Third Ward Historic District
Why it's listed
Tucked into the inner southwest corner of Rochester and cut off from downtown by Interstate 490, this seven-block residential neighborhood holds about 126 structures, mostly brick houses. Styles run from heavy Greek Revival temple-fronted homes to Italianate villas with cupolas, Gothic houses with towers and cresting, and early twentieth century apartment buildings. Between about 1830 and 1880 it was the city's choicest residential district, set apart from the business area by the Erie Canal. Its residents included millers Hervey Ely and Benjamin Campbell, lumber merchants Amon Bronson and Emmet Hollister, mayor Charles J. Hayden, and for a time the young Leonard Jerome, grandfather of Winston Churchill. Local architect Isaac Loomis built a Carpenter Gothic cottage for himself at 42 Atkinson Street. After decay in the early twentieth century, urban renewal and demonstration rehabilitation by the Genesee Landmarks Foundation revived the area, and about two-thirds of its buildings have since been rehabilitated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is a graphic visual record of Victorian Rochester and of the city's social history. From about 1830 to 1880 it was Rochester's choicest residential area, home to millers, lumber merchants, a mayor and other notable figures. Its houses range from Greek Revival temples to Italianate and Gothic villas and early twentieth century apartments.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001262, listed July 12, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Adams and Peach Sts., I-490, and both sides of Troup and Fitzhugh Sts., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | July 12, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001262 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Loomis (local architect who built 42 Atkinson Street for himself); an architect named Hastings is said to have designed the Hervey Ely House |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate villas, Gothic and Carpenter Gothic, late Victorian, with early twentieth century apartment buildings |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Ethnic Heritage-Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Largely in use as a residential neighborhood; about two-thirds of buildings have been rehabilitated under an urban renewal project begun in 1966, with ten vacant lots and a few mid-twentieth century buildings. |
| Acreage | 35 |
| Coordinates | 43.15047, -77.61525 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7785001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.