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Lomb Memorial Re-Lit and Re-Dedicated In Rochester

Randy Gorbman
/
WXXI News

An historic monument in Rochester has new life. The Lomb Memorial was re-lit Monday night.

After a brief countdown, the light at the top of the 48 foot tall obelisk was re-lit.  It's the first time in more than 30 years the top of that monument to one of the founders of Bausch and Lomb, Captain Henry Lomb, has been lit up. Although this time, it's been retrofitted with energy efficient lighting.

The monument near St. Paul Street and Upper Falls Blvd. was first dedicated in 1932 on Memorial Day as a tribute to Henry Lomb, who was also a major philanthropist for the city. One of his descendants, Gregory Lomb, a 2nd grand nephew, is among the Lombs at the ceremony who are still living in the area, and he says it was a very proud moment for them to see this.

“The fact that it’s lit up now, it’s a beautiful monument, and I hope it’s going to be an inspiration to other people to do things as he did in the past, because Rochester’s a great place to be, it’s a great city.”

George Grobe is a vice president of research and development at B + L. He noted that Henry Lomb was a major benefactor for the city.

“The kindergartens that he started with the Rochester public school system and also the Rochester public health association and also starting a free dental clinic. His life was built around philanthropy and making his city better and the lives of his fellow man better,” Grobe told WXXI News.

Mayor Lovely Warren says there's a lot of symbolism to re-lighting that monument.

“This is a gateway into northeast Rochester, we are reclaiming our city, we are taking back our neighborhoods, we’re working together to make it happen. And I think that this monument being relit after 30 years is indicative of where we’re going as a community because our future, as I said earlier, is as bright as our past.”

The re-lighting of the Lomb Memorial is part of a broader effort to restore Lomb Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the monument.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.