Local History
Located in the Library’s Reading Room
Our collection of books is small but unique. For ease of browsing it is divided into two areas: a section devoted to Chili and the suburbs west of Rochester, and a section devoted to the City of Rochester and the suburbs east of Rochester.
Scope of Collection
Primarily Chili information and history, with some coverage of Rochester, Monroe County, and, to a lesser degree, the Genesee Valley area.
A bibliography compiled by library staff, available at the Reference Desk, can help you locate books in our collection. We have indexed books about:
- Chili Cemeteries
- Chili Churches
- Chili Servicemen
- Local Cobblestone Buildings
- Names of early settlers in the area
- Origins of the town’s name
- Roberts Wesleyan University
- Specific families
- Yearbooks
The Chili Cobblestone School Museum model is located in the library’s Reading Room. It was constructed by the Gates-Chili Yorkers Club in 1967, and is a replica of the Chili Cobblestone School Museum. In 1848, Chili District No. 4 School at 2525 Scottsville Road was built and operated as such until 1952. On September 19, 1965 the building was dedicated as a museum.
Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry® Library Edition, is an unprecedented online collection of individuals from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more. Here, you can unlock the story of you with sources like censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, maps, and more.
Access is only available from the library’s public computers.
Annotated Bibliography of Local History Books About Chili, NY
Want to learn more information about the history of Chili?
Contact Chili Town Historian
Peter Widener (585) 889-6123