Childhood Memories in Downtown Rochester

I grew up in Rochester, New York. It's a "big" little city with a lot to offer.

One of the places our family loved to visit at Christmas time, was Midtown Plaza which was the US's first urban indoor mall. The windows of department stores such as McCurdy's and Sibley's were decorated for the season. These department stores also hosted a breakfast with Santa which we attended on several occasions.

 Photo credit: here

The plaza was multilevel with a monorail to ride at one of the upper levels looking over the lower levels. At Christmas time, we all stood in line to sit on Santa's lap as he was perched upon Magic Mountain like a scene out of A Christmas Story (although not as daunting).

Photo credit: here

Midtown Plaza was a place full of so much more than Christmas wonder. It had international flair year round everywhere you looked. The Flag of Nations lined the upper hall representing countries worldwide. My favorite part of Midtown was the Clock of Nations. It contained 12 countries, each with a diorama portraying each nation. At the top of the hour, the clock came alive with music and each country's door opened to reveal the scene hidden behind each door. The clock rotated with the scenes fully displayed. It was captivating.

Photo credit: here (note the flag from Ghana, Africa)

I have such fond memories of this place from my childhood and have to wonder if I was being drawn by all of these international symbols even if only on the subconscious level.

Sadly, the last Christmas season was in 2007 prior to Midtown Plaza's permanent closing. Although I have lived far from Rochester throughout my years of adulting, hearing of the closing felt like the end of an era. No more Magic Mountain. No more monorail. No more Clock of Nations. Such finality to my childhood. 

I still have family in Rochester and visit periodically. Even with Midtown Plaza no longer, there are still so many wonderful treasures to discover and many to revisit.

A few years ago, I returned to my hometown to celebrate Christmas with my family. Upon arrival in the Rochester airport, the only thing on my mind was the excitement of being with family on Christmas day in my childhood home. I was in a holiday hustle, headed to baggage claim, as per the usual airport procedure, rushing to get the festivities started. Making my way through the terminal, THERE.. IT...WAS! In front of me stood none other than the Clock of Nations. I was instantly transported to the glory days of the old Midtown Plaza. 

Shifting my focus, I checked the time. With a few minutes left in the hour, I knew what I had to do. My priorities shifted from the baggage. the hustle, and even the restroom (after a flight? Now that's serious!). I had to wait for a few brief moments for the clock to come to life at the top of the hour.

My own photo in the ROC airport (note: Nigeria, Africa prominently displayed).

And so the Clock of Nations did not disappoint. There it was in full animation, the noble nations parading in splendor as it had to the delight of many for decades in Midtown Plaza. For me time stood still even though the clock kept ticking in forward motion.

Such an unexpected start to the Christmas festivities in Rochester. There's no place like home.