USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Early history of Rochester. 1810 to 1827, with comparisons of its growth and progress to 1860 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
This bridge was of the utmost importance to the rising village situated on the eastern bank of the Genesee river, within a short distance of the celebrated Ridge Road, the two points of which, broken by the river, might be said to be connect. ed by it.
The scenery around this place is picturesque and sublime, being within view of three water- falls ot the Genesee, one of which has 105 feet per- pendicular descent.
The manufacturing privileges at this point are very extensive and eligible, on both sides of the river. At present, they are only occupied by a flouring-mill, an oil-mill, and two saw-mills; but the time is not far distant, when extensive estab- lishments will be erectea, and a flourishing village built on each bank of the river.
Immediately after the destruction of the arch bridge, another bridge was built upon piers, about a hundred rods south of the site of the former, and upon a lower level, which makes a safe and easy communication from the west side of the river to Strong & Co's flouring mill, and the vil- lage of Carthage.
Another flouring-mill, to contain four run of stones, is now building, and preparations for other manufactories are in progress.
THE HARBOUR AND PORT OF GENESEE
Is situated at the mouth of Genesee river, about seven miles north from the village of Rochester. Within the bar are twenty feet of water. There is a light house on the west bank of the river, built by the United States in 1824. A port of en- try was established in 1805, and Samuel Latta was appointed the first collector.
Jesse Hawley, the present collector, resides in the village of Rochester.
G. H. Holden, deputy collector and surveyor of port, resides at Charlotte, a small village near the mouth of the river, which was first settled about the year 1810.
There is a post-office in the place.
MONROE HIGH SCHOOL,
In Henrietta, about seven miles south from Roch- ester, is a brick edifice, 50 by 60 feet, and three stories high, exclusive of the basement, which is 712 feet high, built of stone. The first story con- tains, on the left of the Hall, a school-room 50 feet long by 24 wide, and eleven feet high, and on the right of the hall, another room, 40 by 24. On the second floor is the principal school-room, 60 feet long, 40 wide, and 16 feet high, lighted by eleven windows, eight feet in length. Adjoining this is a small retiring room. The third story is nine feet high, and contains spacious rooms for a li- brary, and the trustees, and a number of smaller rooms for studies.
At each corner of the balustrade, is an urn, five feet in height and two in diameter ; and the build- ing is surmounted by an octagon cupola, twelve feet in diameter, around which is a platform, whence there is a fine view of the surrounding country.
17
The expense of erecting and completing the building was about $5,000, four-fifths of which sum was subscribed by the farmers of Henrietta, and the remainder by a few individuals in Rochester.
This is the first academy incorporated under the act of 1821. The trustees are-
Levi Ward, Jr.,
Ezra Howard, Martin Roberts,
Giles Boulton,
Jacob Gould,
Ozias S. Church,
Elijah Little,
Luther C.Chamberlin,
Elisha Gage,
Thomas Jones,
Abijah Gould, Charles Dannals.
D. B. Crane, Principal.
Mr. Gazlay, First Assistant.
CONCLUSION.
Having reviewed the progress already made in this village and vicinity, it may not be improper to conclude, by noticing some improvements to which its present circumstances loudly demand the attention of its citizens, as also some of the uuoccu- pied fields of profitable investment and productive industry which are still presented ; and undoubt- edly the object that here presents itself as first, both in necessity and importance, is the
CAUSE OF EDUCATION.
There is yet no institution of learning enjoying a publick and organized patronage. There is no edifice built for science-no retreat for the muses -no academick grove yet planted. The occupa- tions of the citizens hitherto in their secular affairs, accounts for this; but this rather increases than diminishes its necessity. In proportion to the en- terprise and bustle, and success in matters of mere physical wealth, which is daily presented to the observation of our youth, should be the effort to counteract the sordid principles which this alone must impress, and to enrich the mind of the rising race with the softening and elevating influence of education ; without which, riches will fail to make them respectable or happy.
