In this article from William Wilkinson’s scrapbook “One Hundred Great and Near-Great Events, Person and Places in Rochester History” (1947)  he quotes the first part a newspaper article from 1837. The former United States Hotel that was built about 1826 still stands at 22 West Main Street. It hasn’t been a hotel for about 100 years.

“On no occasion have we participated in a more pleasant excursion than that enjoyed yesterday, May 11, 1837, upon the event of the completion of the Rochester and Tonawanda Railroad. The morning was delightful and at the hour designated for the departure of the cars they were thronged with our citizens, desirous of participating in the celebration of an event so important to the interests of our city… When we reached the depot, (U. S. Hotel – West Main at Canal) the engine was panting like an impatient war horse and at a given signal it sped forward like a thing of life… Hearty cheers from the multitude scattered along the line of road greeted its progress and gave a thrilling animation to the same.” The excursion was to Batavia and return. A good time has had by all. The old United Hotel Building shown in the picture is still standing. It was the birthplace of the University  of Rochester back in 1850. It was Rochester’s first railroad excursion but not its last. Long live Railroads – Long live Rochester!