On January 10, 1888, a group of visionary leaders in the construction industry gathered to discuss the formation of an organization dedicated to the commercial development market.  The meeting included a “who’s who” in Rochester history from C.W. Voshall to T. W. Finnucane, G.H. Powell, Jr. and F.C. Seitz, J.B. Pike, J.J.L. Friederich, and A.W. Hopeman.  Shortly thereafter, on February 4, 1888, the Builders and Building Supply Dealers Exchange of Rochester, N.Y. was formed.

C.W. Voshall became the Exchange’s first president. Serving with him were F. C. Seitz, first vice president; H.W. Gorsline, second vice president; J. H. Grant, secretary; and J.J.L. Friederich, treasurer.

On March 8, 1888 upwards of 150 men, according to a newspaper account, "were at the meeting in the new opera house last evening at the invitation of the committee of the Builders’ Exchange to hear the merits of the project explained by the men who have had experience with the working of similar institutions elsewhere." Mayer Parsons was elected chairman of the meeting and "performed the duties of the office with his usual suavity and success."

More than 50 firms enrolled as members during the Exchange’s first year, when annual dues were $50. Among familiar names recorded in the minutes of meetings held during 1888 were Joseph E. Summerhays, John Luther, John Siddons, F.L. Heughes, E.H. Cook and William Bassett.

From its inception until 1905, the new organization held regular meetings in the Wilder Arcade. For the next ten years its headquarters were in the German Insurance Building. In 1915 it returned to the Wilder Arcade, remodeled and later renamed the Central Trust Building, and remained there 14 years, The Exchange occupied its own building at 135 Spring Street in December, 1929, moving to College Avenue in May 1967, and 180 Linden Oaks in December, 1992.

Today, after an hour or two of random sampling of the minutes of the Exchange from its earliest days to the present, you can see that members were concerned with much the same problems over the years as they are now.  Problems include labor, architects, public agencies, owners and the contractors and owners themselves. The archives demonstrate the continued need for an association such as the Builders Exchange to represent the interest of its members.

Today, the Builders Exchange, with nearly 600 members and affiliates, still serves the commercial, industrial and governmental construction industry in west central New York by providing information about private and governmental projects, conducting business seminars and employee training on health and safety issues.