East Avenue / Park Avenue Timeline

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~ ROCHESTER'S HISTORY ~
AN ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE

EAST AVENUE/PARK AVENUE AREA

MAP OF THE EAST/PARK AVENUE AREA 1971

TIMELINE

1800

1825

1850

1875

1900

1925

1950

1975

EAST AVENUE SWAMP William Schuyler Moses, 1895 interview

OLD EAST AVENUE DAYS George H. Humphrey, 1891

THE OLD UNION TAVERN AND RACE COURSE Edward R. Forman

A WALKING TOUR, 1978, League of Women Voters

TIMELINE

1300's

An early Indian trail traced the original route of East Avenue. About midway between Clover and Winton Streets the main portage on the secret Indian route connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River forks. The right-hand trail follows the route of today's East Avenue heading for the High Falls of the Genesee. Just before reaching the falls the trail crossed another path at today's intersection of Franklin and St. Paul St. This North-South route connected the southern end of the Mississippi portage with the mouth of the Genesee.

1801

New York divides each county into towns. Ontario has 19 towns. Bloomfield, Hartfield, Northfield, and Northampton are in today's Monroe County. Northfield would eventually split to become Brighton, Henrietta, Irondequoit, Penfield, Perinton, Pittsford, Webster, and the city east of the river.

1805

Oliver Culver's house was built as a tavern (actual construction was in stages from 1805 to 1818) and is considered to be the 'best example of Post Colonial architecture in the Genesee Valley', with the entrance said to be one of the most successful designs in the American Colonies. House is located in triangle formed by intersection of East Avenue and Old Blossom Road.

1808

District of Northfield changes name to Boyle.

1811

Surveyors from the Town of Boyle lay out East Avenue. They cut through four miles of forest from Orighn Stone's House (the Stone-Tolan House, 2370 East Avenue) towards the river. Col. Rochester arrives complaining that road is being cut towards the High Falls, and not the lower falls upstream (where his property lies) as was the plan. The road was turned westward, to intersect the river at the Main Street Bridge, then under construction, and continued to it's western end at Bull's Head. Originally named the "Road to Pittsford"

1812

Gideon Cobb clears forest for North and Monroe Streets. This takes him four years.

1813

Boyle changes name to Smallwood

1814

Smallwood splits to become Brighton (named for the town in England) and Pittsford.

1815

"Road to Pittsford" officially renamed Main Street.

1822

Oliver Culver of Brighton, builds the first packet boat built in this area. It is the fourth on the Erie Canal

1823

Monroe Ave. Lock is in operation from 1823 to 1919 when the canal is re-routed around city.

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1830

James Vick starts his nursery business.
Culver Road is laid out.
George Goodman builds his farm house, on what will be the corner of East Avenue and Goodman Street.
Josiah W. Bissell returns to Rochester, and moves into his parents house on Main Street. He buys adjacent property on both sides of the road, and starts a nursery.

1834

City of Rochester incorporated, Goodman Street is the eastern border. The Town of Brighton lies beyond.

1835

City macadams Main Street to city line at Goodman Street.

1838-1841

Woodside built for Silas O. Smith.

1839

The Third Presbyterian Church was designed by Orlando K. Foote
William Pitkin, merchant and druggist, moves into his East Avenue Mansion.

1840

Genesee Valley Club organized on East Ave.
Nehemiah Osburn, carpenter, builds his home at the bend in Main Street. This Greek Revival house stood until 1893. Today is the site of Security Trust Building) Osburn later built the Osburn Hotel at Main and St. Paul.

1841

Woodside built for Silas O. Smith. The Four Corners merchant built his mansion across the street from the Pitkin House. Smith built in the country, rather than the the old Third Ward (Cornhill) to be near his wife's (Seba Hand Ward) relatives on Grove Street. The house was built by master builder Alfred M. Badger.

