TIMELINE
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Site used occasionally as a camp by Indians.
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The Genesee River's source is a spring in Gold PA. It originally turned
east about three miles north of Avon taking the route of today's Honeoye
Creek, going through the town of Rush. Continuing east, it cut the path
used by Irondequoit Creek, when it turns north again to exit through Irondequoit
Bay into Lake Ontario. During the last Ice Age the river had its course
blocked by glacial deposits. It now follows a straighter northern course
passing through the city of Rochester, entering into Lake Ontario at Charlotte.
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Charlotte's location at the mouth of Genesee River has made it a transportation
hub since the days of the Indians. Coming north from the Mississippi and
Susquehanna Rivers they would travel down the Genesee to the rapids in
Genesee Valley Park. To avoid the rapids and the three falls of the Genesee
they would portage along the route of Highland Ave. to Indian Landing on
Irondequoit Creek. From here they could go out through Irondequoit Bay
to Lake Ontario, and continue by water routes to the coast. This was a
very important trade route for the Indians.
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1629
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French explorer Etienne Brule was the first white man at the mouth of the
Genesee River during his journeys on the Great Lakes.
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1792
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William and Mehitabel Hincher, and their seven children move into a log
cabin that they had built the previous summer. The Hinchers were the first
permanent white settlers along the lake shore between the Genesee River
and Fort Niagara.
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1800
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The Hinchers pay $1.64 in state taxes on their 627 acres.
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1801
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Charlotte established on west side of river at Lake Ontario as a trading
center.
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1804
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Canandaigua merchants widen an Indian trail to form a ox-cart road to the
mouth of the Genesee. This was called Merchants Rd, and today's road with
that name follows the same general route. The original indian path went
around obstacles, while the current road is much more direct.
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Charlotte has one north-south street, with two homes, and a population
of 13. Half of the land is owned by William Hincher.
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1805
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Charlotte established as Port of Entry by U.S. Congress
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Samuel Latta appointed Custom's Agent for the Port of Genesee by President
Thomas Jefferson. Latta was also the local agent for Pulteney Estates,
and was selling four acre lots for $10 each.
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The settlement was named Charlotte, after Robert Troup's daughter. He was
the previous land agent for the Pulteney Estates.
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First years revenue for the Port of Genesee $22.50, expenditures were $24.30
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1808
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$100,000 in wheat, pork, and whisky pass through the Port of Genesee.
1810
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First use of the name 'Charlotte' on a deed.
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There are two version on the origin of the name. On the death of Sir William
Pulteney, his estate went to his daughter who died three years later.
Her American holdings went to her cousin Sir John Johnstone of Scotland,
and the settlement was named after his wife Charlotte. The second, and
more popular version is that the name came from the daughter of Robert
Troup, the Pulteney family's attorney, and agent for the sale of their
American property until his death in 1832..
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Jonathan Child and Benjamin Gardner, merchants from Bloomfield, open a
store, shipping produce to Montreal.
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1812
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October 12, early morning raid captures schooner from dock. There is no
resistance, but there is a report of a cannon being fired.
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1813
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June 13, One hundred fifty British land at Charlotte from six vessels,
and take 400 barrels of flour and pork. They also take a boat loaded with
1200 bushels of grain. Eighty militia arrive the next day from Penfield,
but the British were gone. Legend says the warehouse clerk was given a
receipt for the goods taken by the ever proper British officer. The fleet
sails for Sodus, and captures six hundred barrels of flour and pork.
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September 11, British fleet is becalmed off the Charlotte shore. Area residents
fearing another attack gather to fight, but a raising breeze brings the
American fleet under Commodore Chauncey. In a running fight that ends when
the British take cover in Amherst Bay, the longer range of the American
guns allow them to harass the British with out risk.
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Many settlers leave fearing both British invasion, and the swamp sickness.
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1814
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A four pound, and a eighteen pound cannon are transported from Canandaigua
by 17 oxen to help defend the port.
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May 14, Hearing of an attack on Oswego, residents prepare for an attack.
They build an earthwork called "Fort Bender" on River Road (Lake Ave.)
just above the lower falls, to prevent British crossing Deep Hollow. 13
British ships approach Charlotte and send an officer in a boat threatening
to send a force of 400 Indians unless public property is surrendered.
The 33 local militia under Col. Isaac Stone, Captain. Francis Brown &
Captain. Elisha Ely, fake a larger force by marching in and out of the
woods giving the appearance of a huge army gathering. The bluff works,
and no British are allowed to land, but several cannon shots are fired
from small gunboat. Gen. Porter arrived the next afternoon with 600 militia,
and refused a second demand for supplies. The fleet departed.
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1817
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The 'Ontario' is the first steamboat to navigate the Great Lakes, enter
the Port of Rochester.
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After William's death, Mehetable Hincher sells three and one third acres
to the U.S. Government for $400.00. Site was selected for the construction
of a lighthouse.
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1818
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Port of Rochester earns $380,000.
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1820
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An average of 15 schooners and 2 steamboats enter the Port of Rochester
each week during the busy season, totaling 316 ships during the year.
