Monroe Co-Operative Building Lot Association of Rochester records

The Monroe Co-Operative Building Lot Association of Rochester was organized around the year of 1872. This association was one of 16 co-operative building lot associations listed in the 1878 Rochester City Directory. From 1873 to 1874, the association purchased land in what used to be the town of Gates, but was annexed by Rochester to its western edge. Deeds in this collection show that the land was purchased from Henry L. Fairchild and wife, Samuel L. Rockfellow and wife, and Thomas W. Perkins and wife. The association paid $38,000 for the land and divided it into 179 lots. The lots were located in Rochester between Rowe Street and "Deep Hollow" Creek, bordered by the Erie Canal.

Thomas Hilts was the president of the association, serving with vice president Oliver Hagen and several others serving roles as directors, treasurers, secretaries, and attorneys. In 1875, the association moved its meeting location to 39 Arcade Street in Rochester and issued its first annual report. In 1877, President Thomas E. Hilts died and by 1878, new individuals began occupying empty officer roles.

By 1883, E.S. Ettenheimer, a Jewish watch and jewelry company owner, had become President of the association. Ettenheimer was also one of the directors of the Union Bank of Rochester in 1886; his wife was treasurer of the Hebrew Ladies Association. It is unclear when the Monroe Co-Operative Building Lot association went out of business. In 1886, the association was still selling lots. The 1891 Rochester City Directory does not list the association, yet the reports of the Superintendent of the Banks of the State of New York relative to Savings and Loans lists the association as late as 1915.