The Hole in the Wall

Reposted with permission from the Gonechester blog

I love tiny places. Small buildings, itty-bitty cafes, pubs and bars, wee ickle shops and teensy pocket parks. Far from being claustrophobic, I find that these finite spaces encourage the fullest use of every inch, from efficiency of purpose to expressiveness of décor. And, in many cases, it forces one to keep in touch with the street, forming a bond with the neighborhood that won’t be had by the guy in the second-story office.

I saw one such tiny place that tickled my fancy in the Albert R. Stone negatives; scarcely more than a six-foot wedge with a door, it was closer to being a sort of street-access closet than a proper shop.

1914
“The business place of Alexander Miller, a window washer, is only the width of the entry door and its sidelight. Its address is 139 1/2 State Street. The narrow structure is sandwiched between the Normandie Hotel, 137 State Street, and Thomas P. Madden’s saloon at 41 State Street.“
https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116935696

It was the result of history and accident: the building to the north side of the triangular storefront was built all the way back in 1820. Its companion to the south was not constructed until 1855, and at a slightly differing angle, at which point an awkward little wedge-shaped gap was created. This was enclosed and roofed in 1864, at which point it was rented by its first and longest tenant, shoemaker Patrick Coyle.

Patrick Coyle

The tenant with the longest tenure in the narrow State Street niche was Patrick Coyle, a cobbler from Ireland, whose business was based there for nearly forty years between 1864 and 1900.

1864 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1864/1864a-c.pdf

1875 Atlas
Red: No. 111½ State Street, the “Hole in the Wall”.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00126.jpg

At the point above, the building at No. 111 State Street, marked “Edwd Mortimer” [actually Edmund Mortimer, not Edward], was the shoe manufactory of E. P. Reed & Co.

1873 Directory
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Rochester_Directory/Y18DAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

Whereas No. 113, the building to the north, was the shop of Frank R. Ward, a tobacco and liquors merchant.

1873 Directory
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Rochester_Directory/Y18DAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

In 1884, the address would change from No. 111½ to No. 139 State Street.

In 1867, Patrick Coyle moved to No. 22 Cole Street, which would go on to become No. 35 Cole Street.

1875 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1875/1875c-d.pdf

This is the same Cole Street that Jerre Mangione wrote about in his book, Mount Allegro, albeit much earlier.

1888 Plat Map
Red: No. 35 Cole Street, home of Patrick Coyle.
https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116713564

1891 Directory
https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/6WUDAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

1892 Sanborn Map
Red: The cobbler’s shop of Patrick Coyle.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217189203/?sp=7&st=image&r=0.575,0.147,0.446,0.25,0#

1892 Sanborn Map
Red: No. 35 Cole Street, home of Patrick Coyle.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217189201/?sp=44&r=0.166,0.376,0.573,0.322,0

Patrick Coyle was married to Johana Hayes; his sister and brother-in-law, Bridget Hayes and James McGuire, respectively, lived across the street at No. 38 Cole Street. No. 38 Cole would remain in McGuire allied families until 1934 with the death of Mary McGuire Riley.

Democrat & Chronicle
Tuesday, August 31, 1909
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-patrick-coyle/166229617/

Democrat & Chronicle
Monday, August 12, 1912
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-obituary-for-joha/167415697/

Findagrave.com
The graves of Patrick, Johana Hayes, and Mary J. Coyle at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173945440/patrick-coyle
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173945423/johanna-coyle
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174062357/mary_j-coyle

After the 1912 death of his mother Johana, William E. Coyle moved from No. 35 Cole to No. 46 Mead. He would live there until his own death in 1948.

1950 Sanborn Map
Red: No. 35 Cole Street.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217195001/?sp=31&r=0.1,0.423,0.259,0.156,0

All of this area was severely changed in the name of urban renewal. Huge swathes of the old neighborhood were razed, ostensibly to beautify the Upper Falls Boulevard corridor. Over the old home of Patrick Coyle on Cole Street, the Coca-Cola Beverages campus stretched, built in 1976.

