Obama visits the area: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1919, 105 years ago

Boom town

The knit goods industry in Utica is booming, employing thousands of men and women.

The Globe Woolen Mills adds a night shift with 500 workers so that they can fill orders coming in from throughout the country. The Oneita Knitting Mills also added a night shift and now has 1,500 workers. The Utica Steam and Mohawk Valley Mills hires 250 men and women and now employs 1,200.

And the Utica Knitting Company, with more than a dozen mills in the area, has 1,600 workers in Utica alone. It is the largest knit goods corporation in the world and its headquarters is in Utica.

1924, 100 years ago

DeMolay begins

The Order of DeMolay forms a Mohawk Valley chapter with 147 men between the ages of 16 and 21. Ceremonies are held in the Masonic Temple in Utica. It is the 10th chapter in the state and has the largest number of members at its formation.

1949, 75 years ago

Chamber elects

Leslie T. Taylor, president of the International Heater Company, is elected president of the Utica Chamber of Commerce. Other officers include Richard Balch, first vice president; Walter Matt, second vice president; Townsend Foster, treasurer; George Winslow, executive secretary, and Vincent Corrou, director of the Business-Industrial Development Division.

Meanwhile, the New York Bakery, on Liberty Street in downtown Utica, celebrates its 50th anniversary. It also announces the retirement of Benjamin Rosenblum, who is turning over the business to his sons, Jerry and Hershel.

1974, 50 years ago

Farewell, landmarks

It is a happy day for garage sale enthusiasts, but a sad day for history buffs who want to save city landmarks. Utica's Urban Renewal Agency has begun to tear down 27 buildings in downtown Utica -- all built in the early or mid-19th century.

Among those razed in the City Club at Genesee and Pearl Streets. Items for sale include two old pianos, a 32-foot shuffleboard table, antique cast iron window headers and decorative mirrors, molding, woodwork and fixtures.

In other news, the Fort Schuyler Post 1290, American Legion Auxiliary, elects officers. They include Mary DiCesare, president; Carol Matthews, first vice president; Mamie Capraro, second vice president; Genevieve Elias, treasurer, and Ann Marie Battle, secretary.

1999, 25 years ago

New school

Voters in the Westmoreland School District approve -- 606 to 500 -- a plan to spend $8.4 million to build a new middle school. School officials say, "I am really pleased that the community sees this as a good solution to our overcrowding problems."

Meanwhile, Rome has a new fire chief. Roger Sabia has been deputy chief for 12 years and has served the department for 31 years.

In high school lacrosse, New Hartford defeated Manlius-Pebble Hill, 12 to 3. Jason Jones had three goals and two assists. Joe Cortese, Tony Spinella and Chris Zalewski each scored two goals.

In a high school girls' golf tournament at the par 36 McConnellsville course, Clinton takes top honors behind the play of Kerry Ortega (44), Lisa Parucki (44) and Leslie Hunt (57).

2014, 10 years ago

Obama visits

President Barack Obama visits the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown to promote the "importance of tourism to local economies." The last sitting U.S. president to visit Cooperstown was Martin Van Buren in 1839. Air Force One lands at Griffiss International Airport at 2:30 p.m. and the president boards a helicopter for Cooperstown. He is greeted by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente and Rome Mayor Joseph Fusco.

Meanwhile, the B Sharp Musical Club awards scholarships to high school musicians. First place winners are: Sarah Bobrow (bassoon), Mike McCormick (voice), Jason Hardy (piano), Brian Gadbow (cello).

In high school baseball, Holland Patent defeated Marcellus, 5 to 1, behind the no-hit pitching of righthander Nico Ramos. The losers scored an unearned run in the first inning. Ramos strikes out seven and at the plate has two hits and three RBIs. Jordan Brown and Kinsey Williams each have two hits. Ramos's no-hitter is saved when his third baseman, Steve McGahey, makes a great defensive play.

Trivia quiz

Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, was originally called "Shangra-La." What president changed the name to Camp David and why? (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: Abigail Smith Adams, wife of President John Adams, was a fighter for equal rights for women. In the 1780s, when John Adams and others were writing the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia, Abigail wrote to her husband: "In the new code of the law, I desire that you remember the ladies. We will not bound ourselves to any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

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: Westmoreland approves new school: This week in Mohawk Valley history