THE FRIENDS OF MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY VOL. 21 No. 1 WINTER 200 1

IN THIS ISSUE: Three essays spanning Rochester's history from a pioneer village to the late 20th century and presenting the significant and interesting contributions of Gideon Cobb (1791-1864), George H. Harris (1843-1893), and Edwin (1892-1977) and Clara Sirasenburgh.

GIDEON COBB north of Col. Nathaniel Rochester's IOO-acre trnel. (1791-1864) TIle Brown Brothers Early Rocheste.- Pioneer, named their tract Brickmaker. and J)e,"eIopet" Frankfort after Francis ofMonroeA'"enue Brown. William Cobb fol­ by Warn:n Kling lowed his friends. Francis and Matthew Brown. to ideon Cobb was Frankfon. He Slaned a born in Pawlet. forge. producing axes and GVermont on June scythes at High Falls. In 26. 1791. He and his older 1813. Gideon joined his brother William passed brother William. aniving through Genesee Country at Brighton. where he met in 1812 on their way 10 Oliver Culver. who was Aurora in Erie COUnly. starting a constnlction where they erected defens­ business. es against predicted immi­ nent BritishlIndian attacks Gideon boarded with during the War of 1812. Oliver Culver and that After completing thaI year helped to establish assignmcnl. they journeyed the very first pUblic con- back 10 Vernon in Oneida ..eyance in the area. County near Rome. N.Y. Gideon and his four-ox That was where their team hauled a wagon friends. Dr. Matthew loaded with either passen· Brown and his brOlher gers or freight Iwice Francis Brown. Inler weekly. The route Slaned Rochester settlers. lived. at the mouth of the river at Charlotte. made a stop In Rome, Gideon at Hanford's Landing near and William operaled an the lower Genesee River axe and scythe manufactur­ falls. where today Lake ing business. Gideon was Avenue and Maplewood the traveling salesman for Drive intersect across the business. In those days, from Kodak Park. The he was called a peddler for wagon then continued to those farm implements. He the final destination at the tra\'cled throughout western New York. sell­ Four Comers ofCol. ing his wares out of an ox cart given to him A marble obelisk is /he gral'esitt' mOllumellt Rochester's tract. In 1814. Gideoo was hired by his father John. to the earl)' Rochester piolleer, GideOfl by Francis Brown to cut a road 3 rods (49.5 Cobb. From this site ill Lot 48. Section I. feet) wide in the dense forest between In 1810. Francis Brown. his older OIle COli see his!omler property. Cobbs Hill. Frankfort and Rochesterville.thereby creat­ brother Matthew. and Other panners pur­ Photograph by Fralll:.A. Gillespie. ing present-day State Street. His eompensa­ chased 200 acres of land at High Falls jusl tion for this work was a yoke ofoxen. Meanwhile, brother William became Ihe burials were transferred. Another site, on ly become a city. Gideon's business pros­ active in civic affairs of the newly fonned the easl side of the ri\'er, was provided by pered due 10 the high demand for brick used village. March 21. 1817 was an imponant Enos Stone and located around East Avenue, in the construction of commercial buildings. date in the history of Rochester. for on that near Cherry Street (Gibbs Street). When the day the seulement by the falls was duly East A\'enue burial ground filled up, it was With his new·found wealth, Gideon incorporated as the village of RochesterviJle decided to remove the burials and transfer decided to build a proper home for Roxy. by act of the stale legislature. 'The Brown them to a newly purchased two-acre site off 1ney mo\'ed out of their log cabin and into brothers' tract, Frankfort. was consolidated Monroe A\'enue belween A\'erilJ A\'enue and the new home in the 18305. 1ne house. how­ with Col. Rochester's tracl at this time and Alexander Street. By 1872, all the burials ever. was no ordinary one. It was a magnifi­ became part of Rochesterville. 