The Shoe and Textile industry dominted the economic landscape starting in the 1800's and lasting into the 1900's. In the 1840's the Norway Plains Woolen Company produced woolen baskets. They produced many blankets used by the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1860 they produced 60,000 yards of cloth and by 1870 they had increased output to 1,600,000 yards of cloth. The Company went out of business at the end of the 19th century. During the successful times of the Norway Plains Woolen Company and other local woolen factories Rochester's first population growth occurred as people migrated to the city to work in the new factories.
The first of the shoe factories was the E.G. and E. Wallace Shoe Company in 1854. By 1900 this Shoe factory probably was the biggest shoe factory in the state. The Wallace Shoes were sold nationwide and in parts of Canada and South America. The Wallace Shoe Company became the city' biggest employer with 480 employees in 1880 and over 700 employess in 1901. In the 1920's the company was sold and became the Rochester Shoe Corporation. Now in the present day the shoe factories are all but gone, their work has been transferred to lower paying foreign lands. In their heyday the shoe industury dominated the city and was the reason many people moved here.
Interesting information about early industry
In 1806 the number of business operations was small. There were six tanneries, one saw mill, one fulling mill, two grist mills, one tobacconist and one saddler.
By 1820's through the 1830's the following was added; a clock maker, cabinet maker, tailor shop, tanning yard, woolen factory and a foundry
The year 1834 saw the creation of the Mechanics Company. They made blankets and were so successful with their blankets that the 1853 NY World's Fair awarded the company First Premium for the quality of the blankets.
In 1849 the first meat market was opened by Daniel McDuffee and Emulus Gowen. In the same year the first restaurant and bakery was started by Newell J. Bickford.
In 1889 the first brick factory started. It was named Keesel Fire Brick Company. The bricks were made from Mica that was hauled from Blue Job Mountain.
.