"Nowhere on its route was the impact of the canal more immediate or more far-reaching than at the Genesee crossing where a struggling village was suddenly transformed, within a decade, into a prosperous and dynamic city."
- from Rochester and the Erie Canal by Blake McKelvey, former City Historian

Filmmakers Fred Armstrong and James P. Harte have produced a 45 minute video documentary on the history of the Rochester Subway, which operated from 1927 to it’s abandonment in 1956. Using archival images, interviews and contemporary footage, “The End of the Line - Rochester’s Subway” tells the story of the smallest city in America to build and abandon a subway. Video available in the U of R library and many of the Monroe County Public Libraries. Also available for purchase from local Animatus Studio for around $30 (VHS only). Contact Fred Armstrong directly at (585) 232-1740 or fred@animatusstudio.com.

Rochester’s History - An Illustrated Timeline from VintageViews.org.

"The Orphan Rochester Subway" by Otto Vondrak from Railroad.net

The Erie Canal - A Brief History from NY State’s website.

The Story of the New York State Canals by Roy G. Finch from NY State’s website [Adobe Acrobat, 772KB].

The Rochester Subway - Experiment in Municipal Rapid Transit by Andrew David Lipman courtesy the Rochester Public Library [Adobe Acrobat, 1.16MB].

"Time Tunnel: Step into the past" by David Shein of The Rochester Insider.

"Really Rochester: Going Underground" by David Shein of The Rochester Insider.

"Treasure Subway" by Rick Armon staff writer of the Democrat & Chronicle.

"Filling in Old Subway" by Rick Armon, staff writer at the Democrat & Chronicle.

Community Links:

• Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood
• Rochester Rail Transit Committee, Inc.
• Advocates for the Development of Rochester's Canal
• Subway Page @ Rochester WIKI
• Rochester Trolley and Rail Corp.
• Neighborhood United

   

Questions, comments or to have your link listed here, contact the webmaster:

(585) 234-3524
christopher.burns@chillthefill.org