The Frederick Douglass-Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge. PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK
Created out of a remote area in the western wilderness of a young nation, the City of Rochester has experienced profound changes, developing from a small riverside village into a mill town, a booming canal town, a horticultural center, a manufacturing hub attracting immigrants, and a major center of American innovation.
It has had high points -a bustling downtown, headquarters for internationally known industries, a nationally respected health-care system. It nurtured two of the nation's most significant civil-rights leaders, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. And it suffered the tragedy of the 1964 race riots and white leaders' arrogant reaction and denial of the city's problems.
Now, Rochester seems to be at a crossroads, challenged by the problems typical of American urban areas - declining population and manufacturing and increasing poverty - and bolstered by a highly educated population, strong universities and research centers, and a tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The city is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. What could it be like when it celebrates its 200th anniversary? What should it be like? In this special anniversary section, 10 Rochesterians take a look at where we are, our challenges and opportunities, and talk about where we might go in the next 25 years.
Like the city itself, this is a group composed of many non-natives, people who came to Rochester from somewhere else - usually relocating because of their career - bringing a broad perspective that can help shape the city as it heads toward its 200th anniversary. Only two of them are natives. And significantly, those two - Young Professionals' Maria Thomas and event producer James Niche - represent a demographic group that has too often given up on the city, and the region, and had taken its talents elsewhere.
For the photographs accompanying their articles, we asked each of our writers to meet us at their favorite place in the city. They range from the familiar - parks, a museum - to the less visited: the top of the Times Square Building (whose owner, Rich Calabrese, graciously provided access for Joanne Arany and our photographer) and James Niche's pick, the pedestrian bridge over I-490 (a uniquely remote spot, with a view of the city).
Guides
BY KENT GARDNER The Rochester community confronts problems that will test the mettle of our leaders in coming decades. Our core challenges persist and others will emerge, yet help from external sources will become scarce. We are thrust back on...
Guides
BY MARIA THOMAS The ideas for making this community more livable are not new. Many generations before us set the groundwork. However, over the next 25 years, Rochester can greatly benefit from the innovation and creativity of the next...
Guides
BY JOEL SELIGMAN From its earliest days, Rochester has been a community with the capacity to remake itself in the face of fundamental economic changes. The city's founders harnessed the waters of the Genesee and the Erie Canal to become the...
Guides
Rochester's future success depends upon our ability to fashion and implement solutions to deal with the seemingly intractable problem of poverty and its attendant conditions. Otherwise, we will be mired in a pattern of urban decline that has a...
Guides
BY JAMES NICHE Before I explore the future of the Rochester music scene, I'd like to go back in time and give a big shout out to George Eastman, his genius vision, and the birth of professional music in this city. Without the Eastman...
Guides
BY JOHN KLOFAS Will crime in Rochester be better or worse 25 years from now? Considering crime's impact on so much else -neighborhood stability, development, the costs of the criminal justice system - the question is important. The...
Guides
BY BLEU CEASE From my perspective, the visual art scene in Rochester seems to be growing in many directions. Despite general economic woes, it is a particularly exciting time. Healthy art scenes are made up of a diversity of institutions,...
Guides
BY JOANNE ARANY The architecture and landscapes of Rochester remain among the few links to our city's rich past. We can rightfully crow about our "big brass" landmarks by Frank Lloyd Wright, Claude Bragdon, AJ Warner, Frederick Law...
Guides
BY LARRY GLAZER There is contagious enthusiasm and interest in the City of Rochester right now, and lots of promise. Unfortunately, with a slate overflowing with proposed projects but short on bankroll and, in some instances, consensus,...
Guides
BY CAROLEE CONKLIN After more than 40 years in a large house in Maplewood, where I raised four children, I moved into an apartment right alongside the Genesee River. I never tire of looking at the Genesee. Some days it seems calm and...
Comments for "Rochester at 175" (2)
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Cote said on Apr. 22, 2009 at 12:39pm
This article has a lovely message. I have an issue with the selected writers however. Since 30% of Rochester currently lives in poverty, why not chose 3 of the 10 writers from those who are impoverished? I would think they would know problems the city faces best considering they likely have seen the most dramatic effects.
Adam said on Apr. 28, 2009 at 5:06pm
"Now, Rochester seems to be at a crossroads" - That is the quote of the year. With the economy is the dumps, there will be some real tests for Rochester ahead. With the decline the city has had over the last 20 years, I'm optimistic that people will pull together to plow forward for better years. But I'm also worried they will squabble over petty issues or politics and delay decisions - or worse - make devastating ones. I know that may sound like a contradiction. Usually you need to take time and debate to make sure the decisions are right, but Rochester needs some luck here. The city needs SPEED and ACCURACY as the path forward is charted (note the purposeful boat metaphor ;-)
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