The history of Maplewood
Maplewood runs along the west bank of the Genesee River gorge in northwest Rochester. Early river landings grew up along what is now Lake Avenue, including King’s Landing in the 1790s and McCrackenville, laid out in 1826. In 1849 a plank road was built along Lake Avenue to Charlotte.
Most of today’s Maplewood was farmland in the Town of Greece until Rochester annexed it in 1874. Building lot associations had already begun platting tracts, including the Selye and Lake View Park tracts in 1872, which first laid out the streets that became Seneca Parkway, Lakeview Park and Park View Street. Large estates remained, such as Andrew Vanderbeck’s 200 acres, bought in 1867 and sold off for house lots after 1895.
Large-scale home building waited until about 1900. Eastman Kodak built its Kodak Park plant in 1890 just across the city line in Greece, and as streetcar lines on Lake Avenue reached Kodak Park, Ontario Beach and Seneca Park, the old tracts filled with houses in a classic trolley-car suburb pattern.
The parkland along the gorge belongs to the city park system Frederick Law Olmsted began designing in 1888, with his plan for Seneca Park following in 1893. As the system grew in the early 1900s, the Olmsted firm planned parkways to connect the parks with the neighborhoods around them, and Seneca Parkway became one of those park connectors, a landscaped boulevard leading to Seneca Park and named for it. The west bank of Seneca Park later took the name Maplewood Park, known today for its rose garden.
The Maplewood Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, centered on Seneca Parkway, Lake Avenue and Maplewood Avenue. In 2016 the district was expanded by 432 more contributing buildings on surrounding streets such as Magee Avenue, Riverside Street, Albemarle Street, Alameda Street and Raines Park.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1849 | Plank road built along Lake Avenue from today’s Driving Park Avenue to Charlotte |
| 1874 | Rochester annexes much of the future Maplewood area from the Town of Greece |
| Early 1900s | Olmsted firm plans park connectors for Rochester’s park system, including Seneca Parkway |
| 1890 | Eastman Kodak builds Kodak Park just north of the neighborhood, spurring home building |
| 1997 | Maplewood Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places |
| 2016 | Historic district boundary expanded to include 432 more contributing buildings |
Did you know?
Seneca Parkway has two origin stories that are both true: its route began as an 1872 developer’s tract street, and the Olmsted firm later planned it as a parkway connecting the neighborhood to Seneca Park, the park it is named for.
The homes in Maplewood today
Most houses were built between about 1890 and 1920, with some dating to the 1850s and later. Styles run from Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne to Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Craftsman bungalows and American Foursquares, often with hardwood trim, leaded or stained glass and big front porches. The grandest architect-designed homes line Seneca Parkway, Lake Avenue and Maplewood Avenue, with more modest versions on the side streets.
Historic designation
Maplewood Historic District, National Register of Historic Places (listed 1997, boundary increase 2016). The adjoining parkland is part of Seneca Park East and West, National Register listed in 2003. What that means for an older Rochester home.
Landmarks and parks
- Seneca Parkway - Olmsted firm park connector leading to Seneca Park, and the divided boulevard at the heart of the historic district
- Maplewood Park and Rose Garden - west bank of Olmsted’s Seneca Park, along the gorge
- Lower Falls and the Genesee Riverway Trail - reached from the park
- Lake Avenue - the old 1849 plank road route, lined with large historic homes
- Former Nazareth Hall Academy - Catholic school complex established in 1884 on Raines Park
Buying a home in Maplewood
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- Historic district status: confirm whether the house is a contributing building; National Register listing alone does not restrict private renovations, but it can open the door to New York’s historic homeowner rehabilitation tax credit in eligible areas.
- Lead paint: most homes here predate 1978, so ask for the lead disclosure and consider a lead inspection or risk assessment.
- Century-old systems: ask about knob-and-tube wiring, slate or older roofs, original windows, and the condition of large porches and masonry chimneys.
- 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 Maplewood
Buyers who search for Maplewood are often looking for exactly what makes it Maplewood: the homes, the history and places like Seneca Parkway. 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 Maplewood home worth?
Maplewood FAQ
Where is Maplewood?
Maplewood 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 Maplewood?
Most houses were built between about 1890 and 1920, with some dating to the 1850s and later. Styles run from Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne to Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Craftsman bungalows and American Foursquares, often with hardwood trim, leaded or stained glass and big front porches. The grandest architect-designed homes line Seneca Parkway, Lake Avenue and Maplewood Avenue, with more modest versions on the side streets.
Is Maplewood a historic district?
Yes. Maplewood Historic District, National Register of Historic Places (listed 1997, boundary increase 2016). The adjoining parkland is part of Seneca Park East and West, National Register listed in 2003.
How do I find homes for sale in Maplewood?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for Maplewood and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- NPS: Maplewood Historic District Boundary Increase nomination (2016)
- NPS NPGallery: Maplewood Historic District (97001454)
- Maplewood Trail history (lowerfalls.org)
- NPS NPGallery: Seneca Park East and West (03000969)
- The Cultural Landscape Foundation: Rochester Parks System (Olmsted park connectors, including Seneca Parkway)
- 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 Maplewood?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
More Rochester neighborhoods: Brown Square · Charlotte · Dutchtown · Edgerton · JOSANA · Lyell-Otis · Marketview Heights · Mayor’s Heights · Monroe Village · All 35 Rochester neighborhoods