Mohawk Valley hears about the end of the Civil War: This week in history

1865, 159 years ago

Surrender

News of the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to Union Army Gen. Ulysses S. Grant -- virtually ending the four-year-old Civil War -- reaches the newsroom of the Utica Observer via telegraph at 11 p.m.

It is April 9, Palm Sunday, and Lee signs a document of unconditional surrender in the parlor of a farmhouse owned by Wilmer McLean in the hamlet of Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

Within an hour, residents of the Upper Mohawk Valley Region -- from Rome to Utica to Herkimer to Little Falls - forsake their beds as church bells ring out and bonfires light the sky. It is raining, but that doesn't stop thousands from marching through their communities, waving flags, firing guns into the air and singing songs of joy.

Grant takes his lead from President Abraham Lincoln's promise to welcome the South back to the Union with "malice toward none, with charity for all." Lee and his officers are allowed to keep their weapons and Confederate soldiers are allowed to keep their horses and mules so that they can ride back to their farms in time to put in a crop. Lee tells Grant, "This will do much toward conciliating our people."

1924, 100 years ago

'Rome' sails on

"The Rome" -- a large steel ship -- is christened at ceremonies in Chester, Pennsylvania, attended by more than 100 Central New Yorkers. Ann H. Whyte breaks a bottle of champagne over the bow of the ship and thanks officials of the Sun Shipbuilding Company for honoring her hometown. She lives on Park Street East in Rome and attends Smith College in Massachusetts. The ship will carry cargo on the Hudson River, Barge Canal and the Great Lakes. It is 260 feet long and has two diesel engines capable of moving it up to 14 knots an hour.

1949, 75 years ago

Legion posts grow

American Legion posts in Oneida County have nearly 3,800 members, says Cmdr. Carl J. Neiss, of Boonville, and more veterans are joining every day. Adrean Post of Utica is the largest with 487 members. Others include Smith with 481, Utica Post 474, Whitestown 405, Sherrill 378, Love 132, Fort Schuyler 131, Moran 126, Deerfield 111, Helmuth-Ingalls 107, Clonan 91, Fulmer 91, Russell 82, Corrigan 76, Clark Mills 76, Meeker-O'Rourke 70, Forestport 68, Roberts 65, New Hartford 60, Sylvan Beach 57, South Utica 50, Augusta 47, Oriskany 46, Wicks 41, Hughes 20 and Provost 15.

1974, 50 years ago

De Sales sports

St. Francis de Sales High School in Utica returns to interscholastic sports competition this spring for the first time since 1959. Francis Pfisterer, a 1947 De Sales graduate, and Francis (Shorty) Powers will coach varsity baseball and basketball teams.

1999, 25 years ago

Top lawmen

Utica police investigators John Liggins and Paul Stern are named "lawmen of the year" by American Legion Utica Post 229 for their "outstanding work cracking homicide and drug cases."

In high school baseball, Proctor defeated Rome Free Academy, 8 to 5. Joe Guidera is the winning pitcher and drives in three runs. J.T. LaFountain got the save and had a two-run single.

Woodstock '99 -- scheduled for July at Griffiss Business and Technical Park in Rome -- will attract thousands and among the 31 bands they will hear are the Dave Matthews Band, Metallica, Korn, the Chemical Brothers, Los Lobos, Aerosmith, Bush and the Counting Crows.

2014, 10 years ago

All-stars

Emily Durr, of Notre Dame High, is named "player of the year" on the All Mohawk Valley Girls Basketball team. Notre Dame's Mike Plonisch is "coach of the year." Players include: Domenique Talerico of New York Mills, Maria Lapertosa of Whitesboro, Alyssa Curtis of Holland Patent, Madison Zizzi of Oriskany, Kiersten Leos of Camden, Danielle Migliore of Frankfort-Schuyler, Anari Harris of Notre Dame, Liz Millea of Cooperstown, Gen Schoff of Little Falls and Lauren Weeks of Hamilton.

Jim Moran -- "the voice of Vernon Downs" -- calls his last race. He is retiring after 50 years at the harness racetrack.

And United States District Judge David N. Hurd swears in 39 new citizens from 11 countries. The naturalization ceremonies are held in his court at 10 Broad St. in Utica in the Alexander Pirnie Federal Building. He has been greeting new citizens in his court for more than 30 years.

Trivia quiz

I'll name the event; you name the U.S. president at the time. Admittedly, this is a tough one. (1) the War of 1812 begins between the United States and Great Britain. (2) the St. Lawrence Seaway is completed by the United States and Canada. (3) Spain turns over control of Florida to the United States. (4) the Eiffel Tower is dedicated in Paris. (5) the American Red Cross is organized by Clara Barton. (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: Four governors of New York went on to become presidents of the United States. Martin Van Buren, ninth governor of NY from January 1, 1829 to March 12, 1829, and eighth president from 1837-41. He resigned as governor after only two months to become secretary of state for President Andrew Jackson. Grover Cleveland, 28th governor from 1883-84 and 22nd president from 1885-89 and 24th president from 1893-97. He resigned as governor when he was elected president. He served two non-consecutive terms as president. Theodore Roosevelt, 33rd governor from 1899 to 1900 and 26th president from 1901-09. He resigned as governor after being elected vice president under President William McKinley. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 44th governor from 1929-32 and 32nd president from 1933-45.

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