Despatch

There is something about East Rochester that makes it feel different than the other east side suburbs. Feels like the town has some ghosts or at least some dark secrets. I've always thought the old Merchant's Despatch building looked kind of spooky looming at the end of main street. I finally crossed the tracks after my run one day and took this shot. I love how the faded "Merchants Despatch" can still be seen on the side of the building.

The building was the main office of the Merchant's Despatch Transportation Company East Rochester plant. The company made refrigerated railroad cars, and was a massive operation by the turn of the century. East Rochester was actually founded as Despatch, named after the company and the operation there. A picture of the building in 1898 can be seen here: http://www.rochester.lib.ny.us/rochimag/erpath/industry.htm
Shorpy.com has a nice shot of the inside of the store room in 1905. http://www.shorpy.com/node/8264