The age in which we live is teeming with im- provements in education, as well as in other things. Our minds are no longer chained down to a few formal precedents, any or all of which might be inapplicable to our circumstances-we may now create the very thing we need; at least we may lay its foundation a: a comparatively cheap rate. Only let a competent space of land be secured, and sacredly devoted to the cause of general edu- cation. Let the plan be liberal-as wide as the prospective wants of our population; and let buildings, in conformity with the plan, be erected as required.
If Greek and Roman literature be still indispen- sable to an enlarged mind and cultivated taste, let a provision for its thorough acquirement not be overlooked. If mathematical learning has become the handmaid of every useful art, as well as the very marshal of our reasoning powers, let its culti- vation not be forgotten. If a manufacturing popu- lation, as ours must necessarily be, may be raised from the drudgery of the day that makes man a machine, and from the vices of the evening relax- ation, which make him a beast, to the dignity of a mind that converses with God in the study of his physical laws, and that benefits society by his in- ventive ingenuity, while he reaps innocent enjoy- ment to himself; if this may be done by popular lectures on the arts and sciences-by philosophical experiments-by a cabinet-by a botanick garden commensurate with our means, why should not this be embraced in our plan ? And if monitorial instruction, or any other improvements, may as-
sist in extending the benefits of elementary in- struction to the whole of our children, rich and poor, let this not be overlooked. At all events, let the education of our youth be understood, as it is, an indispensable object, without which, our other labours are comparatively useless. Let it be understood that much time has already been lost, and cannot be redeemed ; and that immediate exertion is demanded, to sustain the interest, rep- utation and well-being of our community.
THE PAVING AND LIGHTING OF THE VILLAGE, Is also an object which, though not wholly over- looked, demands more prompt and efficient meas- ures than have yet been taken. These seem heavy burdens to the citizens at present, but a little re- flection on the past, will clearly demonstrate that the necessary means are not unprofitably ex- pended.
As to unoccupied resources for enterprising citizens, even a superficial observer can be at no loss to discover many. The river yet affords a multitude of mill sites, where labour-saving ma- chinery of every description may be erected; the surrounding country presents a large and rapidly increasing demand for all the productions of art and industry ; and the canal affords the means of cheap transportation to all the Atlantick cities. and, westward, through thelakes, to a distance of 3000 miles ! An extensive establishment for work- ing the iron ores of the neighbourhood, would be an advantage both to the publick and the proprie- tor. A glass manufactory could hardly fail to do well; and the fluate of lime in the vicinity, might be employed to good purpose in ornamenting the glass ware now imported.
The encouragements for the woollen manu- facture. (especially if the pending tariff law should be carried in its favour,) may be considered as al- most unlimited.
There is yet no brass-founding establishment in the place, though the demand is already considera- ble, and fast increasing.
There are also connected with the agricultural industry of the neighbourhood, many profitable objects presenting themselves.
The supply of the village with the productions of the garden and dairy, is not yet equal to the demand, and we will still import from abroad, at a high price, many articles for which our climate and soil is equal to any other under the sun. It is a singular circumstance, (for instance,) that we should here give two pounds of pepper, the growth of the Indian isles, for one of mustard, a plant as easily cultivated and floured here as wheat, of which we export so many thousand barrels.
There is perhaps no region in which the hop flourishes more luxuriantly, or with so little care, as here. A multitude of other articles might be mentioned, but these are sufficient to excite in- quiry in our intelligent farmers.
To conclude :- We have seen our village, from & log hut or two, in the deep and lonely forest, rise like the work of magick, in a few years, to the form of a busy and populous city. We have seen the forest yielding to the fruitful field, and the fruitful field to streets crowded with commerce, and wharves covered with the merchandise of every nation. From a few adventurous settlers, braving the hardships and dangers of an untried wilderness, we now see a multitude of people en- joying all the necessaries and luxuries of life. The past is instructive, the future deeply interesting. Industry and enterprize, crowned by the blessing of a bountiful Providence, have effected what we see. What future achievements may not be ac-
.