1842

Aaron Erickson, a wool merchant builds his Greek Revival Mansion adjacent to the Smith property. It is believed that Nehemiah Osburn built both the Pitkin and Erickson Mansions.

1845

Josiah W. Bissell builds his brownstone mansion at 666 East Avenue. As contractor in charge of building the new Canal Aqueduct, he was also responsible for demolishing the original Aqueduct. He reused the stone from that in the construction of his mansion. In keeping with the Victorian style of the house he planted many trees on the property.
First Liberty Pole erected by "eastside boys"

1846

"Eastside boys" and property owners organize Brighton Plank Road Company to improve the road from the city limits (Goodman Street) to Brighton Center. They lay planks crossways, with a double layer in marshy areas. Cost is $16,000. Tollgate is located at intersection with Culver Road.
Josiah Bissell names East Avenue. He nails signs to trees renaming old Main Street from the Liberty Pole to Pittsford. The name change becomes official when Main Street is extended from the Liberty Pole to Goodman Street. He also made it the most beautiful entry to the city by planting of a double row of horse chestnut trees from his mansion to the Liberty Pole.

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1849

William Pitkin's (City Mayor from 1845 to 1847) second wife, Louisa Rochester,(the city's founders youngest daughter) not liking the rural life, forces a move back to the old Third Ward.

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1851

Congressman Azariah Boody buys the Pitkin House.

1852

Park Avenue laid out.
Meigs and Goodman Streets have a few scattered homes, most of the area remained farmland.
Mr. E. L. Thomas of 159 Alexander St. opens his large ice-house. At this time ice was considered a luxury, and Mr. Thomas was told that his business would fail. Crowds came to watch his 'ice plow' harvest one to two tons of ice a day. Within 30 years the 230,000 tons of ice used in the city annually was about equally divided between the breweries and the rest of the population of the city. Area east of Monroe Avenue, and north of the canal is used for ice ponds.
East Avenue Shade Tree Association plants elm trees on both sides of the Avenue from the Liberty Pole to Culver's place to replace the ailing horse chestnuts. The trees are fenced in, and hitching posts provided at each house to prevent damage by horses. A man is hired to care for the trees and to take action against anyone who allows their cattle to run at large on the street.
Union Tavern built for J. W. Opp. Location is on south side of East Avenue at Vick Park B.
P. J. Browne publishes map of the area.

1853

23 acre campus for the University of Rochester is donated from the Azariah Boody Estate.

1854

Josia Bissell's widow donates his house at the NW corner of East and Alexander to the Home for the Friendless.
Christ Episcopal Church built near William Street (Broadway).

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1855

Joseph Hall builds nurseries on East Ave.
Daniel Powers buys the Pitkin House from Azariah Boody.
John Bush (a dealer in lumber products) builds his house near Opp's Tavern.
Col. Thomas Bates, a canal forwarder, and railroad contractor builds his house.
Christ Church builds on East Avenue.

1856

Joseph Hall, a manufacturer of thrashing machines, buys the Bush house for $9,000.
Hall, a noted horseman, constructs Union Park, a private harness racing track. Hall owns the famous horse St. Lawrence.

1857

East Avenue Collegiate Institute, 1857 - 1861 is locateded at the northwest corner of East and Stillson Street

1859

James Vick has an idea to expand his nursery business, and sells his garden seeds by mail.
Residents organize to prevent the construction of The Rochester and Brighton Street Railway on East Avenue. The railway eventually runs it's tracks from Main to Alexander to Monroe, then to Clinton and back to Main Street.
East Avenue Omnibus runs eight round trips daily between Brighton Center and the Reynolds Arcade

1860

Medina stone curbing installed and gutters were paved with cobblestones to the city line. A flagstone sidewalk was also installed at the property owners expense.

1861

First building on the new University of Rochester campus opens.
First Liberty Pole falls, second pole erected at same site.

1863

In winter, East Avenue is closed from Alexander St. to Culver Rd. and plowed for two lanes of straight-away racing.

