A successful week of the long anticipated informational historical signage at Rochester Junction on Plains Road has been completed. Bud Grindle and Diane Ham, assisted by Rod Ham, have designed and installed twelve 10” x 12” site signs as well as a large overall informational sign at the location where the Lehigh Valley Railroad mainline crossed the tracks going north to Rochester and south to Hemlock giving it the name–Rochester Junction–beginning in 1892. These signs highlight the fascinating history of Rochester Junction’s various buildings and sites that were located in the area. Users of the Lehigh Valley Trail can learn more about this Monroe County linear park which is maintained by Mendon Foundation volunteers.
During its lifetime, Rochester Junction served millions of passengers who changed trains here for many diverse destinations. The station was destroyed by fire in 1976 after the end of passenger service, and only the cement platform remains. In addition, all the associated buildings at the Junction have been torn down except Terry’s Hotel and the Freight House replica.
Bud Grindle is Vice President of the Mendon Foundation Board of Directors and Diane Ham is Secretary as well as Mendon Town Historian and Honeoye Falls Village Historian. Rod Ham is also a Mendon Foundation Board of Directors member.
