Andrews Memorial Drive

Ezra R. Andrews and Betsy Rider Andrews

Andrews Memorial Drive was named to honor Mr. and Mrs. Ezra R. Andrews. Mr. Andrews was one of the founders of Mechanics Institute. A strong advocate for both technical and art education, he served on the board of directors for about 30 years and served as the first president of the board (1891-1899).

As a young boy, Ezra fed the presses of the Rochester Democrat, a local newspaper. He became a printer and publisher, and later was president of the Lawyers' Cooperative Publishing Company.

Betsy Rider Andrews, Ezra's wife, was the principal organizer of the Department of Domestic Science and Art and chairperson of the Domestic Science Board at the Mechanics Institute.  Mrs. Andrews established a charitable fund to continue her family's community work after her death and left a part of her estate to RIT.