3
18
complished by the same means ? But a new element here enters into our calculations. It was the yielding forest and the passive earth that have been hitherto regulated and subdned; our future prosperity depends on the tractability of a mass of mind, a host of mingling opinions, passions, vir- tues and vices, thrown together from every quar- ter of the globe. Shall it rise through years to come in moral and social order and beauty? Let each citizen answer for himself; each will have his share of agency in the event; but let it be re- membered, that a new instrumentality must be at work. The means that have transformed the for- est, will not act upon the mind. Education must be cherished; religion must be revered; luxury and vice must be adjured; our magistracy must feel the true interests of the citizens, and must be supported in their efforts to promote every virtu- ous, and to suppress every corrupting influence. So doing, we are permitted to anticipate prosper-
ity. The Providence that has blessed the early, will equally smile npon the latter exertions. We may be wise and honourable, good and great, if we labour for it by the appropriate means, and with a corresponding ardour. And the time has come, when, if we put forth no other energies than those which merely tend to property and wealth, they will only tend to demolish the fabrick they have reared, and render our successors a monument of the vanity and folly of human expectations. But we look for better things. We reckon on a com- munity enhghtened enough to know the value of its blessings, and the way by which they must be secured. We look forward to this place at some distant day, as a flourishing city ; flourishing not merely in wealth and power, but in knowledge and virtue, an honour and blessing to sister cities around, and the home of a great people, enligtt- ened and happy.
The following remarks by GEORGE G. COOPER, local editor of the Daily Union and Advertiser, to whom is indebted the credit of having sought out and republished the above sketches are so appropriate, and contain so much that pertains to the pres- ent day, we publish them entire as part and parcel of this book :
Rochester in 1827 and 1860.
The Sketches of Monroe County and Rochester up to 1827, taken from the first Directory, were con- cluded in our paper yesterday, having occupied eleven columns of solid matter. When the publi- cation was commenced, we confess that we were hardly aware how interesting these incidents would be to very many of our people. Though they are no more than brief memoranda of events in the progress of Rochester, from a savage wil- derness to a garden-an important centre of civi- lization and trade-yet as such they have been eagerly read, we are assured, by thousands. Old citizens, who have witnessed the progress of events here noticed, almost from the outset, as well as those who know nothing of Rochester till since it became a city, are alike interested in these memoranda and they will preserve them for future reference. No one can peruse them with other than feelings of pride as he now looks upon our county and city, and contemplates how much has been accomplished by the industry of our people in half a century. The industry of the people of Monroe County has been bestowed upon a tract of country highly favored by Providence for devel- opment, and this is a fact not to be overlooked. . The wealth of our locality lies chiefly in its soil. The water power of the city has done much to in- crease her trade and attract hither men of indus- try and capital, but that water power would have been of comparatively little value but for the soil which furnished the staple products to sus- tain life and employ capital in commerce and trade. The soil, the water power, the canal and
the lake have combined to attract labor and capi- tal to this city and to make both productive. The Railroads have been incidentally beneficial, but Rochester has endowed these corporations with a liberal trade, and they cannot materially injure her without great prejudice to their own interests. These are facts which every Rochester man should keep in view in contemplating the past and pre- dicting for the future. The growth of our place has been quite uniform-always healthy, and it has been as little affected by financial revulsions and the fluctuations of trade as any city in the Union. But we are diverging from our purpose, which was to briefly note some of the changes which have taken place since the first Directory of Rochester was published, in 1827, and the notes are only such as are suggested by reading these sketches. They, perhaps, should have been made from day to day as the matter was published.
The location of the city-the population we mean-has gradually spread from the points re- ferred to in these statistics to nearly the extreme limits of the corporation. The city was chartered in 1834 with a population of 12,252, and since that time its territorial timits have been somewhat in- creased-chiefly at the north along the River so as to include the head of Lake navigation on the Genesee. From east to west the city is pretty compactly built up to the lines for a mile or more from the River each way. From north to sonth, which is between four and five miles, the popula- tion has not extended so thickly, and at the ex- tremes it has not the density of a village .- Property in the Mill Lot of 100 acres, given by
19
Phelps to Indian Allen to induce him to erect a grist mill in 1789-which he deserted, and which Rochester, Fitzhugh and Carroll purchased for a small sum and laid it out into lots in 1812, is now the most valuable in Rochester, and lots 100 by 20 feet, have sold at $20,000. The assess- ed valuation of the hundred acres is now several millions of dollars, and the real valuation treble that at which it is assessed. The eighty acres purchased by Elisha Johnson from the farm of Enos Stone in 1817 is now the most valuable property on the east side of the River, and its value can only be estimated by millions. James Stone, referred to as the first child born in Roch- ester, was born in the only house on the East Side of the River-and that built of logs. He is now fifty years old-a worthy and industrious farmer in the neighboring town of Greece.
