Costume-Engraved Market Brick Program
An iconic piece of City
of Rochester Public Market history is back after almost a century -- and you can have a visible commemorative presence along with it.
When the City of
Rochester Public Market opened on its North Union Street site in 1905, it was
one of only 125 prominent public places around the country to receive a limited
edition, six-ton granite fountain. Designed primarily to serve
horses--the primary transportation mode of that time--these fountains also made fresh water
available to people and even dogs. Fountains were gifted by the
National Humane Alliance as a practical expression of its animal welfare mission.
The Public Market's
fountain was an important functional feature and an icon of the early
Market. It can be seen in many early
Market photographs. But by 1930, cars and trucks had replaced horses as the
primary transportation mode--the fountain was deemed an obsolete
obstacle and was hauled off the Market. Its whereabouts are still unknown today.
In late 2017, by
remarkable strokes of luck, Market staff discovered one of the original 125
fountains sitting on private property not far from Rochester. The
City was able to acquire this fountain, renovate and re-plumb it, and
set it on the Market in a custom-designed courtyard between the Market Office
house and indoor “B” Shed. On Saturday, September 28, 2019, Mayor Warren and
hundreds gathered to triumphantly unveil the restored fountain.
Help build the Market-- One Custom-Engraved Brick at a Time!
You can support Market community programs by ordering
a custom-engraved commemorative
brick to be included in a brick feature in the fountain courtyard ($300). These are large, original Market bricks
that were salvaged and stored during the Market renovation-expansion project of
2016-2017. Only about 350 of these bricks are available, first
come-first served! With a brick purchase, you/your family/your business
will not only have a very visible, long-term presence, but you will
also support Market programs, initiatives, and facility improvements!
Brick Ordering
To order and pay via check: Print and complete an order form, and send
in via U.S. Mail with a check; you can also deliver to the Market Office on Market days! Make your check out to
"Friends of the Rochester Public Market" and mail to City
of Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street, Rochester NY 14609.
You can also submit an online order form here: Purchase A Brick — Friends of the Rochester Public Market (marketfriends.org)
We'll be in touch to confirm your order, arrange/process payment, and confirm your custom message for your brick!
Special Thanks to Essential Partners and Supporters
This project
wouldn't have been nearly as easy or exciting without the support of:
Friends of the Rochester Public Market, the Market's
non-profit partner. The Friends are providing fiscal and administrative
support of the project.
Ellen Gugel and The
Gugel Family, for generous contributions to support the project.
Roz Goldman, for providing an expert appraisal of the fountain.
Rochester Area Community Foundation, for a $7,500 challenge grant--such grants not only support the
project directly but strongly encourage additional needed support.
Market District Business Association, for a generous contribution to support the project.
C.P. Ward,
for expert and fast work on the moving and renovation of the fountain, and the
design and build of the beautiful fountain courtyard.
Jack Walsh of Derby, Connecticut,
a dedicated fan of all the National Humane Alliance fountains nationwide, whose web site and social media platforms about the fountains, and assistance getting the City
connected to an available fountain, were instrumental in this project.
Scott Wagner, for
connecting the Market with the Gugel family!
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