A Utican in Paris: A look back at this week in Mohawk Valley History

Frank Tomaino
·4 min read

1900, 124 years ago

Utican in Paris

Utica will be represented in the spectacular Paris Exposition that opens next month in the French capital. Hundreds of the world's latest industrial and scientific developments will be on display -- including diesel engines, electric cars, talking movies and escalators.

The block of Washington Street in downtown Utica — between Columbia and Pearl streets — no longer exists and is now part of the rear of the Delta Hotels by Marriott complex. In the late 1940s, however, it was the home of several businesses including Sonne Brothers jewelers and opticians; Dr. Arthur Faass, dentist; Louis Scalise violin studio; Al Sittig Entertainment Services; David Arlen, tailor; and the Chippewa Buffet.

Arthur W. Savage, who lives on Howard Avenue in the Cornhill section of Utica, has been invited to display his Model '99 sporting rifle. The hammerless, repeating, high-powered rifle was designed by Savage in his home workshop in his spare time. He is superintendent of the Utica Street Railways firm.

The rifles are being manufactured by a handful of skilled workmen in rooms rented by Savage on the southeast corner of Broad and Hubbell streets in East Utica.

1924, 100 years ago

Remington dies

Eliphalet Remington, son of the founder of Remington Arms in Ilion, dies at age 95 in a private sanatorium in Herkimer. When his father died in 1861, Eliphalet assumed general supervision of the Remington offices. His brother, Philo, took charge of manufacturing, and another brother, Samuel, ran the sales department.

1949, 75 years ago

Anchors aweigh

A new $500,000 Naval Reserve Training Center opens in Utica on the west side of Mohawk Street, between South and Eagle streets. Cmdr. Leo G. May, who is commanding officer of the center, says its three buildings will house radio and radar equipment, a machine shop, a metals shop, a drill area and a gyroscope training center.

1974, 50 years ago

Singing students

Among the students singing in Thomas R. Proctor High School's "Spring Vocal Concert" are Roger Blair, Charles Brindisi, Mike Cittadino, George Kallaur, Bryan Topa, Gail Getz, Donna Cucharale, Anna Marie Barrella and Jean Marie Sardina.

Meanwhile, Robert Mullen is re-elected to his fourth term at chief of the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department.

1999, 25 years ago

New president

Todd S. Hutton is sworn in as president and chief executive officer of Utica College (today Utica University) in a ceremony in the college gym before hundreds of students, staff and alumni. The 51-year-old Hutton has a doctorate in education from Duke University. At the same time, the college's board of trustees announces that the college will begin to field teams in football, field hockey and women's water polo.

In other news, the Utica Symphony Orchestra entertains 250 invited guests at the opening of the Oneida Indian Nation's new showroom. It seats 500 and has an advanced audio system that includes a 52-channel sound board and 16 overhead microphones.

And the Utica Maennerchor awards scholarships to area high school students who excel in studies that are "keeping German heritage, language and culture alive." They are David Armstrong, of New Hartford High; Brian McMahon and Daniel Linville, of Dolgeville High, and Susan Fischer, of Rome Free Academy.The awards are given in memory of the late Eric Kresse, former president of the Maennerchor.

2014, 10 years ago

What an attraction!

The Utica Comets, of the American Hockey League, are a smash at the box office. So far, the team has attracted 104,811 fans to the refurbished Utica Memorial Auditorium. In 31 games, they are averaging 3,381 fans a game -- as of March 23rd.

Meanwhile, Jason Lujewski is named director of rehabilitation at the Presbyterian Home for Central New York. He is a graduate of Whitesboro High School and earned a master's degree in occupational therapy at Utica College.

In high school basketball, Notre Dame defeated Staten Island Academy, 67-39, to win the Class B championship in the New York State Tournament in Albany. Emily Durr leads the winners with 27 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Claire Sehring adds 11 points and Anari Harris has 10.

Trivia quiz

I'll name the movie; you name the future or current U.S. president the movie is about and name of the actor who played him. (1) "PT 109" (2) "The Buccaneer" (3) "Sunrise at Campobello" (4) "Tennesee Johnson" (5) "The Remarkable Andrew." (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: The presidents and the colleges or universities from which they graduated. John F. Kennedy (Harvard). Jimmy Carter (U.S. Naval Academy). Thomas Jefferson (William and Mary). Gerald Ford (Michigan). George Herbert Walker Bush -- the father (Yale). Ulysses S. Grant (U.S. Military Academy). Woodrow Wilson (Princeton),

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: What happened this week in Mohawk Valley history