Historic Corn Hill

Welcome to Corn Hill, the heart of Rochester's oldest residential neighborhood, once known as the Third Ward. Almost from the beginning of our city's history this neighborhood has been one of Rochester's favorite residential districts. Protected by the Genesee River to the east, the Erie Canal (which followed the present route of Broad Street) to the north and the Genesee Valley Canal (now Ford Street) to the west, the area offered early 19th century Rochesterians the same advantages residents still enjoy today-buffered from the heavy commercial traffic of downtown, but still close enough to make a stroll to work or shop a pleasant and convenient experience.

Millers and merchants built impressive homes during Rochester's first growth after the building of the Erie Canal (1820s and 30s) while real estate investors built more modest dwellings for sale or rent to the city's booming population. Scottish immigrants developed the area around the Gazebo at Lundsford Circle-once known as "Caledonia Square. This is still reflected in the neighborhood street names of Greig Street, Edinburgh Street and Glasgow Street. Later, former slaves came to Corn Hill and settled along Clarissa Street.

The neighborhood was first known by its political designation as the "Third Ward", but as more substantial dwellings in later architectural styles replaced the earlier cottages, Rochesterians dubbed it "The Ruffled Shirt Ward" or the "Silk Stocking District". Today Corn Hill is still a showplace for historic architecture, featuring numerous residences of Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Eastlake and Queen Anne styles.

The ward was also favored for its congeniality and commitment to improving life in the city. Behind many of these historic doors were held the founding meetings of such important educational and civic institutions as the University of Rochester and Rochester General Hospital.

Changes accelerated in the 20th century and as decades passed, the neighborhood began to experience a decline, hastened after World War II by the general population exodus to the suburbs. By the early 1960s, highway and Civic Center construction had claimed many irreplaceable landmarks, and urban renewal threatened to take what was left.

In an effort to save an important part of our heritage and community, the Landmark Society conducted a 1964 survey of surviving buildings and persuaded city government officials to include a conservation area in its urban renewal plans. They initiated a demonstration program of purchasing houses and provided house tours, publications and advisory services to the public.

Corn Hill residents enthusiastically organized to join the effort in preserving the architectural legacy that remained. An Arts Festival was organized in 1968 to support these efforts and to bring public awareness into the area. Today the Corn Hill Arts Festival is one of the most highly respected festivals of its kind in the United States and draws in excess of 300,000 visitors each July. In the 1970s the Corn Hill Neighbors Association was founded and later incorporated.

Today the Landmark Society and the Corn Hill Neighbors Association have demonstrated that practical preservation can rejuvenate and maintain a neighborhood. Federal, state and city governments have recognized the architectural and historical merit of the old Third Ward by awarding preservation district status as a protection and well-deserved honor for Corn Hill.

Selections from "Third Ward Traits" by Charles Mulford Robinson, 1899:

Corn Hill's Third Ward Past
Coming Home to Corn Hill
Friendliness in Corn Hill
Holidays in Corn Hill