ArcGIS Map
This interactive map demonstrates how historians might represent the changing built environment of a city over time, while highlighting important cultural institutions (in this case, religious sites and congregations). To create this map of southwestern Rochester’s religious history, JPEG files of paper maps were imported into ArcGIS. Each JPEG image became one layer of the digital map. The layers were georectified, so that they roughly matched the present terrain. Additionally, a layer containing the latitude and longitude coordinates of key locations was imported in .CSV format. Using the map controls, you can add or remove layers as you wish.
In an expanded digital project, one could scan additional maps and chart the urban expansion of Rochester, as well as the proliferation of religious sites, in greater detail.
For a digital representation of the entire city’s changing landscape, see the City of Rochester’s ROC Historic Map Viewer, which compares street maps from 1888, 1900, 1910, 1935, and 2012 to the present street layout.
Daniel Gorman Jr. and Blair Tinker made this ArcGIS map. The following researchers’ work provided the basis for the map: Madeline Blackburn, Sarah Ogunji, Seyvion Scott, Courtney Thomas, Jr., Sophia McRae, Adrian Remnant, Cole Summers, John E. Curran, Daniel Gorman Jr., and Dr. Margarita S. Guillory.
Base Map Layers
Map of “The Corn Hill Neighborhood” (No Date, Circa 2000s)
Map identified, scanned, and annotated by Sarah Ogunji. The Immaculate Conception Church, a historic African American Roman Catholic congregation, is featured in this map.
Source: Corn Hill Neighbors Association. Published with the permission of the Corn Hill Neighbors Association.
Third-Ward-Map-Corn-Hill-NeighborsG.M. Hopkins, Atlas of the City of Rochester, N.Y. (1910), Plate 36: Nineteenth Ward
Map identified by Sophia McRae. The Megiddo Mission Church is featured in this map.
Published in Philadelphia by the G.M.Hopkins Company in 1910 (public domain).
Source: Rochester Public Library Local History & Genealogy Division Map Collection. Series Uniform Title: Rochester Images Digital Collection. Repository: Rochester Public Library (Rochester, N.Y.). Catalogue entry. Scan. Published with the permission of the Local History & Genealogy Division, Rochester Public Library.
GMHopkins_1910_Plate36_19thWard
G.M. Hopkins, City Atlas of Rochester, New York (1875), Plate 6: Third Ward
Map identified by Sarah Ogunji. Immaculate Conception Church, an African American Roman Catholic congregation, is featured in this map.
Published in Philadelphia by the G.M. Hopkins Company in 1875 (public domain).
Source: Rochester Public Library Local History & Genealogy Division Map Collection. Series Uniform Title: Rochester Images Digital Collection. Repository: Rochester Public Library (Rochester, N.Y.). Catalogue entry. Scan. Published with the permission of the Local History & Genealogy Division, Rochester Public Library.
GMHopkins_1875_Plate6_ThirdWard
St. Augustine Parish Map (No Date)
Map identified and scanned by Daniel Gorman Jr.
Source: St. Monica Archives (SMA).
SA-Parish-Map-No-Date-CroppedSs. Peter and Paul 1838 Map Fragment
Map identified and scanned by Daniel Gorman Jr. Two alternate scans of the document are provided below.
Source: St. Monica Archives (SMA).
Editor’s Note: While the original Ss. Peter and Paul church is typically described as being located on Maple Street, one may notice that the site was more accurately on Liberty Street, connecting to Maple.
SPP-1838-Map-Fragment-notes-include-wrong-street-name-Cropped SPP-West-Rochester-Map-1838_compressed