The Birch Crescent Historic District consists of thirty-seven residential properties located in Rochester's Northeast
Quadrant in the East Main/University Neighborhood. The residences are situated on both sides of the one block street called
Birch Crescent, which extends from Goodman Street North to Main street East.
Built between 1890 and 1910, properties being large scale two-and-one-half story residential structures of frame construction
with clapboard and wood shingle siding. The structures exhibit characteristics associated with vernacular interpretations of
popular late nineteenth or early twentieth century American architectural styles.
Many of the houses share common items including asymmetrical plans, irregular fenestration, larger front porches, and a
diverse use of materials. This district contains very good examples of late Victorian vernacular houses - Stick and Queen Anne
Style, along with various Revivals. Many old growth trees remain; all properties are setback equally.
The district reflects Rochester's strongest period of residential growth between 1890 and 1920. The East Main/University
Neighborhood was first settled densely during the mid-ninetieth century when the 100 acres farm of
Azariah Boody was subdivided for residential and commercial development.
The area known today as the East Main/University Neighborhood was first settled in the early nineteenth century as part of
the Town of Brighton. The area remained open land throughout most of the first half of the nineteenth century.
Azariah Boody acquired 100 acres of land in 1842 and 1850 and established a farm. In 1850, the City of Rochester annexed most of the East
Main/University area including Boody's farm.
Azariah Boody was best known as a major railroad investor and was involved with several Western New York Lines including the
Genesee Valley Railroad and the Rochester Lockport and Niagara Falls railroad. He was responsible for the consolidation of
many smaller lines into the New York Central Railroad system.
The history of the Birch Crescent area is intertwined with the University of Rochester, Ellwanger and
Barry, and Charles Goodale. Initially, the land was owned by Azariah Boody, the man who donated land
for the University of Rochester’s Prince Street Campus. Through various transactions, the land ended
up in the hands of Ellwanger and Barry by 1854. In 1856, Charles Goodale, bought his land on the northside of Birch Crescent from Ellwanger and Barry. Mr. Goodale initially constructed a house on East
Main in 1858; however, it wasn’t until 30 years later that the land on either side of Birch Crescent was
developed.
Ellwanger and Barry who owned the south side of Birch Crescent, and Mr. Goodale, who owned the
north side, subdivided their land into 40' wide lots in 1889. The lots changed hands multiple times
until the first homes were built in the early 1890s.
Slide Show - Birch Crescent Neighborhood
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