Living in Greece Stories

Stories and recollections from the people, places, and publications that document life in the Town of Greece.

These articles offer perspectives on what it was like to live in the Town of Greece in the past. Many are from the archives or newsletters of the Greece Historical Society. If you would be interested in learning more about the Town of Greece’s history, please feel free to contact us at (585) 225-7221.

(These stories are the property of the Greece Historical Society, which retains all right thereto. The contributors to these stories provide them for non-commercial, personal, educational, and/or research use only. Prior written permission from the Greece Historical Society and the individual authors must be obtained for any other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly publications, or any reproductions or redistribution of any kind.)

Share Your Stories and Memories

We love to read stories and memories by you or your organization. Submit a local history story or memory of growing up in the Town of Greece by emailing a zip file with your story and photos to greecehistoricalsociety@yahoo.com. Use the subject line: Share My Story of Local History or Memories Of Greece N.Y. plus your story title. Include a brief bio and one photo for publication.

Your story should be no more than 500 words. We can edit for continuity, grammar, and punctuation. Stories may cover one span or multiple spans: 1800-1850, 1900-1950, 1950-2000, and 2000-Present.

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Area Photo showing current property lines Monroe County GIS

The City of Rochester in the Town of Greece: A legacy of the Erie Canal

February 9, 2025 |
The distinctive shape of Rochester, New York, is largely the result of various annexations over the years. Notably, in 1926, the city annexed a narrow strip of land, approximately 2 miles long and 130 feet wide, running parallel to Ridgeway Avenue in the Town of Greece. This land was part...
Categories: 1800-1850 1850-1900 1900-1950 1950-2000 2000 - Present Erie Canal Living in Greece Stories
Tags: 1825 1918 1922 1926 1938 1956 390 Camegi Companies Charlotte city Culver Road Durand Eastman Park Erie Canal Erie Canal Commons Genesee Valley Park Geographic Information System GIS Greece Irondequoit Bay Junction Lock Lake Erie Latona Road Lee Road Monroe County GIS North NY-390 old Olde Erie Trail Plat Map population density property boundaries rail Rochester State Route 390 subway town trail Tyron Park weather patterns
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Rotobowling Never Quite Caught on in Greece

January 1, 2021 |
In the late 1940s, as bowling was becoming more popular, the residents of Greece had several choices of where to bowl, including Boem's on Edgemere Drive and the Charlotte bowling hall on Stutson Street. Along the Ridge, there was the Lyon's Den, Damm Brothers, and Ridge Bowling, but with no...
Categories: 1900-1950 1950-2000 Living in Greece Stories
Tags: 1940 1946 1954 1956 1957 1960 AMF Barnard School Boem's Charlotte Cramer's Drug Store Damm Brothers Dewey Ave Donato Fasano Edgemere Drive Ernest Fasano Fasinos Frear Estate Gambling Lyon's Den Maiden Lane Maiden Lanes McCall Michael Fasano New York State Northgate Plaza Orville Whittle Pin Boys Pin Spotter Ridge Bowling Ridge Bowling Hall Rotobowling Sam Mink Schantz Construction Stone Road Stutson St.
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Willow Creek Ranch

March 1, 2019 |
Located at 1118 Long Pond Road about 80 years ago was the Willow Creek Ranch. Far in the rear of the 10 acres was a farm house. Owner, Irving James Thompson known as 'Tommy" Thompson, was a big strong fellow weighing near­ly 400 pounds at one time, who could pick...
Categories: 1900-1950 1950-2000 Living in Greece Stories
Tags: "Cap" Preston 1036 Long Pond Road 1118 Long Pond Road 1944 Arabian gelding Bob Thompson bronc­ busting Bucking broncos bull dragging calf roping Charlotte Cobourg Duke Thun­derbolt Gary and Bob Thompson Gary Thompson Gene Preston Greece Press Hamlin Irving James Thompson knot tying Kodak Lucky Boy Williams Maiden Lane Monroe County Sheriff Nebraska New York Preston Family Preston Farm Ray Slaght Red Cross Rodeos Ronald J. Arndt Ronald J. Arndt Funeral Home Round Pond Creek Tommy Thompson western horse show Willow Creek Ranch
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“Climate Change in 1918?” – YUP Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

February 2, 2018 |
Was anyone aware of climate change one hundred years ago? Was that term even used then? More than likely not... The local families (usually farmers) spoke of a harsh winter or damp spring. The Farmer's Almanac might predict what was ahead with some luck. Here are a group of photos...
Categories: 1900-1950 Living in Greece Stories
Tags: Albert Bowers Jr. Alfred Bowers Sr. Charlotte Christmas Dewey Ave. Farmer's Almanac Kodak Kodak Park Lake Avenue Mrs. Bowers Parma Ridge Road Stone Rd Thanksgiving World War I
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“Let’s Go For An Sunday Excursion” – and never leave the county

July 1, 2012 |
That is just what families and couples might do in the summer of 1912. Sunday was the ideal time for an outing as the aver­ age work week was 5 and one-half days. The Rochester area was lucky to have Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay close at hand where they...
Categories: 1900-1950 Charlotte Living in Greece Stories
Tags: "The Breezer'' "The Hawaiian Gardens" "The Pink Ticket Trip" 1900 1912 1924 Birds Charlotte Clinton Street coats East Main Street Glen Haven Park Hojack Line Irondequoit Bay J.D. Scott Japanese Garden Lake & Bay Belt All Resort Ticket Lake Avenue Trolley Lake Ontario Lake Ontario Shoreline Railroad large ladies hats Main and State Main St Mr. J.D. Scott Naphtha or Gasoline Launch Newport House Ontario Beach Park peanuts Philadelphia Pt. Pleasant Rochester Trolley Sea Breeze Sea Breeze Pier Sodus Bay St. Paul Street State Street ties Turkey-Trot! umbrellas West Main Trolley Worms Wurlitzer Orchestra Piano
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