Downtown in Rochester in Monroe County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Powers and Wilder Buildings

Photographed by Lugnuts, June 30, 2020

1. Powers and Wilder Buildings Marker

Inscription. Across State Street is the Powers Building, erected by Daniel Powers as a bank and office building with an art gallery and grand ballroom. On that same site once stood the city's first residence, Hamlet Scrantom's log cabin. The Powers Building was constructed in stages from 1865 until 1891. The cast iron supports and wall-to-wall marble floors insured the building's fire-proof status, and the water tank in the tower powered the city's first elevator. Across Main Street stands the Wilder Building, Rochester's first skyscraper, erected in 1887 by Samuel Wilder. Its 12 stories effectively surpassed the Powers Building until 1891, when Daniel Powers added the final three tower stories.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 43° 9.353′ N, 77° 36.745′ W. Marker is in Rochester, New York, in Monroe County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of East Main Street and State Street, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Located on the sidewalk across from both subject buildings. The buildings are kitty-corner from each other. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 East Main Street, Rochester NY 14614, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Finger Lakes.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Reynolds Arcade (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Frederick Douglass 1815-1895 (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Site in Journalism (within shouting distance of this marker); Tavern of Silvius Hoard (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Education (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Front Street (about 400 feet away); Early Mills and Races (about 400 feet away); County of Monroe (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

Also see . . . Powers Building - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on October 23, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Powers Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lugnuts, June 30, 2020

2. Powers Building

Wilder Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lugnuts, June 30, 2020

3. Wilder Building

Photographed by Lugnuts, September 6, 2020

4. Powers and Wilder Buildings Marker

View looking east up Main Street. The marker is in front of the light pole, the Wilder building is to the right of the marker, across Main Street. The Powers Building is behind the photographer, over his left shoulder.

Overview Looking Southwest image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lugnuts, September 12, 2020

5. Overview Looking Southwest

The marker is in the center of the photo, to the right of the green light pole. The Wilder building is across Main Street to the left, the Powers Building, across State Street, can barely be seen on the right side of the photo, partially obscured by a modern building in front of the photographer's position.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2020, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,125 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 3, 2020, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on September 7, 2020, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on September 14, 2020, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.