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1822
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The stone Lighthouse tower and a two room house for the keeper are built
close to the lake on a bluff above the marsh. The forty foot tower is equipped
with ten whale oil lamps. The lighthouse replaced a strong lamp placed
in the top of the U. S. Tavern on Stutson St. and two lamps placed in large
'pilot trees' growing on the Charlotte and Irondequoit shores. David Denman,
the first lighthouse keeper, dies in less than a year and is replaced by
Giles H. Holden.
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1829
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$10,000 is appropriated by Congress to improve the harbor. First a large
wedge of trees was cleared extending from Round Pond to Rock Beach. This
clearing gave ships in the lake an unobstructed view of the light. $216.20
was paid to property owners for damages.
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1834
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Two wooden piers 360 feet apart, are built into the Lake at the mouth of
the River to prevent sand bars from forming. The eastern pier extends 2,670
feet out into the lake. The piers cause the sand to be deposited along
the shore and not in the river. Increase river depth from eight feet to
twelve feet. Unfortunately, as the sandy beach grows, the distance from
the shore to the lighthouse increased. A second light is installed at the
end of the west pier.
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1842
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Steamboat passage from Charlotte to Detroit is $16
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1849
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Dirt trail is improved by plank road company.
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1851
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Phineas Cook, who used a cable and windlass to pull the ferry across the
river, operated the first ferry across the mouth of the Genesee.
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1852
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Charlotte Branch of the New York Central extends to the Lake, with a fare
of 18 cents for the trip.
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The light tower at the end of the west pier is rebuilt, and a walkway is
constructed above the pier so that the lighthouse keeper can service the
light 'even in the severest gales'.
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1853
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A Fresnel lens replaced the ten Argan whale oil lamps in the lighthouse.
The old wooden stairs are replaced by cast iron steps, and a new larger
brick house is built with a slate roof and two chimneys. The bricked up
windows on the front facade were an architectural device for visual balance.
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Charlotte Branch of the New York Central extends to the Lake.
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1855
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Record year for shipping through Port of Charlotte, $1,500,000, mostly
grain heading for the mills in Rochester.
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Grain elevator built north end of today's Stutson St. Bridge. 87 x 63 x
94 feet tall. It had machinery that could raise 3,000 bushels an hour at
a cost of one cent per bushel. It collapsed after one month, spilling 62,347
bushels of grain.
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1857
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First telegraph line from Rochester to Charlotte located at New York Central's
ticket office
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1869
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Charlotte incorporated as a village
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Blast furnace built at Charlotte to manufacture pig iron. The 16 acre facility
had 1200 feet of river frontage, and boasted a stack 22 feet in diameter,
94 feet tall. In one hour the process used 100 tons of limestone
and ore, and 25 tons of coal to produce 40 tons of pig iron.
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1872
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Mehitabel Hincher dies at age 100. On her 100th birthday, she had been
asked by a reporter what changes she had seen in Rochester since she and
her parents had moved to the mouth of the river in 1792. "Why bless you!
There was no Rochester then! There were woods and swamps, bears, deer,
rattlesnakes and Indians, but no Rochester!
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1875
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Lake Ontario Shore Railroad builds swing bridge over river at Charlotte.
Bridge could be moved by one man with a pole.
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The 'Yosemite' replaces original ferry at mouth of the Genesee River. Operated
by G. B. Manning.
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Extensive dredging allows large coal barges to use port.
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1876
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Rail track extended to form a loop around the Hotel Ontario.
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1878
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Ferry 'Yosemite' is built to cross the river.
1879
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Telephone line from Rochester reaches Summerville, crosses the river with
a switchboard at the Hotel Ontario. This was not a satisfactory situation
as the hotel closed every fall, and the spring ice flows broke the
cables.
1881
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Due to the shifting shoreline the lighthouse has 'moved' so far inland
that it is useless. Feb. 15th is it's last day of operation. A new light
is built on the west pier.
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1882
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US Army Engineers extend piers and deepen channel to sixteen feet.
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Rochester and Charlotte Turnpike Company completes an improved road that
encourages the use of the lake front for cottages.
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The four story Spencer house burns. Two thousand bushels of apples in the
basement are baked.
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1883
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Buffalo, Rochester, & Pittsburgh Railroad built, gives Rochester access
to Pennsylvania coal.
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BR&P RR builds spur to Charlotte. A large trestle for loading coal
to barges is built. Shipment of coal to Canada is soon major trade activity
from port.
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1896
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Pier is extended 500 feet further into the lake. The light tower and steam
fog signal are also moved.
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1884
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New York Central & Hudson River Railroad build boardwalk and at Ontario
Beach Park. The steam train ride from the St. Paul St. Station cost a 5¢.
Land leased to Lake Ontario Beach Improvement Co., They run attractions
consisting of: a carousel, mild roller coaster, shooting gallery, bath
house, and a camera obscura. This is a darkened room with a lens built
into a wall that projects an image of the outside onto the opposite wall.
Performers were also a major attraction for the park. The included tintype
makers, fortune tellers, high diving from ladders & balloons, and swimming
elephants.