The Frankfort tract has been well settled for many vears, and it may be said to be entirely built over. It lies north of the Central Railroad, and between the River and Erie Canal. The Messrs. Brown and Mr. Mumford, who laid out that tract, have passed away, but they have sons yet living among us, in the prime of life and use- fulness.
The Andrews and Atwater Tract, in the north- eastern section of the city, was slower in develop- ment, but within a few years past it has increased in population as rapidly as any other. The sons of Mr. Andrews still reside in that tract aud are well known citizens.
The bridges of Rochester need a passing notice. What was called the Middle Bridge in 1827 stood where Main Street Bridge now stands. It has beeu rebuilt two or three times, and the last time in 1856-7 of cut stone at a cost of over $60,000. The first bridge at that place was completed in 1812 at a cost of $12,000, paid by the counties of Outario and Genesee, which then covered the ter- ritory. In 1819 the second bridge was constructed by Andrews, Atwater & Mumford, about midway between the Falls and where Andrews Street Bridge now stands. It was a toll bridge and stood but a few years. In 1826, a bridge was built by subscription at Court street. In 1819, the high bridge at Carthage, the wonder of the times, was built, and fell in just one year. It stood on the site of the Suspension Bridge constructed by the city in 1856, at a cost of $25,000, which shared the fate of its predecessor in less than one year from the time it was commenced. Two bridges were subsequently built across the River, near the Lower Falls, and one stood as late as 1835, since which time there has been no bridge in the north part of the city, other than as we have stated.
Andrews Street Bridge was first erected, we be- lieve, about 1836, and was rebuilt of iron, at a cost of $12,000 in 1857. Clarissa Street Bridge,
in the south part of the city, was erected in 1841-2, and is now an inferior structure. Court Street Bridge (of iron) was completed in 1858, and cost about $12,000, we believe.
The first post office was opened in 1812, and the quarter's revenue was $3,42. The current quar- terly receipts are now about $5,000.
The mill races are now as they were first laid out, except that they have been enlarged and im- proved, and upon them are situated many large and beautiful mills, capable of making more flour in a day than the mills of any other single town in the world. The Red Mill, built by the Ely's and Josiah Bissell in 1815, is still standing on Aqueduct street. The Strong Mill, built at Car- thage in 1818, was burned five or six years since. The mill built by Mr. Cleveland in 1819 is now standing, and is known as the "Genesee Falls Mill." In 1822, Hervey Ely built a part of his mill, still standing near the Aqueduct. The Whit- ney Mill, built in 1826, is still standing at the foot of Brown's Race.
In 1815 Abelard Reynolds, who still lives, open- ed the first tavern in Rochester on the west side of the river. As the original boniface he may be proud to know that nearly two hundred landlords have taken license to keep tavern in 1860.
In 1815 the first census was taken, and the pop- ulation was 331. The last census is now being taken and will show a population of about 47,000.
In 1815 the first religious society was organized of 16 members. 14 were alive in 1827, but how many are still living we cannot say. It was a Presbyterian Society, and Rev. Comfort Williams was the pastor. His son Chas. H. Williams still resides here an active business man. The first house for public worship was a wooden building on State street, (then called Carroll street) in 1817. It was built by the Presbyterians, was sold to the 1st Baptist Society about 1824, and occupied by the latter until 1837, when it was removed to the rear of the lot it occupied opposite Mumford street, and subsequently was destroyed by fire while used as a carriage factory. The second re- ligious edifice was built in 1820 by St. Luke's So- ciety on the lot where the stone church now stands. The latter was erected in 1824. The Quakers built the third house for worship in 1822, on Fitzhugh street, where they have a meeting house now. The same year the Methodists built the Brick Chapel on St. Paul street, which they sold to the Catholics and which is now used as & livery stable. The Methodist Society own St. John's Church and the Catholics St. Mary's, both good buildings. The latter will be a splendid edi- fice when completed. In 1823 the fifth house of worship was erected by the Roman Catholics, on Platt street-St. Patrick's Church-and it now stands.
