Rochester Photographic

“Lover Come Back”, 1962

admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:44:41 +0000

I found this paper bag folded in a stack of 78 rpm records I recently purchased at a nearby yard sale. A promotion for “Lover Come Back” starring Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall, it is printed on a 7½ x 10½ paper bag. Perhaps it was for a 1962 showing here at our very own RKO Palace.

This is a very funny movie, and definitely has VIP!

Sit back, enjoy the trailer and try to imagine yourself in the splendor of the RKO Palace.

RKO Palace, 1928-1965

admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:30:29 +0000

Formerly located at 71 Clinton Avenue, the RKO Palace in Rochester opened Christmas 1928. Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Graven and Mayger in the Georgian style, it was adorned with elaborate plasterwork, velvet curtains, chandeliers and gilded metalwork. It was home to the Wurlitzer 4/23 (opus 1951) theatre organ which was rescued by the Rochester Theater Organ Society and is now housed at the Auditorium Theater.

It was viewed as the most beautiful theater in our city, but in 1965 it was demolished in the name of “urban renewal”, and since then the location has been used as a parking lot.

East High, c.1905

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:19:44 +0000

east high, c.1905

East High School, designed by J. Foster Warner and located on Alexander Street. Opened in 1903, it served as a high school until 1959. This cyanotype dates back to around 1905.

Motel Miami, c.1953

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:49:59 +0000

Located at 4126 State Routes 5 and 20 in the town of Hopewell, just east of the city of Canandaigua. In the early 1960’s a second floor was built to accommodate the family residence. The pool is no longer there.

The motel has been undergoing restoration since it was purchased by Valerie and Dennis Calkins in 2004. We often overlook the beauty and importance of mid-century architecture, and I am pleased that this one is being saved.

For more information on the Motel Miami, please visit motelmiami.com

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Papec Machine Company – Shortsville, New York c. 1910

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:29:13 +0000

Beginning in the early 1900’s through the 1980’s, the Papec Machine Company of Shortsville, New York manufactured farming implements known worldwide for their quality. Originally located in Lima, New York, the company moved to Shortsville sometime around 1910. These images are reproduced from 5×7 and 8×10 glass plate negatives.

papec machine company, no.1 - ensilage cutter, detail

papec machine company, no.5 - machine shop

papec machine company, no.7 - machine shop

papec machine company, no.8 - studio

papec machine company, no.13 - ensilage cutter

papec machine company, no.14 - cutting wheel

papec machine company, no.16 - farm

papec machine company, no.19 - farm

papec machine company, no.21 - farm

Rochester: a City of Quality, 1963

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:08:00 +0000

http://romanoarchives.altervista.org/

Meine Familie

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:09:24 +0000

Before I begin posting more photographs of family, I thought it would be nice to give a little background history of who you will be looking at. First my father’s side…

My paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1926. He was sponsored by Zweigle Brothers and worked for them for several years. In 1940 he bought a home on Garfield Street in the city of Rochester. Our family lived 3 generations in that house.

My paternal grandmother is descended from Palatine Germans who immigrated to America in the early 18th Century. They settled on the Robert Livingston Manor near present day Albany, New York and later moved to Rensselaerwyck, New York. Eventually they settled in the Penn Yan area and then Rochester in the early 20th century.

Any more detail than that and I suspect your eyes will glaze over, so I will just tell the rest of the story a little at a time with photographs.

butchers, zweigel bros., c.1930

Butchers, Zweigel Bros., c.1930
Zwigel Brothers was located at 214 Joseph Avenue. This photo was most likely taken at 212 Joseph Avenue. My grandfather is standing second from left.

Council Rock Avenue, c.1954

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:49:27 +0000

These photographs show the installation of a pool at a house on Council Rock Avenue in Brighton, New York. According to the 1954 city directory the family was named Kroll. The house is believed to have been designed by architect Don Hershey.

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Henry Lomb Memorial, c.1949

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:05:44 +0000

Taken from Bausch Park looking towards the intersection of Martin Street and Sheridan Street (now Upper Falls Boulevard). Coca-Cola Bottling of Rochester is now on that site. This photograph shows my father, his sister and older brother and was most likely taken on a visit to his grandparents who lived on St. Paul Street near Clifford Avenue. He says he remembers when this photo was taken and wishes it was in color because the tulips are in full bloom. He recalls the camera was a twin lens reflex that shot 127 film, but is not sure who shot the photograph. We do not think it was his mother because it’s in focus and the subject is composed properly! Perhaps it was his grandfather…
My father has a life long love of photography, so even though he is young in this photo I do not doubt the memory. I guess this acorn didn’t fall far from that tree!

henry lomb memorial, c.1949

Captain Henry Lomb (1828-1908) was an investor in John Jacob Bausch’s optical shop and eventually a founder of Bausch & Lomb. In 1885 he founded the Mechanics Institute, which eventually became RIT. The art deco monument was designed by Lewis J. Brew and Walter Cassebeer. Erected in 1930, it is made of black granite and stands 48 feet tall.

Hey, don’t throw that away!

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:30:21 +0000

I cannot begin to express how sick I feel when negatives and photographs get thrown away. I kind of understand why they do…storage, anonymity, or just a plain lack of interest. But if you are anything like me you feel a need to save every last one. That is how I came upon these incredible photographs. And after considerable organizing, research and the at the request of many people, especially Cynthia at the The Landmark Society, I am now sharing them with the entire community.

whiting collection, no.235

To learn more about this collection, go to the Whiting Collection page. To see a sample of the incredible photographs in this collection go to the Council Rock Avenue gallery.