A trip down the Genesee River Gorge is a trip back into the History of Rochester. Several hundred visitors to the Roe Festival entered and returned from that time machine ably assisted by Gorge guides and professional actors. Casconchigon is the start of the tour. A large cast iron historical marker near the "Dove Cote" speaks of a seasonal gathering spot for the Iroquois. Hundreds of fishermen still gather each Fall to catch salmon as did the native American resident prior to 1790 and Nathaniel Rochester. A second historical marker relates the trials of escaped slaves and the northern terminus of the underground railroad. An actor portraying Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave himself, speaks about ship building on the river and hope of freedom in Canada. Down the steps to a lower plateau another group of actors reinforce the hope of escape and freedom. These actors are actually on a former road which led from Driving Park Avenue to a ship yard on the river near the present Veterans Memorial Bridge. Continuing on the new pathway one encounters Louise Florence, a girl who reminisces about the wonderful atmosphere of the area when "The Glen House" served dinner to guests at the bottom of the gorge. The foundation of a rest area from the time is still visible through the woods. Under the present Driving Park Avenue Bridge, the archaeology of the gorge emerges. Rocks are labeled as Ordovician and Silurian, shale, limestone and sandstone. The Lower Falls becomes visible and water power, the reason for Rochester, dominates the conversation. Hydro Station 5, inclined railway, surge tank penstocks are explained. The tour continues along Hastings Street and McCrackenville where Thomas Thackery Seinburne explains about the many factories that entirely took over this at the turn of the century. The more able scramble down to a Lower Falls overlook. Lulled by falling water and the seclusion of the spot, many expressed disbelief that such a place of peace and beauty exists along the river. Some of the more adventurous of the gorge explorers investigate the water's edge near the Middle Falls plunge basin. Around or through a fence gate, the dam at the Middle Falls appears. Again, water power vocabulary dominates, power pool, rack house, drop shaft and tunnel to the Lower Falls. On the return climb up Hastings Street, groups stop in the Park Near Driving Park Avenue in the shade of a large pine. Another actress portrays Elsa von Blumen, real name Carrie Roosevelt, a phenomenal female athlete. Carrie, or as I knew her, Aunt Carrie, was related to my dad. She was quite a legend in our family and well documented by the newspapers of her time. The tour is over, the groups have been watered down at a City of Rochester Water bureau tent and the next group beckons. Would you like to help?

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