Democrat & Chronicle
Tuesday, December 07, 1976
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-new-coca-cola-bot/167201869/

Google Maps
Red: Former site of No. 35 Cole Street.

Daniel Crane

From Patrick Coyle, the tiny storefront seems to have passed directly to another shoemaker, Daniel Crane.

1901 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1901/House_Directory_1901-1902.pdf

1901 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1901/1901co-d.pdf

At this time, Daniel lived with his family at No. 221 Spencer Street.

Democrat & Chronicle
Friday, September 20, 1901
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-daniel-cranes-st/167284054/

Crane would remain until 1905, at which point he’d move his business to No. 364 Plymouth Avenue.

Crane fancied himself somewhat of an inventor; he wasn’t wholly incorrect in that self-assessment. He had a couple of successful patents under his belt, mostly related to his profession of shoe-making.

Democrat & Chronicle
Wednesday, January 06, 1909
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-daniel-cranes-pa/167283782/

However, he seems to have lost the thread; by the time he was 76 in 1924 Crane was attempting to patent a “non-fuel-using” water engine. The patent office–probably rightly–determined that the engine amounted to a perpetual motion machine and denied the patent.

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, August 03, 1924
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-daniel-crane-inve/168121383/

Daniel Crane intended to battle the patent office but, alas, it came to naught, as he would die a few short months later in January of 1925.

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, January 04, 1925
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-obituary-for-cra/168121454/

Oliver Edwin Robinson

The next tenant of the miniature place of business was Oliver Edwin Robinson; he apparently operated a house cleaning service out of the small space.

1905-1906 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1905/House_Directory_1905-1906.pdf

Oliver E. Robinson worked mainly as a porter or steward in various institutions, such as the State House or the Reynold’s Arcade.

1905 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1905/1905re-sh.pdf

1900 Plat Map
Red: No. 46 Marietta Street, home of O. E. Robinson.

On March 16th, 1905, Robinson would marry Celia E. Alexander, and they would move in together at No. 21 Favor Street, where Celia was boarding with Jackson Alexander and his wife Winifred.

1907 Directory

1907-1908 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1907/House_Directory_1907-1908.pdf

Jackson Alexander was a cousin of Celia Alexander: a child of her father Thomas’ brother, Wesley.

1910 Plat Map
Red: No. 21 Favor Street.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00282.jpg

The following year, 1906, Robinson would have an indirect brush with fame when he was arrested alongside Cabell Calloway, Jr., father of famed “Minnie the Moocher” singer Cab Calloway. In 1906, Cabell Calloway, Jr. had started a new branch of the “Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World“, a fraternal organization he had been a member of while living in Baltimore. In May 1906, five members of the organization were arrested when a member of the white Elks, Dr. Richard Decker, complained that they were wearing badges bearing the elk head emblem of the organization.

Democrat & Chronicle
Saturday, May 19, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-war-over-wearing/167627812/

By 1907, tensions were seemingly quite high in the Alexander-Robinson household, and things seemed to come to a frothy head when Winifred and a friend, Nellie Thompson, approached Celia Robinson and said something insulting. Apparently, it was insulting enough to involve litigation, and the pair were summoned to court to answer for their rudeness. I don’t know if there was an implied threat or something more serious, but on its face it sounds like they cussed her out.

Sunday, July 14, 1907
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-winifred-alexande/167519812/

As frothy as that got, events apparently hadn’t come to a full head as of yet. That would occur on Thursday, December 19th, when Oliver Robinson and Jackson Alexander would meet in front of the Reynolds Arcade and duke it out.

Democrat & Chronicle
Friday, December 20, 1907
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-jackson-alexander/167598143/

It seems like Jackson Alexander had some sort of problem with Robinson, to my eyes: Robinson worked at the Arcade as a steward at this time, where Alexander looks to have sought him out and attacked him. I don’t have all the facts, of course; just putting two and two together.

