Rochester's South Wedge follows the hundreds of ambitious and ordinary people who have formed a distinct community for 185 years. Immediate neighbors include Mount Hope Cemetery, the nation's first municipal cemetery and final resting place for the Frederick Douglass family and Susan B. Anthony; and Highland Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Close by are the University of Rochester and Colgate Divinity School. With its northern boundary on the original Erie Canal, the South Wedge became home to laborers, craftsmen, and shopkeepers who contributed to the boatbuilding industry in the 1800s. The world-famous Ellwanger and Barry Nurseries covered parts of the South Wedge and surrounding area.
In this revisited edition, the rich picture history of Rochester's South Wedge, first shared in 2005, is expanded with new insights and stories. Since moving to the area in the summer of 1976, the author has dedicated 13 years to working on The Wedge newspaper, committed to sharing positive news about city life. Over those years, technological advancements drastically transformed the way the newspaper was produced, and an explosion of online information became available. This edition captures these significant changes and offers a more comprehensive view of the South Wedge's evolving narrative, reflecting the dynamic interplay of community and technology.