Utica prepares for a visit by the man who soon will be president | Mohawk Valley history

1861, 162 years ago

Abraham Lincoln's bittersweet visit

There is joy in the air — and a bit of apprehension, too — as a large crowd gathers at Bagg's Square in Utica, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the eastbound train carrying President-elect Abraham Lincoln to Washington where he will be sworn in as 16th president of the United States on March 4.

Joy because Uticans and their neighbors will get to wish Lincoln a happy birthday and also get a close-up look at his much-publicized beard. He will, after all, be the first bearded president in U.S. history. Six days earlier — on Feb. 12 — he celebrated his 52nd birthday on his inaugural train as it crossed Indiana on its way from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington. Now, on a snowy morning on Feb. 18, the three-car train — painted yellow — approaches Utica for a 10-minute stop.

Mingling with the feeling of joy, however, is a fear of what lies ahead for Lincoln and the country. He has angered slave states in the South by giving speeches against slavery and he opposes the extension of slavery into the western territories. South Carolina has seceded from the Union and on Feb. 4 in Montgomery, Alabama, six southern states formed the Confederate States of America — Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. (They will be joined later by Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas and Tennessee.)

Many in the crowd in Utica are thinking: "Will there be a Civil War if Lincoln is sworn in? And what about rumors that he will be assassinated before he reaches Washington?" So joy mingles with apprehension when, at 11:17 a.m., Lincoln's train pulls to a stop. (Next week: What Lincoln has to say during his brief stop in Utica.)

1923, 100 years ago

A special tree

Ziyara Temple of Utica pays tribute to the memory of James Schoolcraft Sherman — native Utican who was vice president of the United States from 1909 to 1912 — by planting a tree on the grounds of the White House "to perpetuate his name." Sherman died in 1912. Area Congressman Homer P. Snyder, of Little Falls, tell a large crowd at the planting ceremony that Sherman "was one of the most pleasant, agreeable persons in Washington. He was full of fun and humor and those characteristics gave him the title 'Sunny Jim' by which everyone knew him."

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1948, 75 years ago

UFA cheerleaders

Utica Free Academy is proud of its Austin Bell-coached cheerleaders who win the Central-Oneida League championship. They include: Isabelle Tinker, Virginia Zientek (captain), Helen Pawelek, Helen Jablonski, Alice Fiesthumel and Shirley Perrollaz.

1973, 50 years ago

Local elections

John D. Ackley is re-elected mayor of Remsen. Edward McCarthy is elected mayor of Sylvan Beach. In Yorkville, voters decide — by a 589 to 90 vote — to build a $348,000 firehouse-municipal building. And in Boonville, David Ernst — a write-in candidate — is elected mayor.

Central-Oneida League basketball coaches select their All-Star team: Dale Shackleford and Dave Zalewski, of Notre Dame; Chris Madden, of New Hartford; Dave Russell, of Rome Free Academy, and Sabin Harris, of Utica Free Academy.

1998, 25 years ago

McLeod elected

Harold McLeod, of Utica, is elected commander of the Oneida County American Legion. Other officers include: Joseph Perrone of Rome, vice commander; Edward Morris of Westmoreland, financial officer, and John Swald of Oriskany Falls, executive committee member.

In Section III, Class B, high school swimming championships, Kevin West, of Holland Patent, wins the 100-yard breast stroke in a school record 1:02.14. Teammate Brett Stevens wins the 500-yard freestyle and both he and West lead Holland Patent to a second place finish.

The Maynard Volunteer Fire Department elects Joe Mack as president and Dan Crossway as chief. Others elected include: Joseph T. White, vice president; Jared A. Pearl, corresponding secretary; Brian Smith, treasurer; Michael Magnitzky, Glenn Stevener and Tim Weigel, assistant chiefs; Randy Caldwell, L. Wagner and David Strzepek, captains; Steve Buda, Bill Gagnon and John Trinkaus, lieutenants, and Don Hartshorn, chaplain.

2013, 10 years ago

Kuhn elected

The Willowvale Fire Department elects James Kuhn as chief. Others elected include: William Smith, assistant chief; Chad Powers, first captain; Ronald Dittmar, second captain; John Kuhn, first lieutenant; Wayne Smoulcey, second lieutenant; Daniel Snyder, third lieutenant; David Jones, EMS lieutenant; Michael Siciliano, fire police captain; Gary Edwards, president; Charles Strong, vice president; Joseph David, financial secretary; William Snyder, treasurer, and Margaret Jones, recording secretary. Thomas Smith is named the "Martin Shephard Ironman of the Year" and Gary Edwards is named "Fireman of the Year."

In high school basketball, Mark Chanatry's 15 points and 15 rebounds leads New Hartford to a 76-34 win over Whitesboro. Jordan Henderson adds 13 points and Jared Henderson 12. Joel Jakubowicz has nine points for Whitsboro.

Trivia quiz

George Washington became first president of the United States on April 30, 1789. His first cabinet consisted of secretaries of state, treasury and war; an attorney general and a postmaster general. How many first cabinet members can you name? (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: When 52-year-old Abraham Lincoln was sworn into office on March 4, 1861, five former U.S. presidents were living — Martin Van Buren (died 1862), John Tyler (died 1862), James Buchanan (died 1868), Franklin Pierce (died 1869) and Millard Fillmore (died 1874).

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 prepares for visit from Abraham Lincoln: Mohawk Valley history