PRICE 25 CENT$ OF THE PUBLISHED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, JANUARY 24, 26, 27, 1938 COPYRIGHT, 1938 An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man --EMERSON ND so with cities! They are the reflected glory and disillusionment of their people; fabric woven of human joy and heartache1 striving and indifference1 attainment and failure-with sublimity and common- place indelibly stamped in the pattern they present to all that pass their way. Rochester has much to be proud of1 little to regret. Here splendid motive and rich achievement outweigh shortcoming and error. Growing pains there have been1 but few if any progressed beyond the stage of minor ailments. Here foresight and the common good almost invariably have been the denominator and yardstick of doing. Inextricably interwoven in the record of civic accomplish- ment and community endeavor is the thread of high purpose that has characterized one organization/ living its first half century. If the pages that follow contribute something to a better understanding and appreciation of the way we have come in the last five decades1 and the important role played in that development by one of the city/ s oldest institutions-The Rochester Chamber of Commerce-those who have labored in their making will be content. MOON'S PHASES, E. DIV. D. H. M. H. M:. Last Quarter. 6 5 New Moon First Quarter 11 Full Moon . PHENOMENA s New Day .M Slavery ab'd 1863. T Norfolk burned, 1776. Peace with Eng. 1784. T o severe cold night. F Epiphany.. o gr't snow storm,. after Epiph·any . p Act, Fire, Milwaukee, 1883. sleet cold rain. F SalmonP. Chase b. 1813. Gibbon died, 1794 s. aft. Epiphany. Alex. Hamilton b. 1757. 27 Battle Cowpens, 1781. 7 T Copernicus born, 1472. 7 25 F Peace of Paris, 1783. 1793. S. after Epiphany. brightest. 0 UPPER FALLS OF GENESEE-1887 manent quarters in Rochester Sav- 1887 ings Bank building, Feb. 6, follow- Theater for John L. ing President Warner's inaugural Sullivan's "vulgar" exhibition of fisti- banquet, ]an. 10. cuffs. First Kodak appears on market. But it's O.K. for Barnum & London Margaret Fox admits she and sister, Circus on Riley Triangle (now Anderson Kate, ·"assisted" spirits in those "rap- Park). pings." Casper Pfaudler, obscure Rochester City gets two new bridges-Elmwood machinist, perfects first glass-lined steel Ave. over river, and Plymouth Ave. tank. over canal. City's first park (Highland) starts with Central R. R. opens Centre Park sta- 20 acres donated by Ellwanger & Barry. tion, and Lehigh wants to get into city Infants' Summer Hospital opens. from South. Chamber promises help to Edward Bausch, in his thirties, invents latter, and asks former for better serv- iris diaphragm shutter. ice, reduced fares. Five die when naphtha in sewage from Vacuum Oil works blows up Platt Street. Wilder Building in 1890. Looks like we' 11 have a Chamber of Commerce, after meeting of Safe Deposit Co. becomes Rochester business men in Mayor' s office, Trust & Safe Deposit Co. Nov. 22. What, another railroad? Rochester & Erie Railroad station opens-and first Honeoye Valley R. R. incorporates. Erie jokester born. Common Council asks Chamber to Ritter Dental Manufacturing Co. help settle question of additional water established. supply. Yesiree, that idea of having ·a Rochester Germicide Co. starts Chamber took hold. Constitution chasing bacteria. and by-laws adopted Dec. 5. Hul- U. S. Government building (Church bert H. Warner becomes first presi- Street) completed. dent at meeting in Common Coun- Chamber employs 3 experts to assist cil chamber, Dec. 19. Only 6 stand- First home of Chamber City Engineer Fisher survey possibility ing committees to start on. (Rochester Savings Bank Bldg.). of damming river at high banks to de- Rochester park system established velop water power for city industries; with Dr. Edward Matt Moore first presi- and sponsors another railroad (to be dent. Chamber persuades city to buy electrically operated) to Charlotte. land for 3 parks all at once. Building contractors organize Board First play ("The Wife") given at of Trade (now Builders' Exchange). Lyceum Theater. C. of C. has 339 members at end of Many lives lost in Lantern W arks fire first year, and reports community en- at west brink of Upper Falls. joying prosperity "despite short crops, C. of C. campaigns for 1-cent letter bad· weather and presidential cam- Invitation to first meeting of Chamber. postage, improved Charlotte harbor, paign." and to stop contamination of Hemlock Oh! Oh! Rochester Electric Railway water supply. Joins national Board of incorporated. What next? Those horse Trade. cars are bad enough, scaring the day- Flower City Gentlemen's Driving lights out of everyone! Assn. organized. John P. Smith installs first motor Wilder and Ellwanger & Barry build- driven presses-and speed printing ings erected. is on. James G. Blaine and Chauncey De- Rochester Evening Times makes its pew deliver