On the trail of history at Cobb's Hill Park in Rochester
Rosie had our hike all mapped out this week for a trek along Lake Ontario. Then the wind whipped up and blew us back to Rochester and the base of Cobb’s Hill. We heard wind gusts reached 65 mph this past weekend and we believe it.
So we took a rain check on the lake paths and captured some photos here from an entrance to the park at 1550 Highland Ave.
At the base of the hill are several monuments commemorating the history of Cobb’s Hill and its gigantic reservoir that draws the city’s drinking water supply from Canadice and Hemlock lakes. The water from these lakes 30 miles to the south flows here by gravity. The story behind this 20th-century engineering feat that took advantage of the region’s geographical feature is etched in stone.
Also significant to the Cobb’s Hill story are its beginnings with the earliest settlers and its role as an early transportation route. A stone marked “Rochester Centennial 1912” tells how the Portage Trail ran through the Cobb’s Hill area, from Irondequoit Bay to Red Creek in Genesee Valley Park. Its eastern end was at the Indian Landing. The Portage Trail followed the direction of Highland Avenue and skirted the base of Mount Hope. It formed part of the Ohio Trail, famous in the early history of this country as a short route from Canada into the Mississippi Valley.
The city of Rochester has more info on Cobb's Hill on its website.
About this feature
"Sherwood in the Forest” — features the trail treks of Rosie the redbone hound and her companion, Daily Messenger reporter Julie Sherwood. Reach Sherwood at jsherwood@messengerpostmedia.com
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Cobb's Hill Park in Rochester NY offers plenty to explore
