August 10

August 10, 1889: The westbound Thousand Island Fast Express train on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (ʺHojackʺ line) collides with a stopped morning commuter train at the Forest Lawn station in Webster, killing two and injuring nine of the passengers and crew.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. FATAL RAILROAD ACCIDENT; TWO LIVES LOST NEAR THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, New York Times, Aug 11 1889
2.  TO PREVENT RAILROAD ACCIDENTS, New York Times, Oct. 2 1889
3. The Hojack Line Story, Batzing, Dick, Friends of Webster Trails

• Webster Hojack Trail - Trail Map

October 6

October 6, 1823: The stone aqueduct over the Genesee River is opened. Travel along the Erie Canal becomes possible between the Genesee River to Albany and Lake Champlain.

Further Reading:

• University of Rochester: Erie Canal Chronology and Bibliography

September 10

September 10, 1871: A dedication ceremony for the new Holy Sepulchre Cemetery draws a crowd of 10,000, despite limited transportation options from the city north to its site along the Charlotte Boulevard toll road (now Lake Avenue) on the west bank of the Genesee River.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Rochester History (2005), vol 67, no 2, pg 4-5

September 10, 1840: The Auburn and Rochester Railroad opens providing passenger train service between Rochester and Canandaigua. It's first steam engine was known as "The Young Lion of the West" or later just "The Lion". The railroad was eventually extended through Seneca Falls, then Geneva, Cayuga, and finally Auburn, a total distance of 77 miles in a scheduled time of three hours and forty minutes.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Wikipedia: Auburn and Rochester Railroad
2. Rochester, A Story Historical (1884); Parker Jenny Marsh, page 134
3. A History of Monroe County, New York (1887); Morrison, W.E., page 43 
4. The Locomotive The Young Lion of the West (2004), Palmer Richard
5. History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York (1908); Peck, William F.; page 73

   See Also:

• Trail Map: Auburn Trail Pittsford
• Trail Map: Aubrun Trail Victor

July 30

July 30, 1889: The street car route from Rochester to Charlotte is operated by electricity for the first time.

Sources and Further Reading:

• History of Rochester and Monroe County (1908), Peck William F., pg 75

July 2

July 2, 1963: Mohawk Airlines flight 112, attempting to take off from Rochester Monroe County Airport into a severe thunderstorm, veers out of control and crashes, killing 7 and injuring 36 people on board.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Aviation Safety Network
2. Wikipedia: Mohawk Airlines Flight 121
3. Joan S. NEFF, Administratrix of the Estate of John W. Neff

June 30

 June 30, 1956: The last passenger train makes its final run on the Rochester Subway. The subway began operations in 1927 and limited freight service continued to Gannett Newspapers until 1996.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Vintage Views: Rochester's History: an Illustrated Timeline; "End of the Line" 
2. Wikipedia: Rochester Subway
3. Rochester Ponders Future of Once Vibrant Subway; Mercer, Laurie; Oct 31, 2007

May 22

May 22, 1820: The first Carthage bridge collapses due to a structural flaw. The bridge was constructed over the Genesee River gorge from the settlement of Carthage, located just north of Rochester, along the east bank near the lower falls. Completed just 15 months prior, the bridge was hailed as an great engineering accomplishment, rivaling any bridge in the United States or Europe.

Sources and Further Reading:

1.  The History of Rochester and Monroe County (1908); Peck, William; pg 39

Request for proposals for building the Carthage bridge, published in The Rochester Gazzette, October 14, 1817



May 12

May 12, 1853: The Rochester and Lake Ontario Railroad makes its first run in 30 minutes from Charlotte to Rochester.  The railroad enabled goods and passengers arriving from Canada to reach New York City within 12 hours.  Properties along the route, including that of George Latta, doubled in value.

Sources and Further Reading:

1.  Rochester History (1983) v. 45, n. 3, pg 21

May 11

May 11, 1837: Rochester celebrates the commencement of regular passenger service to Batavia on the Tonowanda railroad, the first steam railroad in the area.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York (1908); Peck, William F.; page 73

December 5

December 5, 2005: The "Spirit of Ontario I" fast ferry made its last passenger trip after two seasons in operation. The ferry service was officially discontinued after Mayor Duffy assumed office in 2006.

Sources and Further Reading

1. Wikipedia: Spirit of Ontario I
2. RocWiki: Fast Ferry

October 6

October 6, 1823: The stone aqueduct over the Genesee River is opened. Travel along the Erie Canal becomes possible between the Genesee River to Albany and Lake Champlain.

Further Reading:

• University of Rochester: Erie Canal Chronology and Bibliography