Several weeks ago, I decided to write my April article about what was happening in East Rochester during the last solar eclipse here in January 1925.  I searched through photographs, interviews, newspaper articles, files, and advertisements.  Sadly, I was able to find nothing about activity here in our village to celebrate the event.  So, I decided instead to write about what daily life was like in East Rochester ninety-nine years ago.
 

In December, a new cookbook was added to the collection in the Local History Room -Centanni! – St. Nicholas Society Celebrates 100 Years of Italian-American Food, Family and Community. With over 250 photos and about 180 recipes, the book honors the Italian-American heritage in East Rochester. The book serves to remind us that each cookbook in our collection helps us understand the culture of our community, the commodities that were for sale as noted in the advertisements in some of the books, and the markets where foods were sold.

Did you know the East Rochester Community Television channel went on "the air" for the first time on November 23, 1993?  Continue reading to learn how our local Channel came to life and how our Community Television channel continues to be available today!

 For over 100 years the bandstand has had a special spot in Edmund Lyon Park—the first park created in our community.  Originally called Vanderbilt Park, the area was just a large vacant space.  Then, Kate Gleason purchased the property, and donated the land to the village.  With help from the village’s Department of Public Works crew and workers from the Gleason Works Company in Rochester, the area was transformed into a beautiful park.  In 1916, the park was formally dedicated, and at Kate Gleason’s request, it was named in honor of Edmund Lyon, one of the founders of our community.

On May 23, 1898, a group of businessmen from Despatch (as East Rochester was known until 1906) met at Branshaud’s Hall on East Commercial Street to set up the first fire department.  On May 29th, the first official meeting was held, and the Despatch Fire District was formed.  During subsequent meetings committees were formed to find estimates for needed equipment, as well as for property and a fire hall.  It was determined that $1800.00 was the amount needed to outfit this first department.  Equipment included:  one dozen rubber coats, boots, and helmets, a hose cart, an alarm bell, a ladder truck, and three chemical carts.  Needless to say, the first fire trucks were either pulled by horses or pulled by hand.

Select READ MORE for the full article on the East Rochester Volunteer Fire Department!