Labor Day throughout Mohawk Valley history: How the area celebrated

1897, 126 years ago

What a parade!

Utica observes Labor Day with the city's biggest parade ever. There are more than 3,500 marchers, 101 floats and dozens of decorative wagons and bands.

Factories and businesses are closed and the weather is perfect as the sun shines on thousands of spectators lined up and down Genesee Street from Bagg's Square to Oneida Square for the mid-morning festivities.

Carpenters' Union No. 25 has 200 marchers and Plumbers' Union No. 79 has more than 100. Other union members participating include bricklayers, stonecutters, tailors, bakers, painters, sheet-iron workers, weavers, cotton mule spinners, molders, musicians, meatcutters, paper hangers, printers, machinists, stage workers, lathers, brewery workers, bartenders, cigarmakers, clothing cutters, carriage workers and coopers.

On June 18, 1894, Congress passed a bill making Labor Day a legal holiday on the first Monday in September.

1923, 100 years ago

Road is a mess

The Utica and Kuyahoora Valley chambers of commerce ask the state to repair and pave a stretch of Walker Road that begins near Deerfield Corners and runs north to Poland. Guy Sweet, secretary of the Kuyahoora chamber, says the road is in such poor condition that many motorists in the Poland area heading for Utica are forced to go many miles out of their way via Herkimer or Trenton.

1948, 75 years ago

Hiring begins

The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company opens an office at 200 Blandina St. in downtown Utica to receive applications for jobs in the new plant it is building in Forest Park on the Bleecker Street Extension, just a few yards east of the easterly city line and the Masonic Home. The company expects to begin operations in the spring with 1,000 workers. The figure will increase to 2,000 in a year, say company officials. Skilled and unskilled workers are being hired, including those who can operate lathes, drill presses, milling machines and grinders. Also needed are inspectors, assemblers, toolmakers, shipping clerks and stockroom workers.

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1973, 50 years ago

South Street fire

A two-alarm fire levels Utica's Royal Bowling Center at South Street and Seymour Avenue. It is one of the city's oldest bowling establishments and home to many of the area's top bowlers. It houses 10 lanes, a snack bar-restaurant and a lounge. It is owned by the Gimelli family.

Meanwhile, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, on Nichols Street in East Utica, celebrates its 60th anniversary with a special Mass and dinner headed by its pastor, the Rev. Casimir Krzysiak.

In high school football, Whitesboro halfback Carl Conte scores two touchdowns to lead his team to a 26-0 win over North Syracuse. Whitesboro also gets touchdowns from fullback Mark Ullrich and halfback Paul Dziekowicz.

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1998, 25 years ago

Residence hall

Utica College (today Utica University) breaks ground for a $5.5 million residence hall and conference center on its Burrstone Road campus. It will increase residence facilities on campus from 700 students to 800. The current student population is 1,700. Dr. Todd S. Hutton, college president, also announces that the college will offer its first master's degree program. It will be in economic crime management, dealing with forensics … computer fraud and computer security.

In high school football, New Hartford defeats East Syracuse-Minoa, 27-7, behind the play of Mike Leist (two touchdowns), Dan Circelli (one-yard touchdown run and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Steve Abbass).

Meanwhile, Rome Free Academy beats Syracuse's Henninger High, 21-19, behind the offensive play of Aaron Fiorini, Eddie Harper, Mike S'Aiuto, Jacob Frost, Erik Williams and Michael Destito and the defensive play of Joe Corley, Ben Watson and Justin Gualtieri.

The Utica chapter of the American Red Cross elects officers for its development committee: William K. Crane, chairman; John Bushnell, Bruce Davis and Christopher Perna, vice chairmen; Janet Evelyn-Dorsey, secretary, and Marie Bord, treasurer.

2013, 10 years ago

BOCES board

Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES announces cooperative board officers and members. They include: Gary P. Nelson of Holland Patent, president; Dr. Gary W. Porcelli of New York Mills, vice president; and Margaret Buckley of Utica, Shirley Burtch of Oriskany, Elaine Falvo of New Hartford, Doreen Corbin of Brookfield, John A. Griffin of Sauquoit, Charlene A. Hartman of Westmoreland, William McDonald of Remsen, Michael J. Moore of Clinton, John J. Salerno of Whitesboro and Russell Stewart of Waterville.

In high school football, Rome Free Academy defeats Whitesboro, 15-14 in a thriller at Chiz Frye Field in Whitesboro. Sophomore running back Brad Dougherty converts Tyler Benedict's fumble recovery into a touchdown run with 59 seconds remaining in the game. Rome also gets outstanding play from Eddie Campos, Brian Stapleton, Josh Reed and Angus Evans. Whitesboro standouts include Travis Eberly, Bodhi Forbes, Gary Casab and Ed Zegarelli.

Trivia quiz

This U.S. president was the first president to be the godfather of a member of the English royal family. He was (a) George Washington, (b) Rutherford B. Hayes, (c) Franklin D. Roosevelt or (d) Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: In the presidential election of 1824, no candidate received a majority of the electoral vote, so the House of Representatives had the duty to pick the next president. The contenders were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford and Henry Clay. House members picked Adams to be the sixth president of the United States.

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: Labor Day throughout Mohawk Valley history: How the area celebrated