Regardless, Robinson would continue to live with Alexander at No. 21 Favor Street until 1912, when he moved to No. 198 Troup Street.

1912 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1912/1912re-sh.pdf

1918 Plat Map
Red: No. 198 Troup Street.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00343.jpg

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, July 20, 1913
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-i-guarantee-robin/167523558/

Oliver E. Robinson and Celia Alexander divorced October 8th, 1917. In 1921, she would marry an engraver from Vermont, Leonard F. Wilson, who was living at 39½ Vick Park B.

Oliver seems to have taken off to Chicago during the failure of his marriage: his World War I draft card confirms that as his place of residence by 1917-1918. He would remain in Chicago at least through the World War II draft; I was unable to determine his date of death.

Hyman Dresner

Hyman Dresner was an Ashkenazic Jew; “Hyman” being an Anglicized version of the Hebrew word for “life”, “Chaim” and “Dresner” being a surname meaning “from Dresden“. He was a shoemaker who operated out of No. 139½ State during 1908.

1907-1908 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1907/House_Directory_1907-1908.pdf

1908 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1908/1908co-d.pdf

Dresner had emigrated from Russia in 1907. He dwelt in various apartments; he lived in No. 348 North Clinton Avenue in 1908, and in 1910 he lived in No. 309 St. Joseph Avenue. Sometime after 1910, Dresner married the widow of Simon L. Brimberg, Sadie Maydenbaum.

It seems that aside from shoemaking, Dresner also pursued a career in carpentry, which eventually led to his success as a contractor. Several still-extant buildings in Rochester were erected by Dresner.

Hyman Dresner built a tapestry brick and tile building at No. 875 Monroe Avenue in 1922, and sold it to Sadie Gitlin the following year.

Democrat & Chronicle
Thursday, October 12, 1922
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-to-erect-store-bu/168230940/

Democrat & Chronicle
Thursday, April 05, 1923
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-human-dresner-sel/168232156/

This building is most popularly known as the former home of Monty’s Krown and, for some time afterwards, the Rosen Krown. It is now, at least last I checked, the home of Bad Ending.

Google Maps
No. 875 Monroe Avenue, a building erected by Hyman Dresner.

Hyman Dresner built the brick building on the northwest corner of Thurston Road and Brooks Avenue, longtime home of Classics Bar & Grill.

Democrat & Chronicle
Friday, April 13, 1923
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-thurston-brooks/168235427/

Google Maps
Nos. 596-689 Thurston Road, erected by Hyman Dresner.

Dresner also had a hand in the creation of the Goodman Apartments, No. 40 South Goodman Street, on the corner of Park Avenue.

Democrat & Chronicle
Thursday, October 11, 1923
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-hyman-dresner-no/168241957/

Google Maps
Goodman Apartments, No. 40 South Goodman Street, erected by Hyman Dresner.

It is interesting to see the similarities in architectural aesthetic and materials choices across these buildings; the tapestry brick combined with prefab concrete details such as cornices, sills, and signs.

By 1920, the Dresner family had moved from Rochester to Detroit, Michigan, where Hyman and Sadie would live out the rest of their days, Hyman dying in 1974 and Sadie dying in 1985.

M. C. Andrews

The most mysterious tenant of 139½ State, M. C. Andrews does not seem to have a home address. There is also seemingly no corresponding name that fits the occupation. Going to the “Andrews” section of the directory yielded no “M. C.” who was a confectioner, leaving me lacking leads as to who M. C. Andrews may have been.

1909-1910 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1909/House_Directory_1909-1910.pdf

As always, I’ll keep you updated if I find anything.

Abraham Fleisher

In 1910 and 1911, the small store was being used by Abraham Fleisher, a Jewish tailor.

