Photo #2 West Brighton

History Note: Rochester Brick & Tile Co.

The University began life on Main Street in Rochester NY in 1850.

William Otis the founder of the RB&TCo. in Brighton, sent two of his sons to attend the University.

Ira Late Otis graduated with the class of 1855, Elwell in 1858.

The area which has been enlarged was, once upon a time, in the Town of Brighton and today some UR property lies within the limited area of Brighton.

So yes I have taken some liberty in viewing the River Campus lands.

But we, Brighton,

owned it all in 1814.

Yes we did!

What do we see 1n 1923

  A golf course is viewed where a University now stands!

Illustration from: 1923 Book, “ Rochester A Good Town to Live in” / by Edward Hungerford

UR Campus on University Avenue

The University began life on Main Street in Rochester NY in 1850

and in 1861 moved to University Avenue on land donated by Azariah Boody

Women were admitted in 1890 by a gift from Susan B. Anthony

Note; Azariah Boody was a personal friend of William Otis, a railroad contractor, congressman and University trustee from 1853-65. His gift of land to the University in 1853 was soon developed into the Prince Street

College on River Campus broke ground in 1927...opened in 1930

(View of Eastman Quadrangle & Rhees Library under construction.

..Architects: Messrs. Gordon & Kaelber, of Rochester, and McKim, Mead & White, of New York)

1950 River Campus

Aerial View of  College on River Campus 1950

River Campus & Medical Center... 1930 Aerial View

UR  River Campus

General Elwell S. Otis

brother to Ira

     Graduate of the University of Rochester and Harvard University. Accepted Sitting Bull's surrender in 1876. In 1898 he was posted to the Philippines, but he arrived two weeks after the end of the Spanish American War. He served as Governor General there, and his policies earned much goodwill towards the United States. When he retired to his home in Rochester, he was given a hero's welcome, that featured a parade down Main Street on 'Otis Day', June 15, 1900 that passed through a giant triumphant arch designed by Claude Bragdon.

First University Building in Rochester  1850-1861

James Wolcott Property (River Campus) before Oak Hill Golf  Course & before River Campus, 1900 Map

In 1827, Epaphras Wolcott, whose name once honored the riverside route now taken by Wilson Boulevard, set up a distillery on the northernmost section of his land. When he died in 1852, Epaphras left his business to his sons, Anson and George, who in turn passed it on to Anson’s nephew James in 1880. Twenty years later James Wolcott retired, then leased much of the family’s farmland south of the distillery to Oak Hill Country Club in 1901.

Democrat & Chronicle, Monday, May 6, 2013 by Emily Morry

Photo from: “The University of Rochester -The First Hundred Years 1850-1950”

1930 Aerial Image courtesy of  Jim Weller, Brighton NY

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Illustration from: 1923 Book,

“ Rochester A Good Town to Live in”

/ by Edward Hungerford

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Illustration from: 1933 Book, “ Minute Glimpses of American Cities” /  by Herbert S. Kates

Rochester - New York

“The city is justly proud of the University of Rochester. Bequests by the late George Eastman made the University one of the most heavily endowed universities in the country. Situated on a picturesque bend on the Genesee River, a golf course was transformed into one of the most beautiful of college campuses.”

Quote from: 1933 Book, “ Minute Glimpses of American Cities” / by Herbert S. Kates

Genesee River Bend

History Note

“For nearly fourteen years Anderson Hall stood alone. Under its roof was housed all that there was of the University of Rochester. It contained classrooms, laboratories, chapel and library. Hiram Sibley, (Western Union Telegraph Co.), made a generous donation of a much needed library building,... opened in 1877.”

Text from: “ Rochester A Good Town to Live in” / by Edward Hungerford / page 82-83

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