Beechwood (Rochester, New York)

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Beechwood was named for a local post office and the famous Beech-Nut baby food and chewing gum company located on East Main Street. One of Beechwood’s more notable neighbors was Martha Matilda Harper, who created “the first business format franchising system in the U.S.”

Beechwood also offers a mix of residential and industrial/commercial areas, which means most of what residents need is within easy reach. The housing stock, mostly built during the 1920s, retains classic architectural elements like American gumwood trim and stained glass windows. The area has many established businesses. One that attracts visitors from around the city is The Swan Market, “the Best of the Wurst,” a German restaurant on Parsells Avenue. The market, which has been in operation since the 1920s, is a vestige of the Beechwood’s German past.

Today, the area is described as a “rainbow community” filled with young families and long-time residents served by a variety of organizations working to improve the community. Residents with ties to Ghana, Algeria, Pakistan, Greece and Russia call it home or operate businesses there, along with a significant number of young professionals, and all income levels. Although sometimes considered to be a struggling area, Beechwood often looks dicier than it is.

The neighborhood is home to two arts organizations. Formed in 2001, The Dazzle School of Visual & Performing Arts on Webster Avenue promotes dance, music, theater and other artistic endeavors through education and performance. Also on Webster Avenue is The Museum for Kids Art (MoKA), a multi-discipline arts center that motivates area children to gain self-discipline and other skills through the arts.