September 22, 1936: Three thousand Rochesterians as well as hundreds of dignitaries from industry, local government, banks, clergy and the press crowd into Sibley's downtown department store as Mayor Stanton unveils the city's first Escalator. At the cost of $250,000, the moving stairway was hailed as a "feat of construction and engineering" and a significant investment in the future of the city.
Source: Marcotte, Bob, "Sibley's had humble beginnings",Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.com, June 15, 2009