Today marks the 150th anniversary of a dark day in Rochester history.
It’s the sesquicentennial of a tragic fire that destroyed two large buildings on Main Street and killed three Rochester firefighters. Today is also National Firefighter Appreciation Day, so Rochester’s Fire Department is remembering May 5th, 1867, when fire destroyed the Palmer’s Block and the Washington Block.
A century-old history of Rochester calls it the “Washington Hall” and notes “three firefighters fell in the line of duty” trying to save the rest of Main Street.
The contemporary photo shows a Rochester Fire Department tradition: the “wetting down” of the Rochester Fire Protectives new trucks by Engine 10. The ceremony was conducted last week.