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Buttchocks posted:Gates  I'm working on a couple of projects right now that will inevitably become posts, but for now please accept my smaller offerings, like the small tale of Willard Shrimp:  17 Oct 1976, Sun [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122759118/willard-shrimp/]
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Apr 12, 2023 22:49
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I came upon this exchange in the “Over the Percolator” column in a series of Democrat & Chronicle issues. “Over the Percolator” discussed items of local history and accepted reader submissions for events or points of interest in Rochester history. 18 Sep 1924, Thu [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122682076/douglass-house/]  22 Sep 1924, Mon [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122681628/bloxson-wager/] You know what else is a mistake? “Doublass”. Anyhow, this description intrigued me. Not least because I liked the story Bloxsom dunking on everyone like this. I hoped to corroborate or find mention of this tale elsewhere. Unfortunately, I was not rewarded for my efforts, but in chasing down the story I ended up with a fairly neat outline of the Bloxsom family experience in Rochester, NY.  10 Oct 1924, Fri [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122707630/josiah-h-bloxom/] A. C. Bloxom would have been Augustus C. Bloxsom, oldest living son of Josiah H. Bloxsom, born 1847. Josiah H. Bloxsom and his family were from Virginia; upon arrival in Rochester, NY sometime prior to 1851 he worked as a waiter.  [https://urresearch.rochester.edu/fileDownloadForInstitutionalItem.action?itemId=25183&itemFileId=84266] (p.222)  1851 Directory Josiah Bloxsom listed as Blossom, Josiah. Prior to 1852, the Black population of Rochester was listed separately. The change to a combined listing is said to have been at the insistence of Frederick Douglass. As far as I know, a “packet” is a type of canal boat common at this time on the Erie Canal and Genesee River. Josiah would have been a waiter on a boat, I guess? No addresses are available on the 1851 map but if I may conjecture off of future maps, 43 Cayuga would have been somewhere in here:  1851 Map [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00447.jpg] Note the “J. Sheik” property; this will be present also in the 1875 atlas, strengthening my conjecture. Cayuga Street would eventually become South Clinton Street.  [https://urresearch.rochester.edu/fileDownloadForInstitutionalItem.action?itemId=25183&itemFileId=84266] (p.225) By 1860, Josiah and his son Albert were working as barbers, or hairdressers as they were termed at the time. Barber/hairdresser was the most common profession for Black men in Rochester, NY during this period, with the majority of Black labor in each ward being represented as barbers/hairdressers.  1875 Directory 1875 Directory entry showing Josiah H. Bloxsom and his son Albert H. Bloxsom working in the hairdresser’s at 2 Railroad Avenue.  1875 Atlas [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00126.jpg] The Waverley house, a hotel and arcade, in 1875. Josiah, Albert and Augustus Bloxsom operated their hairdresser’s shop within.  [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rochpublib/rpf/rpf00/rpf00393.jpg]  [https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116115314] A ~1864 photograph of the corner of State Street looking onto Railroad Avenue. The bullnose corner of the Waverly House is at right. The Bloxsom hairdresser’s shop would be on the side facing away. Despite having a Black barber as a tenant, the posh Waverly hotel infamously turned away Frederick Douglass one rainy night in 1872, after he returned to Rochester upon learning of his South Avenue home being burned to the ground. In 1894, the Waverly would be renamed the Savoy, before eventually being razed in 1952 to make way for the Inner Loop.  [https://www.ebay.com/itm/264248130709]  [https://ancestorville.com/products/albert-bloxson-african-american-genealogy] I was actually pretty shocked to find a photograph of any of the Bloxsoms. Here is one of Albert H. Bloxsom, son of Josiah H. Bloxsom, by photographer Noel Byron Baker.  [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Enduring_Truths/spckCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] Apparently also known for photographing a carte de visite portrait of Sojourner Truth during a visit to Rochester, N. B. Baker operated out of 18-19 Buffalo Street during the years 1859-1869, the latter year during which Albert H. Bloxsom would have been 15 years old.  1875 Atlas [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00149.jpg The home of Josiah H. Bloxsom at 38 Pinnacle Avenue, 1875, somehow rendered here as J. Bloum. I guess that’s sort of like Bloom, which is sort of like Blossom, which is sort of like Bloxsom–to be frank, this sort of thing is why I just picked the most commonly-used spelling (Bloxsom) and stuck with it. That seems to be the spelling that ended up on their graves, so it is somewhat “set in stone” I suppose. This next article I’m just linking, for two reasons. One, I can’t be sure that it’s Albert Bloxsom; the name given is Albert Blossom, but that was a common misspelling of his surname, and no other Albert Blossoms exist in the directory at this time. Two, this article is written in a style that’s alarmingly racist even for its time. What the gently caress, man? Anyhow, view at your own discretion: [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122785305/albert-bloxsom/]  08 Dec 1886, Wed [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122686119/a-late-melee/] A report of a violent encounter between Albert Bloxsom and his wife.  05 Jan 1886, Tue [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122733745/josiah-h-bloxsom-obituary/] Josiah H. Bloxsom died January 3rd, 1886.  20 Apr 1886, Tue [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122681548/josiah-h-bloxson-estate/]  1886 Directory As of 1886, Augustus C. Bloxsom was a sign painter at 417 State Street, with a home at 526 State Street. He would live two more years, until 1888. Albert H. continued to operate as a hairdresser after his father’s death, at 526 State Street. After that point, his practice began to wander from address to address.  11 Oct 1887, Tue [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122767679/first-class-barber/]  1888 Plat [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00247.jpg] 47 Pinnacle Avenue, the home of Joaner Bloxsom–widow of Josiah H.--in 1888.  06 Oct 1888, Sat [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122778737/augustus-c-blossom-obituary/] Augustus died not too long thereafter, in October 1888.  1892 Sanborn [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217189203/?sp=19&r=-0.283,0.268,1.318,0.81,0] 526 State Street, home and hairdresser’s shop location of Albert H. and Rebecca Bloxsom, and the place where Augustus C. Bloxsom died. Now parking for 510 State.  1889 Directory [https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1889/1889a-b.pdf] Rebecca Bloxsom, the widow of Augustus C., worked as a barber at the 526 State Street location.  1888 Plat [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00248.jpg] Plum Alley, Albert H. Bloxsom’s home in 1888. I’ve no idea which home is considered “15”. Changed to Beaver Street between 1888-1900.  1892 Sanborn Map [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217189202/?sp=42&r=0.478,0.342,0.444,0.273,0] 47 Pinnacle Avenue, which would become 475 South Clinton Avenue in 1900. Former home of Josiah H. Bloxsom and Joaner Bloxsom.  11 Jun 1890, Wed [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122708407/for-sale-barber-shop/] An advertisement for a barbershop in Waverly Block. Based on the timing and the address, it’s likely the old Bloxsom hairdresser’s shop.  1892 Sanborn [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217189203/?sp=8&r=0.176,0.724,0.57,0.35,0] An 1892 map of the Waverly House with 9 Central Avenue marked in red, previously the Bloxsom hairdressing shop.  20 Aug 1894, Mon [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122779192/joanner-bloxsom-obituary/] According to the Mount Hope Cemetery, Joaner Bloxsom–widow of Josiah H. Bloxsom–died in 1894 of dysentery. Unfortunately her obituary presents her name as Johannah, which was not uncommon, but also presents her widow’s name as Jonah instead of Josiah. Oh, well.  [New York, U.S., Governor's Registers of Commitments to Prisons, 1842-1908] Record of Albert H. Bloxson being sent to prison for public intoxication, 1905.  15 Aug 1906, Wed [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122785330/thought-he-had-been-robbed/]  1909 Directory  1911 Sanborn Map [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217191204/?sp=16&r=-0.272,0.446,1.132,0.636,0] Red is 475 South Clinton, green is Bloxsom’s 1909 barber shop location, 30 Byron. Albert Bloxsom’s name appears for the last time in the 1914 directory. By the next year, 475 South Clinton belonged to another person; eventually, new properties would be squeezed into the gaps, and the homes slightly renumbered. Until its destruction sometime before 1938, 475 South Clinton would be numbered 473 South Clinton. According to the Mount Hope Cemetery, Albert H. Bloxsom died 1927.  1938 Sanborn Map [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217195001S/?sp=65&r=0.127,0.097,0.822,0.505,0] 475 South Clinton is gone in this 1938 map, along with its two newer neighbors. The lot would lie empty until becoming parking for Goodwill:  Google Maps 2022 As for the 9 Central Avenue hairdressing shop location in the old Waverly, well, take a look at a vantage point standing roughly in front of the old shop, looking southeast towards where it would have been:  Google Maps 2022 For over seventy-five years now, the view has been one of a concrete wall on the northwest side of the Inner Loop. Updated map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1NpG85iz5pq1OZ1RG14lsq0z_D229RRw&usp=sharing Brawnfire has a new favorite as of 17:57 on Apr 19, 2023 |
