Charlotte, Rochester, New York facts for kids
Charlotte is a neighborhood in Rochester, New York. It's located right where the Genesee River flows into Lake Ontario. Charlotte is home to the Port of Rochester and Charlotte High School.
Contents
History of Charlotte
Early Days and First Settlers
In 1788, a large piece of land along the Genesee River was bought from the Seneca Indians. This land, which included what is now Charlotte, was purchased by Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham.
The first hut on the shores of Lake Ontario was built in 1791 by William Hincher. He and his family settled there the next year. These early settlements happened before the city of Rochester was fully established. In 1792, a group called the Pulteney Association bought much of this land. Colonel Robert Troup, who worked for them, planned out the town. He named the area "Charlottesburgh" to honor his daughter.
A Busy Port for Trade
Charlotte used to be an important port for international trade. Samuel Latta set up a warehouse here. In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson made him the customs collector for the Port of Genesee. Samuel's brother, George Clinton Latta, ran a successful trading company. He used many schooners (a type of sailing ship) to trade goods across the Great Lakes.
Trade was interrupted during the War of 1812. British forces came to Charlotte several times. In June 1813, the British fleet landed and took supplies like grain and flour. In September, the American fleet, led by Commodore Isaac Chauncey, drove off the British. In May 1814, the British tried to land again. But the local militia (a group of citizens who act as soldiers) stopped them. After a short fight, the British ships left. In 1816, Colonel Caleb Hopkins was honored for his brave service during the war, including defending the Port of Charlotte.
After the war, trade grew quickly. Some people thought Charlotte would become the biggest city along the Genesee River. However, the use of waterfalls for power and the arrival of the Erie Canal in 1823 made Rochester the main city instead.
To help ships navigate, a stone lighthouse was built in 1821. This was later replaced in 1880 by a new lighthouse on the west pier. In 1853, the Rochester and Lake Ontario Railroad opened. This made it easy for people from Canada to travel to New York City. However, trade from Charlotte began to slow down. This was because of more competition from the Erie Canal and the new railroad lines in Rochester.
Becoming a Fun Resort Area
After the American Civil War, Charlotte became a popular summer resort. Many excursion steamers (boats for pleasure trips) started coming here. The Genesee Yacht Club was formed in 1874. In 1907, the Ontario Car Ferry Company started a ferry service for people and cargo. They launched large ferries like the "Ontario I" and "Ontario II." These big ferries meant the harbor needed to be made deeper and improved.
In 1884, the Ontario Beach Improvement Company was created to build a lakefront resort. By 1889, electric trolleys connected vacationers from Rochester to the beach.
In 1916, Rochester officially took control of Charlotte. The city wanted to manage the port and grow its population. This would make Rochester more important and help it get more funding. However, the port's activity went down again during the Great Depression. Ferry traffic eventually stopped around 1949.
Another try at a ferry service between Rochester and Toronto happened from 2004 to 2005. A fast ferry called the Spirit of Ontario I ran during this time. This fast ferry also led to new investments in Charlotte and its port.
Parks and Attractions
- Ontario Beach Park
- Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse
