Browse Items (1394 total)

A background of weightlifting and wrestling prepared McFadden (1868-1955) for his advocacy of physical fitness--or "physical culture" as it was called at the time. His entrepreneurial talents encompassed exercise equipment, dietary advice and,…

At the time of this photograph in the early 1900s, Rochester's public market had been in operation for more than seventy years. Initially located on Main Street just west of the Genesee River, it opened in 1827 and then moved to its current location…

Overlooking Lake Ontario, this amusement park has remained in operation since its opening in 1879--making it America's fourth-oldest such operation. It originated as a trolly destination in an era without air conditioning; temperatures due to the…

From a hillside looking approximately southwest, view shows part of the watershed supplying Hemlock Lake and ultimately the city of Rochester, NY. At the time of this photograph the town's population would have been around 1,700 people, still…

Town along the Genesee River has experienced the rise and fall of fortunes associated with extractive industries: initially lumber and tanning (using bark from hemlock trees), then the petroleum industry. In 1879 oil was discovered near…

Operating a ship named the "Windsor," the Charlotte and Summerville Ferry Company ran a service between those two towns located at the mouth of the Genesee River beginning at least in 1877. Passenger use climbed with trolley lines running along both…

Pictured at McPherson's Point on the east side of Conesus Lake, this building had a strange history. It was constructed as the "Avon Cure" in 1866, during the heyday of mineral springs resorts in that village, by Charles Whalley. It could host more…

At the time of this photograph wooden structure was at least 70 years old, having been constructed in 1830 by a Mt. Morris contractor named Russell Daboll. Its design was somewhat unusual in that wood was used even for the abutments upon which the…

At the time of replacing this bridge where Main St. crosses Honeoye Creek, it was nearly 100 years old, having been constructed in the early 1830s of local quarry stone. It was the only crossing in that village, save for a ford upstream of Honeoye…

Postcard shows guests taking in the scenery at a popular hotel located next to the Silver Lake Railroad. Actually, it was the second Walker House, the first having burned down in 1857. That earlier hotel was operated by Artemus B. Walker, whose…