1865

Rochester & Brighton Railway offers horse car line on Monroe Avenue to the city limits at Goodman Street. The line was extended to the canal in 1889.
James Vick purchased the Union Park property from Joseph Hall in 1866. Along with the track the purchase included Hall's nurseries. Vick was very sucessfull with his seed farm, but eventually he broke the property into small parcels and sold it for housing. Vick Park A and B were the north-south legs of the track, and the curved section of Park Avenue that connects them (originally Crescent Street) is the southern end of the old race track.
With the closing of the Union Park Race Track, local horsemen begin using East Avenue as their new track. In the winter the sport is even more popular, and continues with sleighs replacing the wheeled rigs.
Rochester Theological Seminary moves to Alexander Street, just south of East Avenue.

1867

Charles Bissel, brother of Josiah Bissell (who moved to Mississippi, where he built the first bridge to cross the river in the 1870's) dies. His widow sells the house to Charles E. Upton, a banker, who lays out Upton Place across the rear of the property.

1868

Hiram Sibley, President of Western Union, and the city's wealthiest resident, builds his mansion across from the Erickson mansion.
Residence of Joseph Harris built.
Residence of A. Carter Wilder built.

1869

Plank Road Company order to stop collecting tolls after numerous complaints about the road's condition.

1870

Arnold Park was laid out from East Avenue southward, by William E. Arnold, was fully developed by 1875.
Harvard Street began at Meigs Street in the early 1870's and was gradually extended eastward to Culver Road by 1900.
Brighton Street east of Goodman Street was developed by H. E. Hooker who was in the nursery business. The Hooker Nurseries had over 40,000 hardy rose bushes, but there was more money in housing lots. Oxford Street was laid out with magnolia trees in a central mall, to add "prestige to the development"

1872

Monroe and Alexander Cemetery moved so that a school could be built in the site. Bodies moved to a mass grave at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
City portion of the East Avenue gets second application of macadam.

1873

Developers race to lay out streets, prepare building lots and build homes before the city annexes the land east to Culver Road. Area was favored by the middle class

1874

Barret and Son, Boat Builders operates at Lock 66 (just west of the Monroe Avenue Bridge) until 1890.
City annexes the land east to Culver Road.

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1876

Unimproved section of East Avenue, between Goodman an Culver macadamized by the city for $63,000. A new sewer was installed in the same project. A 30 inch diameter cement pipe 700 feet long was installed.
Thomas Leighton purchases the Bates house at 1399 East Avenue, and by adding a new wing, now has the largest mansion on East Avenue.
Oxford Street laid out.
Neighbors petition for a regular sprinkling of the roadbed from May till December to keep the dust down. Practice had been introduced by the promoters of Oxford Street.

1878

Residence built for William Chapin.

1879

Warner Castle designed and built by J R Thomas for Hulbert H Warner. The "curiously irregular structure" had a "variety of towers, battlemented gables, porticos and jetting angles and windows". Warner's wealth was acquired from the sale of patent-medicnes.

1880

Monroe Avenue shops first appear at Goodman Street intersection, by 1920 the shopping district had extended to the canal.
Arnold Park laid out with a grass mall down the center of the street.
Prince Street and Strathallan Park are developed to the north of East Avenue. They attract wealthy residents.
East Avenue now has five attractive side streets with park like central malls: Sibley and Granger Places, Arnold and Upton Parks, and Portsmouth Terrace.

1882

Street Railway Co. operates busses from Four Corners to the City Line on East Ave.
Warner Observatory completed at the SE corner of East and Arnold Park. The three year project cost $100,000. Mr. Lewis Swift, famous for his discovery of comets, is hired to staff the Warner Observatory. Used both as a scientific instrument and promotional gimmick the 16 inch telescope (forth largest in the country) in it's 31 foot diameter tower and dome, was open to the public. A "Safe Liver Cure Pass" was available at the St. Paul St. offices.

