urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
|
Post by urbanhermit on Mar 17, 2011 17:19:05 GMT -5
What are some of your favorite buildings in the City of Utica and why? A few that come to my mind are Union Station, Old St. John's, The Gold Dome Bank etc. We are known for our unique architecture, and there's a book on it entitled, "Utica: A City Worth Saving", or something along those lines? Perhaps you have a favorite home on Genesee St. or the Parkway etc.? What buildings in Utica have a special meaning for you and why???
|
|
|
Post by ladyoracle on Mar 18, 2011 15:59:28 GMT -5
I am going to give this some more thought, but there really is something wonderful about seeing the Gold Dome from the Arterial when I am heading into the City.
|
|
urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
|
Post by urbanhermit on Mar 18, 2011 16:34:16 GMT -5
My favorite house is the small stone one on the corner of James and Gibson. (1600 Gibson) ( across from Elefante's) My favorite street is Parkway East over by MVCC, and my favorite neighborhood is the east end from Mohawk St. over to MVCC. The Parkway East, Gibson Road, Garden Road, the Hills Drive areas. Just a beautiful part of the City! Also, the old firehouse on Madison Ave (Engine 13) has always intrigued me. There are bigger mansion type homes, but smaller stone homes with character are what I like.
|
|
urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
|
Post by urbanhermit on Mar 18, 2011 16:37:04 GMT -5
As far as Churches and businesses, I'm partial to Old St. John's Downtown beauty, but I had the opportunity to go through the First Presbyterian Church last Fall. It's hard to describe the beauty of the inside architecture. I couldn't believe the various rooms and the beautiful art and decor throughout!
|
|
urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
|
Post by urbanhermit on Mar 18, 2011 17:13:50 GMT -5
'Old Main" at the Psych Center, Grace Church, Holy Trinity, Utica Public Library, Oneida Co. Historical Society. Too many to mention!
|
|
|
Post by chris on Mar 18, 2011 17:30:22 GMT -5
Train Stain downtown was always one of my favorites. I have never been in the Olbliston but it has always intrigued me as a great piece of architecture.
As far as influence I think Thomas R. Proctor did the most for Utica as far as legacy....you have the park, the blvd, the museum which is most of Utica.
|
|
|
Post by dgriffin on Mar 18, 2011 17:30:34 GMT -5
fiskie, we spent a whole week on Utica's firehouses, including the tiny neighborhood firehouses, a couple of years ago here on the Busy Corner. Do a search and you'll find the thread.
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Mar 18, 2011 17:36:11 GMT -5
The Olbiston with it's marble floors and amazing architecture, the fire station on the highlands that has been there since the horse drawn engine days, the Heinz funeral home in N Utica, that was one of the original Weaver houses, the parkway armory, the houses on Rutger Park and the fountain of elms. Utica has some of the most unique and interesting architectural examples of anywhere I can recall having visited. It is truly the home to many old buildings with historic significance. It is sad to see the decline, but it is happening all over the Northeast and other places in the older cities.
Of course the old main building at the state hospital and the gold dome bank are always visible and always standouts to visitors to the area.
|
|
|
Post by dgriffin on Mar 18, 2011 17:49:58 GMT -5
And I would have loved St. Vincent's architecture, but it was torn down before I was born.Actually, quite a few beautiful buildings were torn down before I was born. The old St. Elizabeth's on Columbia St.The Utica Opera House.Baggs Hotel on the original square.And not torn down, of course, but here's St. John's after the fire, but before they got the steeples up.And Fiona has done a walking tour of old Genesee St. and its fine homes using old postcards. It's on MoreStories.
|
|
urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
|
Post by urbanhermit on Mar 18, 2011 17:50:37 GMT -5
fiskie, we spent a whole week on Utica's firehouses, including the tiny neighborhood firehouses, a couple of years ago here on the Busy Corner. Do a search and you'll find the thread. Thanks Dave, Chris and Clipper! Utica is just a treasure trove of architecture!
|
|
|
Post by stoney on Mar 18, 2011 18:46:21 GMT -5
Fiskie, I mentioned this before on this forum when we were talking about area architecture. I rented an apartment at 1635 Genesee St. right by Derbyshire (after leaving husband #2 in Deansboro ) & it was such an intriguing building. I'm sure it was one of many Victorian homes in Utica, & I still have dreams about that place. Once a large one-family, it had the "servant's quarters" up in the attic. It was made into 4 apartments, with an artist's studio in said attic, & was rented to the nursing students across the street at the Genesee Hospital, I think it was? The ceilings were very high, & were tin (painted over). There was an extra room I used for storage which still had a toilet with a chain pull above it. A long staircase connected the second floor with a very fancy banister. The windows were so long/high that I had to make curtains to fit them. Damn, I loved that place!
|
|
urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
|
Post by urbanhermit on Mar 18, 2011 19:46:48 GMT -5
Fiskie, I mentioned this before on this forum when we were talking about area architecture. I rented an apartment at 1635 Genesee St. right by Derbyshire (after leaving husband #2 in Deansboro ) & it was such an intriguing building. I'm sure it was one of many Victorian homes in Utica, & I still have dreams about that place. Once a large one-family, it had the "servant's quarters" up in the attic. It was made into 4 apartments, with an artist's studio in said attic, & was rented to the nursing students across the street at the Genesee Hospital, I think it was? The ceilings were very high, & were tin (painted over). There was an extra room I used for storage which still had a toilet with a chain pull above it. A long staircase connected the second floor with a very fancy banister. The windows were so long/high that I had to make curtains to fit them. Damn, I loved that place! Wow! That sounds like a really cool place Stoney! I'm glad that you mentioned Derbyshire Place, because there are a couple of beautiful stone homes on that street. Also, the Edgewood Road area of South Utica is very nice. I guess Stone and Brick Architecture is my thing, because of all the various nice homes and neighborhoods in New Hartford, my favorite street is the NH part of Arlington Terrace. All beautiful and unique stone homes. Anyone remember back in the 70's when someone was digging and hit a gas main on Arlington Terrace? The poor woman was killed and it sounded like and Earthquake.
|
|
|
Post by jon hynes on Mar 18, 2011 21:19:04 GMT -5
Anyone remember back in the 70's when someone was digging and hit a gas main on Arlington Terrace? The poor woman was killed and it sounded like and Earthquake. I remember it well. The operator of a backhoe was digging and broke the gas service to the house. The gas traveled through the sewer and was ignited by the pilot of the hot water tank. An explosion ensued and scattered the house in small pieces in every direction for over a mile. The woman's name was Mrs. Collmer.
|
|
|
Post by fiona on Mar 18, 2011 21:43:16 GMT -5
Very nice work. I hope to be able to contribute soon.
|
|
|
Post by fiona on Mar 18, 2011 21:58:07 GMT -5
Mann Building, 1910, Genesee Street, Utica, NY. (destroyed: date unknown) red brick and granite. Post card on linin.
|
|