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Map views courtesy Google Maps. Town of Rome and Oneida County Maps.
From the column Man About Town, Rome Daily Sentinel, April 16, 1921
Said a lifelong resident of this city: "Very often people who at one time lived here and went away to make their homes elsewhere return after perhaps 25 years absence and then we hear expressions as to the great changes they note in the city, some remarking that but for certain old landmarks they would not know Home now." It is very true, too, for with the numerous large manufacturing plants, the new location of the New York Central tracks and passenger station, the Barge Canal and the expansion of the residential section with its many fine homes, it must appear bewildering to those who have watched the growth from day to day.
I have been looking up a little history of Rome in its infancy out of curiosity brought on through memories of things I had heard people talk about when I was a very small boy. Now I would ask who remembers seeing or even hearing about the old cobblestone house and where it was located. Describing a location and referring to the 'cobblestone house' was a common expression in the early days of Rome.
I was obliged to make many inquires myself to learn about it, but finally located a man who knew all about it, although he could not remember having seen it. It was built, owned and occupied by a stone mason named Peter Carroll and was located on the site of what was afterward the Conger House, which stood on Floyd avenue a short distance south of Cottage street. The cobblestone house was destroyed by fire about 60 years ago.
Then James Russell purchased the site and built a hotel, which he sold to Aaron Conger, who conducted the Conger House there for many years, the hostelry being widely known as an excellent hotel, the members of the grand jury of Oneida county, when sitting in Rome, making it their headquarters. After selling the hotel to Mr. Conger, James Russell built a brick building on the corner of Floyd avenue and Cottage street on the site where the late Charles Higham afterward erected a fine home, now owned and occupied by F.S. Wilson.
Mr. Russell conducted a grocery store in the building up to the time it was destroyed by fire about 45 years ago. Peter Carroll, James Russell and Aaron Conger have been dead many years. The old hotel was cut into sections and made into dwellings.
If it were possible for these men to return now and stand on the ground where they once lived, how difficult it would be to convince them that it really is the same place, just as it seems hard for us to realize that a cobblestone house and a brick store stood there at one time. Richard Palmer blog.
 1853 Oneida County Map Rom-1 Excerpt.jpg ¹ This 1853 map may precede the destruction of the Carroll House by fire. The approximate location of the Carroll House is high-lighted. The article does not indicate on which side of Floyd Ave. the house was located. Cottage St. not shown, but would be on the right side of Floyd Ave, above and adjacent to the buildings shown. |
¹ Image excerpt courtesy Library of Congress.
