochester’s El Camino Trail. I’m not sure why, but art has never taken my breath away quite like this…
Tags: art, El Camino Trail, Graffiti, mural, Rochester, Rochester NY, street art, urban parks & trails, Wall-Therapy
Posted in Art + Culture, Opinion, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 11 Comments »
Rochester’s Park System: a model for the world
Wednesday, August 7th, 2013![One of the pedestrian bridges in Genesee Valley Park. This was not originally part of Olmsted's plan. [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library, Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-valley-park-bridge.jpg)
If you’re a RocSubway reader and you love learning about Rochester as much as I do, you might want to check out 585 Magazine. It’s a pretty slick new bimonthly packed with tasty local bits on every topic imaginable. Plus, you might catch an occasional story on local places & history written by yours truly. In the current issue I attempt explore Rochester’s incredible, Olmsted-designed park system – in 800 words or less! Completely impossible, but I tried.
First, head over to 585 Mag and check out the story . Then come back here for fun extras, including Olmsted’s original plan drawings of Highland, Seneca, and Genesee Valley Parks, AND audio from my interview with JoAnn Beck, cochair of the Landmark Society’s Olmsted subcommittee…
Tags: 585 Magazine, Frederick Law Olmsted, Genesee Valley Park, Highland Park, JoAnn Beck, Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester, Rochester NY, Seneca Park, urban parks & trails
Posted in Interviews, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 7 Comments »
Hope for Pulaski Library
Monday, July 22nd, 2013![Rochester is trying to save the vacant Pulaski Library before it's too late. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-pulaski-library-01b.jpg)
Last winter the City of Rochester made a Hail Mary pass to save the historic Pulaski Library. They posted an offer to sell the vacant building for a thousand dollars to anyone with a serious plan to fix it up. I’m not sure how many proposals were submitted, but I’ve learned that Providence Housing Development Corporation has been given the green light.
[ Take a look inside Pulaski… ]
Providence Housing has worked on similar adaptive reuse projects such as Paul Wolk Commons on State Street, and the Holy Rosary Apartments on Dewey. Although Pulaski may be smaller, it could prove to be a much bigger challenge…
Tags: adaptive reuse, Designated Building of Historic Value, historic preservation, history of Rochester, Hudson Avenue, New York State Historic Preservation Office, Norton Avenue, preservation, Providence Housing Development Corporation, Pulaski Library, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester landmark, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Library, urban exploration
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes
Wednesday, July 17th, 2013
In 2013 I gave myself a photo assignment: Take 13 snapshots of 13 different subjects. Early on, someone suggested I do a series of traffic signal boxes – you know, the ones with the murals painted on them? At first I thought the idea was a little too obvious. I also thought many of the murals to be a little cliché. But soon I began to notice these things everywhere I looked. And then I felt like I couldn’t not do it.
While they may not be master works of art, these murals are definitely a unique part of our landscape. Some of them are kind of folksy; some are tongue-in-cheek; and many tell a story about the neighborhood. So, with the help of my friend Nicholas Swann , here are 13 of our favorite murals on traffic signal boxes…
Oh, and you’ll notice an extra one at the end. I’ve decided to paint one in my own neighborhood. You can tell me what you think…
Tags: 13, 13 traffic signal boxes, 13x13x13, art, mural, Nicholas Swann, public art, Rochester, Rochester NY, street art, traffic signal box mural
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Images | 17 Comments »
Filling In: 19-23 Berlin St.
Sunday, July 14th, 2013![19-23 Berlin Street [IMAGE: Google Maps]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/19-23-berlin-street-rochester.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Welcome back dear readers. Today we’re going to try something a little different at Filling In. Let’s actually walk through a lightweight proposal in response to the city’s RFP for 19 and 21-23 Berlin St (due by 4pm this Friday, 7/19). Just as a disclaimer; I do not intend to submit this proposal. Additionally, you are welcome to take it and submit it, but I am not to be held liable for any damages should you do so.
Tags: Berlin Street, City of Rochester, Filling In, Matthew Denker, Rochester, Rochester NY, vacant lot
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 9 Comments »
CityGate or ShittyGate? Seven Myths and Facts.
Sunday, July 14th, 2013![Iola Building 1 with copper wire removed and other trash. [PHOTO: Joel Helfrich]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/iola-building-1-with-copper-wire-removed-and-other-trash-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
Submit your story today.
I have been arguing about CityGate for some time, but have come to the realization that this project appears mostly a “done deal” and that it appears to have community support, which is unfortunate given the atrocious new Site Plans and Renderings.