1910 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1910/1910e-ga.pdf

Fleisher was a relative of local rabbi and kosher butcher, Abraham S. Fleisher (1862-1934). I was unable to determine the relationship–at first I thought he was the son of Abraham S. Fleisher, but he is not listed among them in records. He may have been a nephew. Abraham Fleisher lived with Abraham S. Fleisher and his wife at No. 319 Hudson Avenue when he opened the tailor shop in 1910.

1911-1912 Sanborn Map
Red: No. 139 State Street, the “Hole in the Wall”.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217191203/?sp=12&r=0.62,0.2,0.258,0.145,0

While the tailor business may have been a nice, above-board source of income, Fleisher and a friend of his, Joseph Metzger, apparently tried their hands at a less legal–but far more lucrative–pursuit: stealing suitcases at New York Central Station and selling their contents off to Front Street second-hand dealers.

Democrat & Chronicle
Saturday, November 26, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-trunk-mystery/167995770/

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, November 27, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-trunk-thief/167996909/

I was given some pause at this point because the above article gives his shop’s address as “over 141 State Street”, and the directory gives his address also as “141 State”, which was not the address of the small wedge-shaped shop. However, the following article gives a clear and undeniable description of the small triangular shop between Nos. 139 and 141 State.

Fleisher was fervently working in his shop one busy Friday in April when suddenly the reserve tank of a gas-fueled iron violently exploded, searing Fleisher’s hands and face. The flames then erupted into the shop and blasted through the front door, sending a column of fire out onto State Street.

Fleisher was badly burned, all of his orders destroyed, and his small shop ruined.

Saturday, April 22, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-gasoline-explodes/166230314/

What happened to him thereafter? Apparently, my research skills aren’t effective enough to find out. Abraham Fleisher seems to have left Rochester and lost himself in, believe it or not, a sea of other Abrahams Fleisher. If the name sounds unique to you or I, to the Ashkenazi community of the time it may as well have been “John Smith”–or rather “John Butcher”: Fleisher, of course, meant “butcher”, and–in religious terms–also described the job of the person who oversaw the Kosher butchering of animals, as Fleisher’s father had done–therefore, an occupational name that was as prevalent as the occupation itself. Thus, I must admit failure–I don’t know what happened to Abraham Fleisher after 1911.

Sorry.

Philester Smith

Philester Smith was a well-known Front Street second-hand store operator at this time. He also ran a boarding house, where he lived. Smith seems to have taken the vacancy in No. 139½ as an opportunity to briefly open a small variety shop.

1911-1912 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1911/House_Directory_1911-1912.pdf

1910 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1910/1910si-t.pdf

1910 Plat Map
Red: No. 108 Front Street, store of Philester Smith.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00278.jpg

Philester Smith died on either the 1st or 7th of February, 1931, at 80 years of age.

Alexander Miller

In 1914, Alexander Miller would use the storefront for his window-cleaning business, the “Miller Guarantee Cleaning Co.” Miller was apparently a friend or associate of Oliver E. Robinson, the cleaner from earlier in this blog post.

c.1914-1918
State Street, looking north.
https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116673982

c.1914-1918
Cropped, zoomed area of above.
Red: The “Hole in the Wall”.
https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116673982

1914
“The business place of Alexander Miller, a window washer, is only the width of the entry door and its sidelight. Its address is 139 1/2 State Street. The narrow structure is sandwiched between the Normandie Hotel, 137 State Street, and Thomas P. Madden’s saloon at 141 State Street.“
https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116935696

1913-1914 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1913/House_Directory_1913-1914.pdf

1914 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1914/1914m-mo.pdf

1914 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1914/1914complete.pdf

1914 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1914/1914m-mo.pdf

Alexander Miller was apparently dissatisfied with the work ethic of one of his employees, John Ross, and told him so while they were at the saloon together. Ross responded to this criticism with a punch to the face.