1883

Mr. Swift discovers a new comet from the Warner Observatory. He stays for twelve years (1885) then dismantles the telescope, and moves to California. The construction of the 140 foot tower for the Third Presbyterian Church in 1893 on the adjacent property may have prompted his move. The observatory building is left empty for 40 years, then demolished.
Horsecar lines expanded down Park Avenue.

1884

Asbury Methodist Church erected with a stone front.

1888

The twenty year old Rochester Club moves from the Third Ward to East Avenue.

1889

Second Liberty Pole falls in a severe wind storm on the day after Christmas.
The Genesee Valley Club moves after four years in the Jonathan Child mansion to a new club house at East and Gibbs.

1892

City rebuilds old sewers, installs new water main and repaves East Avenue with brick from Main to Alexander Street.

1892

Nehemiah Osburn dies. His home, at the corner of Main and State is used as offices for the new Security Trust Company.
Severe depression hits. Within three years more than half of the properties on the lower section of East Avenue have changed owners.

1893

Osburn House demolished for the two-story Liberty Building.
The Third Presbyterian Church dedicated their new Romanesque style church.

1893

Christ Church expands by converting the original structure into the transept of an enlarged structure.
Asbury Methodist Church begins a construction project that adds frescoes to the walls, a new pipe organ, pulpit, and extends the galleries.

1894

Bankrupt Hulbert Warner is forced to sell his property at auction. The Observatory brings only $15,000, his home $35,000, and three other properties only bringing in a additional $11,000.
Professor Swift packs his telescope and moves to Pasadena, California where Mount Lowe Observatory is being built for him. His success at astronomical observation in Southern California, leads to the construction of the much larger observatories at Mount Wilson and Mount Palomar.

1895

George Eastman moves from 13 Arnold Park to the Soule mansion at 1050 East Avenue.
Increasing number of cyclists appear on East Avenue. Level roadbed used by young men and women for evening and weekend rides. Shops now sell bicycles, and two saloons become ice cream parlors.
The 'deer park and goat yard' at the front of the Sibley mansion is rebuilt with an enclosed bicycle track for the younger Siblies and their friends.

1897

St. Paul's Episcopal Church moves from St. Paul Street to land purchased on the Vick's nursery grounds. Designed in the Perpendicular Gothic style, it features seating for 820, and a 2554 pipe organ.
Collision between Judge William Shuart and an other cyclist, resulting in a broken leg for the Judge, may have been the reason for the sudden vigorous enforcement of a year old law reviving a six MPH speed limit. Two officers equipped with bicycles are assigned to enforce the law. An exception is provided between December 15th to March 15th, between two and five in the afternoon, when the street is still used for horse racing.

1897

First State Aid for road improvements awarded to East Avenue. funds are used to improve road surface with macadam from the city line to Brighton Center.

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1900

The residents of Arnold Park pay one half of the cost of installing six electric arc lights. Residents of Oxford Street pay for nine electric lights.
Regas Vehicle Company opens its showroom for Wood's Electric cars at 66 East Avenue.
Actress Rose Coglan races her electric car against a horse drawn sleigh, winning when the horse tires near Brighton.

1901

Col. Henry Strong, President of Eastman Kodak Co. demolishes the Cox house to build his mansion at 693 East Avenue. With a Japanese tea house and Lilly pond it was the avenues most elegant home.

1902

Claude Bragdon designs the house at the corner of East and Berkley for George Buell.

1904

Police officers clock speeders at 20 MPH, including George Eastman's chauffeur, breaking the 8 MPH limit on East Avenue.

1905

Eastman House built at 500 East Avenue. The Georgian Colonial is Rochester's largest and most elegant residence. The three story, 49 room mansion was willed to the University of Rochester in 1932. It served as the residence for the University President until 1947. In 1949 the Eastman House was opened as a Museum of Photography.
Automobiles are becoming popular, more than 1000 are owned in Rochester. George Eastman gives away his last horse.