1lte first elec­ from both the Monroe Avenue and Buffalo cent 22-room Greek Revival mansion, locat­ tion in the village was held May 5,1817, Streel sites had been transferred to Mounl ed on a triangle of land on the south side of and the first village board of tnlstees includ­ Hope Cemetery. which had opened in 1838. Monroe Avenue near Highland Avenue. The ed lehiel Barnard, Francis Brown, William mansion was built like a fortress with a deep Cobb, Daniel Mack, and Everard Peck. A private cemetery also existed adja­ foundation, thick walls and beams made of Francis Brown was elected chairman of the cent to land owned by Gideon Cobb at the hand-hewn timbers. To keep his wife cozy board. top of Pinnacle Hill. This was the oldest during the cold Rochester winters. each of Catholic cemetery in Rochester. a l2-acre the 22 rooms had a brick fireplace. stocked Gideon had no interest in politics. being parcel bought by the lnlstces of Sl. Palrick's with a seemingly endless supply of wood very busy with his business endeavors. He Church in 1838 for $1200. Originally pur­ from the nearby forest. The mansion stood and his team of oxen became well known, chased for aJ1the Catholics of the city. the on 300 acres of land now owned by Gideon, CUlling trees and pulling out SlUmps to make Gennan Catholics from St. Boniface decided facing the high hill that became a landmark many roads in the area. With Oliver Culver's to establish a separate cemetery nearby. In and point of reference for many early travel­ help, he secured a large contract to clear 1860 the Catholic diocese purchased 15 ers journeying through the area, referred to Nonh Street and open Monroe Avenue from additional acres at Pinnacle Hill from quite simply as "Cobb's Hill." The rear wing the city all the way to Pittsford_ In the Gideon Cobb for $20 per acre. The Pinnacle of the mansion was built for use as a stage­ process of clearing the forest to extend cemetery remained the burying place for all coach tavern, which the Cobbs operaled for Monroe A\'enue to the east, Gideon stumbled the English-speaking Catholic congregalions a few years. The tavern wing included a on a \'ery imponam discovery. He found of the cily until 1871. In that year, the Righi large baking kitchen, milk storage room, and large deposits of clay a foot deep in this Re\'erend Bishop Bernard McQuaid estab.­ a separate meat-grilling room. with a brick area, with sand beneath the clay, and real­ lished a new Catholic cemetery off Lake noor and large brick ovens. ized the poIential value of these deposits for Avenue, large enough for use by all of the brickmaking. Catholic churches of the city. Burials from Then in 1833, an interesting event the Pinnacle cemetery were transferred to occurred that led to the demise of the tan:rn. So in 1818. Gideon and his brother this new Catholic Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. It seems that Gideon and his wife were William decided to invest $[,960 to bUy 140 attending a temperance meeting one evening acres of land along Monroe Avenue near At age 28 years, Gideon Cobb finally in the brick schoolhouse which originally Highland Avenue. It was with this purchase met the woman of his dreams. Roxanna thm Gideon and William formed a business Worden. They were married in 1819. and partnership, which they called The Sand moved into his smaJllog cabin. That same Company. It was on State Road. which was year. brother WilJliam Cobb decided to pur­ EPITAPH later renamed Monroe Avenue. The Sand sue other business opportunities. Mills were " .IInd....,.my",.,.,...... Company had its office near two acres of expanding all over the country, and -_c.....w,. - land that became the Monroe S1. burying William's expenise in the manufacture of Ibrt HIfJO.Z7S2. .1ffJIfII"II/II ...... grounds on June 10, 1827. the third public mill irons was in demand. He became super­ ~.Iz Ii Jt-dtJtI lit 1_ burial site in Rochesterville. Public School intendent of a newly constructed mill near /lkJw4o. ....E4iItIr 15, 494 A\'erill Avenue, called the Children's Louisville. Kentucky, where he died in 1826. ~A.""'" School Of Rochester. is currently located """'14" DIN """ E =Jti, ArtDIlw:Irw Gideon. meanwhile. was preparing 10 "--'D6JI' 'M """'. start a new business venture in 1820 near .a:IOI ..... ,...af ~c:::r-e., An interesting aside concerns some of Cobb's Hill. II was the first brick faclory in ...... r A.rzo. C4iIl the early burial grouods around early the area and known as the Monroe Avenue 17/6) 461-M1t1IDuftwJf!fI!CUI ....10 Rochesterville, The first cemetery on the Brickyards. In the years following the com­ _""",e-trrJ_...M6w.*" IOO-acre tract, set aside for that purpose by pletion of the Erie Canal in 1825. .;'1 PI. s..,~..,*," Col. Nathaniel Rochester soon filled up and Rochester's population skyrocketed, and ..-.w...".,.,~ was exchanged for a much larger site on Rochesler became known as America's first Buffalo Street (West Main Stree!), where all boomtown. By 1834, Rochester had official-

