TIMELINE
245 to 2 million years ago (Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras)
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Genesee River gradually evolves through erosion of the region.
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The Genesee River starts as a spring (today on the farm of Dave Slaybaugh,
in Gold PA). About five miles north of Avon the river turns east at Rush
taking the route of Honeoye Creek, until just before Honeoye Falls, where
it turned northward again following the Irondequoit Valley where it joined
the Ontario River at a location near the center of today's
Lake Ontario.
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10,000 Years Ago
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River channel between Rush and Honeoye Falls is filled by glacial debris.
Lake Scottsville (elev. 540 feet) is formed along the present river route,
with the Pinnacle Range damming the northern exit. Water flow continued
northward through a depression in the hills at the University of Rochester,
where it joined Lake Dawson (elev. 480 feet) about a mile north of the
rapids that were created when the river crossed the Niagara Escarpment.
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Retreating ice exposes a new outlet, and Lake Dawson's level rapidly drops
45 feet, creating Lake Iroquois (elev. 435 feet). This in turn drains Lake
Scottsville, and moves the mouth of the Genesee a mile further north, to
a point just north of the Veteran's Memorial Bridge. Rapids at the Niagara
Escarpment have eroded to form a 40 foot falls, just north of today's High
Falls. Two new sets of rapids are formed between the escarpment and the
river mouth
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Ice clears the Thousand Island Outlet, and the water level drops again
forming Admiralty Lake (elev. 50 feet). The ground in this area has been
so compressed by the absolutely massive weight of ice two mile thick, that
the lake level is 200 feet lower than today's Lake Ontario. The river has
to extend it's length by seven miles to reach the new shoreline
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The two lower sets of rapids become the Middle and Lower Falls, moving
Southward in the process. The lower gorge south of Stutson Street is carved
by erosion.
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Land slowly rebounds from glacial weight. Faster to the north than to the
south, so that the elevation of the lake raises, but floods the south shore
forming many ponds and Irondequoit Bay, also flooding the lower gorge to
the lower falls.
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Genesee River drops 225', over four falls within Rochester City limits.
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Called Casconchiagon by ancient Indians
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1803
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Flood carries away 'Indian ' Allen's sawmill, the first building in the
100-acre tract.
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1829
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Friday Nov., 13 Sam Patch jumps to his death at the Upper Falls.
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1835
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Oct. 23 flood undermines foundations of structure the north end of the
Main Street Bridge, and it falls into the river.
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1857
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Feb. 8th flood washes away the Main Street Bridge, and all of the structures
built on it's north side. The stone piers were built without mortar, and
were also carried away.
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1859
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DeLeve crosses Upper Falls on a tightrope.
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1865
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Accumulation of ice in Avon, and a sudden March thaw cause the worst flood
in the city's history, 90% of the streets in
1st ward are underwater. Water is 6' deep at Four Corners. 54,000 cubic
feet of water flow into the city every second. Two streetcars are abandoned
on the Main St. Bridge; both float downstream, one goes over the falls
along with several horses. A New York Central Railroad Bridge collapses
and is also swept over the falls. Business fear future floods, and move
to higher ground. Total damage in western New York exceeds $1million. There
were great floods in the Genesee valley in the years 1785, 1817, 1818,
1835, 1841, and 1865.
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1913
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Worst flood since 1865, with 8' of water over Court St. Dam.
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City votes to control river by building retaining walls and deepening the
river bed.
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GENESEE
RIVER POST
CARDS
Rochester
Street Scene March 1865
Genesee
River, passing through the heart of the city, Rochester, NY
Lower Genesee
at Maplewood Park, Rochester, NY
The Genesee above
Lower Falls, Rochester, NY
Lower
Gorge of the Genesee, Rochester, NY
The
Genesee George below Lower Falls, Rochester, NY
Brewer's
Landing, Lower Genesee River, Rochester, NY
View on the Genesee
River, showing Brewer's Dock, Rochester, NY
Genesee River Harbor,
Rochester, NY
Yachting on the Genesee.
Ontario Beach, NY
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