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Apr 14, 2023 19:07
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KirbyKhan posted:Near me in Gates-Chili is a Tops grocery store. It rests on Wegmans Rd. There is no Wegmans grocery store on any point of that road. How would I find out the deal is behind that? If you're still aware of this thread and see this message: 1.) I hope you're enjoying lovely, historic Gates-Chili! and 2.) I somewhat expanded my document on this subject, eked out a couple more articles and got the book Coldwater: An Eclectic History of the Hamlet from the library to reference. quote:“Also in Coldwater: An Eclectic History of the Hamlet is a 1828 handwritten survey of present-day Wegman Road in Gates, named for Christina Wegman and her family who operated dairy farms on what became Wegman Road. Christina is the third great aunt of Danny Wegman, chief executive officer of Wegmans Food Markets (with headquarters on Brooks Avenue in Gates).  1872 [https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116118813]  Coldwater: An Eclectic History of the Hamlet (p.129) This map of Gates Center from 1872 shows a plot of land along Wegman road between Lyell and Buffalo owned by J. Wegman. This is most likely the John J. Wegman who died in 1885:  27 Jul 1885, Mon [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117963973/john-j-wegman-obituary/] I know that obit says John J. Wegman but every other record I can find about him is John G. Wegman. His name was Johann Georg Wegman, which had been Anglicized as John George Wegman.  [http://www.libraryweb.org/~digitized/newsindex/1851-1897/Index49RAI-REA.pdf] Joseph B. Dewey was Gates town supervisor from 1850-1851, and 1854-1855. Joseph Dewey obituary: [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122080189/joseph-dewey-obit/]  1887 [https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116706071] The Rochester Lime company leased land from John Snow for lime kilns, seen to the north of G. Wegman’s land.  16 Jul 1901, Tue [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122012712/august-wegman-affray/]  30 Jul 1901, Tue [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122080537/joseph-wegman-cow-tale/] Things really start popping off in 1901 with John G’s sons, August and Joseph J. Wegman, whose names are seen on the 1902 map of Gates below:  1902 [https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116143081] After 1904 and before 1908, Joseph J. Wegman would be a Justice of the Peace in Gates.  Coldwater: An Eclectic History of the Hamlet (p.130)  12 Feb 1909, Fri [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122102894/wegmans-family-reunion/] quote:Danny’s grandfather Walter married Anna F. Frankenstein on June 27, 1917, in Rochester. They had three children: Robert B. Wegman (1918-2006), Cecilia R. Wegman (1921-2010) and James W. Wegman (1924-2012). Coldwater: An Eclectic History of the Hamlet (p.130)  1924 [https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116140485]  29 Jan 1937, Fri [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122013206/august-wegman-obituary/]
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Apr 19, 2023 17:52
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I was collecting information for my Strasenburgh Planetarium file, and discovered Robert Moog came to town in 1970: 13 Nov 1970, Fri [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123271372/the-moog-man/
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Apr 21, 2023 17:51
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Hello! Back at it after a couple weeks' hiatus. While looking up some address or another, I happened to notice the digital scan of the 1890 Rochester City Index included a name and address hand-written on the front: Perley Ainsworth, Steam & Hydraulic Engineer, 28 Jay Street.  1890 Directory [https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1890/1890a-bl.pdf] The listing for Perley Ainsworth in the 1890 Directory.  1888 Plat 28 Jay Street, the Bunker home, between Frankfort Street and Frank Street (Now North Plymouth Avenue) in 1888, where Perley Ainsworth lived until his death. This parcel now contains a cinder-block garage rear entrance for Standard Concrete Co. on North Plymouth. Its address is 48 Jay Street.