Oliver E. Robinson re-enters the picture, as the ready source of a revolver. Somehow, between the argument in the morning and 6 o’clock PM, Alexander Miller managed to not only procure the revolver but also a permit from the police, which seems to be an odd move to make considering the events that took place afterwards.

Miller returned to the saloon at 6 that evening, where John Ross still was; this seems to lend a bit of credence to Miller’s estimation of Ross’ work ethic. This was all taking place on a Monday, by the way.

John Ross and Oliver E. Robinson were chewing the fat by the bar when Miller approached Ross and challenged him to repeat his statement of earlier; i.e., exhorting him to try another punch. Ross shot back that he absolutely would, at which point Miller shot back–literally, with his revolver.

Robinson had apparently not realized what the pistol was to be used for, because he sprung into action to protect Ross, leaping between the two of them and receiving a bullet in the thigh for his troubles. Ross quickly regained himself and, jackknife in hand, fell upon Miller in a fury of stabs. Miller, of course, tried to flee but Ross remained on top of him, stabbing him all the way out onto Favor Street.

Ross and Robinson had their wounds treated and were released back to home.

Alexander Miller, having fled the saloon with several knife wounds on his back, ran down Ford Street to a firehouse, but found the wait for help too long. Miller found a way to a physician on Genesee Street, then contacted a friend to arrange for fresh clothes, but police detectives discovered him before the rendezvous could occur.

Tuesday, February 10, 1914
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-shooting-by-alexa/167526989/

1918 Plat Map
Red: No. 271 West Main, Clare & McWilliam’s Saloon, site of altercation.
Green: Rochester Fire Department Engine No. 4 on Ford Street, where Miller fled.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00343.jpg

Clare & McWilliam’s Saloon, where the altercation took place between Miller, Ross, and Robinson, would have been in the building at No. 271 West Main Street, corner of Favor Street. This large, imposing brick building peered out over Bridge Square, where the West Main bridge over the Erie Canal met the Caledonia Avenue bridge over the Erie Canal and made a high-traffic, extremely bridge-y sort of public commons.

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, September 19, 1926
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-271-west-main/167586316/

1910-1920
No. 271 West Main Street, corner Favor Street.
https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=1116093344

1918 Plat Map
Red: Bridge Square.
Green: No. 271 West Main Street.
http://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00339.jpg

I can’t help but wonder how Oliver E. Robinson felt about the whole ordeal, having earlier sold Miller the very gun he was shot by.

What happened to Alexander Miller after this? Well, he was another difficult one to track. Miller’s name is not in the 1915 directory; I’m not sure if he was spending some time in penitentiary or if he left town. After that, I couldn’t be sure if any Alexander Miller I found was the correct one. I’m still trying, and will update you if I do any better.

Sorry. Again.

Edwin P. Rummel

Briefly, the closet-sized storefront was utilized by Edwin Peter Rummel, a cartman or carpenter, a handyman. Edwin was from Dayton, Ohio, youngest son of two immigrants from Hanover, Saxony.

Edwin was married three times; his first marriage to Catherine Highlen in 1900 ended in divorce only two years later; the second, with Lucy May Reeder, ended with her death in 1922. A third marriage in 1923 with Lois Iantha Coleman ended in divorce two years later, in 1925.

The Dayton Herald
Tuesday, September 23, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dayton-herald-highlen-rummel-divorce/168385777/

1917-1918 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1917/House_Directory_1917-1918.pdf

1917 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1917/1917re-sh.pdf

Rummel’s home, No. 13 Greenleaf, later No. 51 Greenleaf Street is no longer extant;

1918 Plat Map
Red: No. 13 Greenleaf Street, home of Edwin P. Rummel.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00366.jpg

Google Maps
Red: Approximate site of No. 13/51 Greenleaf Street, former home of E. P. Rummel.

However, there is a distant, ghostly glimpse of it in this aerial from 1951.

