The Landmark Society recognizes Geoffrey Zeiner for his diligent and meticulous research for his Gonechester website, showcasing buildings and people from Rochester’s history who are now gone. Zeiner’s research began when he started poring over plat maps to learn more about the history of his own home; but his interest was piqued by forgotten buildings and roads. Using RMSC and Monroe Public Library resources, Zeiner’s research references historic images and monographs of many lost sites. He cross-references countless newspapers, maps, archives, and more to include in his blog posts. The almost 50 richly illustrated essays on his site include current and historic images, snippets from plat books, and even excerpts from local publications. His exploration of our cultural heritage has done a phenomenal job at revealing our city’s history, preserving that which no longer exists, and for that we honor Geoffrey Zeiner.

Landmark Society of Western New York