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Max Nusbaum’s Casino, c.1937Max Nusbaum began his career in the hospitality business at 25 Stone Street around 1930, ope...
07/17/2026

Max Nusbaum’s Casino, c.1937

Max Nusbaum began his career in the hospitality business at 25 Stone Street around 1930, operating a speakeasy called The Jungle Club until the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The Max Nusbaum Casino opened in 1935, offering lunch and dinner, floor shows, dancing, and featured acts such as Rudy Ku**er and his Rhythm Kings, and Dottie Lewis the ‘Red Haired Bombshell’. This postcard features the newly remodeled Zeppelin Bar and dance floor.

Gambling had been illegal in New York since 1894 with the exception of bookmaking on racetracks that passed in 1897. Sports was a focus at the club and it is possible that some illegal gambling occurred. In 1938 the State Liquor Authority suspended his license for 10 days for paying off pinball machine scores. Around 1940 he began advertising sports scores provided by a Western Union ticker.

His past suggests that he was not one to follow the law. In the early 1920’s Max was charged several times for violations of Prohibition and many of these charges were dismissed, but not all. In 1923 he was fined in Oswego for transporting 40 cases of champagne and whiskey, and in 1924 he is arrested with bail set at $3,000 for rum running on Lake Ontario at Charlotte.

Despite any questionable infractions of the law, Max Nusbaum was respected and well liked with a reputation for kindness and generosity. In 1975 there is a mention in the Times-Union newspaper of his 80th birthday, calling him the unofficial Mayor of Stone Street. He closed the club in 1972 and passed away in 1977. Reproduced from 3 ½” x 5 ½” postcard.

07/05/2026

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇲

In honor of the 250th anniversary of American Independence I would like to share the history of my 5th great-grandfather...
07/03/2026

In honor of the 250th anniversary of American Independence I would like to share the history of my 5th great-grandfather Private Thomas Lape (1751-1813), 10th Albany County Militia Regiment.

Thomas Lape was born in Germantown, NY on December 29, 1751 and baptized at Christ's Evangelical Lutheran Church on January 1, 1752. He is the son of Andries Löwe (1730-1800) and Anna Margaretha Mueller (1731-1804), children of Palatine Germans who emigrated to the United States between the years 1709 and 1725. Both are believed to be the first generation in my paternal line born in America.

Between 1777 and the early 1780’s he serves as a Private under Captain Jacob F. Shaver in the 10th Albany County Militia Regiment (Livingston Regiment) during the Revolutionary War. The 10th Regiment saw active duty during one of the most critical campaigns of the Revolution at the Battle of Stillwater/Saratoga (Autumn 1777). The regiment played a role in the northern campaign to halt General John Burgoyne's invasion. In the summer of 1777, over 200 men from this unit marched to oppose the British, showing an impressive turnout rate. This was a turning point in the war; after the British surrender at Saratoga, France signs a formal Treaty of Alliance.

After the war he returned to his home in Claverack, NY, living and working on the farm that was willed to him upon the death of his father. He died on May 2, 1813 and is buried at Saint Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery in Churchtown, Columbia County. His tombstone reads: "Sacred to the Memory of Thomas Lape who departed this life May 2, 1813, aged 61 years, 4 month & 4 day."

Private Lape qualified for a Land Bounty Right associated with the 6th Regiment, Albany County Militia (the 4th Claverack District). He either lived within that district line later on, or served a brief stint cross-manned with that unit. The land grants were assigned in Central New York, not in his home of Columbia County. Galen, in current Wayne County, was designated as Township 27 of the Central New York Military Tract and although I cannot find any evidence of his grant, some of his family later moved westward. In 1835 his son Thomas T. Lape (1778–1858) sold the family's leased Hudson Valley property and moved permanently to Galen. His wife Maria Batz Lape (1755-1849) was laid to rest in Clyde, New York.

I am forever grateful for the bravery and fortitude of Thomas Lape and all those who fought for Liberty and Independence.

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.”
― Thomas Paine

In honor of the 250th anniversary of American Independence I would like to share a short history of my family’s emigrati...
07/02/2026

In honor of the 250th anniversary of American Independence I would like to share a short history of my family’s emigration to the United States of America.

Written on reverse, “isto foi tirado no dia que chegeram aqui na America no mez de Agosto 1967”; this was taken on the day they arrived here in America in August 1967.

