Brown's Race Commissioners Collection

Brown's Race, a mill race on the Genesee River, was constructed by the Brown Brothers (Mathew, Jr.; David and Francis) in 1815. Taking the form of a power canal on the west bank of the river just north of the High Falls in the then-village of Frankfort, Brown's Race provided water to power numerous industrial operations. The race continued to serve this purpose for over a century, long after Frankfort became part of the City of Rochester. Eventually, at an undetermined date, the operation and administration of Brown's Race fell under the control of a Board of Commissioners. This board oversaw water rights along the race and was responsible for its maintenance and upkeep. Details on the history of the Commission are scarce; it appears that the Board operated independently and regularly ran afoul of businesses holding water rights on the race due to disputes over access, over repairs and over ensuring enough water was available for the race versus competing interests.