1951
Cropped, zoomed area of aerial.
Red: No. 51 Greenleaf Street, formerly home of Edwin P. Rummel.

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, June 05, 1932
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-rummel/133408791/

Edwin Rummel died January 17th, 1935, at the age of 60; as a final little insult, his middle initial is given as “T” instead of “P” in his obituary.

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, January 20, 1935
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-obituary-for-edwi/168386495/

Ray Millard

In 1923, the little corner shop served as the first shop of tattooist Ray Millard, who would go on to become a well-known figure in early 20th century Rochester tattooing. He was the first and–for quite a while–only tattoo artist operating on a permanent basis in Rochester. Itinerants came and went with circuses and trains and canal boats; in fact, Millard’s own first tattoo was from New York City artist, Bert Thompson, who would often tour the canals and Great Lakes on a gasoline-powered boat, selling tattoos.

Democrat & Chronicle
Tuesday, April 30, 1935
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millard-tatt/167798408/

Democrat & Chronicle
Saturday, May 05, 1923
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millards-tat/167739211/

Democrat & Chronicle
Thursday, June 21, 1923
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-tattoo-artist-139/167738530/

Ray Millard moved his tattooing studio quite often.

By the time Henry Clune wrote an article on him in 1935, Ray Millard was tattooing out of a studio at No. 236 Broadway, just around the corner from Monroe Avenue.

Democrat & Chronicle
Tuesday, April 30, 1935
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millard-tatt/167798408/

No. 236 Broadway Street, former studio of Ray Millard, comparison 1935 vs. now.

However, by the time another article was written about Millard, his studio was at No. 168 West Main Street, where he also lived with Maude.

1939 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1939/1939m.pdf

1935 Plat Map
Red: No. 168 West Main Street.
https://photo.libraryweb.org/rochimag/rpm/rpm00/rpm00508.jpg

Google Maps
Red: Former No. 168 West Main, now No. 172 West Main, former tattoo shop of Ray Millard.

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, August 14, 1938
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millard/167740432/

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, August 14, 1938
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millard/167740432/

Democrat & Chronicle
Sunday, August 14, 1938
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millard/167740432/

This interview would be his last; Millard died less than two years later.

Let’s rewind:

Raymond William Millard married his wife, Maude Connors, in 1917. At the time, Millard lived at No. 30 Weld Street; Connors lived at No. 32 Warwick Avenue.

Democrat & Chronicle
Friday, March 16, 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-marriage-of-milla/167798783/

Google Maps
Red: Site of No. 30 Weld Street, former home of Ray Millard.

1918 Plat Map
Red: No. 32 Warwick Avenue, home of Maude Connors at time of marriage.

Google Maps
Red: Former site of No. 32 Warwick Avenue, home of Maude Connors at time of marriage.

Their names first appeared in the directory boarding at No. 57 Delevan Street; Raymond’s mother, Margaret, also boarded there.

1921 Directory
https://www.libraryweb.org/rochcitydir/images/1921/1921mf-mz.pdf

1926 Plat Map
Red: No. 57 Delevan

Google Maps
Red: Former site of No. 57 Delevan Street.

Sadly, Raymond W. Millard died at age 44 on December 26th, 1940. He had apparently spent several months of 1940 in the Iola Sanitarium, implying that he likely died from tuberculosis.

Democrat & Chronicle
Friday, December 27, 1940
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-raymond-w-millar/167798635/

Findagrave.com
Grave of Raymond W. Millard in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183716452/raymond-william-millard

Maude remarried to Harold William Hummel, and was a widow once again when Hummel died in 1953, at age 57.

Sadly, her misfortune followed her to the grave; Maude Connors Millard Hummel was 78 years old in 1973 when a man named William Nelson Evans broke into her apartment at No. 513 Dewey Avenue and fatally cut her throat with her own kitchen knife. She rests now at Mount Hope Cemetery alongside her late second husband, Harold Hummel.

Ray Millard had two brothers, Charles and Walter, who were highly decorated in Ray’s tattoo art.

