urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
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Post by urbanhermit on Mar 17, 2011 19:15:42 GMT -5
Who would you consider to be among the past wielders of political power and prestige in Utica. Which Utican has made the greatest contribution to the City and why? Whose legacy continues to live on long after the others? There are many famous names from Politicians like James Schoolcraft Sherman, Roscoe Conkling, Thomas Proctor etc. ,to businessmen (and women) like John Devereux etc. Who would get your vote as the Utican whose legacy has made the biggest lasting impact upon the betterment of the City?
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Post by Swimmy on Mar 17, 2011 21:20:29 GMT -5
I don't know about the "betterment of the City," but his legacy has an impact that is still felt today... Rufie Elefante.
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urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
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Post by urbanhermit on Mar 18, 2011 16:22:32 GMT -5
I don't know about the "betterment of the City," but his legacy has an impact that is still felt today... Rufie Elefante. I would have a tendency to agree with you, and Rufie would get my vote. John C. Devereux started St. John's Church and was a merchant and banker. He did a lot for the Irish and Catholic communities, so he gets an "honorable mention"!  Then there's Moses Bagg and the Blandina's, Dudley's, Miller's. Proctor's et al. There certainly were a lot of influential Uticans over the years! |
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Post by ladyoracle on Mar 18, 2011 16:24:38 GMT -5
Every time I pass Proctor Park, I am grateful to the Proctor family.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 18, 2011 17:06:52 GMT -5
I need to contact Fiona and get her online here. She is a bottomless well of information when it comes to the history of many of those names mentioned.
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Post by stoney on Mar 18, 2011 18:50:52 GMT -5
Weavers & Ruth Auert.
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Post by fiona on Mar 18, 2011 21:37:13 GMT -5
Re: the comment on the Blandina's, Dudley's and Millers: Time has passed and in it's wake, left us with a bushel basket of confusing information. It is no one's fault. As far as I there was no Blandina or Dudley family, even though streets are named so. I am referring to Miss Blandina Dudley Miller, 3rd daughter of Rutger Bleecker Miller. The streets are named after her, Blandina St., Dudley Ave and Miller Street, after the family proper. She was a local historian, writer, avid chess player, community activist, member of Grace Episcopal Church, member of the Oneida county Historical Society, to name a few of her accomplisments. She wrote " A Sketch of Old Utica", published after her death in 1912. Julia Seymour Conkling, wife of Roscoe Conkling, was her aunt. She never married and died at the Olbiston apts in 1912 from Bright's Disease. When she died her estate was valued at well over $100.000.00, in 1912 money. Millions, today.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 18, 2011 21:40:22 GMT -5
My god, Ruth Auert was a grand old lady. When I used to ride the city bus from Keyes Rd to Seymour School and later to UFA, she always was on the bus with her red hair pinned up in a bun, on her way to work at the Savings Bank of Utica. She was very nice. The Auert family home was on Herkimer Road. It has been so long I could not even pick it out any more.
Thanks for your clarification Fiona. I was pretty sure that there was no Blandina family, but without knowing for sure, I didn't want to speak up. I KNEW you would have the facts for us as well as Fiskie. I don't know about anyone else here on this forum, but I myself look to YOU first when I want to know facts about Utica's founding families and the old homes. You, Jon Hynes, and Dave have brought a treasure trove of old pictures and wonderful facts to the forum over time. Thank you so very much for all that.
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Post by fiona on Mar 18, 2011 21:48:32 GMT -5
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Post by fiona on Mar 18, 2011 21:49:44 GMT -5
A Sketch of Old Utica, by Blandina Dudley Miller.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 18, 2011 21:55:50 GMT -5
For lots more interesting reading about the Utica of old, from Fiona and others, check out: morestories.proboards.com/That is a wonderful blog or website where one can read and look at old pictures for hours on end. It was started and is maintained by our friend Dave Griffin. There is hours and hours of interesting reading and short stories to be found there. A good "rainy day" adventure is waiting for you there. I love to sit at the computer on a rainy day and read some of the short stories written by Dave's friends and members of his More Stories website. |
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urbanhermit
Milkshake
"Domine,miserere nobis"
Posts: 212
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Post by urbanhermit on Mar 19, 2011 4:09:52 GMT -5
Re: the comment on the Blandina's, Dudley's and Millers: Time has passed and in it's wake, left us with a bushel basket of confusing information. It is no one's fault. As far as I there was no Blandina or Dudley family, even though streets are named so. I am referring to Miss Blandina Dudley Miller, 3rd daughter of Rutger Bleecker Miller. The streets are named after her, Blandina St., Dudley Ave and Miller Street, after the family proper. She was a local historian, writer, avid chess player, community activist, member of Grace Episcopal Church, member of the Oneida county Historical Society, to name a few of her accomplisments. She wrote " A Sketch of Old Utica", published after her death in 1912. Julia Seymour Conkling, wife of Roscoe Conkling, was her aunt. She never married and died at the Olbiston apts in 1912 from Bright's Disease. When she died her estate was valued at well over $100.000.00, in 1912 money. Millions, today. Thank you Fiona and Dave for your wealth of historical and architectural information. I will really enjoy reading your previous posts, and hope that you continue to contribute to this thread as well! |
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Post by JGRobinson on Mar 19, 2011 6:19:43 GMT -5
The Mob was hugely important in Utica's history, this was a known hangout and cooling off zone for hot NYC Mobsters. I wouldn't mention most of the names here or anywhere else or I might need cranial lead abatement. In the Glory days, cash flowed like water and crime in the city proper was strictly prohibited by the Cops and the Boyz. 99% of the trash was dumped in illion, Frankfurt and other less involved localities.
I do remember breakfast at the Parkway diner on Sunday Mornings even in the 80's. Lots of big black cars, Old Italian Guys with Young Thugs watching us, Stacks Of Cash and not a cop or IRS agent to be found! It was straight out of the movies, surreal almost!
Anyone remember when downtown was filled with Limo's and Giant Lincoln's almost every night? I do, it was quite a show!
I'm not glorifying their illegal and reprehensible activities just recognizing their impact in Utica, The good, Bad and the Ugly!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2011 7:43:10 GMT -5
I always liked Mayor Dullen
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Post by stoney on Mar 19, 2011 9:29:55 GMT -5
The Mob was hugely important in Utica's history, this was a known hangout and cooling off zone for hot NYC Mobsters. I wouldn't mention most of the names here or anywhere else or I might need cranial lead abatement. In the Glory days, cash flowed like water and crime in the city proper was strictly prohibited by the Cops and the Boyz. 99% of the trash was dumped in illion, Frankfurt and other less involved localities. I do remember breakfast at the Parkway diner on Sunday Mornings even in the 80's. Lots of big black cars, Old Italian Guys with Young Thugs watching us, Stacks Of Cash and not a cop or IRS agent to be found! It was straight out of the movies, surreal almost! Anyone remember when downtown was filled with Limo's and Giant Lincoln's almost every night? I do, it was quite a show! I'm not glorifying their illegal and reprehensible activities just recognizing their impact in Utica, The good, Bad and the Ugly! Don't worry about mentioning names here, JG. We have already done that many times, & only received a few visits by men with violin cases... ;D |
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Then there's Moses Bagg and the Blandina's, Dudley's, Miller's. Proctor's et al. There certainly were a lot of influential Uticans over the years!