2 stood across Monroe Avenue from the Cobb year of arrival in Rochester, and some per­ William Olis and his son Ira. and home. The meeting turned into quite a rous­ sonal recollections of the early settlement. including Ira's son Raymond ran the ing affair when the participanlS were worked This would document for present and future R.B.&T. company for many years after the up to a fever pitch by Deacon Fischer. in his generations the conditions that existed from death of Gideon Cobb. Eventually, however, best oratory, expounding on the evils of the beginning of the settlement, and identify all good things come to an end. The land on liquor. When the sennon ended. the charged the people who prepared Ihe way for what the former site of the original R.B.&T. off entourage bolted for the door heading to the Rochester would become. Monroe Avenue was sold when the clay to nearest tavern. which just happened to be make bricks wa~ depleted. ThaI land was the rear wing of Gideon Cobb's home. Three of the earliest pioneers attending then purchased by a housing contractor, who were Oliver Culver who arrived in 1&05, built the Brighton housing subdivisions of There. they proceeded to remove all the Silas O. Smith in 1809, and Enos Stone in Bel-Aire, Home Acres, and Roselawn. The liquor with Deacon Fischer looking on like a 1810. Gideon, who arrived in 1813. remi­ R.B.&T. moved from its Monroe Avenue proud parent. The kegs of liquor were nisced that when he and most of the other location to Fishers. N.Y. in 1913 and wenl smashed in the street. As if this was not pioneers arrived, not many inhabitants were out of business on July 10. 1953. enough, a fire was started. quickly turning to be found. Much of the area was presumed into a blazing inferno. and lighting up the 10 be an irreclaimable swamp, suitable as a Similarly, Cobb's Hill, in the posses­ evening sky like the aurora borealis. resort for frogs and muskrats. Cobb stated sion of the family for about 86 years, was Needless to say, Gideon Cobb never dared to that he started the first public conveyance in sold to the City of Rochester by Edna Cobb. open the tavern again. Ihe area shortly after his arrival. a service widow of Gideon's son. William. who died Ihal operated for two years. During that in 1904. The city wanted to ensure a fresh Gideon and Rox)! evidently planned to time, Oliver Culver's wife, Alice, usually supply of drinking water for future genera­ fiJ1the 22-room mansion. for they had nine cooked provisions to sustain him on his tions by constructing a 144-million-gallon children of whom six reached adulthood. biweekly trek from the Four Comers, water reservoir on top of Ihe hill. Lucinda. the oldest. became a schoolteacher through the wilderness, to the mouth of the in Brighton and died in 1914 at the age of river. He told of sleeping often under the Work began on the reservoir in 1905 94 years. William H. died in 1904 at75 workbench al Willis Kempshall's and of the and was completed in 1908. In 1912, George years of age. Glory Ann died in childhood in time he fell into the river, struggling for Eastman and others donated funds to pur­ 1832. James. a twin born in 1836, became a hours before anyone happened by to give chase the nearby woods around the reservoir fanner who married but had no children, and him assistance. for a public park. In the following year, his horne. built of original Cobb brick, can Mayor Hiram Edgerton, during the Civil still be seen at 1100 Highland Avenue. Gideon and his son William, as well as War Semi-Centennial. proposed changing Shari II Margaret, twin sister of James. died other investors. consolidated several small the name of Cobb's Hill Park to Lincoln at the age of 42. Maria and Sophia, both brickworks in the vicinity to fonn the Park, bUI fortunately, the public would not born in 1849, died quite young. A second Rochester Brick and Tile Manufacturing hear of it. There was a perception that daughter named Maria married and stilled in Company. incorporating it in February 7. Mayor Edgerton. whose family were brick­ Kansas. And finally the youngest child, son 1853 and later opening an office at the Four work contractors and in the construction Frances. married and moved to Grand Comers in the Powers Building when it was business, may have had an ulterior motive in Rapids. Michigan. completed. Trustees of R.B.