The history of Plymouth-Exchange
Plymouth-Exchange takes its name from its two main streets, Plymouth Avenue and Exchange Street, and curves along the west bank of the Genesee River south of downtown. Plymouth Avenue was first platted in part as Sophia Street, named for Nathaniel Rochester’s wife, and the whole street was renamed Plymouth Avenue in 1854 after Plymouth Congregational Church was built on it.
Through most of the 1800s the land here stayed rural, and the city’s 1875 map shows only two houses on South Plymouth Avenue. Industry came first. Vacuum Oil, founded in Rochester in 1866, ran a refinery on Flint Street by the river into the 1930s, and Frost & Co.’s Genesee Valley Nurseries worked land along Plymouth Avenue.
Electric trolley lines and then the automobile brought houses. Most were built from the late 1800s through the World War I years and the decades after. In 1888 Frances and North Frances streets were joined and renamed Jefferson Avenue, and many of its buildings went up soon after.
The river crossing at Ford Street has a long history: a Clarissa Street bridge carried the city’s first horsecar line across the river in 1863, and the current bridge dates to 1918, renamed for Ford Street and widened in 2001.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1854 | Sophia Street renamed Plymouth Avenue after Plymouth Congregational Church is built |
| 1866 | Vacuum Oil founded in Rochester; its refinery later stands on Flint Street |
| 1875 | City map shows only two homes on South Plymouth Avenue |
| 1888 | Jefferson Avenue formed by joining Frances and North Frances streets |
| 1918 | Clarissa Street bridge, now the Ford Street Bridge, built |
Did you know?
Vacuum Oil, the company whose refinery once lined the river here, was founded in Rochester in 1866 and eventually became part of Mobil, now ExxonMobil.
The homes in Plymouth-Exchange today
Mostly one- and two-family wood-frame houses built from the late 1800s into the mid-twentieth century, with some of the largest houses along Plymouth Avenue. Gumwood trim, hardwood floors and big front porches (some enclosed) are common, and many larger houses were divided into apartments over the years.
Landmarks and parks
- Ford Street Bridge - built 1918 as the Clarissa Street bridge; a City historic marker stands at Ford and Exchange streets
- Former Vacuum Oil refinery site, Flint Street - origin point of a company that became part of today’s ExxonMobil
- Genesee River trail - riverfront path linking the neighborhood to downtown, the University of Rochester and Genesee Valley Park
- Jefferson Avenue historic marker - at Jefferson and South Plymouth avenues
Buying a home in Plymouth-Exchange
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- Near the former Vacuum Oil site and other old industrial parcels by the river, check State environmental records (DEC) for nearby cleanup sites before you buy.
- Many houses were split into apartments; confirm the legal unit count and certificate of occupancy with the City, since use rules can change at sale.
- For late-1800s and early-1900s frame houses, inspect enclosed porches, foundations and older wiring and plumbing.
- 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 Plymouth-Exchange
Buyers who search for Plymouth-Exchange are often looking for exactly what makes it Plymouth-Exchange: the homes, the history and places like Ford Street Bridge. 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 Plymouth-Exchange home worth?
Plymouth-Exchange FAQ
Where is Plymouth-Exchange?
Plymouth-Exchange 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 Plymouth-Exchange?
Mostly one- and two-family wood-frame houses built from the late 1800s into the mid-twentieth century, with some of the largest houses along Plymouth Avenue. Gumwood trim, hardwood floors and big front porches (some enclosed) are common, and many larger houses were divided into apartments over the years.
Is Plymouth-Exchange 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 Plymouth-Exchange?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for Plymouth-Exchange and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- NY Daily Record, Neighborhood Focus: Plymouth-Exchange (2009)
- Corn Hill Neighbors Association, A Street by Any Other Name
- RochesterSubway.com, Inside the Abandoned Vacuum Oil Refinery
- HMdb, Jefferson Avenue Historical Marker
- Spectrum News, Exxon Mobil to investigate contamination at former Vacuum Oil refinery (2025)
- 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 Plymouth-Exchange?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
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