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It can be fully shocking how much of an impact Rochester’s development has had on the landscape around it. More than two centuries of human habitation can cause some major changes; one of the most impressive may be the complete filling in of the Deep Hollow Creek. Once a magnificent natural feature of Rochester’s west…
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I love tiny places. Small buildings, itty-bitty cafes, pubs and bars, wee ickle shops and teensy pocket parks. Far from being claustrophobic, I find that these finite spaces encourage the fullest use of every inch, from efficiency of purpose to expressiveness of décor. And, in many cases, it forces one to keep in touch with…
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Starting in 1934, an unusual social group formed in Rochester. They called themselves a Krewe; members went by “noms”, code names usually marked by wordplay or punning, such as B. Natural, Tryit, Whosit, or King Sly. They were the Sykocrypts; one of two clubs formed in Rochester dedicated to solving a popular type of puzzle–cryptograms.…
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This entry is a bit of a departure; while usually I’m plumbing pretty deeply into the past and drawing up places long gone patronized by persons long dead, this time I’m dropping my line into the shallower end of history’s fishpond. Come with me back to a cozy and familiar café in the heart of…
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When I first began speaking with Lisa Kleman about our respective family histories and their mutual experience as immigrants in Rochester, I was struck by how similar the story of Kleman’s immigrant ancestor was to my own. Both Kleman and I are present-day representatives of the family lines of two determined German men, who came…
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An unsung but prevalent industry in Rochester’s history was, believe it or not, the mass production of pipe cleaners. Yes, those fuzzy pieces of wire that kindergarteners make crafts out of. The oft-repeated wisdom on Rochesterian pipe cleaners is that John Harry Stedman and business partner Charles Angel patented the fuzzy pipe cleaner, a patent…
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Starting in the early 1930s, there was a revival in the celebration of Twelfth Night–or the twelfth day after Christmas–on January 6th by building a massive bonfire of old Christmas trees, wreaths, and laurels. An old custom, its renewal was inspired by local artist George M. Haushalter, who was pained by the ignominious end of…
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Content warning: this entry contains references to killing birds. If it helps, nobody manages it very effectively. It was the spring of the year 1900, and a strange new bird had been spotted flitting around the streets of Rochester. The unfamiliar avian was black and shiny, whistling a merry tune, and perching atop streetcar wires.…
What is Gonechester?
The Gonechester blog pulls together sources to tell stories about people and places that once were part of Rochester, NY, but now are no longer with us. Photographs, newspaper articles, and primary documents are all included to paint a picture of these lost locations, and the people who lived and worked in them.
➼ Would you like to know a bit more? Check out Gonechester: A History.
Research & Resources
If you are interested in a glimpse at the Gonechester research process, or a list of the resources Gonechester uses in its research, this page has both! Follow along as Gonechester discovers the location of a mystery photo.
Landmark Society Award
The Gonechester blog has won a 2024 Special Commendation award from the Landmark Society of Western New York, for diligent and meticulous research regarding Rochester’s lost cultural and material heritage.
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Upcoming Presentations
Interested in having a Gonechester presentation at your library, historical society, or other location? Go to this page for more information.
➼I will be guest speaker at the 2026 Highland Park Conservancy Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 at 6:30 PM. I’ll be giving a new presentation, “Lost in Highland Park”, covering structures once in Highland Park lands and the people who lived in them.
➼I will be giving my presentation, “From Nurseries to Neighborhoods: The History of the East Main-Culver Area” at Rush Public Library on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
➼I will be giving my presentation “Crossing the Main Street Bridge” at the Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main Street, at 7:30 PM on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026.
For a list of previous presentations, go to this page.