New Utica hotel, cows come to Masonic Home: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1912, 112 years ago

New hotel

It is an early Monday morning on March 11th and hundreds of Uticans are gathered at Lafayettte and Seneca Streets in downtown Utica to get a peek at the luxurious interior of the city's newest and most elegant hotel. The 10-story, 300-room, fireproof Hotel Utica will open later in the day.

Only the best materials were used in building the hotel -- marble, mahogany, walnut and oak. The lobby is dominated by massive marble pillars, a reading and writing room and a newsstand where newspapers from throughout the world may be purchased. A grand staircase leads to a mezzanine and a large ballroom with furniture in the Louis XV style.

From 5:30 to 10:30 on opening night, more than 1,200 people are served in various dining rooms. Most of the men wear tuxedos and the women are in beautiful gowns. (The now 14-story hotel -- four floors were added in 1926 -- still stands and is known as DoubleTree by Hilton.)

1924, 100 years ago

Moo!

The large farm at the Masonic Home in Utica is 65 cows larger thanks to lodges in the New York City area. The gift is the brainchild of Henry Cleland, junior past master of Livington Lodge, No. 357, who, during a visit to the home and farm, learned of the need for cows. He began a fund-raising drive to purchase 65 cows.

The farm was established in 1900 since the land had rich soil suitable for growing crops and livestock. Production from the farm is used at the home. Cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys are raised, and fresh vegetables grown. (The farm no longer exists.)

1949, 75 years ago

Young cagers

Youngsters who represent the west in Utica's East-West Parochial Grammar School League basketball game are Howard Halpin, Ronald Soltys, Dick Wagner, Ronnie Evans, Steve Kozien, Tom Nicknish, Bill Stuhlman, Joe Woloznowski, Walter Sheima and George Maier.

1974, 50 years ago

Village elections

Village voters return most of their incumbents to office. Mayors re-elected include -- David Smith of Clayville and George Yonkers of Whitesboro. Trustees re-elected include Dennis McEvoy of Newport, Francis Kelley and Charles Browne of Waterville, Robert Coscomb and George Yaker of Boonville, Louis Koser and David McCarthy of Clinton, Glenn Davis and William Ashmore of New Hartford, Thaddeus Kaczor and Charles Bosak of New York Mills and Joseph Smizzi and Sam Vivrito of Frankfort.

Meanwhile, working on activities for Black Culture Week at the Utica YWCA are Rosemary Jackson, Wanda Jean Denmark, Sandra Lee Migget, Schary Workman and Fredine Bemberg.

1999, 25 years ago

Name change

To promote regional tourism, the Utica Area Chamber of Commerce has changed its name to the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce. President Robert Fowler says, "The name change illustrates the philosophy of business. Business sees the Mohawk Valley as one market place." Joseph Carucci, chairman of the board, says, "Our mission is to promote the Mohawk Valley -- from Canastota to Little Falls, from Old Forge to Cooperstown."

David Jacobowitz is elected chief of the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department. Assistant chiefs are Brian McQueen, George F. Massarotti and Peter Sobel. Keith Miller is senior captain, Jason Montana is first captain and John Abdou is second captain. Jeff Montana is senior lieutenant, Timothy Ryan Jr. is first lieutenant and Lane Ashton is second lieutenant.

State Supreme Court Justice John T. Buckley, of Utica, is promoted by Gov. George Patacki to the court's Appellate Division. He will still maintain an office in Oneida County, but his cases will be strictly from Manhattan and the Bronx.

2014, 10 years ago

Legionnaires

Provost Post 1686, American Legion in Utica, honors long-serving members -- Vernon Harris, 43 years; Lucius Chastine, 31 years; Mahon East, 37 years; Norman Kaplan, 32 years; Harold McLeod, 36 years; Pauline Bright, 31 years. and Jean Davis, 50 years with the auxiliary. The post is the oldest in Upstate New York representing African Americans who served in the military during war.

Area Roman Catholic nuns mark milestones of the year as sisters of the St. Joseph of Carondelet community in the Albany Province. They are Lisa Cirillo (50 years) more than 44 years in Utica including teaching at St. Francis de Sales High School, parish minister at St. Anthony in Chadwicks and Sacred Heart and St. Mary's and religious director at St. Anthony and St. Agnes in Utica. Mary Anne Heenan (50 years) born in Utica, a graduate of DeSales High in Utica and a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes parish. Margaret Ann Keddell (50 years) member of the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion. Mary Anne Rodgers (50 years) member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Utica. Mary Anne Schopfer (50 years) spiritual director in Utica. John Loretta Sinnott (70 years) graduate of DeSales High in Utica. Patricia Woolheater (50 years) graduate of DeSales High in Utica and a member of St. Thomas Church in New Hartford.

Trivia quiz

Who was the first lawyer to be elected president of the United States? (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: Here are some presidential "firsts." (1) The first president to die in office was William Henry Harrison, who died on April 4, 1841, after only 32 days in office. (2) The first and only born on the Fourth of July was Calvin Coolidge, born July 4, 1872. (3) The first born west of the Mississippi River was Herbert Hoover, born in West Branch, Iowa. (4) Lyndon Baines Johnson was the first Democrat to carry Vermont. He did so against Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. (5) The first to head a labor union was Ronald Reagan. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild.

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: Mohawk Valley history: What happened this week in history