What I hope to show in this post is that although the project appears to be moving forward and that Anthony J. Costello and Son appear to be “listening” to the community, I beg to differ. Here are some of the fallacies, as I see them and as have been reported on this blog, as well as my responses. Let us call them the “seven myths” of CityGate…
Tags: AJ Costello & Son, Iola Campus, Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Joel Helfrich, Monroe County, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 16 Comments »
Filling In: Midtown Site 6
Thursday, July 11th, 2013
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
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Wow it’s been a while! This week, Let us take a look at Rochester’s best shot at an iconic piece of post-modern architecture downtown. No, not Midtown Tower. I’m talking about Midtown Plaza’s undeveloped “site 6”. As a quick refresher, here are the current plans:
Tags: Atlas Street, development plans, downtown Rochester, Elm Street, Euclid Street, Filling In, Matthew Denker, Midtown Plaza, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 17 Comments »
New CityGate Renderings
Tuesday, July 9th, 2013
New renderings were released this week of the proposed development called CityGate. Wow, look at all the fake pedestrians. Very exciting! Here’s my full analysis…
Tags: Aj, CityGate, development, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Urban Development | 26 Comments »
Inside Rochester’s Terrence Tower
Monday, July 8th, 2013
This is probably the most intimidating building in all of Rochester. The 16-story Terrence Building was once heralded as a “tower of hope” for the mentally ill (see this blog post ). Today the vacant structure looms over Elmwood Avenue and the Rochester Psychiatric Center campus like a nightmare. The Elmwood psych center campus was originally constructed as the Rochester State Hospital. This state-run mental hospital took over responsibilities from the Monroe County Insane Asylum in 1891. The Terrence Building was opened in 1959 and housed over 1,000 beds until 1995 when the last patients were moved to newer facilities elsewhere on the campus.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s inside, you’d not be alone. One RocSubway reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) found a way into the secured building. He submitted several photos, along with this written account of his expedition. Be sure to watch the related video at the end of this post to learn more about the Terrence Building…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, Elmwood Avenue, insane asylum, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Rochester Psychiatric Center, Terrence Building, Terrence Tower, urban exploration
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration | 88 Comments »
Sand Sculpting at Charlotte Beach, 1922
Friday, June 28th, 2013
How’s this for a summertime Fun Foto Friday? This is Robert Pernell. He’s a sand artist. Or was. This photo was printed in the Rochester Herald on August 6, 1922. Robert used to entertain the crowds at Charlotte Beach with his larger-than-life creations…
Tags: Atlantic City, Charlotte, Charlotte Beach, Fun Foto Friday, history of Rochester, old photos, old photos of Rochester, Ontario Beach, Ontario Beach Park, Robert Pernell, Rochester, Rochester history, rochester images, Rochester NY, sand art, sand sculpture, World Championship of Sand Sculpting
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 2 Comments »
13 Houses of Worship
Monday, June 24th, 2013
In 2013 I gave myself a photo assignment. Pick 13 subjects, and take 13 snapshots of each. Simple. Right? I thought so. I started in February with 13 mailboxes and followed up with 13 storefronts. And that’s where I left off. Sometimes I just can’t keep up with my own crazy ideas. Luckily, my good friend Chris Clemens from The Burned Over District blog has stepped in to help me out with 13 houses of worship. The following images (in no particular order) are from all over the Rochester region. They add yet another dimension to this portrait of us…
Tags: 13 houses of worship, 13x13x13, church, First Church of Christ Scientist, First Unitarian Church (UUA), Gurdwara of Rochester (Sikhism), Islamic Center of Rochester (Islam), Megiddo Church (Christian Restorationists), Mormon Temple (Mormonism), mosque, Plymouth Spiritualist Church (Spiritualism), Protection of Our Mother Of God Russian Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox), Rochester, Rochester NY, St. Lukes and St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal Church (Episcopal), St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic), synagogue, temple, Temple B'rith Kodesh (Reformed Judasim), The Hindu Temple of Rochester (Hinduism), Two Saints Church, Wat Pa Lao Buddhadham (Buddhism)
Posted in Art + Culture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images | 10 Comments »
More Details on National Clothing Store Rehab
Wednesday, June 19th, 2013![The shuttered National Clothing building on East Main and Stone Streets will soon be seeing new life as a Hilton Garden Inn. [PHOTO: Preservation Studios]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/national-clothing-store-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Michael Puma.
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The shuttered National Clothing building on East Main and Stone Streets will soon be seeing new life as a Hilton Garden Inn. After reading the original post here I wanted to take an opportunity to expand on the history of the building and offer a more in-depth idea of what the rehabilitation entails. The $16 million project is being completed by DHD Ventures and is utilizing historic tax credits. The RBA Group of North Carolina is the project architect and Preservation Studios is providing all services relating to the historic tax credit program.
