Northeast Neighborhoods - Upper Falls

Northeast Quadrant - Upper Falls

Henry Lomb Memorial Park

fallsBow The Henry Lomb Memorial is located at the intersection at St. Paul and Upper Falls Boulevard, at the east end of the Bausch Memorial Bridge in the City of Rochester. The memorial was designed by Walter H. Cassebeer and Louis J Brew. The memorial was made of polished Minnesota granite. The Memorial stands 48 feet tall. The Memorial was unveiled and dedicated on May 30, 1932 on Memorial Day. Over 40,000 people attended. The Memorial was lit at night. The plaque on the memorial was written under the direction of John Rothwell and Rush Rhees of the University of Rochester. The memorial still stands and there are plans to relight the memorial and rededicate it in the near future.

After the 1964 race riots, a triad of problems - degraded housing stock, poverty and crime - buffeted the area for several decades. Local churches, Mount Vernon and Antioch Baptist Churches, are remembered for their historic role in the riots. Both churches suffered extensive damages due to fires but were able to rebuild and continue to serve as places of refuge and hope for many residents.

upperFallsNeighborhood3 CONEA, the Coalition of NorthEast Associations, was founded in 1982 by a group of determined residents and stakeholders to focus on housing, crime prevention, economic development and youth leadership. Over the years, CONEA has worked with Flower City Habitat for Humanity to create several single family homes and apply for grants through the New York State Affordable Housing Foundation, to help improve existing homes. One of its largest revitalization efforts brought a Tops Supermarket to the neighborhood. It promotes PAC-TAC (Police and Citizens Together Against Crime), Neighborhood Watch Programs and landscape enhancements. In 2009, CONEA worked with the City's Forestry Department to install an avenue of new trees in the area. It also partners with six neighborhood block clubs: Reed Park, Henry Street, Evergreen Street, Edward Street, Vose Street and Mark Street Block Clubs. 

stMichaels1 St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church on North Clinton Avenue remains the major architectural landmark of the neighborhood. Its tall steeple (the 10th highest building in the city) looms 220 feet above a gothic stone church built in 1890 that is still partially enclosed by an original 19th century wrought iron fence. It remains a vibrant parish today. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 it has acted as "the spiritual home" to the Rochester Fire Department, hosting the annual Firefighter's Mass.

It's "bi-lingual Parish House" contains a universal Pre-K program, as well as an After School Program, and plans to add an Eldercare component to the facility. On the fourth Sunday of every month, Eastman School of Music students hold musical concerts at the church.

 One of Rochester's oldest employers remains a vibrant part of the neighborhood. The Genesee Brewing Company at 445 St. Paul Street traces its lineage back to Aqueduct Spring, Rochester's first brewery, built in 1819. It is one of the largest and oldest continuously operating breweries in the US, best known for Genesee beers as well as the J.W. Dundee line of craft ales and lagers. The recently renovated campus, which now boasts a restaurant, exhibition space, and gift shop, is looking to expand its reach by developing training and education programs in the future to create jobs in the microbrewery industry.  

Upper Falls is home to other historic notable businesses including the Coca-Cola Bottling Company and American Specialty Manufacturing Company, the producer of Rochester’s own Boss Sauce and a leader in local job training programs for disadvantaged residents. Additionally, the original structure of the Bausch and Lomb building stands strong on St. Paul Street adjacent to the Shanti AIDS Memorial Garden and the Henry Lomb memorial on the gateway of Upper Falls Boulevard. City residents are also able to find other important resources in Upper Falls at the Monroe County Department of Human Services (MCDHS, which also houses St. Michael’s Woodshop) and Rochester City School District offices. Families of all ages can look to the beautiful new Gantt R-Center for fun community programs including health and fitness, music, recreation, and cooking classes.

If you would like additional information on this neighborhood, please contact the Northeast Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center:

500 Norton Street
Rochester, NY 14621
(585) 428-7660
Email:  John.McMahon@CityofRochester.Gov