* *[https://goo.gl/maps/YQdG61QrMVDTQM1VA?coh=178573&entry=tt]  1892 Sanborn [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217189203/?sp=16&r=0.472,0.339,0.22,0.135,0] 28 Jay Street in 1892. The house had two parts, and Perley Ainsworth rented out the back.  1887 [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Scientific_Canadian_Mechanics_Magazine_a/0rVQAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] Perley Ainsworth’s claim to patent an engine.  Friday, September 05, 1890 [https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-a-perfect-meter/124262334/] A meter for measuring water and other fluids, designed and patented by Ainsworth.  Monday, July 27, 1891 [https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ainsworth-meter-a/124335477/] In 1891, at age 75, Perley served as director of a nascent company formed in his name to flog his inventions; the business does not seem to exist past 1892. And thus it made for a compelling story when the inventor’s lifeless body was discovered in the bushes, an apparent despondent suicide: [Content warning: suicide, death, obviously]  Wednesday, March 06, 1895 [https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-perley-hanged-sel/124262235/] A lifetime of business failure. His son Parker Halleck dead of fever in Peru in 1872, his daughter Emma Hannah dead in 1878, and his beloved wife of nearly fifty years, Frances, dead within the previous three years. Some final humiliation must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back; of course the gentleman took his life, all things considered--one could easily say. It seemed like a sad but pat little story; and indeed, it might have been, save for one problem–  Thursday, March 07, 1895 [https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-hauser-suicide/124311249/] This dude wasn’t even Perley Ainsworth. He was a basket-maker named Andrew Hauser. Poor Perley apparently, at the ripe age of 79, was subjected to reading a newspaper article trotting out his personal failures, in which he’s framed as pathetic and his frozen corpse is described in lurid detail. Not only that, but he was apparently compelled to do so in the cold as nobody saw fit to deliver coal to a dead man. I like to think this was the point at which an embittered Perley decided if the world wanted him dead so badly, he’d simply stop paying his rent and become a cantankerous bastard.  1895 Directory [https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1895/1895ge-ha.pdf] Andrew and Henry C. Hauser in the 1895 city directory. Andrew is noted in his listing as having died March 5th.  1900 Plat Map 12 Wilkins Avenue depicted on the 1900 plat map, where Andrew Hauser lived with his son Henry until he committed suicide in March of 1895. This house was razed some time between 1950 and 2007; a new house was constructed there in 2010, its address 138 Wilkins Street.* *[https://goo.gl/maps/gJNWUt2NrdaWwEBA9?coh=178573&entry=tt]  Tuesday, October 16, 1900 [https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-perley-estate-auc/124293488/] An auction at the “late residence” of Perley Ainsworth, though at the time he had neither died nor moved out so I’m uncertain as to why it’s referred to like that. Perhaps this was a ploy of his landlady, Miss Catherine Bunker, to recoup some of his back rent by selling his possessions at auction. Or it’s just Perley leaning into the role of being a dead person.  Tuesday, November 06, 1900 [https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-derelict-in-rent/124262120/] When I originally began my research into Perley, I was faced with the difficult situation of explaining a man who had killed himself five years prior suddenly being called out for rent delinquency. I know times were tough, but I was fairly certain death was an escape from rent even for someone as unfortunate as Mr. Ainsworth seemed to be. I was confounded when I checked the 1900 directory and found him listed alongside his usual address years after his supposed suicide. This was my cue to dive back in with a fine-tooth comb and find the follow-up article about Andrew Hauser which I had previously failed to uncover. Mistaken identity is certainly a reasonable explanation, but drat if it isn’t way less interesting than a dead tenant who refuses to move out and to pay rent. Anyhow, given his emotional reaction to being called “Peter” instead of “Perley” he must have raised some holy Hell about being pronounced a suicide by the newspaper.  