Christmas arrives for the loneliest boys and girls in Utica: Mohawk Valley history

Frank Tomaino
·4 min read

1894, 128 years ago

Orphans enjoy a merry, musical Christmas

It is a magical Christmas morning for more than 100 youngsters at the Utica Orphan Asylum. Their Christmas stockings are bulging with fruit, nuts, peppermint sticks and toys and they get to meet and greet Kris Kringle himself at a musical reception. Later, they join employees and volunteers in a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, candied cranberries, pumpkin pie, ice cream and plum pudding.

The orphan asylum — on the northeast corner of Genesee and Pleasant streets — was built in 1861 on 4 acres donated by Benjamin Jewett (Jewett Place is named for him). It cost $25,000 to build. Its history dates back to 1830 when it was established by the 70-member Female Society of Industry.

The year was 1925 and one of the best independent football teams in Central New York was the Rockies Athletic Club squad from East Utica. It faced teams from throughout the state and played its home games at the Utica Athletics Field on Sunset Avenue and Burrstone Road (today Murnane Field). From 1924 to 1933, the Rockies won 46 games, lost 17 and tied 14. On the 1925 team were, front row from the left: Dooley Battista, Joe Caruso, Al Pacilio and Al Donoruma. Middle row from left: Rocco Benzo, Joe Asselta, Angie Colosimo (manager), Anthony Masercola, Sam Mazza (assistant manager), Emedio Vendetti and Vic Perretta. Back row from the left: Louis Asselta, Tom Zacaroli, Jerry Talerico, Tom Masercola, Bill Fragetta and Mike D’Amico. Other players during the year included: Jim Piccola, Jim Bumbalo, Sam Olivia, Joe DeSantis, Frank Cortese, Frank Paolozzi, Tony Daniele, Rocco Dapice, Nick Fragetta, Rock Zammiello, Mike LaBella, Kief Malara and Joe Saldano. Also, Dr. John Kelley was a team coach.

1922, 100 years ago

He loves Utica and its neighbors

Roger W. Babson, world-famous business expert, attracts more than 500 to a meeting of the Utica Chamber of Commerce in Hotel Utica. He says that Utica in particular and the area in general is ideally situated for industrial growth. "You have fine water power, railroads, a canal, ideal climate and an efficient and hard-working work force," he says. "And you are situated midway between the two greatest cities in America — New York and Chicago — which is the main artery of export trade."

More:This famous actor once had high praise for Utica: Mohawk Valley history

More:Mohawk Valley history: Museum's wax 'collection of curiosities' attracts hundreds in Utica

1947, 75 years ago

Lou Cook promoted

Lou Cook is named to the physical education department at Thomas R. Proctor High School. He graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1923 and from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 1933.

1972, 50 years ago

Lawyers honored

Twenty-one lawyers in Oneida County — each a member of the bar for 50 years or more — are honored at meeting of the Oneida County Bar Association in the Ramada Inn. Earl C. Bastow, former state Supreme Court justice and one of the 21, accepts the honors for the others: Ernest E. DeRosa, Arthur L. Evans, Lewis G. Fowler, Arthur N. Gleason, William R. Goldbas, Gilbert R. Hughes, Frederick C. Kronmiller, Matthew S. Ogonowski Sr., E. Howard Ringrose, D. Collis Wager, Louis E. Krohn, Frank E. Sacco, Stanley M. Miller, Warnick J. Kernan (dean of the group who was admitted to the bar 68 years ago in 1904), Chester Dewey, Martin J. Lutz, Michael Yust, David J. Goldstein, Joseph A. Page and Frederick C. Barns.

In other news, Victor Colon, of Utica, is elected president of the board of directors of the San Juan Caribe Association.

More than 5,500 people crowd into the Utica Memorial Auditorium to hear Johnny Cash and his group of country and western greats, including Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers.

1997, 25 years ago

Weather woes for Santa

Santa Claus had a difficult time making his rounds of area rooftops last night. Sleet and freezing rain left roadways and roofs slick with ice. Travel this Christmas morning is hazardous.

Area African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. Among them are Sheraqua Woodward and Quina Kearney, of Utica College, who organize a celebration at the school, and Frankfort's Alonzo Patterson and family.

The Observer-Dispatch picks its first ever All-Mohawk Valley High School Football Team. Rick Zacek, nose guard and center for Holland Patent Central, is named "player of the year." His team won the Section III, Class B East championship with a 7-2 record. Fran DeKalb, of West Canada Valley Central, is named "coach of the year."

The Holland Patent chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution present "good citizen" awards to Janine Ryan, of Holland Patent Central High, and Jason Roscup, of Remsen Central High.

2012, 10 years ago

Employees honored

Presbyterian Home and Services, on Middle Settlement Road in New Hartford, honor three employees with 40 years service: Lucy Viti, director of nursing; Viyada Young, business office manager, and Jennifer Calenda, licensed physical therapy assistant.

The Observer-Dispatch's All-Mohawk Valley Field Hockey Team includes "player of the year" Alexis Kavanaugh, of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central High, and "coach of the year" Renee LaValley, of Whitesboro Central High.

Trivia quiz

I'll name the U.S. presidents, you name their vice presidents. George Herbert Walker Bush (the father), George W. Bush (the son), Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, Woodrow Wilson and Bill Clinton. (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: Chester A. Arthur — 21st president of the United States from 1881 to 1885 — is buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menanda, New York. It is in the town of Colonie near Albany's northern city line. Millard Fillmore — 13th president from 1851 to 1853 — is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.

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: Utica's honorary and musical Christmases past: Mohawk Valley history