WWI nurse returns home as Utica hospital head nurse: This week in Mohawk Valley history

Frank Tomaino
·5 min read

1800, 223 years ago

Watch us grow

Oneida County — a jewel sitting in the center of the state and incorporated as a county only two years ago — is growing rapidly as settlers by the hundreds from New England continue to pour into the region. They are attracted by its thousands of acres of fertile soil, million of trees needed to build houses and barns and its many lakes and streams.

This week, the official U.S. census puts the county's population at 22,837. (It will continue to grow throughout the first half of the 19th century: 33,792 in 1810 … 50,997 in 1820 … 71,326 in 1830 … 85,310 in 1840 … 95,537 in 1850.)

The county's largest town is Paris with 4,721 inhabitants. Whitestown is second with 4,212. Other towns: Augusta 1,598; Bridgewater 1,061; Camden 384; Deerfield 1,048; Floyd 767; Remsen 224; Rome 1,497; Sangerfield 1,143; Steuben 552; Trenton 624; Westmoreland 1,542 and Western 1,493. The village of Utica has about 400 people. New York State has about 400,00 people and the United States about five million.

Hotel Utica first opened its doors in March 1912 and its owners quickly decided that it should provide shuttle service for guests between the hotel and the railroad depot on Main Street (on the site of today’s Union Station). They asked the Willoughby Company—at Dwyer Avenue and Turner Street—to build them a bus. The auto body-building company did just that and it was a beauty. The bus seated 11 plus the driver and it had a rich, glossy blue exterior and a lush interior. It was powered by a 24-horsepower engine.

1923, 100 years ago

Nurse honored

In 1904, 9-year-old Marguerite Mathews left New York City and entered the Masonic Home in Utica. While a "Masonic kid," she graduated from Utica Free Academy (beginning in 1936, "Masonic kids" attended nearby Thomas R. Proctor High School). Then she studied nursing at St. Luke's Home and Hospital. When the United States entered the World War in 1917, Marguerite enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent 17 months tending to wounded American soldiers in emergency hospitals on the battlefields of France. This week, Masons throughout the state honored her by appointing her head nurse at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hospital at the Masonic Home where she lived and played as a child.

More: Mourning a president, Uticans gather at train depot in 1865: Mohawk Valley history

More: How the 78-mile Utica and Schenectady Railroad began: This week in Mohawk Valley history

More: Theodore Roosevelt's road to the presidency begins in Utica

1948, 75 years ago

Hospital dance

Members of the committee in charge of next week's St. Elizabeth Hospital Alumni dance are Maryrose Butler, Catherine Welton, Edna Tanzer and Lois Scholl.

1973, 50 years ago

She's the first

Carol J. Guardo is named dean at Utica College (today Utica University) and is the first woman in that post in the school's 27-year history.

John Page, of Remsen, is named a wildlife biologist for the state Environmental Conservation Department in Utica. His assignment is "to preserve, enhance and manage the fish and wildlife resources in Oneida and Herkimer counties."

The newly formed Mohawk Valley District Women's Golf Association elects officers: Anne Gennings, president; Sally Franz, vice president; Jaye Blatter, secretary, and Barbara Roberts, treasurer.

1998, 25 years ago

Winfield at 100

West Winfield in Herkimer County kicks off the 100th anniversary of its incorporation as a village with a parade. Bob Allen is chairman of a centennial committee. The town of Winfield was to be named "Scott" when it was formed in honor of General Winfield Scott., a much-decorated U.S. Army officer. Then it was learned that there existed already a town by that name in the state so "Winfield" was chosen.

In high school baseball, Waterville defeats Morrisville-Eaton, 17 to 6, behind the hitting of Kris Caraher, Tom Barnes, Mike Shephard and Eric Bugbee. Meanwhile, Oriskany beats Owen D. Young, 5 to 2, behind the pitching of Jon Tuttle and hitting of Brett Jones and Chris Morse.

Rocco J. Longo is named superintendent of schools for the Camden Central Schools. He was assistant superintendent from 1991 to 1996. He succeeds Martin D. Handler, who left to become superintendent of Sullivan BOCES.

Utica College Alumni Awards recipients include: Gary V. Thurston, Class of '68, as "outstanding alumnus" who is president and owner of Hayner-Hoyt Corporation in Syracuse, a general contracting firm; Peter A. Caruso, Class of '74, "alumnus achievement award" winner who now is deputy fire chief in the Utica Fire Department; Edward J. Martin, Class of '62, "college service award" and currently interim principal of the John F. Kennedy Middle School in North Utica and formerly principal of New Hartford High School.

2013, 10 years ago

Volunteers honored

Shirley Rice, of New Hartford, is named "volunteer of the year" at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Terri and Gina LaBella receive the St. Elizabeth Guild's "Eleanor Nelson Award," named for a former guild member who died years ago.

In high school lacrosse, Whitesboro defeats New Hartford, 9 to 8, in a high-scoring thriller. Jack Mercurio's third goal breaks an 8 to 8 tie in the 13th annual Sparrior Cup game. Also scoring for Whitesboro are Ted Olney, Phil Spiridigloizzi, Geoff Webb, Jeff Hanson and Logan Gagne. Goalie Pat Husnay has 10 saves. New Hartford scorers are Joey and Jesse Ondrako, Dempsey King, Peter Rayhill and Nick Cooke. Goalie Mike Cuchiarale has 15 saves.

Trivia quiz

Difficult questions for presidential buffs only: (1) name the president whose daughter became U.S. ambassador to Japan and then Australia, (2) name the president who, at his inauguration, wore the ring worn by President Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated, (3) name the president who, as a lifeguard as a young man, saved the lives of 77 persons from drowning, (4) name the only president to retain his same cabinet for four years without any changes due to resignations or death. (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: President Herbert Hoover, 31st president from 1929-1933, proposed to his fiancée by telegram. He was working in Australia and wired Lou Henry in California, "Going to China via San Francisco. Will you go with me?" She said "yes" and the two were married two weeks later in Monterey, California. Then they were off to China where Hoover was employed as a mining engineer by an English firm in China developing its mines. Hoover was a graduate of Stanford University in California in 1895. Lou Henry Hoover also graduated from Stanford with a degree in geology.

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: WWI nurse, 'Masonic kid' returns home to Utica: Mohawk Valley history