New church, new pastor: This week in Mohawk Valley history

Frank Tomaino
·4 min read
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1919, 105 years ago

New church, pastor

The Rev. James F. Collins is named pastor of Utica's new Roman Catholic church, the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is the city's 15th Roman Catholic church.

Masses are being celebrated in a small chapel on the southwest corner of Genesee Street and Barton Avenue. Collins says the new parish has 247 families, but that number should increase rapidly because of the many people moving into South Utica.

Colonel Benjamin Walker built this white, wooden house in about 1800 on 15 acres in what is now East Utica— in the area of today’s Catherine and Hubbell streets. It was torn down in 1932, but for more than a century it was an elegant mansion where gardens and fruit trees attracted many. The colonel—who died in 1818—served as an aide to Baron Von Steuben and General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

In 1947, the parish purchased a house across the street on the northwest corner of Genesee and Barton. It once was the home of the Episcoplal Diocese of Central New York. In the mid-1960s, the house was razed and a large Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was erected on the site. It still stands today as Mary, Mother of Our Savior parish.

1924, 100 years ago

Hotel sold

Peter Trumans, of Albany, buys the Hotel Thurston in Frankfort for $120,000. It is one of the finest inns in the Upper Mohawk Valley Region. The hotel, at Pleasant Avenue and Litchfield Street, has 21 rooms and a dining room that seats 100.

1949, 75 years ago

Moose governor

Harry H. Kates, of Downer Avenue in West Utica, is named state deputy general governor for the Loyal Order of Moose. Kates, of Utica Lodge 450, will supervise 80,000 members in 144 lodges across the state.

1974, 50 years ago

Bailey at Downs

Vernon Downs opens its 22nd season before 6,276 fans. They see Jack Bailey -- an 11-time track champion -- ride Fromming Hanover to a featured victory. The handle was $381,908.

In other news, Albert (Red) Panella, of Woodgate, dies. He was a pioneer aviator who, during World War II, helped to train about 600 pilots. He operated the Utica Aviation School at the old Utica Airport in Marcy. While there, he greeted through the years such aviation greats as Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post,

Jimmy Doolittle and Douglas (Wrong Way) Corrigan.

Meanwhile, in charge of the annual communion breakfast sponsored by the St. Ann's Society at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Utica are Julia Grandinetta, Theresa Malara and Anna Coppolla.

1999, 25 years ago

Rabbi retires

Rabbi Henry Bamberger retires after 17 years at Utica's Temple Emanu-El. More than 200 attend a dinner in his honor. He has served on boards at Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute (today known as Munson) and Utica College (today known aa Utica University.) He also has served on ethics committees at the area's three hospitals -- St. Elizabeth's, Faxton and St. Luke's-Memorial Hospital Center.

In high school baseball, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill defeated Notre Dame, 10-3. Ed Prymus has a grand slam homer and a double for the winners. He is joined by Brian Dorman (2 hits, 2 RBIs), Matt Crumb (2 hits) and Aaron Linder (winning pitcher and 2 hits). Sal Paladino gets 3 hits for Notre Dame and Sal Licari adds 2 hits, 2 stolen bases and drives in a run.

Meanwhile, Katie Horn, of Whitesboro High School, was selected as the New York State Junior Miss during competition in Buffalo. She won a $4,100 scholarship and will compete in the national Junior Miss pageant in June in Mobile, Alabama. State and national competitions are based on academic record, fitness, composure, creative and performing arts and an interview before judges. She is president of the National Honor Society, plays violin in the chamber orchestra, is a cheerleader and is a member of a youth group at Hope Alliance Church in New Hartford.

2014, 10 years ago

Fish hatchery

The Rome Fish Hatchery is now responsible for supplying 30 percent of the 2.3 million yearling trout stocked in state rivers, lakes and streams. It is receiving as much as $400,000 in state funds for much-needed repairs -- new fish stocking trucks, transport tanks and walls repair. Scott Wanner is the manager of the hatchery.

The Utica Council of the Blind elects Melissa Lyon as its president. Other officers include Tamara Foley, vice president; Leah Fallis, secretary, and Dennis Webster, treasurer. The council promotes, educates and advocates for the rights of people who are blind.

Trivia quiz

This U.S. presidential candidate was no doubt the most persistent candidate in American history. He was nominated six times by the Socialist Party and lost each time. He was (a) Harold Stassen, (b) Strom Thurmond, (c) Norman Thomas, (d) Eldridge Cleaver. (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: The events and the presidents at the time. (1) the War of 1812 begins between the United States and Great Britain (James Madison). (2) the St. Lawrence Seaway is completed by the United States and Canada in 1959 (Dwight D. Eisenhower). (3) Spain turns over control of Florida to the United States in 1819 (James Monroe). (4) the Eiffel Tower is dedicated in Paris in 1889 (Benjamin Harrison).

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com. 

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: This week in Mohawk Valley history