East Rochester history

The car equipment began in 1871 with the purchase of 225 29-foot box cars, followed by the purchase of additional box and fruit cars.

On June 16th, 1896, Penfield celebrated the signing of the deeds with bell ringing of both school and churches.

On the evening of December 28th, 1897 thirty-one qualified voters met in the OLD FREIGHT HOUSE OFFICE ON WASHINGTON STREET 'for the purpose of incorporating the Church and electing trustees thereof'. Rev.

February 27, 1899, the Buchanan Brass Hardware Co., moved here from Buchanan, Virginia, and began the manufacture of brass hardware in a building which had been erected near the New York Central tracks on North Lincoln Road.

Foster and Armstrong of Rochester, manufacturers of pianos, were induced to locate at this place, and on July 14, 1900, the erection of the big, modern, reinforced concrete factories west of Washington Street was begun.

While here he celebrated his 80th birthday on June 10, 1901}., at which time he was given a purse of $172.

The Village was incorporated in March 1906.

In 1909 the business had grown so large that a new building was erected, a factory near the New York Central tracks at the northeast end of the village.

In November the New York Central Railroad adopted a pension system for employees which would become effective on January 1, 1910.

Beginning in the year 1911}., the grim spectre of war was hovering over our world.

All these mark the beginning and date back a quarter of a century and are ever dear to the hearts and minds of us who ore present on this occasion to answer present to the roll call of that date, February 22, 1912.

In 1913 a Series of Union Evangelistic Services were held under the direction of Rev.

Therefore, plans were made to build a Sunday School Unit "to the south of and adjacent to the present church building", with the idea in mind of some day completing the entire structure of a modern edifice. It soon became apparent that more room was needed for the rapidly-growing Sunday School, which, from a report of April 12th, 1915, had an enrollment of 346 and an average attendance of 245.

Our theatre building was built in 1917, a modern theatre, and adds greatly to the appearance of our Village.

In 1918 the plant was added onto and a beautiful new offioe was built.

Fred O. Scurrah of Canton, New York was the third pastor called to minister to the First Presbyterian Church of East Rochester, January 28, 1922.

In 1928 the M.D.T. was divided, the M.D.T. being assigned to the West Yard and the D.S.I. (Despatch Shops, Incorporated) was put under Walter Thurmon, Foreman in the East end.

John H. Sondmeyer in 1930, Rev.

In 1945 an average of 163 trains passed through the growing village of East Rochester daily.

The Pierce Oil Products Corporation (about 1950) by anonymous.

The roster of employees runs to 1700, many of whom are Puerto Ricans or men who worked at the Buffalo plant of the M.D.T. The car shops today (1956) have the reputation of paying higher wages than almost all other heavy industrial plants near Rochester.

With no room left in the East Avenue complex, the Harris Farm property on Fairport Road was purchased where a new building was opened in 1959.

By 1967, under Public Works Director Frank Forbes, permit values had grown to more than $4 million annually.