Triphammer's Forge & Water Wheel
N 43° 09.659 W 077° 36.943
18T E 287349 N 4782013
Quick Description: Found in downtown Rochester. The wheel here was long forgotten about until a fire in 1977 ravaged the building and during cleanup it was discovered.
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 4/15/2009 4:13:54 PM
Waymark Code: WM6758
Views: 5
Long Description:From this website;
(
visit link) I gathered this info:
A unique archaeological park, the Triphammer Forge site provides a
good view of the layers of history found in Browns Race. The
Triphammer Building burned in 1977. As the rubble was being
cleared, a long-forgotten basement room was uncovered that housed
the building's massive (25-foot) water wheel, constructed of wood
and iron.
The Triphammer Building was built as a forge in 1816 and
occupied by the William Cobb Scythe and Tool factory. A large,
heavy hammer-the triphammer-was raised by waterpower and dropped to
forge wrought-iron tools. In 1830 the building was advertised for
sale as having a furnace with the greatest blast in the state and
two triphammers.
In the 1830s, Lewis Selye bought the Triphammer Building.
Previously, in 1826, he had constructed the building at 208 Mill
Street that extends between Browns Race and Mill Street. In these
buildings the Selye Fire Engine Company built Rochester's first
fire engines and supplied fire engines for federal fortifications
and other sites across New York state. A cast-iron shaft
transferred power from the Triphammer Building to the Mill Street
plant.
In the 1860s the Triphammer Building and 208 Mill Street were
purchased by Junius Judson, inventor of the steam governor used in
locomotives and ships. Judson expanded the Triphammer building
another 75 feet toward the gorge edge. The wall with the large arch
is part of this addition. The shaft of Judson's water turbine was
found in this addition. Appropriately, he also manufactured
triphammers at this site. Judson's son eventually become the first
president of Rochester Gas & Electric.
As electricity and steam replaced waterpower in the 1890's and
90's, Browns Race lost its strategic advantage for industrial uses.
For example, the vacant lot south of the Triphammer site was once
the location of the Gleason Works, internationally noted makers of
beveled gears. No longer needing the falls for waterpower, Gleason
moved to its current location on University Avenue in 1905 after
fire destroyed its Browns Race plant.