Utica Pythians, Utica University names officers: This week in Mohawk Valley history

Frank Tomaino
·4 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

1924, 100 years ago

Utica Pythians

Area native Justus H. Rathbone founded the Knights of Pythias 60 years ago while in Washington, D.C., and this week Utica Pythians celebrate the anniversary with a joint meeting of members of the Samuel Read and Founder Rathbone lodges and the Louisa Sanger Temple Pythian Sisters. Among those on a committee planning the event are Orson Van Dyke, William Vogel, Edward L. Smith, James H. Merwin, Thomas C. Jones, Herman Granger, Hugh Williams, Oscar Funke, Owen Edwards and George H. Williams.

For many years, one of the busiest home furnishing stores was Union-Fern on lower Genesee Street in Utica. When it opened in 1928, it was named Goodman’s, after its founder, Joseph Goodman. The store closed in the early 1960s and was torn down in 1968 to make room for the new Bagg’s Square Bridge project.
For many years, one of the busiest home furnishing stores was Union-Fern on lower Genesee Street in Utica. When it opened in 1928, it was named Goodman’s, after its founder, Joseph Goodman. The store closed in the early 1960s and was torn down in 1968 to make room for the new Bagg’s Square Bridge project.

Rathbone was born on October 29, 1839, in a house on Cosby Manor Road in the town of Deerfield, just north of Utica. He was the son of Utica attorney Justus Hull Rathbone and Sara Elizabeth Dwight. In 1862, he and Emma Louisa Sanger, of Utica, were married. He died on December 9, 1889, and is buried in New Forest Cemetery, off Oneida Street. In the late 1890s, thousands of Pythians from across the United States and Canada attended dedication ceremonies in the cemetery of a beautiful monument in Rathbone's honor.

1949, 75 years ago

First officers

Members of Utica College's (today Utica University) Class of 1950 -- the first full-sized, four-year class to graduate from the school founded in 1946 -- elects officers. They are Sam Jones, president; John F. Donohue, vice president; Edward Duffy, treasurer; Doreen Darrigrand, corresponding secretary, and Arthur Kozlowski, recording secretary.

1974, 50 years ago

Busy trains

The gasoline shortage is keeping many cars off the road and curtailing air travel. The result is a busy, crowded Union Station in Utica. "Railroads haven't been this busy since the Second World War," says Frank Conte, a ticket agent at Union Station. Reservations for trips to Florida during the Easter holidays are filled and there is standing room only on most Amtrak trains. Kathleen Jones. of Utica, says, "I'm taking the train to New York City because of the fuel situation, the convenience and the low cost. A round-trip ticket to Manhattan is $13.50."

Meanwhile, the Sunset bowling team from Barneveld has entered the Utica Women's Bowling Association's tournament on the Vista lanes in Yorkville. Members are Marilyn Bickley, Shirley Alsante, Joan Coleman, Lorna VanBurskirk and Gail Hannahs.

1999, 25 years ago

Heart run & walk

The local America's Greatest Heart Run and Walk raises $1,000,897, topping last year's record $782,444. There were 8,601 walkers and runners. The Radio WIBX radiothon raises $128,420, and a WKTV telethon raises $46,000.

Nursing students at the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica receive scholarships based on above-average academic achievements. They are, from Utica, Sharon Braunlich, Christina Dillman, Sara Gleasman, Kathryn Zammiello, Gretchen Hoffman and David Theobald. Also, Kim Spellman of Ilion, Amy Chamblin of Rome, Gene Orcutt of Oneida, Roman Petrenko of Hamilton, Mary Heinrich and Gloria Shaw of Clinton, Diane O'Donnell of Herkimer, Korinne Smith of Lee Center, Brandi Baker of Springfield Center, Heidi Schell of Newport, Andy Bernos of Little Falls, Amanda Paquette of Remsen, LeShan Broniszewski of Vernon, Joanne Gradner of Sherrill and Rebecca Hearn of Dolgeville.

Milton Lefkowitz is elected potentate of Utica Ziyara Shrine. Others elected include Duane Eilts, chief rabban; Gerald Wilklow assistant rabban; Richard E. Braun, high priest, and Bob Del Buono, oriental guide.

2005, 19 years ago

Black trailblazers

Hope Chapel AME Zion Church, on South Street in Utica, celebrates Black History Month with a program that honors the achievements of three local African Americans -- Stephen Taylor, the first African American elected to Utica's Common Council; Howard McLeod, Oneida County's first African American deputy sheriff, and Marie Walker, the Utica school district's first African American librarian.

2014, 10 years ago

What a gift!

The philanthropic arm of the Utica National Insurance Group celebrates its 100th anniversary by donating $1 million to the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. The donation will be made in $100,000 increments per year for 10 years

J. Douglas Robinson, the insurance company's chief executive officer, says, "The two organizations share a common goal to solve the cause of community issues by fixing the root of the problems. Some of the issues the grant will tackle are domestic violence and homelessness." Peggy O'Shea, the foundation's chief executive officer, says, "The donation is an extraordinary gift ... to improve the lives of those in need in our region."

In other news, The Zonta Club of Utica gives its "Diamond Z" award to Kim Guarascio, of Whitesboro.

The award says Guarascio, a member since 2007, "devotes a significant amount of time and energy to Zonta's mission."

Trivia quiz

Only one state in the country is named for a U.S. president. Name him. Also, name the four state capitals named for U.S. presidents. (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: The 556-foot-tall Washington Monument -- in Washington, D.C. -- was completed in 1878 at a cost of $1,187,710.

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: Here is what happened this week in Mohawk Valley history