&T. included suggesting the name change. Gideon and William Cobb, Stephen and In his later years. Gideon became William Otis, Azariah Boody. and others. Gideon Cobb's mansion at Monroe and active in political and civic affairs. A few Highland. stayed in the possession of the highlights include being elected superinten· The company prospered, producing Cobb family for over 100 years. Mrs. Mabel dent of the poorhouse in 1838, selected as over 12 million bricks per year in 1855. Cobb Wickman, a great granddaughter of delegate to the Whig Senate Convention in shipping bricks and drain lile to numerous Gideon Cobb. was the last of the Cobb clan 1844. and chosen to give the main address at locations in the U.S. and Canada. Many to occupy Ihe premises. She petitioned Ihe the dedication of Brighton school No.8 in early buildings in Rochester were built of city for a zoning variance to tum the man­ 1846. brick from R.B.&T., including the second sion into apartments ill 1936 but was turned Monroe County courthouse designed by A. down because the Rehabilitation On Thursday, September 31,1847, J. Warner in 1850. built at a cost of $60,000; Commission inspectors found rotted cor­ Gideon attended a Pioneers' Festival. com­ the Ellwanger and Barry Building, still nices, foundations Ihal needed bolstering, memorating the early settlement of standing today on State Street; St. Mary's severely cracked and crumbling walls, bro­ Rochester. The event was organized by Enos Church; the County Penitentiary; Gideon ken windows. a leaking roof. rotting pillars, Stone and Oliver Culver and held at the Cobb's 22-room mansion, of course; along and other decay. Mrs. Wickman could not Blossom Hotel. one of the oldest hotels in with his son James' home, and the Hagaman afford to repair the extensive deterioration 10 the city. Each of the pioneers attending was homes. the property, which was then condemned asked to write his name. age. place of birth, and acquired in a foreclosure proceeding by

3 the Horne Owner's Loan Corporation, Unfonllnalcly. the mansion remained vacant GEORGE HENRY HARRIS for many years becoming quite an eyesore and was c\'entually demolished in 1956. (1843-1893) ROCHESTER'S This early pioneer, Gideon Cobb, began HENRY DAVID THOREAU modestly as a peddler of axes and scythes. started the first public transponation syslem by Bill Dads in the area. and cleared the foresl to make several of the roads we lravel on IOday. His hard work and ingenuity led to the creation of a successful brickmaking enterprise. which lives on in the edifices of many his­ toric downtown buildings. He secured a place in history with his contributions to the early beginnings of Brighton and Rocbeliter. His name is remembered by local residents who visil one of the most scenic localions in the city while jogging. walking lheir dogs. picnicking. sledding or just relaxing on top George Henry Harris of the hill named for him, (1843-1893) K'OS 0 promillent Roches/erion Gideon Cobb must h3\'e loved lofty willi broad interrsts ami locations for he owned land at both Pinn:acle abilities. Hill, the highest elev3tion in the cilY of Rochester 3t 750 feet. and Cobb's Hill at 663 feet abo\'e sea level. His final land pur­ chase in 1848. 16 yem before his death, assured him personally of a lofty location in perpetuity. [t is al the tOp of Mount Hope in the cemetery of the same name, An obM:T\'a­ tion tower, called the "Fandango," once stood at this second highest elevation in the city of Rochester. 675 feet 3bove sea level. People carne from miles around to ascend its steps for a wonderful view of the surround­ George Horris' tombS/aile ing countryside, including a view of the is located ill Lm 51, famous local landmark, Cobbs Hill. HeTC. Section E. MOWI/ Hope you will find the modest. marble Cobb Cemete!)', PholOgmp" b)' obelisk in Lot 48. Section l. Fronk A. Gillespie.

Ti,e amllor wishes 10 thal1k: • Carol Fede. OSS;S/(III/ ro tire Cit)' Historian. for a list of refere1/ct' sources alld all ar/ide frolll the Rochester Daily A(/l'er/;scr , October 6. 1847 • Mo!)' Jo wlIl'hear, Brighro/l TOll'Ir H;srorion.for rest!arch motuiol all/he demo­ /iliOll of the Cobb /II(lI/siOlr olld ill/onna/ioll 011 the Roches/a Brick & Tile Company. Addit;0I101 Rt'ft!rrnces: • Histo!)' ofthe Cobb Family. by Phillip Cobb 1923 • Rocht!stu Rt!publicall. OctOOt'T 12, 1847 (Warren Kling is a lfUSICC of the Friends of Mount Hope Cemt!lery and a Delphi Energyexecuti\·e.)

