New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Oneida County History Center

The Cheese Factory System (Virtual Program)

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Engraving from Harpers Magazine of Williams cheese factoryJust North of Rome, NY, the modern cheese industry was born in 1851. Jesse Williams was a successful farmer and cheese maker but believed by working together as cooperative dairies, farmers could maximize their profits. This led him to start the first cheese factory in the United States, a move that revolutionized agriculture not only locally, but across the nation.

Jesse Williams died in 1864 at age 67. At that time Oneida County was making over eight million pounds of cheese per year. Williams never patented his cheese-making inventions but gave them to the agricultural world. [Read more…] about The Cheese Factory System (Virtual Program)

A Wild Idea: The Adirondack Park (Virtual Program)

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A Wild IdeaNew York’s Adirondack Park is bigger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smokies National Parks combined. It also might be the world’s best protected wilderness, even though 85 million people live within a day’s drive.

Author Brad Edmonson will share his recent book, A Wild Idea: How the Environmental Movement Tamed the Adirondacks, on the development the Adirondack Park, and excerpts of the recent movie virtually on Saturday, January 22nd. [Read more…] about A Wild Idea: The Adirondack Park (Virtual Program)

Oneida Co History Center Names Lou Parrotta Volunteer of the Year

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oneida county history center logoThe Oneida County History Center has named Lou Parrotta the 2021 Volunteer of the Year. Volunteers are essential to the daily operation and long-term care of the organization, and are an invaluable asset to the community. Parrotta was chosen by his co-volunteers, staff, and the Board of Directors for his enthusiasm, loyalty, and many contributions to the History Center. [Read more…] about Oneida Co History Center Names Lou Parrotta Volunteer of the Year

Old Utica History Show and Tell

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History Show and TellThe Oneida County History Center will host “History Show and Tell: Holidays and Memories of Old Utica” on Saturday, December 11th, with host Joe Kelly and special guest Frank Tomaino.

The public is invited to bring an old photograph, a personal artifact, or other memorabilia and share their story, or just listen. [Read more…] about Old Utica History Show and Tell

New York Lunatic Asylum at Utica: A History of Old Main

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Old Main Book CoverBook purchases made through this link support New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State.

The book The New York Lunatic Asylum at Utica: A History of Old Main (North Country Books, 2015) by Dennis Webster looks at the New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, also known as “Old Main,” which opened in 1843 as the first institution of its kind to treat “madness” as a medical illness, not a curse.

Although closed in 1978, the building was placed in the National Register of Historic Places, and its iconic columns still fascinate the public today. [Read more…] about New York Lunatic Asylum at Utica: A History of Old Main

Canal Map Artist David Vaughn (Virtual Presentation)

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detail of Survey for Erie Canal enlargement by David VaughnDavid Vaughn was an Irish-born cartographer famous for his work surveying and mapping the Erie Canal. He was known for the artistic embellishments he added to his maps that depict local wildlife or notable local stories.

Vaughn brought mid-nineteenth century New York alive through his skilled and artistic maps and documents. [Read more…] about Canal Map Artist David Vaughn (Virtual Presentation)

How The Well-Connected Secured Oneida County’s Lands

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Coxborough Patent c. 1787. Located in central Oneida County between Clinton and Rome, Source, NYS Archives.Royal governors claimed authority over Oneida County‘s lands in the colonial period.

As the King’s representative they were able to grant hundreds and thousands of acres of land to those of nobility or with upper class gentility connections to the crown and the governor.

This continued into the early 1800s, leaving a few wealthy people with vast amounts of land. [Read more…] about How The Well-Connected Secured Oneida County’s Lands

Utica’s Sousa Connection: Rev. George Fisher

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Fisher MusicProfessor George H. Fischer (1869-1952) was a well-known Utica composer of sacred music, organ lesson books, and military marches. Fisher was invited to sit in with John Phillip Sousa and his band during a concert at the Stanley Theater in Utica on April 1st, 1897.

Fischer spent decades at St. John’s Church as organist, but also played a major role in the music scene in the Mohawk Valley. His music was published by the J. Fischer & Bro. Music Publishers of New York City, and played all over the world. He also served as the conductor of the Utica Symphony Orchestra.