Utica becomes sixth city in the state: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1832, 192 years ago

We are No. 6

Utica becomes a city this week -- on February 13 -- when the state legislature grants it a city charter. It has been a village since 1798.

Utica is the sixth city in the state. New York City became a city in 1653, when it was known as New Amsterdam. It was followed by Albany in 1686, Hudson in 1785, Schenectady in 1798 and Troy in 1816. Buffalo also became a city this year, about nine weeks after Utica -- on April 20, 1832.

Utica's population is 8,393 and its new charter allows members of the Common Council to pick a mayor. They choose Joseph Kirkland, nephew of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneida Indian Nation and founder of what is today Hamilton College.

(In 1840, it was decided that the citizens of Utica should elect their mayor. They chose John C. Devereux. Other communities and when they became cities -- Rochester in 1834, Syracuse in 1847, Binghamton in 1867, Rome in 1870 and Little Falls in 1895.)

1924, 100 years ago

Cars are changing

Automobiles are changing rapidly. This year's models have two outstanding additions: Balloon tires and four-wheel brakes. The Utica Motor Dealers Association display them in a show in the Steuben Park Armory on Rutger Street. Being shown are the Hudson, Pierce-Arrow, Chevrolet, Ford, Buick, Maxwell, Willys, Chrysler, Dodge Brothers, Studebaker, Packard, Dort, Lincoln, Durant, Hupmobile, Franklin, Chalmer, Essex, Nash, Peerless and Lafayette.

1949, 75 years ago

CYO team

Representing St. Agnes Church in the Utica Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Basketball League are Lou Gigliotti, Anthony Cucci, Augie Palmieri, Joe Scire, Al Piacintino, Joe Pensula, Lou Fondario, Jim Summa, Lou Bell, Bob DeRosa and Peter Ricci. They're coached by Tom Scire.

1974, 50 years ago

Chesley dies

Roland E. Chesley, founder and manager of the Great Artist Series, dies at age 92. He began to present well-known artists 40 years ago in the Avon Theater and later staged performances in the Stanley Theater and the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute (today Munson).

In 1936, he brought contralto Marian Anderson to Utica when many concert managers were hesitant to sign a black singer. When she retired in 1963, she did not forget Chesley and the reception she received in Utica. Noted artists from throughout the world attended a reception in her honor. Chesley's name topped the guest list.

This week, Roberta Peters, one of the world's great coloratura sopranos, said she was devastated by news of Chesley's death. "I can remember that it was Roland who first brought me to Utica 20 years ago. He was a great appreciator of music. All of us in music will miss him tremendously."

1999, 25 years ago

Church celebrates

Christ Community Church Reformed, on Herkimer Road in North Utica, celebrates its 40th anniversary. It was founded by the Rev. Herman E. Luben.

Team Victoria, of the Zion Lutheran Nursery School, participates in Sangertown Square Mall-walk during America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk. Members do it to honor their classmate, Victoria Swider, who was born with a heart defect. Among those completing the walk are: Nathan Dugan, Joey Holmes, Caltlyn Sfinas, Alyssa Sowich, Adam Eberly, Nathan Fredsell, Britany Schultz, Benjamin Wadas, Bernadette Erlichman, Alex Fiorentino, Kristopher Martinelli, Jessica Farrell, Derek Jones, Richard Matrassi, Ryan Robinson, Caroline Vollmer, Connie Blasek (teacher), and Wendy Stevens (assistant teacher).

In high school basketball, Brookfield defeated McGraw, 53-42, to win the Central Counties Conference championship. Matt Wilcox had 22 points and Justin Weaver added 10 points and eight rebounds.

2014, 10 years ago

Erin does it!

Erin Hamlin, of Remsen, places third to win a bronze medal in luge racing in the Olympics in Russia. She is the first United States athlete in Olympic history to win a single luge medal. She crosses the finish line 0.236 seconds behind Tatjana Huefner, of Germany, who won the silver medal, but held off Canada's Alex Gough by 0.433 seconds to win the bronze medal. Natalie Getsenberger, of Germany, wins the gold medal.

When Hamlin crosses the finish line, she throws her arms skyward, then covers her face with her hands. Then she is handed the American flag. In 2009 at Lake Placid, the 2004 Remsen High graduate became the first American to win the world championship in luge racing.

The Oneida County Magistrates Association elects officers: president, Justice David Kozyra of Marcy; vice president, Justice William Osbourne of Vernon; treasurer, Justice James Trombino, of Sylvan Beach; corresponding secretary, Justice Daniel P. Appler of Whitestown; recording secretaries are Marcy court clerks Bernadette Scharbach and Terri Sciortino.

Trivia quiz

Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809, near Hodgenville, Kentucky. He became the first U.S. president born beyond the boundaries of the original 13 states. How many of those states can you name? (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: At his death, President Lincoln's estate was valued at $110,294. In his pockets at the time of his assassination were one pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, one pair of folding spectacles in a silver case, one ivory pocketknife, one watch fob, one large white Irish linen handkerchief, one initialed sleeve button and a leather wallet containing a five-dollar Confederate note and nine newspaper clippings.

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: Cars changing, basketball players named