The history of 19th Ward
The 19th Ward’s story starts at the Genesee River near today’s Brooks Avenue and Genesee Street. In 1800 James Wadsworth built a tavern and store there and hired Isaac Castle to run it, and the settlement became known as Castletown, or simply the Rapids. Grain, pork, lumber, flour and barrel staves moved through it.
The Erie Canal changed that. In 1822 a feeder canal was built near the present Brooks Avenue bridge, so boats no longer had to unload at Castletown, and the settlement faded for decades. The Genesee Valley Canal later ran through the area from 1838 to 1878, followed by a railroad on much of its route.
The ward itself was assembled from land annexed from the Town of Gates in 1874, 1891, 1902 and 1914, and the name simply comes from Rochester’s numbered ward system. The Elmwood Avenue bridge and the city’s purchase of riverfront land for South Park (now Genesee Valley Park), both in 1888, made the area more attractive, and a building boom followed.
Developers subdivided farms and estates into house lots, and streetcar service reached Genesee Street, Arnett Boulevard and Thurston Road. The Sibley family began dividing Hiram Sibley’s estate in 1903 into the Sibley Tract, West High School opened in 1905, and by the 1930s much of the ward was built out with single-family homes.
Two National Register districts, Chili-West and Sibley-Elmdorf, now recognize the ward’s early twentieth century neighborhoods. The 19th Ward Community Association, formed in 1964, has held a house tour since 1971.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1800 | James Wadsworth builds a tavern and store run by Isaac Castle, the start of Castletown |
| 1822 | Feeder canal at today’s Brooks Avenue bridge bypasses Castletown |
| 1874 | First annexation from the Town of Gates brings the eastern part of the future ward into the city |
| 1888 | Elmwood Avenue bridge built; city buys riverfront land for the park now called Genesee Valley Park |
| 1903 | Sibley family begins subdividing the Hiram Sibley estate into the Sibley Tract |
| 1914 | Final annexation adds the western half of the ward |
Did you know?
Castletown began with a tavern in 1800, seventeen years before the village of Rochesterville was chartered downriver.
The homes in 19th Ward today
Mostly freestanding single-family and two-family houses built from the 1890s through the 1920s, plus some 1870s-1880s houses near Chili and West avenues. Styles run from Queen Anne to Craftsman, American Foursquare, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival, with natural wood trim, hardwood floors, leaded or stained glass and open front porches common. Sizes range from one-story cottages to large two-and-a-half-story houses.
Historic designation
Chili-West Historic District and Sibley-Elmdorf Historic District, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. National Register listing is honorary for private owners and can open the door to historic tax credits for owner-occupied homes. What that means for an older Rochester home.
Landmarks and parks
- Rapids Cemetery, Congress Avenue - early burial ground of the Castletown settlement, with veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War
- Genesee Valley Park - part of the Olmsted-designed city park system, on land acquired in 1888
- Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School - opened in 1905 as West High School on Genesee Street
- Aberdeen Square Park - small park laid out around 1915 within the Sibley-Elmdorf district
- Westminster Presbyterian Church building, 330 Wellington Avenue - built about 1915 in the Sibley Tract
- Brooks Landing - riverfront site of the old Castletown settlement and the Genesee Valley Canal
Buying a home in 19th Ward
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- If the house is in the Chili-West or Sibley-Elmdorf district, ask whether it qualifies for the New York historic homeownership tax credit before planning a rehab.
- For 1900s to 1920s houses, check the condition of original leaded glass, porches and box gutters, and look for knob-and-tube wiring and older sewer laterals.
- Many larger houses were converted to multiple units after World War II; confirm the legal number of units and any certificate of occupancy history.
- The full city, school and county tax bill for the exact parcel
- School assignment for the exact address, confirmed with the Rochester City School District
The bigger picture on city taxes, lead rules, two-family homes and the City’s homebuyer grant is in our City of Rochester guide.
Selling a home in 19th Ward
Buyers who search for 19th Ward are often looking for exactly what makes it 19th Ward: the homes, the history and places like Rapids Cemetery, Congress Avenue. We put that story in the marketing, price the home against true comparables, and launch it to draw a crowd. How we sell · What is my 19th Ward home worth?
19th Ward FAQ
Where is 19th Ward?
19th Ward is in the southwest part of the City of Rochester. Boundaries follow the City’s Celebrate City Living program and are approximate; confirm the municipality and parcel for any address.
What kinds of homes are in 19th Ward?
Mostly freestanding single-family and two-family houses built from the 1890s through the 1920s, plus some 1870s-1880s houses near Chili and West avenues. Styles run from Queen Anne to Craftsman, American Foursquare, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival, with natural wood trim, hardwood floors, leaded or stained glass and open front porches common. Sizes range from one-story cottages to large two-and-a-half-story houses.
Is 19th Ward a historic district?
Yes. Chili-West Historic District and Sibley-Elmdorf Historic District, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. National Register listing is honorary for private owners and can open the door to historic tax credits for owner-occupied homes.
How do I find homes for sale in 19th Ward?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for 19th Ward and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- Chili-West Historic District, National Register nomination (NPS)
- Sibley-Elmdorf Historic District, National Register nomination (NPS)
- University of Rochester, History of the Campuses and Buildings: Brooks Crossing (Castletown)
- NY Daily Record, Neighborhood Focus: 19th Ward (2009)
- Monroe County NY Genealogy, Rapids Cemetery
- Neighborhood names and boundaries: Celebrate City Living, a City of Rochester partnership
We describe neighborhoods by their history, homes and landmarks, never by who lives there. For school or safety questions, use the official sources so you can decide for yourself.
Thinking about 19th Ward?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
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