Emerging from the wilderness in upstate New York was an imposing British defense called Fort Stanwix. After exemplary service during the Revolution with the honor of flying the first stars and stripes in battle, it quickly fell into disrepair.
The city of Rome was built on its ruins. Changing little over the next century and half this area was known as the famed downtown area which boasted hundreds of businesses.
Bicentennial fever gripped Rome...