1906

The Oliver Culver house is moved from the corner of Culver and East Avenue to East Boulevard by Howard Smith.
Eldredge house is moved to Park Avenue as a private school for girls, and the empty lot across from the Chapin House is rebuilt as a the Willow Pond.
East Avenue covered with asphalt from Main Street to Alexander. This was done to kill local pressure for an expansion of the trolley tracks.
Two motorcycle policemen are assigned to East Avenue, where they make their first arrest for speeding on October 3rd.
Claude Bragdon designs mansion for Edward Miner. The Colonial Revival three story house is at the corner of East and Argyle
Farmers Market at the Liberty Pole site is abolished.

1907

Heavy use by automobiles prompts application of macadam surface from Alexander Street to Brighton Center

1909

Frank Lloyd Wright designs the Edward E Boynton House on East Boulevard. This Prairie style house is the country's easternmost example of Wright's homes.

1910

Residents block sale of abandoned Warner Observatory to New York City company with plans to build an apartment building. Col. Strong and Senator Dunn purchase homes on properties adjacent to their own to prevent similar sales.

1911

Two year old macadam surface is already in need of serious repair, Avenue is repaved with asphalt. Streetlights are replaced with improved versions. The city also renumbered all the houses, and removed all wires from Main Street to the city line.
Horse drawn carriages have almost disappeared from the Avenue.
First successful flight in Rochester made by John J. Frisbie on July 7. He flies from a field located between Highland and Elmwood Avenues. After crossing Cobb's Hill he attempted a turn above the intersection of Main and Culver when the engine stalled. He was able to restart the engine, and continue west to the New York Central Depot. He then turned again, and landed at the field where he had started.

1912

Break in the Canal at Perinton backs up canal boats

1913

Some merchants petition for trolley service, but there is opposition because the narrow roadway. At the suggestion of the "East Avenue Improvement Society" (Organized by James Cutler, who had recently purchased and made available to developers four properties in the area) the city suddenly began cutting down all the trees from Main to Alexander. Before a protest could be organized by concerned residents, the deed was done. The street was made wider and further improvements promised.
Promoters with plans to build a high-rise apartment just east of Chestnut Street fail when they cannot purchase enough land.
Winter horse racing on East Avenue ends when the city begins plowing the streets.
The Century Club (Rochester's first women's social club) purchases the Vogt mansion from George Ham
George Eastman invites 1200 to a New Years Eve Party. Starting the era of East Avenue's absolute social dominance of the area.

1914

Hiram W Sibley purchases Home of the Friendless at the NW corner of Alexander and East for a business block opposite the Sibley Building which he plans to build.

1915

Regent Theater opened by the Hippodrome Amusement Co. at the corner of East and Chestnut St.
12,700 automobiles in the county. The city places a wooden policeman at the corner of East and Chestnut. This is the first appearance in Rochester of that traffic control devise.
Mrs. Frederick Allowed stops driving in her horse drawn phaeton due to the heavy automobile traffic. This was the last private carriage on the Avenue.

1916

1^stChurch of Christian Scientists builds a Neo-Classical church at East and Prince St.
Widow of Frank Ritter sells her home at 947 to the Catholic Diocese as a home for Bishop Thomas Hickey.

1917

George Eastman purchases the Institute of Musical Art, and presents it to the University of Rochester.
Genesee Valley Club moves into the former Erickson mansion, after adding a dining room to the rear.

1918

George Eastman cuts the rear portion of his music room from his house and moves it ten feet. The move improves the acoustics of the room and provides space for construction of a pipe organ. This remodeling project costs more than the original construction of the house.

1919

Canal closed in city. New route goes south of city through Genesee Valley Park.

1920's

Noise and congestion of auto traffic destroy the genteel ambiance of East Avenue. Wealthy residents leave for quieter suburbs to the south and east.

1920

Small business have moved in to service the area, and development of the area was completed.

