Rochester Skyline Icons [Sky Watch Friday]

By Shattman

Last week’s SWF panorama of downtown Rochester included a number of iconic buildings/architectural features. For example, in the far left corner is the Wings of Progress [completed in 1930] atop the Times Square Building. A bit to its  right is the statue of Mercury atop the Aqueduct Building [mostly obscured by another building]. The 21 foot tall Mercury statue [out of riveted copper plates] was created in 1881.  When completed, it was installed atop a factory smokestack and quickly became a hallmark of the city skyline. However, in 1951, the factory was demolished and the statue was placed in storage. In 1973, it found its current home, only one block north of its original location. The images below offer closer views of these two wonderful structures.