TIMELINE
1788
-
Seneca Allen is the first white child born in what will become Rochester,
Feb. 18, 1788.
1789
-
John Lusk, his son Stephen, and a hired man, Seely Peet bring a small heard
of cattle to Indian Landing from Massachusetts by a long and very arduous
journey. They build a cabin and clear 12 acres. They abandon the site.
-
Enos Stone and others from Massachusetts settle in the Brighton area
.
1790
-
Lusk returns with his family and others to Indian Landing
1792
-
With no settlers, and no demand for mills, Indian Allen sells the100-acre
tract and mill to Benjamin Barton, Sr. Allen abandons area the for Mount
Morris, and then Canada. The property is sold several more times.
.
1805
-
East Avenue is cut four miles through the woods, from Orringh Stone's Tavern
to the river.
.
1810
-
March, Enos Stone, Jr. builds a 14x18 shanty, located between East Main
and Court Street, where he and his wife live. May 4th, James S. Stone is
born.
.
1812
-
Enos Stone and family move from shanty, and Hamlet Scrantom and his family
move in for 60 days. Henry Skinner builds him a log cabin, on present site
of Powers Building. The Scrantom family are the first permanent settlers
in the 100-acre tract. They move in on July 4th, and celebrate with a bonfire.
-
Orringh Stone builds house (Stone-Tolan house) at intersection of two trails,
one coming south from Irondequoit Bay, and the other connecting Canandaigua
to the Falls of the Genesee.
.
1813
-
Abelard Reynolds builds a two-story frame house on the site of Arcade.
The first post office was in this house.
.
1817
-
Volunteer Fire Company formed.
.
1817-1825
-
Construction of the Erie Canal. Original canal is 363 miles long, 28 '
wide, 4' deep. Traveling night and day the boats could travel 80 miles
in 24 hours. Fare with all expenses passage was 4 cents per mile.
.
1818
-
Col. Nathaniel Rochester and his family move from Dansville to Rochesterville.
.
1819
-
The Erie Canal route is surveyed through Rochester.
-
A 'Village Night Watch' is hired.
.
1822
-
First sidewalks are four feet wide, on both sides of Buffalo, Carroll,
Exchange, Hauge, and Sophia Streets. They are protested by tax payers as
an extravagant public improvement.
-
Enos Stone, Jr's shanty is moved to a 12 acre open lot near Chestnut Street.
Eventually other streets were laid out around it, until it was located
at the back of the lot at 53 Elm Street. This structure was located, and
identified in 1879. At that time it was being used for the storage of waste,
and it being used by children as a kennel for rabbits. It has since been
destroyed.
.
1827
-
A English traveler wrote: "Out of the eight thousand souls in this gigantic
young village, there was not to be found in 1827 a single grown-up person
born there, the oldest native not being then seventeen years of age."
.
1849
-
Oil lamps used to light streets.
.
1859
-
Gas street lamps introduced. City pays Rochester Gas Co. $20 per year for
each lamp, and 25 cents per month for lighting.
.
1864
-
Free mail established. There is one mail carrier for each side of the river.
.
1869
-
City Council passes resolution that street lights are to be lighted every
night, and all night. Total cost $28,000 for 551 oil lamps, 805 gas lamps.
.
1882
-
First electric street lights in the city. There are 1,588 oil lamps, 2,514
gas lamps, and 52 electric arc lights. Total cost of lighting, $93,955
-
First horse drawn fire equipment.
.
1885
-
Asphalt pavement first used on Alexander Street.
.
1887
-
Oil street lamps abolished.
.
1890
-
Cyclone causes heavy damage.
-
First brick pavement, joints are filled with pitch.
.
1898
-
State roads. First paved road not in city: Hudson Ave.
.
1900
-
The residents of Arnold Park pay one half of the cost of installing 6 electric
arc lights. Residents of Oxford Street pay for nine electric lights.
.
1902
-
First playground, at Brown's Square.
.
1912
-
First gas powered fire equipment used in city. . In less than 15 years,
the last horse drawn truck had been replaced.
-
A committee decides that residential street lights be placed 200 feet apart,
the business section from Main to Alexander at 100 feet apart, and Main
Street at 50 feet. Many areas request additional lighting above this recommendation.
The lights are provided and a local improvements ordinance assesses the
abutting property for the additional cost.
. 
RESIDENTIAL STREET
SCENES
POST
CARDS
Rochester, N. Y., Arnold
Park
Brighton St., Rochester,
NY
East Avenue, Rochester,
NY
East Avenue, Rochester,
NY
East Avenue, Rochester,
NY
East Avenue, Rochester,
NY
Lake Avenue, Rochester,
NY
Lake Ave., Rochester,
N. Y.
Lake Avenue, Rochester,
NY
Lake View Park, Rochester,
NY
North Goodman Street,
Looking North from East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Entrance to Oxford St.,
Cor. East Ave., Rochester, NY
Oxford Street from Monroe
Ave., Rochester, NY
White Magnolias, Oxford
St., Rochester, NY
Magnolias in bloom,
Oxford St., Rochester, NY
Portsmouth Terrace,
Rochester, NY
Portsmouth Terrace,
Rochester, NY
South Goodman Street,
Rochester, NY
.