4 esting quietly with his family in Indian noticed the ancient spear point and an excellent library of history and literature. Mount Hope Cemetery is George volunteered to tell George how it had been where George spent many hours. Returning R Henry Harris. Who was George used. The Indian was led to the woodshed to Rochester in 1861. Harris had a brief mil· Harris? For 17 years. George managed the where he selected a shan to which the itary career in Pierce's Military Academy Reynolds Arcade for Monimer Reynolds. Indian allached the point. Encouraged by and as. a sergeant in the 54th Regiment sta­ who was the son of Abelard Reynolds. George. the Indian made a bow and arrow, tioned in Elmira. Rochester's first postmaster and founder of the arcade. One day when George. still a child. Arter the Civil War. George drifted was walking along the ri\·er. he spied sever­ west where his brother was. an Indian scout. BUI George Harris was so much more al Indian children in a canoe without pad­ George worked as a railway mail clerk and than that. Some said he was Rochester's dIes. drifting dangerously toward the rapids. then rclUrned to Rochester. He wrote. "I Henry David lboreau. Blake McKelvey. for The rh'er was at flood stage, and large trees resigned a lucrative position in Omaha at the example. said he was Rochester's most and logs were being carried down the entreaty of my good parents who desired the

capable amateur historian. He Wf"O{C the first stream. Huge masses of ice crashed o ...er the presence of one of their children in their [at­ 15 chapters of William F. Peck's semi-cen­ rocks of the rapids. George raced ahead to a ter days. In order to be near them. [ became lellnial history of Rochester, emitted rhe flat rock thatjulted from the bank forming a a common laborer at Mount Hope Cemetery AborisinolllislOry ofRochester. The cove where he often fished. Through sign at the moderate drain on the grave funds of Senecas. who made him an honorary mem­ language, George directed the Indian boy to a dollar and a hHlf a day. My fmher. who ber of the Wolf Clan and called him "Ho­ use his foot as a ruddcr. Then George picked was assistant superintendent of the cemetery, tar-shan-llyoh," the Palhfindcr. For his con­ up one of his fishing spears. He threw it, appreciated my act, and the dying blessing tributions to science. he was named a pierced the bow of the canoe and guided the of a sainted mother rewarded me for the Fellow of the American Academy of canoe to safety. Then. he collapsed under the sacrifice." Science. Harris compressed an amazing strain. When he recovered consciousness. he number of experiences in his soon life. found his father and Tall Chid, who turned Cemetery Superintendent George which spanned only 50 years. out to be the Indian who had stayed at his Stillson must have recognized his abilities. home. gathering up the children. The older Harris studied surveying. drafting. and land­ Harris' grandparents senled in boy in the canoe. about Harris' age. was Tall scape gardening under Stillson's guidance. Rochester in 1810 on what was to become Chief's son. Qnol:o. In 1872. George married Julia Hughes. who Mount Hope Avenue near the present site of was a school priocipal. They mo\'ed to the Uni ...ersity of Rochester. His father was As a result of this experience. the two Peterborough. Ontario. Canada where invol...ed in construction. which meant many fathers set up exchange visits. Onoto visited George laid out and beautified the Little mo\'CS for the family. They li\'ed in the Harris home and was equipped with a Lake Cemetery. His next assignment was a Charlotte, west Greece. Rochester. Hinsdale, set of pioneer's clothes. George spent time two-year superintendency of the Elmwood Buffa[o, and Green Bay. Wisconsin. George at Tall Chief's encampment and was fitted Cemetery in Detroit. In 1877, he brought his was born in west Greece in 1843. with a deerskin oUifit. During these visits, wanderings to an end as he moved to the boys began to tench each other their Ian· Rochester and managed the Reynolds Whcn George was a young lad in guages. This started George on a lifelong Arcade for Mortimer Reyno[ds. Rochcster. his family lived on the hill o...er­ study of the Iroquois language and the pur­ looking the bend of the Genesee River m the suit of Indian trails and customs. The arcade housed offices of lawyers. present site of the University of Rochester. the telegraph office, the post office, art stu­ George spent many hours roaming the