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

Early Education

Photographed by Lugnuts, September 7, 2020

1. Early Education Marker

Inscription. Rochester's first public school was built south of here on Fitzhugh Street. The Free Academy Building, built in 1875, now occupies the site. The central school library in the free academy served the public and students from 1863 to 1904. Growing commercial activity prompted the school district to open East High in 1903 and West High in 1905. The Rochester Athenaeum was organized in 1829. Mechanic's Institute (organized in 1885) absorbed the Rochester Athenaeum in 1891. The Rochester Institute of Technology developed from the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanic's Institute. In 1877, Mortimer Reynolds purchased the Athenaeum books, which became the nucleus of his reference library, then part of the Rochester Public Library. The University of Rochester and Colgate Rochester Divinity School had their beginning in the United States Hotel at 216 West Main Street (1850-1861).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 43° 9.331′ N, 77° 36.833′ W. Marker is in Rochester, New York, in Monroe County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection

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of Main Street and Fitzhugh Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 42 W Main St, 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

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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: St. Luke's Episcopal Church (a few steps from this marker); County of Monroe (within shouting distance of this marker); Monroe County (within shouting distance of this marker); City of Rochester (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer School (within shouting distance of this marker); Tavern of Silvius Hoard (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Underground Railroad

Photographed by Lugnuts, September 7, 2020

2. Early Education Marker

The marker is directly across the street from the Gordon A. Howe County Office Building.

(about 400 feet away); Powers and Wilder Buildings (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

Overview Looking Southwest image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lugnuts, September 12, 2020

3. Overview Looking Southwest

In the distance you can see the Free Academy Building that occupies the space of the original school described in the marker text.

The Free Academy Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lugnuts, June 30, 2020

4. The Free Academy Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2020, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 378 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 14, 2020, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.