Democrat & Chronicle
Tuesday, April 30, 1935
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ray-millard-tatt/167798408/

They, too, dabbled in the tattooing business; but, this may be straying too far indeed from the Hole in the Wall, and possibly taking up subject matter more effectively employed in its own entry.

The Hole in the Wall

In 1928, the Times-Union published a piece about memories of Rochester. Included in that article was an entry on the “Hole in the Wall”, which this small storefront apparently was called. Although I never saw any other source use the name, it was cute enough that I decided to adopt it.

Times-Union
May 22, 1928
https://www.libraryweb.org/~digitized/scrapbooks/RVF_streets_Volume_2.pdf

As the type is somewhat faded, I’ll transcribe the contents:

“Hole in the Wall” – The building at 141 State Street, now occupied by the Palmer Fish Company, was built in 1820. When the Fenn building was erected to the south, in 1855, an odd triangle was left. This was roofed in about 1864 and afforded a tiny store 5½ by 6½ feet and a story and a half high, which became known as “The Hole in the Wall.” It was occupied for 40 years by Patrick Coyle, a cobbled[sic], and later by tenants who included an armless man who wrote vising cards with his toes, a tatto[sic] artist a snake charmer, palmists and fortune tellers. Some years ago the north wall was broken through and the space taken into the store of the Palmer Fish Company.

The article is provably true up until the exit of Patrick Coyle, at which point it contends later tenants included “an armless man who wrote visiting cards with his toes, a tatto[sic] artist, a snake charmer, palmists and fortune tellers”. Personally, I was unable to find evidence of any tenants like that, [except the tattoo artist]. My research–which I like to think I’ve laid out fairly clearly above–suggests it was mostly cleaners, cobblers, and tailors.

If an armless man ever did write visiting cards with his feet on State Street, there’s a chance it was a sort of “pop-up” for the then-famous Vaudevillian, Clarence Lutes. A son of Rochester’s 35th Mayor, John Lutes [in office 1870-1871], Clarence was born without arms. Nonetheless, he developed a number of skills usually reserved for those with hands–skilled hands, at that. He was a crack rifle shot with his feet, he could paint and write with his feet, he could drive a team of horses with his feet and a rein clenched between his teeth.

Democrat & Chronicle
Saturday, August 11, 1894
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-clarence-lutes-r/167172023/

Clarence had moved on from the local theater to doing circuits nationally by 1894; however, he made return engagements in Rochester during the early 1900s. Though there’s no evidence of him doing such a thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he drew attention to a show by signing cards for passers-by, possibly out of “The Hole in the Wall”. I can’t prove it, but I can’t disprove it.

Palmer Fish Company

The 1928 Times-Union article unhelpfully says the Palmer Fish Company at No. 141 State Street expanded through the north wall of the tiny storefront at No. 139½ “some years ago”. I couldn’t pin down precisely the date of the event, but given that Ray Millard had his studio there in 1923, it must have been some time in the year or two after that.

Democrat & Chronicle
Wednesday, November 19, 1924
https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-palmer-fish-co/169266923/

And So On…

Having been annexed by the fishmonger neighbors to the north, our tiny triangular storefront ceased to be. From thereon out, this unique little feature of State Street was no more than a slightly irregular patch of wall; if one had the keen eye of the architect, they might note a disharmony in the ratios. To the passer-by, however, there’s nothing special about this spot.

1950 Sanborn Map
Red: No. 139 State Street.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804rm.g3804rm_g06217195003/?sp=14&r=0.57,0.139,0.256,0.154,0

Google Maps
Red: Location where No. 139 State Street would have been.

A comparative image between No. 139 State Street in 1914 vs. today.

So there we are. A tiny, tiny space, but it was connected to so much beyond its three narrow walls: people, businesses, lives, crime, disaster. From cobblers to cleaners, this small wedge of real estate meant something to many people. And now, though it may be gone, it means something to you and me.

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