banks When George was 13 years old. his dios. retail shops. the Athenaeum and its of the ri\·er. fishing and following old Indian family moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin. library. a lecture hall. and business offices. trails. He found several artifacts. including Although frail. the lad spent a year in the Automobile inventor. George B, Selden. had an ancient spear point. which triggered se... • forest and along the streams where he his office in the arcade. Daniel Webster eral e\'ents that launched Harris in his pur­ became an expert with a n.xI and line. rifle. delivered lectures here. It was the business suit as pathfinder, and caooc. Since he lived only a few miles and cultural center of Rochester in the nine­ from the reservation where the Oneida teenth century, One wintry e\'cning when George and Indians had been dispatched from New Yorl: his mother were gathered around the family State, he continued his interest in Indian (To be continued in the rteltt issue.) fire, tlll'O Indians knocked on the door and lore. said they needed sheller for the night. This (Bill Davis is a Kodak: reliree and local was not unusual in those days. The visitors In 1858. George became an apprentice historian.) prepared meals from food they carried with to a watchmaker for three years. and the rest them. and :tfler lheir dinner. they prepared to of the family returned to Rochester. sleep on the floor by the fire. The older Fortunately for George. the watchmaker had

5 EDWIN, CLARA, AND was difficult for me to imagine him as a somelhing to do for lhe community - a way caplain of industry because of his unassum­ of giving back to Rochester a thank-you pre­ THE STRASENBURGH ing ways. sentto mark the success of the family busi­ PLANETARIUM ness. Their first thought. and a logical one. A Personal Recollection Edwin's father was a druggist who had was to add a wing to a local hospital. his slore on West Main Street in Rochester. by S. Hall Donold In addilion to selling medications in the However. in listening to lhe wise fronl room of the store, he manufactured his advice of their lawyer. lhe late George he first lime I mel Clara own compounds in the back. This was the Hawks, they became intrigued with the idea Strascnburgh (Mrs. Edwin) was in beginning of lhe company Ihal would of a planetarium. 1be time selling was the 1968 very shortly afler I moved to T become known as Sirasenburgh Laboratories early 1%Os. and lhe Space Age was upon Rochester from Nonh Carolina. I had just on Jeffe~n Road in Henrietta. Much oflhat us. 1be whole world was watching the been aPJXlinted Education Director of lhe "space race" belween the U.S. and the Strasenburgh Planetarium. which was ul1der Soviel Union. construction al the time. My boss and cre­ ator of the planetarium. Ian Mclennan. told Hawks was a board member of the me thai the SU1ISenburghs, our donors. were Rochester Museum Association. a kind of going 10 abandon Rochester for the winter "friends-of' organization for the museum. months. and Mclennan wanted me 10 meet which would soon become !he Rochester Mrs. Strasenburgh before they len. I was 28 Museum & Science Center. He was aware of and "cry nervous. the Hoffmeister Report. which had been done for the museum a decade earlier. 1be What would she think of me? Would report recommended Ihal the museum ought she be a grande dame? Would I be uncom­ to be presenting physical science to lhe pub­ {onable in the presence of such an important lic. and a good way to do that would be wilh and wealthy woman? We arrived at the door the addition of a planetarium. of the Strasenburghs comfonable, but nO' pretentious. home on Oak Lane in Brighton. Hawks inuudueed the Strasenburghs to Ian rang the bell and seconds later a woman. W. Stephen Thomas. museum director. who who resembled my own mother in many whisked them away for a lour of lhe plane· ways. opened the door and said. "Hello. Ian. tariums in Boston and New York City. Upon This muSt be Don. Come on in:' I was their return to Rochester. the Strasenburghs immediately comfortable with Mrs. asked Thomas, "What does a planetarium Sirasenburgh. MOllY l'isilOrs think IlulI the Edw;n G. alld COSt"" Thomas quick.ly telephoned the direc­ Clara Slrasellblirgh mOllumellt ill Lot 229. tors of the planetariums they had just visited Our conversation was pleasant and Section MM. resembles a pharmaccllfical and came back with lhe answer. "A million largely centered on me. Clam. llS I later bol/le cap. It was designed