Charlotte’s History Timeline

1612 – Etienne Brulée maps Genesee country for the first time.

1669 – Explorer Robert de la Salle visits Irondequoit Bay.

1792 – William & Mehitable Hincher settle on the west bank of the river.

1800-1850:

1805 – March 3^rd – President Jefferson establishes the “Customs District of the Genesee”.

1811 – The name “Charlotte” first appears on a deed and a map.

1812-1814 – The Port of the Genesee at Charlotte is visited four times during the War of 1812.

1815 – The street along the waterfront is named “River Street”.

1820 – 316 ships visit Charlotte, Port of the Genesee.

1822 – Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse is built.

1829 – The U.S. Government erects two parallel piers out into the lake.

1849 – Plank road is built from Ridge Road to Charlotte.

1850-1900:

1852 – 1^st village church is built – Lakeside Presbyterian Church.

1853 – Railroad arrives at Charlotte, Port of the Genesee.

1853 – Methodist church built on Lake Avenue.

1854 – First grain elevator is erected.

1863 – Brick residence replaces the original two-room keeper’s house.

1863 – Holy Cross opens as a satellite church of Our Mother of Sorrows.

1868 – The blast furnace begins operation.

1869 – June 14^th – Charlotte is incorporated as a village in the Town of Greece.

1875 – 1^st railroad Swing Bridge built for the “Hojack” line.

1876 – Life Saving Service opens a station in the village (later merges with the Coast Guard).

1883 – Upton and Craig grain elevator is built at the foot of Petten Street.

1884 – Ontario Beach Park opens.

1889 – July 1^st – 1st trolley run from the city to the village of Charlotte.

1889 – Village firehouse is built on Stutson Street (later became the 1st Charlotte library; torn down in the 1950’s).

1891 – St. George’s Episcopal Church built- corner of Lake and Stutson.

1900-2008:

1905 – 2^nd swing bridge built by the King Bridge Company.

1905 – The historic Dentzel carousel is installed at Ontario Beach Park.

1908 – First high school is built at the triangle of River St. and Broadway.

1914 – Brick Village jail is constructed on Stutson Street.

1916 – January 1^st – Charlotte is annexed by the City of Rochester as its 23rd ward; the “Village of Charlotte” ceases to exists.

1916 – Firehouse on Stutson Street built by the City of Rochester.

1917 – Stutson Street Bridge opens.

1919 –September 5^th – Charlotte library opens in the old firehouse.

1926 – The “Port of Charlotte” becomes the “Port of Rochester”.

1933 – Present Charlotte High School is built on Lake Avenue.

2004 – June 17^th – “Premier Passage” of the fast ferry.

2004 – October 1^st – Col. Patrick O’Rorke Memorial Bridge opens.

2005 – The Bill Davis Overlook is installed at the site of the old Stutson Street Bridge and becomes part of the Genesee Riverway Trail.

2006 – Genesee Riverway Trail-Turning Point Park to Petten Street opens.