This photo shows the day my mother, uncle, and two aunts arrived at their new home in Rochester, New York. In the 1960’s my grandfather began the migration of his family from the Portuguese island of Madeira to the United States of America, first bringing over 2 sons and a daughter. He then travelled back to Madeira with the hopes of bringing his wife; she sadly passed away before they could make the trip. He continued to bring children including one more son and three daughters shown in this picture. In total, nine of his 10 children relocated to America.

The Portuguese diaspora in Rochester mainly settled in the 19th ward, and this is where my mother met my father. His family had lived on Garfield Street since the 1930’s and we lived there when I was very young. My grandfather, with the help of his son, purchased a home on Depew Street. Extended family and friends, also newly immigrated, were our neighbors. Some of my earliest memories are of the Portuguese American Association on Lincoln Avenue, a short walk from home. It was a neighborhood filled with diversity and community.

There are always difficult times, but overall every one of these immigrants went on to embrace their new home, gain citizenship and lead successful lives. I am forever grateful for the sacrifices my family made in order to create a life for themselves and for the children they would have.

Reproduced from 4¼” x 3⅜” photograph.

From my family collection. This unidentified child is holding a 48-star flag, officially adopted on July 4th, 1912. She ...
07/01/2026

From my family collection. This unidentified child is holding a 48-star flag, officially adopted on July 4th, 1912. She is wrapped in patriotic bunting and sits under a tent. Reproduced from 4” x 5” print.
I have avoided using AI in my restorations, but I could not resist with this one as we celebrate 250 years of American Independence. A link to the original is in the comments.

Esther Fairchild Pierson and her Horses at Kolaneka Farms, c. 1955These photographs show Esther Fairchild Pierson and he...
06/21/2026

Esther Fairchild Pierson and her Horses at Kolaneka Farms, c. 1955

These photographs show Esther Fairchild Pierson and her horses at Kolaneka Farms in Pittsford.
Esther Estelle Fairchild was born in 1907 to Elmer E. and Mary Fairchild. Elmer Fairchild founded Alderman & Fairchild in 1900, located on Elm Street, currently Andrew Langston Way. Later it becomes the E. E. Fairchild Corporation/All-Fair Toys and Games. Esther Fairchild marries Mitchell Pierson in 1932.

The history of Mitchell Road goes back over 200 years. James Kasson Guernsey (b.1769) was part owner of Guernsey & Bushnell Co. His storage, forwarding, and mercantile business at the corner of Latta Road and River Street in Charlotte was incredibly prosperous, much of this due to trade with Canada. He moved to Pittsford around 1818 and then purchased 290 acres of farm land for cultivation and the raising of horses and cattle. The Erie Canal passes through this property; in 1825 General Lafayette visited Rochester and the only carriage grand enough to transport such a visitor belonged to James. K. Guernsey. The land was eventually sold to his son Duane Guernsey, and sometime around 1900 Duane sold the property to Francis B. Mitchell, who changes the name from Guernsey Road to Mitchell Road. The large Italianate style home that Duane Guernsey built burned down in 1918, the current home was built around 1922.

The first appearance of the Mitchell family in Rochester begins with David Mitchell in 1857. His occupation is a perfumer for Burr & Chamberlain, 49 State Street. His marriage to Celia Mitchell produced several children, some rising to prominence in Rochester. Son Willis G. Mitchell was a director of the Bank of Monroe, treasurer of the Post Express Printing Company and the grandfather of Mitchell Pierson. Daughter Laura Mitchell married William Kimball of Kimball To***co Company. Son, J. Guernsey Mitchell, a well-known sculptor, was commissioned by his sister Laura to create the Mercury statue that sat atop the Kimball factory and today is a highlight of Rochester’s skyline. Son Francis B. Mitchell was a publisher in New York City. He came back to Rochester around 1895 and with the support of his sister Laura and her husband William Kimball, becomes president of the Post Express Printing Company. Francis spent many years living in the Kimball mansion on Troup Street; his summer residence was listed as Kolaneka on Mitchell Road, named after a favorite horse. It was a large stock farm, and with an emphasis on raising Standardbred horses, he built a track near the corner of Marsh Road and Route 31 to train and show them. Ownership of the estate and farm remained within the family until around 1968.

During the 1950’s, Mitchell and Esther Pierson continued the tradition of raising horses at Kolaneka. They owned several champions and competed frequently. The track was host to several harness racing competitions starting in the 1930’s and continued to 1950.
From the Whiting Collection. Reproduced from 4”x 5” negatives.

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