by Clara. who and a half dollars." With little more thought. came to call her. was concerned that [ was found at Ihe lime ofher 11lIsbmui's dewh l!tar the S[rasenburghs said, "Yes" [0 the idea having trouble finding a house to buy. She Ihe momm/elll design he had cOlltlllissiolle(/ and. working with Hawks. set plans in mentioned that there were several homes for was 100 oSle/1/atioliS. Photograph by motion to fund this civic gift. sale in her neighborhood that I might like. Fronk A. Gillespie. Never mind that her neighborhood was quite A Planetarium Planning Committee was unaffordable to a young guy working for a building is incorporated into the Fisons appointed, headed by the late John not-for-profit corporation. One of the charms Building at the same site. The labs changed Leermakers, head of lhe Kodak Research of both Strasenburghs was that they acted as hands several times shortly before:lrtd dur­ Laboratories. The committee members visit­ if they had no concept of how wealthy they ing the time of lhe planetarium construction. ed planetariums throughout the U.S. and were in comparison to the rest of us. Clam I predicted to the Strasenburghs Ihal they repeatedly were given the same advice by told me, some years later, that she never pre­ would be remembered more for their gift of other planetarium directors: "Hire your plan­ pared beets, even though she liked them. the planetarium lhan for the business that etarium director now. and let him create because they took too much gas to cook. made it possible. I was surprised nOllhat my your planetarium. This work needs 10 be prediction came true, but how quickly it done by a professional and not. with all due It was monlhs later. after the happened. respect. by a civic committee:- This advice Suasenburghs returned from their winter had been given dozens of limes before. but away from Rochester's cold and snow, that 1 When the Strasenburghs sold !he labs, lhis seems to be the first time that a commit­ met Edwin. He was a quiet, gentle man, less they suddenly had a great deal of liquid tee of civic leaders listened. In 1965. the likely to be heard from lhan his wife, and il assets on !heir hands and were looking fOf Rochesler Museum Association hired Ian

6 McLennan, who had been the director of the moncy and wcre now poor. He suggested that Edwin had commissioned for their Queen Elizabeth Planetarium in Edmonton, that granddad might seek a job at the new gravesite in Mount Hope Cemetery and that, Albena, to be the director of the planetarium as a tickct taker so that he after his death, she had scrapped the elabo­ Strasenburgh Planetarium. Local archilects ­ would not be penniless. rate, baroque, and somewhat pretentious Waasdorp, Nonhrup, and Kaelber - were (she thought) monument design and substi­ selected to design the planetarium. with the The Slrasenburgh Planetarium was ded­ tuted a design of hcr own, which is an unos­ late Carl F. W. Kaclber. a senior panner, in icated on Septcmber 14, 1968 at the conclu­ tentatious marker that many think resembles charge. sion of a week-long series of opening events a bottle cap of one of Strasenburgh and previews. One of these preview shows Laboratories product containers. The marker Groundbreaking for Ihe planetarium was given for the construction workers and in Lot 229, Section MM. certainly fits these was held in latc winter of 1967. During Ihe their families. The workers, sensing that this two lovely, gentle. and generous people. next 18 months. the foundation was dug, building was something special, had given their all to the project, which resulted in a Clara Strasenburgh died on October 19, world-class planetarium that was better than 1978, one year and one month after her hus­ those in New York, London. Paris, and other band's death. They had three sons, two of major cities around the globe. whom, Edwin (Griff) and Raben are buried with them. Their third son, David, survives From time to time after the opening. his parents and brothers. The elder the Strasenburghs would quietly attend the Strasenburghs had 12 grandchildren. planetarium and were once caught trying to buy lickets at the box office. The executive (Donald S. Hall is retired from the staff of the planetarium quickly put a stop to Strasenburgh Planetarium. where he was that practice by telling Edwin and Clara that director for 25 years, succeeding Ian free tickets were onc of the few ways that Mclennan.) the staff could thank the donors for their gift (not to mention their jobs).