1922

First crosswalks in the city are painted at corner of East and Chestnut.

1923

One of the cities first overhead traffic lights is installed at the corner of East and Main.

1924

Bus service extended from Main Street down East Avenue to Alexander Street.

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1925

Hiram Sibley Building completed. The English Renaissance style building was a memorial to the founder of Western Union.
82,500 automobiles in the county. East Avenue is still the primary eastern access to the city.
Two of the cities 150 gas stations are located on East Avenue.

1929

110,000 automobiles in the county. Rush hour traffic on East Avenue is unbearable to drivers and residents.

1930's

Depression hits the area. Four mansions are unoccupied in 1925, eight by 1930, and twelve by 1935. Many mansions are converted to other uses.
Depression ends new car sales, and nearly stops their use. This provide a great relief to area residents.
Last of East Avenue's nearly 100 mansions built.

1932

March 13, George Eastman commits suicide fearing a debilitating illness. Leaving a note saying "my work is done" his death ends East Avenue's reign as the social center of the area. The mansion is given to the University of Rochester to be used for ten years as the residence of the school president.
To counter taxes lost by empty mansions, city amends zoning laws to allow apartment houses on East Avenue from Alexander to Upton Park. This area becomes a D-1 Residential zone

1938

City installs taller street lights, and resurfaces the road.

1940

Rochester Historical Society given Woodside Mansion as bequest from Mrs. Willed.

1941

Museum given property by Edward Bausch for new building near Goodman.
Asbury Methodist Church acquires the Bates home at 1040 East Avenue. The deep lot allows an impressive 200 foot setback.

1943

East Avenue Association forms to fight the downslide of the area. Zoning changed from D-1 Residential to F-Residential, and a section 260 feet deep on each side of the Avenue from Alexander to Oxford and wider strip from there to Colby became F-Residential. This area was to have single family residences only. Public institutions and churches were allowed. The city offered to take the unwanted properties and convert them into parks.

1945

Zoning variances allow restraints, and rooming houses. Additional cars overwhelm limited spaces available.

1949

George Eastman House, Inc., opens the mansion as a museum of photography.
State agrees to the construction of an expressway from the new State Thruway into the city along the old subway and canal bed. City planners now drop the idea of East Avenue's conversion into a parkway.
New zoning opens East Avenue to multiple dwellings. They are only restricted in an area one half mile east and west of Culver Road.

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1950

Three story apartment row built at 688 East Avenue.

1951

George Dryden builds a 600 seat theater on the rear of the Eastman House
Elmtree beetle forces removal of several trees.

1953

Harper Sibley, Jr. builds the Treadway Inn in the Colonial Revival style, on the lot where the old Sibley Mansion had stood.

1957

The revised zoning code supports the conversion of large single-family homes to multi-family dwellings.
Pitkin-Powers mansion restored by the Boy Scouts of America as headquarters of the Otetiana Council.
City allows construction of an eleven story apartment building at 1600 East Avenue, inspite of new height restrictions.

1958

City allows construction of an another high-rise apartment building at 1000 East Avenue,

1960's

Several Neighborhood Associations form in the area, to preserve and upgrade the area.
Most residents are new to the area.
Museum of Arts and Sciences announces construction of the Strassenburg Planetarium on the adjacent property, the former residence of the Bausch family.
Replanting of diseased and ailing trees continues.

1964

The Liberty Building is demolished for the Security Trust Company new offices.
Controversial new Liberty Pole is erected. The 198 foot stainless steel pole is supported by a network of steel wires forming a triangle around it's base.

1969

The East Avenue Preservation District, which includes East Avenue, its side streets, and Park Avenue is established.

1974

Housing Court created to speed enforcement of code violations by landlords.

1975

A new zoning code linked zoning to present use.
The area is rediscover as a popular neighborhood, and there is an increased demand for houses and apartments.
Neighborhood newspaper, City East, published.

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