1900 Directory [https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1900/1900a-bl.pdf] The 1900 city directory, with the still very much alive [at the time] Perley Ainsworth squatting in 28 Jay. Poor Catherine Bunker didn’t need this, surely. Her house had been in her family’s possession since 1826, when her parents Laban and Deborah moved to Rochester. She was last surviving among ten siblings, and the 1892 death of her well-to-do brother Robert–who ran a cooperage on Frank Street–doubtless added to her financial burdens. Having to ask her dead sister Roseanne’s son Henry to play rent collector against a violent old inventor was probably the last thing she thought she’d be doing in her later years.  1851 Map [http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00448.jpg] Above, the Bunker house on Jay Street, 1851. At this time, it belonged to Deborah Bunker, Catherine’s mother, her father Laban having died 1844.  1901 Directory [https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1901/1901a-bl.pdf] The directory from the year 1901, in which it is noted that Perley died at age 85 on February 3rd. Sadly, I was unable to find an obituary for Perley, his wife, or either of his children. Perley is buried in Falls Cemetery, Greece, NY, along with his daughter Emma.  [Ancestry.com] I also found, uploaded to Ancestry, a series of letters written around 1845 between Perley and his wife Frances. The signature seems a close match to the writing on the 1890 directory 45 years later. As an aside, he wrote without pause or periods: just a letter-long run-on sentence. It’s maddening to read.  [North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000] (p.11) A blurb about Perley Ainsworth’s family, beginning with his father Walter Graves Ainsworth. Updated map: [https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1NpG85iz5pq1OZ1RG14lsq0z_D229RRw&usp=sharing] Brawnfire has a new favorite as of 19:12 on May 10, 2023 |
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May 10, 2023 18:47
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Being told you can't have any coal because you committed suicide sounds like a Tales From the Crypt story
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May 11, 2023 01:38
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I feel like not writing obituaries about how reasonable it was that such a failure would want to end their own life is probably in some kind of style manual somewhere for newspaper writers. Amazing to see.
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May 11, 2023 07:31
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Deep Glove Bruno posted:I feel like not writing obituaries about how reasonable it was that such a failure would want to end their own life is probably in some kind of style manual somewhere for newspaper writers. Amazing to see. There's definitely been some change in how journalism textbooks approach the subject, from my cursory googling. There's a whole-rear end paper on it but I don't have access. I found this chart on "reportingsuicide.org" and sure enough, the posted article manages to hit nearly every single "avoid" on it  There was no note in this case, but they love to share the contents of suicide notes in the 19th/early 20th century articles if there's one to report on. Sometimes verbatim. I've collected numerous articles at this point about carbolic acid suicides and gas tap suicides in this period, and have been of two minds whether I want to discuss any in the thread. The topic's pretty grim but honestly, it's hard to avoid being grim with most of these posts full of death and despair. Carbolic acid suicide, for one, is a downright interesting social phenomenon with a seemingly quite simple solution. Brawnfire has a new favorite as of 23:10 on May 11, 2023 |
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May 11, 2023 23:06
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 [https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804r.la002364/?r=0.724,0.74,0.106,0.065,0] Me Gerundigut is an archaic spelling of Irondequoit
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May 17, 2023 18:11
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I know this thread is dead and over now, but I wanted to tell anyone who is interested that I'm posting to a blog now, https://gonechester.wordpress.com. Most of the entries are fleshed-out and embiggened versions of what I've posted in here, but for people who actually care [old-rear end Rochesterians]
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Sep 10, 2023 20:58
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Sad to see this thread go; I kept meaning to come up with something for my own hometown, though I doubt it could compare to your posts. 
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Sep 13, 2023 03:35
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I really enjoyed learning more about the old city and it's cast of characters. Thanks for all your research and entertaining writing!
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Sep 14, 2023 16:45
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