The history of Edgerton
Edgerton sits on Rochester’s northwest side between Lake Avenue and Dewey Avenue. Its best-known ground, Edgerton Park, began as the site of the Western House of Refuge, created by the State Legislature in 1846 as the first state-supported reform school for juveniles in the country. It opened in 1849 on 42 acres west of Lake Avenue at Phelps Avenue and Backus Street.
The institution was renamed the State Industrial School in 1886 and moved to a farm campus in the Town of Rush between 1902 and 1907. In 1911 the City turned the empty grounds into Exposition Park, home of an annual exposition that reused the old buildings. The Rochester Municipal Museum, forerunner of today’s Rochester Museum and Science Center, opened there in 1912.
The park was renamed Edgerton Park in 1922 for Mayor Hiram Edgerton. Its former drill hall became the Edgerton Park Arena, home court of the Rochester Royals from 1945 to 1955, including their 1951 NBA championship season. Most of the old structures were razed around 1947, but the former chapel survives as the Edgerton recreation center.
Nearby Jones Square served as Civil War marching grounds and one of the city’s earliest baseball fields. The Olmsted firm presented plans to redesign it in 1893, and today it is a shady six-acre square with a historic fountain.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1849 | Western House of Refuge opens on the future Edgerton Park site |
| 1893 | Olmsted firm presents plans to redesign Jones Square |
| 1911 | City converts the former school grounds into Exposition Park |
| 1912 | Rochester Municipal Museum, forerunner of the RMSC, opens in Exposition Park |
| 1922 | Exposition Park renamed Edgerton Park for Mayor Hiram Edgerton |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals, playing at Edgerton Park Arena, win the NBA championship |
Did you know?
The Edgerton recreation center building was once the chapel of the Western House of Refuge, which opened in 1849.
The homes in Edgerton today
Edgerton is mostly single-family homes and small apartment buildings, with a good number of distinctive older houses and buildings mixed in. Much of the housing dates from the late 1800s and early 1900s, so expect wood-frame houses with porches on city lots; confirm each home’s build year in the county assessment record.
Landmarks and parks
- Edgerton Park - former Western House of Refuge grounds and 1911 Exposition Park
- Edgerton recreation center - housed in the former chapel of the Western House of Refuge
- Jones Square Park - six-acre square redesigned by the Olmsted firm, with a historic fountain
- Site of Edgerton Park Arena - 1951 NBA champion Rochester Royals’ home court
- Genesee Riverway Trail - reachable along the gorge to the east
Buying a home in Edgerton
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- Lead paint: most homes here predate 1978, so ask for the lead disclosure and consider a lead inspection or risk assessment.
- Two-family and small apartment buildings: confirm the legal number of units and the City certificate of occupancy before counting on rental income.
- Age-related systems: ask about the roof, heating, electrical service and the sewer lateral, and get a full inspection on any pre-1920 house.
- 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 Edgerton
Buyers who search for Edgerton are often looking for exactly what makes it Edgerton: the homes, the history and places like Edgerton Park. 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 Edgerton home worth?
Edgerton FAQ
Where is Edgerton?
Edgerton is in the northwest 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 Edgerton?
Edgerton is mostly single-family homes and small apartment buildings, with a good number of distinctive older houses and buildings mixed in. Much of the housing dates from the late 1800s and early 1900s, so expect wood-frame houses with porches on city lots; confirm each home’s build year in the county assessment record.
Is Edgerton a historic district?
Not as a whole. Some individual buildings may be landmarks, so check the exact address with the City before you plan exterior changes.
How do I find homes for sale in Edgerton?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for Edgerton and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- Rochester Public Library: Lost Rochester, The Western House of Refuge
- City of Rochester: Jones Square Park
- Corn Hill Neighborhood Association: Corn Hill’s Olmsted connection
- Rochester Business Journal: RMSC celebrating a century
- 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 Edgerton?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
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