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Hotel Ontario built on Charlotte Beach, with large pavilions, and band
shells..
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1885
July 4th crowd at park reaches 20,000
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1887
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Rochester Railway Company incorporated. Replacing horse drawn cars with
electric trolleys powered by over head lines, they provided service to
Brighton, Irondequoit, Sea Breeze, Manitou Beach and Ontario Beach Park.
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1889
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The Charlotte & Ontario Beach Electric Railway, the states second electric
trolley line extends down Broadway (Lake Ave.) from Ridge Rd. to Ontario
Beach Park. Because of legal and physical resistance from the New York
Central, the track is laid at night. The NYC & HR RR loses passengers
to trolley, so they build a fence around the park and charges 10¢
admission. Train passengers are let off inside the park, with no need to
pay entrance fee.
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Trolley line West connects Charlotte with Manitou, Grandview and Crescent
Beaches. Trolley line East connects Summerville, White City, and Sea Breeze.
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Manhattan Hotel burns. The fire is started by the explosion of a gasoline
stove. The Rialto Hotel and bathhouse are also destroyed.
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1892
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President Benjamin Harrison visits by private rail car on Memorial
Day. A festive breakfast is held at the Cottage Hotel, and then the presidential
party travels back to Rochester for the dedication of the Soldiers' and
Sailors' Monument in Washington Park.
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1893
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Rochester Iron Manufacturing Co. closes blast furnace.
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1894
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Prior to this date no one lives north of Stutson St. in winter.
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The ferry 'Yosemite' is caught by breaking spring ice, and is carried out
into the lake, and lost.
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'Windsor Ferry' begins service across the mouth of the Genesee River in
Charlotte. The 500' trip takes seven minutes, and costs 5 cents. The ferry
is 75' long by 50' wide and will carry 200 passengers and vehicles. Steam
engines on board, pull the ship across the channel using a one inch diameter
chain.
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1895
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Holy Cross School burns. Three were convicted of arson.
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1898
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July 17, A gypsy fortune teller at Ontario Beach Park tells James E. Walsh
that he would drown soon, later that day he slipped off the west pier,
and died.
1899
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Electricity lights main streets.
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1900
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Bell Telephone brings phone lines to the area, but meets with resistance
from residents, who object to the poles on their property.
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1905
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A new swing bridge for the Railroad is built.
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Ferries Ontario and Ontario II run between Charlotte and
Coburg, Canada. They carried coal in railroad cars, automobiles, and passengers.
The ferries end service in 1950.
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1914
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May 15, The Virginia Reel and a bath house burn. Firemen save the Venetian
Canal and the rest of the Ontario Beach Park.
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September 14, Bartholomay Pavilion and the Cottage Hotel burns after a
dance of the Charlotte Baseball Club. A cigarette is blamed for starting
the fire.
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1916
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Ontario Beach Park acquired by city.
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1917
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Charlotte annexed by the City of Rochester.
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1918
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Stutson St. Bridge opens
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1920
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Windsor Ferry ends service. William F. Andrews was Captain for 26 years.
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1925
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Rochester-Grandview Beach Railroad / Rochester-Manitou Railroad ends service
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1927
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Rochester Iron Manufacturing Co. blast furnace is destroyed
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1951
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B & O Railroad builds a trestle at the the foot of Boxart Street with
a device for shaking the coal from rail cars into ships for transfer to
Canada. There is an immediate uproar from the citizens as the device can
easily be heard a half mile away, and the vibrations cracks wall, and shake
objects from shelves. Adding insult to injury the shaker is used night
or day, whenever a ship docks.
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1965
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Hearing rumors that the old lighthouse is to be torn down, the editor of
the Charlotte High School newspaper, 'The Pilot' writes an editorial urging
the community to save the landmark. The community responded, and the structure
was saved. In 1974 the lighthouse was added to the National Register of
Historic Places. A second panic hit in 1981 when it was learned that a
half acre of the lighthouse parcel was to be sold to Conrail. After another
flood of letter writing and political maneuvering, the land and buildings
were leased to the village. Not entirely comfortable with this situation
work continued until Feb. 15, 1991 when title was transferred from the
Federal government to the County of Monroe..
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1974
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B & O coal trestle dismantled
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1984
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The old Lighthouse is opened as a museum.
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CHARLOTTE
POST CARDS
Old
Genesee Light House, Charlotte, NY
View
of River at Charlotte, near Yacht Club, Rochester, NY
Boats
on Genesee River at Charlotte, NY
Yachting
on the Genesee. Ontario Beach, NY, one of Rochester's beautiful suburbs,
on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Scene During Yacht
Race, Charlotte Harbor, N. Y.
Naval Reserves
out for a practice spin. Ontario Beach NY
The
Blast Furnace, Charlotte, NY
Methodist Episcopal
Church, Charlotte, N. Y.
Charlotte
Harbor, NY
Port of
Rochester, Municipal Building and Custom house, Charlotte Harbor, Rochester,
N. Y.
Aerial
View looking South, Port of Rochester, New York
Aerial
View looking North, Port of Rochester, New York
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