These were the most popular dog names 100 years ago: Mohawk Valley history

1907, 116 years ago

Busy health resort

Admiral George Dewey is spending the summer in Richfield Springs — a village on Canadarago Lake in Otsego County, about 30 miles from Utica. He is joined by hundreds of others from throughout the country — the famous and not-so-famous — who journey to the health resort to breathe its fresh, invigorating air and to dip into its many sulphur springs to alleviate painful disorders such as rheumatism, gout and sciatica.

Dewey was the "hero of Manila Bay" in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War in 1898. He is staying in one of Richfield Springs' many grand hotels and elegant boarding houses. He says he is enjoying himself, despite rumblings about the United States and Japan going to war. He does not think that will happen and refuses to comment on newspaper editorials across the country suggesting that he take over command of the U.S. fleet in the Pacific. "I'm in Richfield Springs for a quiet vacation and rest," he says.

During the war in 1898, Dewey's six warships in Manila Bay destroyed the Spanish fleet — 10 cruisers and gunboats — without losing a single American life.

1923, 100 years ago

Fido and friends

A random look at dog licenses in Utica's City Hall shows that the most popular names for canine pets in the city are: Fido, Sport, Spot, Beauty, Toto, Laddie Boy, Ginger, Snowball, Chummy and Pepper. Some unusual names listed include: Utica Flash, Don Jose, Stonewall Sensation, Tiny Opal, Tokio and Teddy Roosevelt.

More: A bloody battle, president mourned and a major Boilermaker change: Mohawk Valley history

1948, 75 years ago

Skiba Post

A picnic sponsored by the Walter Skiba Post 20, Polish Legion of American Veterans, attracts hundreds to the St. Stanislaus Church grounds in East Utica. Edward Linke and Henry Majka are chairmen. Dance music is provided by the Stan Antoniuk Orchestra and Polka Kings.

Meanwhile, Mike Salerno, former star catcher on the Thomas R. Proctor High School baseball team, signs a contract with the Detroit Tigers and will report to the Rome Colonels training camp next spring.

1973, 50 years ago

Top orators

Three students from Our Lady of Lourdes School in Utica win top places in an oratorical contest sponsored by the Utica Optimist Club. They are: Douglas Kernan, first place; Chris Allinger, second, and Larry Gilroy, third.

Theodore Chmielewski, who attended Rome Free Academy, is awarded a four-year regional alumni scholarship from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He will major in environmental engineering.

Dr. Richard Zogby, of New Hartford, is elected president of the Fifth District Dental Society. It consists of six upstate counties and is a component of the Dental Board of the State of New York. He is a graduate of Thomas R. Proctor High, was in the Navy for two years and than attended Niagara University for predental studies. He earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Buffalo School of Dentistry.

1998, 25 years ago

Deerfield 200

The town of Deerfield begins to celebrate its 200th anniversary with a parade and entertainment at the Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department field on Trenton Road. David Yeaton is chairman. Deerfield was first settled in 1773 —before the Revolutionary War — and the town received its charter from the state on March 15, 1798. Meanwhile, a Fair Days Committee is headed by Patricia and Patrick Gaynor. "We only get to do this every 200 years," Patrick says.

Frank Perretta, principal of Clinton High School for 22 years, announces his retirement. Superintendent James Torrance says, "We are going to miss Frank. He really is a talented administrator who is very much student-oriented. He has done an extraordinary job of working with and getting the best out of every student."

Timothy Reed, campaign chairman for fundraising for the United Way of Greater Utica, announces the names of members of his Executive Campaign Cabinet. They include: Lawrence T. Gilroy, Robert L. Bradley, Harold T. Clark, Barbara M. Falatico, Jeffrey P. Fraser, John P. Bushnell, Lisa Calhoun, Herbert T. Freeman, Dana E. Jerrard, Camille T. Kahler, Harold J. McLeod, Curtis M. Pearsall, Roger W. Ranger, Earle C. Reed, Joseph R. Romanelli, Sarah F. Rudes, Deborah C. Stone, Eleanor W. Wertimer and Richard Zick.

Fire destroys businesses on a busy block in downtown Utica. They are on Lafayette Street, between Genesee and Seneca streets and include: Ball’s Card Shop, Capri Pizzeria, Chip’s Shop and Swap and Dino’s Gold and Silver Exchange.

2013, 10 years ago

Top volunteer

Lesia Roback is named Boilermaker Road Race “volunteer of the year.” She is a certified personal care aide at the Presbyterian Home & Services’ licensed home care program. She began volunteering with the Boilermaker in 1998 as a package stuffer and today is coordinator of the wheelchair race. She and her husband, Gary — of Frankfort — also have received the Coach DeStefano Award — named for a longtime Boilermaker volunteer.

Four area men re-enlist in the New York Army National Guard. They are: Staff Sgt. Nicholas Jones, of Sauquoit; Pvt. Ralph Isabella, of Ilion; Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Perusse, of Taberg, and Staff Sgt. Scott McCumber, of Ilion.

Ramona Currier-Bassett is elected president of the Oneida County American Legion Auxiliary. She represents Kelley-Phillips Unit 569 in Oriskany Falls. Others elected include: first vice president, Lydia Yerdon of Arthur S. Moran Unit 66 in Camden; second vice president, Donna Wheat of Meeker-O’Rourke Unit 1309 in Taberg; third vice president, Joanne Aughe of Unit 1113 in Whitestown; treasurer, Virginia “Kelly” Thaler of R. Kirk Parkhurst Unit 1448, Oriskany; secretary, Shelby Sobolowski and sergeant-at-arms Julia Parker, both of Arthur S. Moran Unit 66 in Camden; chaplain, Jeannine Damon of Henry P. Smith Unit 24 in Rome, and historian, Roberta Owen of Leon R. Roberts Unit 161 in Holland Patent.

Trivia quiz

This man ran for president of the United States while in jail and received nearly one million votes. Name him. (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: President Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929, once said, “Any man who does not like dogs does not deserve to be in the White House.” Coolidge owned a terrier, an Airedale collie and a Shetland sheepdog.

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: Popular dog names: Utica pet owners' top choices 100 years ago