20
In 1824 the present First Church edifice was erected, and there it stands, improved from time to time to keep it from going to decay.
In 1826 the Methodists began to build their chapel on the corner of Buffalo and Fitzhugh streets, which was burned once, rebuilt, and has recently given place to a block of stores. These were all the churches of Rochester prior to 1827. The Second and Third Presbyterian Societies were organized about that time, and worshipped in halls.
The praise bestowed upon the church edifices of Rochester by the author of the sketches of 1827 has been read, and it was all deserved at the time it was written. He says it was in contemplation to build, the ensuing season, two large and beauti- ful stone edifices for the Second and Third Pres- byterian Societies. They were built, have been worn out, and given place to something more costly, and more in keeping with the spirit of the age which controls religious as well as civil bodies. The Second Presbyterian Society erected their church in 1829, and in 1860 tore it down, and are now building a temple to cost forty or fifty thou- sand dollars. The Third Society also constructed their church at the corner of Main and Clinton streets, became embarrassed and were compelled to sell out to the Second Baptist Society, who oc- cupied the building until last fall, when it was de- stroyed by fire. The lot has been sold for stores, and the Baptists are building a beautiful stone edifice on North street. The Third Church hung for a while between life and death, then rallied and erected a church edifice on Main street, which was burned in the summer of 1858, and they have now just completed a fine stone church on Temple St., and a chapel beside, and both are paid for. There are now about forty churches in the city, some of which are very costly and elegant. The writer of 1827 could now see, if living, that far more has been done in this department of public improvement than he called for to make Roches- ter what he expected her to become.
In educational facilities the city has made as much progress as any other. In 1827, we are told, there were no institutions of learning en- joying a public and organized patronage. We have now an excellent Unniversity, half a dozen or more excellent acadamies, a number of semin- aries and private schools, and a system of public schools which cost the people over $60,000 per year to sustain, to say nothing of the interest in capital invested in school property, worth perhaps $150,000. There are 18 public schools, and most of them are in large and beautiful edifices, some of which cost above $10,000.
Our benevolent associations exhibit as great progress and increase as do any other in thirty years. They are "too numerous to mention,"
and they cost many thousands annually to sustain them efficiently. Our Hospitals, Asylums, Charity Schools, and organizations for dispensing relief to the suffering, are in keeping with the progress of our city.
The Press of Rochester has kept pace with other departments of business. In 1827 there was one monthly, one semi-weekly, four weekly, one semi-weekly, and one daily newspaper .- Of all these but one survives under the ori- ginal name, and that is the Daily Advertiser, the other half of our Union. The Monroe Republi- can and Rochester Mercury, weeklies, were merg- ed, and called the Rochester Republican, the weekly now issued from this office. There are now published in Rochester two or three month- lys, five weeklies, one tri-weekly, one semi-weekly and three daily papers. The aggregate circula- tion of these papers is greater than the papers of any city in the State, excepting of course, New York. One weekly, Moore's Rural New Yorker, has a circulation of about fifty thousand copies. The Daily Union and Advertiser issue is between four and five thousand copies per day. Assuming that what cotemporaries claim is correct, and the Daily issues of Rochester are above ten thousand copies per day.
There was but one Bank here in 1827, with a capital of $250,000. There are now 11 Banks with an aggregate capital of nearly three millions.
As to the occupation of the inhabitants-the trades and professions we can give no comparative statistics, to show the increase. The physicians must number about 100, the lawyers nearly double that number, and the clergymen about sixty.
The Old Acqueduct, to which a chapter is de- voted, and which was regarded as a wonderful piece of work in 1827, passed away years ago, and only a single arch is left as a monument to the granduer of the enterprise. It cost $83,000. The new Aqueduct, built about fifteen years ago, cost upwards of $600,000. It is safe to predict for it a continuance for many generations.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.