History of The Genesee Flats and The Fire

[bobbbiez]

Hello Fiona, am looking forward to seeing all the research material you have on the Obliston. As many other buildings here in Utica I do remember when the Obliston did look like a grand old building. Very sad to see so many just waste away throughout the years. As I drive around our city today I find myself saying about many, "I remember when."

In your research are you just concentrating on the Obliston? Another, "I remember when," is the old Utica State Psychiatric Hospital in W.Utica.
I was born and raised just down the street from the Hospital (still live near it) and it saddens me to see all go to ruins, ignored and being torn down throughout the years.
Talk about history, that is one place that holds plenty.

Everyday I drive by another which was the old St Luke's Hospital on Whitesboro St which is now known as the Cag building now holding many apartments. I was born in that building over 65 yrs ago. Sad to see how we've ignored so many of these fine places.

A little bit of history here in Utica always catches my attention. I will look forward to seeing your material.

[dgriffin]

Ok, some scan's of Fiona's excellent photo. This is of Genesee Flats, the precursor to the Obliston, on the same site.

Here is an overall view of the old photo. I was not able to scan it in full on my scanner, so I had to do it in halves, and I've done a not so elegant job of piecing the halves together (as Ralph would.)





If you're wondering where the photo is, remember these are pretty large files, so just wait a bit. If you're on dial up, go for coffee or something.
In fact, if you want any of these scans, copy them now, because they are killing my rented web space and I won't keep them up there forever.
(Fiona, I'll email the scans to you separately.)


I was in fact able to get MOST of the building in on a single scan. In the following, you can see all the towers, I believe. I also got rid of the greenish sepia tone and increased the resolution, but that did little to improve the result, because the original photo is grainy, of course.






And here are three detail zooms. I wonder if one of the balconies with awnings was that of Mr. Latcher, one of the builders who lived in the Flats.

[dgriffin]

By the way, you can zoom in yourself on any of the above photos by simply clicking them twice. Using Firefox, that is. I don't know how other browsers accomplish it.

[bobbbiez]

Clipper, you're right when you state, "we are a family" and with that, as in my natural family, comes bad and good. Most is ignored and with time all is forgotten. One does learn to have thick skin.

Concerned was giving his opinion and has that right. Many times I do agree with him. He just states things differently then I might, but that's ok with me. When I disagree with him, that's ok to, because it would be very boring otherwise plus I have learned from him along with many other's opinions here on the forum.

Clipper's forum is much different and more enjoyable then most and I admit that is why I am here. You won't catch me on any others. Let's not ever fix what isn't broken. ;D

[bobbbiez]

WTG Dave! Great pictures. Ya did well.

[dgriffin]

It's just awful looking at the photos and thinking of people trying to get out of there on bedsheets twisted together to form ropes as they tried to get down from the balconies. Those must be the iron pipe railings used to protect the grass that the firemen claimed interfered with their ability to get ladders up to the screaming victims. Tenants were throwing belongings out windows and from the balconies. A reporter wrote that clothing hung from tree limbs.

Geez, if I ever meet up with Joe Mezz, I'm going to feel like popping him one, nice guy that I think he probably is. I should have kept copies of all the retyping I did on the CNY Forum from the old new articles, when we covered the fire history. Has anyone spoken directly to Joe, or maybe Pete?

I DO have the news article jpg's, I think, so I'll post them here.

[fiona]

Thank you, Clipper. I just recieved the j-pegs from Dave showing the Flats. You will be amazed. fiona

[frankcor]

Clipper, tell me again where your button is?

[dgriffin]

Here are the articles (in part) covering the Genesee Flats fire. They're from the Syracuse Post.











Here's a later recap from the OD in the 1970's.

[Clipper]

Yeah right Frank! Like you don't know where ALL of my buttons are! You are the one that is trying to teach me to disarm them all, haha.

[bobbbiez]

Frankie, I'm willing to sell ya my list of Clipper's buttons if you really need them. ;D

[dgriffin]

Click to enlarge. Click again to enlarge more. (with Firefox)


www.home.roadrunner.com/~windsweptpress/genesee union2.jpg[/img]

[Clipper]

Hmmm. Let's just get back to history. There are plenty of other threads on which you can "find my buttons", haha.

[bobbbiez]

Just passing time and waiting to read Fiona's articles.

[bobbbiez]

Dave, I can't read that tiny print on the articles you posted.

Is there something I can do on my end to improve the size of the print?