Tags: adaptive reuse, architecture, development plans, DHD Ventures LLC, downtown, downtown Rochester, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Hotel, J. Foster Warner, John Wenrich, Main Street, Michael Puma, National Clothing Store, Preservation Studios, Rochester, Rochester NY, Stone Street, The RBA Group, urban development
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester News, Urban Development | 6 Comments »
A 100 Ton Discovery at the Port of Rochester
Monday, June 17th, 2013![Did an asteroid land in the parking lot at Ontario Beach? Not quite. This 100 ton hunk of slag is a remnant from an old steel mill. [PHOTO: Fred Amato]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/slag-button-charlotte-beach-rochester-01.jpg)
David DiPonzio, a firefighter with the Lake Shore Fire District in Greece, sent me these photos (taken by friend Fred Amato) of a strange-looking crater in the middle of the parking lot at Ontario Beach Park. An asteroid? Uh, not quite. This may be the most interesting archeological find since RGRTA dug up the RKO Palace. That big rock you see in the center of the crater is actually a giant hunk of slag – left over from the iron or steel mill that once operated here…
Tags: Bethlehem Steel, blast furnace, Charlotte Beach, City of Rochester, construction, David DiPonzio, iron button, iron mill, Jim McIntosh, Lake Shore Fire District, Ontario Beach Park, Port of Rochester/Charlotte, Quinnesee Iron Mining Co., Rochester, Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E), Rochester NY, slag, steel mill
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 19 Comments »
Sense of Place: Lessons from Elsewhere
Thursday, June 13th, 2013![Monroe County Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Children's Building. To be demolished. [PHOTO: Albert R. Stone, 1911.]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/iola-tuberculosis-sanatorium-1911.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
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It is through the process of defining what we want as a town that we are becoming a real community. It is through the act of participation that we change.
This is not simply a story of not-in-my-backyard. It is the unfolding tale of how a small community … is rising to its own defense, saying, we believe we have a stake in the future of our own community, which we choose to define beyond our own boundaries of time and space and species…
Tags: Cataract Brewery, CityGate, demolition, Greece, historic preservation, Hojack Swing Bridge, Iola Campus, Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Joel Helfrich, Our Lady of Mercy, Rochester, Rochester NY, St. Ann's Community, Terry Tempest Williams, The Open Space of Democracy
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 4 Comments »
Inside the Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium
Monday, June 10th, 2013![The abandoned Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium. [PHOTO: Sarah Barnes]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/iola-tuberculosis-sanatorium-001.jpg)
The following photographs were submitted by Sarah Barnes. The historical text is taken from a Historic Resource Evaluation prepared for Monroe County in 2000 by Bero Associates.
Submit your story today.
RocSubway fans, This past Sunday morning (6/2/13), I went with a friend of mine to check out the Iola Campus site . I have lived in Rochester all my life and I have always been intrigued by those buildings (my aunt actually used to live in the apartments across the street). About 6 months ago, I started a little urban exploring group with some friends and coworkers; Iola was one of the first places of interest. With the CityGate project fast approaching, I knew I had to take the risk and visit Iola while I still could. Rather than taking a big group, just two of us went since we were not sure what the security situation would be like. The whole campus was great. A lot of the buildings had pretty easy access points, but there were a couple we could not get in to, due to time constraints (and proximity to the main road!). I hope that you all enjoy the shots! – Sarah Barnes
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, AJ Costello & Son, Brighton, Charles F. Crandall, City Gate, CityGate, Costco, development, East Henrietta Road, historic preservation, Horace T. Hatton, Iola Campus, Iola Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Monroe Community Hospital, Monroe County, preservation, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Sarah Barnes, Siegmund Firestone, urban development, urban exploration, urban explorers, Westfall Road
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration | 58 Comments »
30 Months at Midtown
Friday, June 7th, 2013![Midtown Plaza site, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Earthcam.com Archives]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-midtown-plaza-01.jpg)
The photo above was taken in January, 2011. Late last year we looked at the plans for the new public spaces at Midtown Plaza. Work on the site is now progressing quickly – and those plan drawings are becoming reality. The old Midtown buildings are gone. The new Windstream building is mostly complete. And this week, the first street curbs have been installed giving shape to the new Cortland Street. Here’s a birds-eye view of the past 30 months progress…
Tags: construction, Cortland Street, demolition, downtown Rochester, Midtown Plaza, Midtown Tower, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, rochester photos, time-lapse, Windstream
Posted in Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 3 Comments »
Bull’s Head: Reports of Its Death Have Been Somewhat Exaggerated
Sunday, June 2nd, 2013![Rumors have been swirling around the internet that the famous Bull's Head that marks the historic Bull's Head section of Rochester has been lost in a recent demolition on West Main Street. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-bullshead-stores-03.jpg)
Rumors have been swirling around the internet that the famous Bull’s Head that marks the historic Bull’s Head section of Rochester has been lost in a recent demolition on West Main Street. It is true this landmark has recently lost several important neighbors, but for now, the Bull in Bull’s Head is still with us…
Tags: Bull's Head, Bulls Head / B.E.S.T., Bullshead, Chili Avenue, Critic's Restaurant, Genesee Street, Joan Roby-Davison, John Curran, Rochester, Rochester neighborhoods, Rochester neighborhoods map, Rochester NY, West Main Street
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 18 Comments »
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