Rochester’s 19th Ward

Rochester’s 19th Ward portrays one of the city’s largest residential neighborhoods. The initial settlement,predating Rochester itselfwas called Castle Town. It emerged around 1800 along the Genesee Riverwhere boatmen poled flat-bottomed boats along a stretch of turbulence in the river known as the Rapids. Out of this desolate community developed a streetcar suburban elegant and vibrant neighborhooddesigned for the modern 20th-century family. Fine homeschurchesshopsschoolsand industries arose between 1900 and 1930and the 19th Ward quickly became a prestigious address for doctorsprofessorsand skilled laborers.