Bravo Mr Devolder, Bravo. For speaking for us who have no voice and/or are ignored by the politoburos.

A historic building on Cataract Street will be demolished to make way for parking at a planned Genesee Brewing Co. visitors’ center and alehouse. SHAWN DOWD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Will the city of Rochester allow another historic building to be razed, only to make way for nothing? How many remember the magnificent RKO Palace that was torn down, only to make way for a parking lot?
The Cataract building, as it is known, is far too historic for this to happen. This exquisite building was designed by the nationally renowned brewery architect A.C. Wagner of Philadelphia. It is perhaps the last of his brewery buildings left in America. (The American Brewery on Hudson Avenue was also designed by Mr. Wagner, but was torn down many years ago.)
The Standard Brewing Company was unique to Rochester in 1889. The brewery was formed by a group of investors, rather than having its beginnings from a brewer. This group of 11 was headed by Valentine Fleckenstein, the city treasurer at the time and former postmaster of Rochester, appointed to that post by ex-President Grover Cleveland. The building was new and state-of-the-art (at the time).
In its glory, the main building would stand 121 feet tall. A 50-foot flag pole stood atop the tower with Old Glory flying for all to see. Besides the cellars, there are five stories.
The offices were located on the first floor, with shipping, fermenting and wash rooms. The second story would have the brewer’s office, storage and the machinery to run the brewery. The kettles, tubs and malt mill could be found on the third floor, and on the fourth would be the malt department, hot water tank and a cooler. The malt bins would run from the second floor to the top of the building.
Standard would brew ale there until Prohibition, with the company dissolving in 1922.

In 1932, Cataract Beverages would occupy the building, and in 1933 this company would become the Cataract Brewing Company. It would have financial problems throughout its seven-year existence, with Louis Wehle buying the buildings at a foreclosure auction in 1940. For many years the famous 12 Horse Ale would be brewed there.
I was very fortunate to be able to view the interior of this building a few years ago by invitation of the former ownership. It is magnificent!

The equipment is long gone. However, the structural integrity of the building seemed to be in excellent condition. The view of the falls was breathtaking.
Rich Lozyniak, CEO of North American Breweries, has invested a lot of effort to restore Genesee to its past glory. The visitor’s center is long overdue. However, do not tear down a building that could be the cornerstone of a visitor’s center. Think out of the box, and create something that no other city has.
Rochester does not need more parking spaces.

John C. DeVolder has been a historian of Rochester breweries for nearly 40 years. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20111210/OPINION02/112100302/Don-t-destroy-another-treasure