History
 

During the 1820's, brothers Bradford and Moses King from Connecticut entered into a partnership with Obediah W. Bush to purchase the land that became the Bush and King Tract. An 1832 survey map shows the early layout of this tract. The Bush and King Tract, bounded by Canal and New York Street,*(now Jefferson Ave), was located within the boundaries of the newly chartered city in an area still largely undeveloped. Three major transportation routes would border the tract in its northern and eastern sides by the end if the 1830's, greatly influencing the development of the area in the nineteenth century.

The completed Erie Canal curved past the Bush and King Tract at its northeast corner. Here, along Canal Street was the construction of the Genesee Valley Canal and featured one of the largest turning basins in the city at its northern terminus; the 600 foot long Ohio Basin (no longer exists).

Also in 1837, the Tonawanda Railroad was completed along the north side of Silver Street and train service established from Rochester west to Batavia. The proximity of the two waterways and one rail route would spur both the residential and industrial growth of the Bush-King Tract in the mid and late nineteenth century.  

Many noted residents lived in this district over the years. At 17 Madison Street, Susan B. Anthony set up her headquarters for the life-long battle for women's rights. It was in this very house that she was arrested for voting, this setting a milestone as the first American woman ever to cast a ballot in an election. Indeed, the memory of her vibrant personality is cherished by all Americans and flavors the Madison-King area with a historical character that is extremely significant to the neighborhood, the City of Rochester, and the nation. Her home was the first building in Rochester to be on the National Register of Historic Places.

With the proximity of the canals and railroad to the Bush-King Tract, it has been thought that the developers may have assumed the area would become a neighborhood of working class (mechanic) families and, therefore, they designated the park "Mechanics Square" for those residents. In the early 1900's the park was re-designed by The Olmsted Brothers. In 1971 the park was renamed to Susan B. Anthony Square and continues to serve as a focal point for the residential area. In many northeastern communities, urban park squares were considered crucial to the health of a city.

Looking at this area from today's perspective, it compares to a small town complete unto itself with shops and residences along West Main Street and Allen Street and along the alleys. Schools, churches and factories such as the Cunningham Carriage Factory along Canal and other streets.

Within walking distance from downtown Rochester, today you'll find the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood is a wonderful eclectic residential pocket in the City of Rochester. The presence of the Susan B. Anthony house provides the neighborhood with a history that is nationally renowned and the revival of the area today provides a rich, historical and interesting setting as an urban residential neighborhood.

Enjoy taking in the character, history and flavor of historic Rochester, as well as the Rochester of today working to preserve it's history.