How a Civil War general, a Phillies manager and a sea lion made their start in Utica

1862, 161 years ago

Two men talking

No doubt this conversation never took place between President Abraham Lincoln and Maj. Gen. Henry Wager Halleck, but it could have. History is a lot more fun if you believe it did.

Halleck: "I was born in 1815 on a farm in Westernville in Oneida County, Mr. President. It's in Central New York. When I was a boy I moved to Utica to live with my uncle, David Wager. He was a prominent attorney with offices at Main and John streets. We lived in rooms in the Skinner Boarding House at 32 Broad St. That entire area, Mr. President, is known as Bagg's Square and is a very historic section of the city. It's the birthplace of Utica for the area's first pioneers from New England settled there in the 1780s."

Lincoln: "Believe it or not, General Halleck, I know the area. I stopped there in February 1861 on my way to Washington for my inauguration. I gave a brief talk there to a large crowd gathered around the train depot. I was told it was the Bagg's Square area."

While that conversation probably did not take place, what did occur that day in July 1862 was Lincoln making Halleck — a son of Oneida County — general in chief of all Union armies.

The Civil War was raging at the time.

Halleck's background was impressive. He attended Union College and then went on to West Point military academy. He graduated in 1839, third in his class of 31. When the Mexican War began in 1846, the army sent him to California where he served as secretary of state under the military government there. He later helped to frame the state Constitution of California. When the Civil War began in April 1861, he was made a major general and in November became supreme commander in the western theater of the war. Now he commands all armies and one of the officers under him is a 40-year-old named Ulysses S. Grant.

When Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, Halleck was chosen to be one of the president's pallbearers. Halleck died in 1872 and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

More history: 'Taps,' played at countless American military ceremonies, has Utica ties

1923, 100 years ago

Railroad history

Engine No. 8000, the most powerful locomotive in the world, pulls into Utica's Union Station carrying a railroading museum on wheels. The Service Progress Special has dozens of exhibits that tell the story of railroading's early history. Utica is one of its principal stops on its 200-city, 12,000-mile tour. Engine No. 8000 is a Mikado freight engine that can pull 140 loaded freight cars.

1948, 75 years ago

Sawyer promoted

Eddie Sawyer, who managed the Utica Blue Sox baseball team to Eastern League pennants in 1945 and 1947, is named manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, succeeding Ben Chapman. (Two years later, in 1950, Sawyer led the Phillies to the National League pennant with a 91-63 record. The team was known as the "Whiz Kids" and included five former Utica players: Richie Ashburn, 23 years old; Putsy Caballero, 22; Granny Hamner, 23; Stan Lopata, 25, and Willie Jones, 25.)

More: 'Let us then proceed' with building the Erie Canal: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1973, 25 years ago

Mt. Carmel players

The Mt. Carmel Community Theater presents "Charley's Aunt" in the Kernan School auditorium to benefit the Central New York chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Peter Elacqua directs the show, assisted by Sharon Campola. Players include: Angela Barresi, Melanie Beebe, Jackie Mancuso, Richard Castellano and Karen Cichon.

Utica police officer Philip Arcuri is elected president of the John E. Creedon Police Benevolent Association.William Gessler, of DeWitt, is elected president of The Lutheran Home of Central New York. The Rev. Hugh C. Whitaker, of Little Falls, is vice president.

1998, 25 years ago

Hope Chapel

Hope Chapel, AME Zion Church, on South Street in Utica, celebrates its 150th anniversary. It was founded in 1848 and for many years, it was the only house of worship for African Americans in Utica. The Rev. Craig W. Douglass, pastor, says there will be a day-long celebration at the Harry V. Quinn Playground, at Rutger and St. Vincent streets, with food, music and dancing. Frieda Rodgers is organizing the event.

The Harold Provost Memorial Post 1686 in Utica installs Norman Kaplan as commander. Other officers include: Marron McLeod, first vice commander; Ransom Brown, second vice commander; Willie Clark, third vice commander; Horace Moore, adjutant; Chester Provost, finance officer; Wilbur Short, chaplain; Walkery Mills, historian; Harold McLeod, service officer, Herbert Holliman, sergeant-at-arms.

In American Legion baseball, Smith Post of Rome defeats Ilion in a doubleheader, 13-1 and 9-1, to win the District V championship. Mike Rushford, former Rome Free Academy star pitcher, wins both games. The winners get home runs from Eddie Harper, Eddie Firpo and Rob Beckwith.

2013, 10 years ago

Zoo additions

The Utica Zoo adds new exhibits and animals to its family. It has acquired two mountain zebras, a wallaby, three ring-tailed lemurs and a white-napped crane. Newborns include a Nigerian dwarf goat and a Californian sea lion.

Executive director Andrea Heath says new structures being built include a mini-barn in the Children's Zoo.

Aris Bird, volleyball star at Dolgeville High and Niagara University, is named volleyball coach at Utica College (today Utica University). She spent the last six years coaching at Herkimer County Community College, Granville High School and Dolgeville High. She also teaches algebra at Dolgeville.

Wendy Bashant, a graduate of New Hartford High and Middlebury College, is named dean of students at the Thurgood Marshall School of the University of California. She also teaches British literature in its honors program. Bashant has a doctorate's degree from the University of Rochester.

Trivia quiz

I'll name the U.S. presidents, you name the states they were born in. (1) Harry Truman, (2) John F. Kennedy, (3) Bill Clinton, (4) Gerald Ford, (5) Theodore Roosevelt, (6) Abraham Lincoln, (7) Andrew Jackson, (8) Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: Lyndon B. Johnson was the second president to belong to the Disciples of Christ, a Protestant denomination. The first president to belong to the denomination was James A. Garfield, elected 20th president in 1880.

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Utica Zoo welcomes baby goat, sea lion: Mohawk Valley history