The Strasenburghs were both alive for RAVINE AVENUE the first 10 years of operation of Ihe plane­ RESTORED The Strasellburgl1 P/a/letlirillll1. Rochester tarium bearing their name. How wise it was Museum alld Sciellce Cellter, 663 East of them to give the gift during their lifetimes BY VOLUNTEERS Avellue, wasfimded by Edwill alld Clara so thaI they could have the fun of seeing the by Richard O. Reisem Strasel/burgh alld is olle ofthe grem mod­ dream realized. em landmarks ofRochester. The dynamic. avine Avenue curves upward along­ cun'ed concrete structure was built ill 1968 Edwin Strasenburgh, born in 1892, pre­ side a high bank 011 the right and an alld designed by the architects Waasdorp, deceased his wife in 1977. In a visit that I increasingly steep bank on the leff Northrup, (md Kaelber. Photograph by had with his widow after Edwin's death and R in the historic area of Mount Hope Frank A. Gillespie. shonly before hers, Clara Strasenburgh told me, "You know, Don, the planelarium has Cemetery. When the road was first built, it turned out to be so much more than we ever was cut into the hillside of Sections C, L. concrete poured, SICe] erected, and equip­ thought it would be." What a reward that and F. To prevent erosion into Section L, the ment inslalled. The plans were more grand statement was for me, because their gift had stone roadway was pitChed downward than anyone had envisioned, and twice, the been the largest private gift ever used to toward the upside of the hill and a scupper Strasenburghs gave more money to the pro­ build a planetarium. It was obvious that they was built to carry water coming down the ject, for a total of $2.4 million. This plane­ got more than their money's worth. hill, as well as water flowing down Ihe road, tarium was going to be different from all the into a catch basin at the bonom of Ravine others. It had been created by professionals Clara Strasenburgh had a stroke shortly Avenue. and would present shows such as had never before her death. It left her panially para­ been seen in a planetarium before. And it lyzed on the right side of her body and not Ovcr 163 years, the upper bank eroded, was all possible because of Ihe personal in full control of her emotions. During my filling the scupper with enough eanh that the interest and generosity of Edwin and Clara visits 10 her home, she would embarrass her­ scrub growth on the hillside expanded into Strasenburgh. self by becoming tcarful with little, or no. the drainage ditch. That, in tum, caused provocation. Onc day she confessed to me, water to redirect its course and spill over the One of the Strasenburgh grandchildren "Don, I've done a terrible thing." I inquired downside of the hill and erode il. Eventually, became concerned that the senior as to what that was, and she said that she the water caused the roadway itself to col­ Strasenburghs had given away all of their had never liked the design of the monument lapse into the eroded downside of the hill. A

7 number of years ago, therefore, Ravinc then. With all of thc concrete posts replaced and attractive site that displays dramatic Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic and and painted white. which Dick Miller improvements. "There is lots more infonna­ even pedestrians had difficulty walking on accomplished as part of the project, the road lion:' said Emily, "and it looks quite differ­ the road because of the dislodged paving looks ready to accept carriages. But it is too ent with beautiful photographs and a fresh stones and deep fissures. It would be a fragile to pennit automobiles and trucks, so layout:' daunting task to reconstruct this roadway it is a walkway today, It leads to the spooki­ that was so severely damaged by nature. est mausoleum in Mount Hope Cemetery ­ Furthermore. the web site is now linked the GOIhic, Medina-sandstone vault of to a prize-winning site about Mount Hope However immense the challenge, it Lewis Henry Morgan, the founder of the sci­ Cemetery created by students of Gates-Chili appearcd as play to two remarkable Friends ence of anthropology. Diek and Marilyn High School. who graciously donated their of Mount Hope volunteers. Dick Miller and tidied up thm mausolcum sitc as well. creative efforts to the Friends. Those stu­ Marilyn Nolte. On weekdays after work and dems entered a contest sponsored by the on weekends last summer and fall, the two Our thanks and profound admiration go Rochestcr Democrat and Chronicle to create could be found cutting back the brush and out to Dick and Marilyn for this cxceptional an Internet web site that related to one of the digging out the scupper. Dick Miller under­ transfon1lation. The NYS DOT would not city's cultural resources. Well. the Gates­ took the massive masonry job of rebuilding have done it half as well. What a team! Chili students won first prize. We believe the stone roadway and installing a stone they did a fantastic job, but, of course. we curb to ensure that water from the road also believe they had a fantastic subject. would not flow down the hill and erode it TAKE A LOOK AT OUR further. To enhance Ravine Avenue even You should check us out til more, Dick and Marilyn, along with another NEW WEBSITE www.fomh.org. Cemeteries can be uplifting. volunteer, Pat Corcoran, decorated the road­ -ROR or several years, the Friends of Mount way shoulder by planting hundreds of attrac­ Hope Cemetery have maintained a tive perennials. Fweb site created by our youngest The result is a Ravine Avenue that trustee. Emily Horvath. Over time. she has looks as pristine as it did in 1838, using the gradually improved it, but now, with signifi­ same malerials that it was constructed of cant effort, Emily has created a sophisticated

Non-Profit Org. THE FRlENDS OF MT. HOPE CEMETERY U.S.Postage 791 MT. HOPE AVE. ROCHESTER, NY 14620-2752 PAID Rochester, NY Permit No. 150