-
While meandering through archived issues of the Democrat & Chronicle searching for some bit of trivia or another, I happened upon this 1983 story regarding the Beechwood neighborhood. A minor jog in the path of Melville Street where it meets Berwyn Street is described therein as a sort of delineation between part of the street…
-
Something has always fascinated me about buried waterways. Perhaps it’s the idea that the persistent flow of water over millennia–long enough to carve deep gorges in the landscape–could be stymied in such short order by human action. Perhaps it’s because even human action doesn’t seem like enough to stop the flow of even the most…
-
At 5’ 2” tall and about 115 pounds, Frederick S. Smith may have been a small man, but he was brave, tough, and cocky. You had to be in his line of work, for Fred Smith was one of those adventuresome janitors of the heights: the steeplejack. Known as The Human Fly–especially to himself–it was…
-
This post, simply described, follows the history of a field. A Lyon’s Den Our story begins with Harrison A. Lyon, a Brightonian nurseryman. In the latter half of the 19th century, he and A. J. Fisk conducted a nursery business headquartered on the lot presently occupied by East High School. The map below shows Culver…
-
I’d like to write now about two buildings from Rochester’s past that are very close to my heart. In fact, these two buildings are the impetus behind the birth of Gonechester; researching the mysterious buildings made me appreciate the depth of history, as well as the wealth of information available if one is so inclined…
-
Few sights are more familiar to the Rochesterian than the Liberty Pole. A central spot of celebration and of protest, people have loved and hated this iconic structure since it was erected in 1965. However, this famous Liberty Pole was not the first liberty pole to stand on this spot. Apparently it’s the third, albeit…
-
When Rochester was first a young settlement, its citizens relied on a number of springs for their fresh water needs. One of the most important early springs was located within the original 100-Acre tract, the area which was destined to become the bustling heart of Rochester. For many years, the spring was enjoyed by local…
-
When the ancestors of those old familiar claw machine games first started appearing in druggist’s shops in the 1930s, Rochester reacted poorly. Customarily a town that cracked down hard on gambling and vice, the City of Rochester was concerned these nickel-hungry devices were gambling at best, outright theft at worst. This dude, Chief of Police…
-
This is the story of one small area’s evolution. A busy riverfront of the Genesee, where river met canal met mill race. Eventually added to the mix subways, and railroads, and highways… It was a busy and ever-evolving area, suffice to say. The weighlock was located on the east side of the Genesee River, alongside…
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.
Supporting Gonechester
Buy me a coffee:
If you’ve enjoyed Gonechester and want to guarantee future posts, please consider donating a small amount to my crowdfunding page at buymeacoffee.com/Gonechester, to help cover hosting costs.
Purchase apparel:
Let everyone know how much you love Gonechester with a t-shirt, hoodie, or other outwardly-visible apparel! Check out numerous stylish options at https://www.bonfire.com/store/gonechester/!
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.