campaign speeches in bow as Democratic paper. Franklin Square. Hiram Sibley, founder of Western Over 300 attend first Union, dies. meeting of Chamber Telephone subscribers get over being l888- - of Commerce in per- mad at company, and end "strike." Lyceum Theater soon after erection. FOUR CORNERS IN "GAY NINETIES" Wind storm fells old Liberty Pole at East Ave. and Franklin St. mg machme - Jacob Transparent photo film discovered by Gerling becomes its lifelong enemy. George Eastman, not yet thirty-six. Citizens' Gas Company incorporates. Free Methodist, North Presbyterian, Edw.in Booth suffers stroke on stage of Grace Evangelical, South Congrega- Lyceum. tional and Church of the Ascension North Baptist Church organized. dedicated. Rochester "gets religion" in First buildings at Kodak Park. David Jayne Hill becomes president a big way. of U. of R.; succeeds Martin B. Ander- Homeopathic Hospital (now Genesee) by insisting upon more equitable con- son. opens. tract, but leaves horses in the lurch. C. of C. collects $14,000 forJohnstown Chamber reports 46 conventions this Burke, FitzSimmons, Hone & Co. flood sufferers. year; not to mention bringing a vinegar enlarge store. First electric street car line (to Char- works, tannery and rolling mill to city. Grace Presbyterian, Spencer-Ripley lotte} operates, with Chamber's blessing. William S. Kimball, president. Methodist and Church of Christ dedi- cated while Central Presbyterian, St. Stanislaus, Holy Rosary and Second German Baptist lay cornerstones. crat & Chronicle, with C. of C. says better have smoke Samuel G. Blythe at keyboard. Linotype nuisance than idle factories. Asks that first used in composing room. Ernest R. cheap soft coal rates be maintained. Willard becomes editor-in-chief. Driving Park Avenue bridge opened. Bausch & Lomb begins making Stein-Bloch label first appears on searchlight mirrors for U. S. Navy. men's clothing. First buildings at Kodak Park erected. J. Hungerford Smith Co. moves to Cyclone does much damage here. Rochester. Chamber successfully opposes bill to Chamber gets Congress to declare reduce legal interest rates in state from Irondequoit Bay "navigable water;" 6 to 5 per cent; started agitation for new sees its plan for smaller Board of Edu- city charter. cation adopted; wins fight for gravity Eastman Kodak works in 1889. First electric trolley car operates in- system of bringing in Hemlock water. side city (Lake Avenue line}. First bank clearing house operates. Genesee River turns loose greatest C. of C. reports 57 conventions and flood since 1865. "money tight but few failures." Lewis And still more railroads! South Park P. Ross, president. and Crosstown railroads incorporated, Glen Haven line starts picnickers bay- ward, and Rochester City and Brighton R. R. sold. Chamber turns out 54th Regiment car transfer - strap- Band to welcome "Congress of the Bicycle race at old Crittenden Park. hangers invent ways and means to ride Three Americas" and promote South all day on one. 300 rescued when fire sweeps St. American trade; also busy on home Rochester Wheelman's League gets trade, inspiring switch connections to under way; 15,000 bicyclists demand Mary's Hospital. Fireman Jaynes (later provide "belt line" around city for better streets. They get cinder paths chief) seriously injured. transfer of freight without re-handling. and a 25-cent-per-bike tax. Caledonia Avenue (now Clarissa) First dental chair (ouch!) built by New Y.M.C.A. at South Ave. and gets lift bridge over Erie Canal. Frank Ritter. Court St. opens. Chamber sponsors State Board of Trade organized at campaign for funds. Rochester C. of C. Children's pavilion in Highland Park Mechanics Institute absorbs old Roch- dedicated. ester Athenaeum (oldest school in Reception to Julia Ward Howe at Rochester} and locates on new site in Chamber. S. Washington St., with $8,000 help Rochester Railway Company organ- from Chamber members. izes to take over and electrify four exist- Work starts on great East Side trunk ing trolley concerns in city, amid much sewer, a Chamber project. opposition to "junking" of horses and Electric trolleys supplant horse cars disapproval of "mere give away" on on Main Street, from York St. to Glen Hotel Ontario at Ontario Beach- early 1900's part of city council. Chamber save·s day Haven station. ERIE CANAL AQUEDUCT Republican State Convention held First branch postoffice east of river here. opens. Monroe County Insane Asylum goes St. Bernard's Seminary holds first over to state control. classes. Hahnemann Hospital (now Highland) Lehigh Valley R. R. opens station on · opens. Crouch's Island, and Chamber gives Chamber advertises city has "largest Buffalo merchants a jolt by getting Le- and finest tobacco factory in the world" high to finish branch to Honeoye Falls making over 1 million cigarets a day so townsfolk can come here to trade and employing 1,200.-the Peerless "Old Calamity"--West Main canal bridge.