New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Oneida County History Center

NYS Nominates 13 Places for State, National Registers of Historic Places

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An information table set up by the Gay Liberation Front on the University of Rochester’s Eastman Quadrangle in 1970 (Photo by Anthony Boccaccio)The New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended adding 13 properties to the State and National Registers of Historic Places and submitting one request to the Columbia Turnpike East Toll House to the National Park Service.

The nominations include a key site associated with Rochester‘s LGBTQ+ history, a historic synagogue in Manhattan‘s Upper West Side, a public park in Ithaca, a church connected to Yonkers’s civil rights history, a re-built Lustron House in Erie County, the Oneida County History Center, and more. [Read more…] about NYS Nominates 13 Places for State, National Registers of Historic Places

1947 Utica Blue Sox: A Baseball Season to Remember

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The 1947 Utica Blue Sox Book CoverThe 1947 Utica Blue Sox laid the foundation for the team that would go on to become the 1950 National League baseball champion, the Philadelphia Phillies.

A new book, The 1947 Utica Blue Sox: A Season To Remember (self-published, 2022) is a detailed account of the players and personalities that captivated Utica, NY, a slice of life that takes the reader back to a nearly-forgotten time, viewed through a lens of reverence, respect, and a genuine love of the game. [Read more…] about 1947 Utica Blue Sox: A Baseball Season to Remember

Amelia Simmons and America’s First Cookbook

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Amelia Simmons americas first cookbookAmelia Simmons wrote what is widely regarded as the first American cookbook, American Cookery. Through its recipes and ingredients, this work shows how a unique American diet and identity was created.

The book was so popular that after its first printing in Hartford, Connecticut in 1796, and it’s second printing in Albany, NY, that same year, it remained in print for 35 years after its first publication; however, very little is known about its author. [Read more…] about Amelia Simmons and America’s First Cookbook

Behind-The-Scenes Tours of Oneida Co History Center

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Behind the Scenes Tours imageLike many museums, the Oneida County History Center has more artifacts than can be displayed in its exhibit gallery. The History Center cares for a growing collection of over 250,000 documents and books, thousands of images including photographs, paintings, slides, drawings, and thousands of artifacts. Many are rare collection items that are not frequently seen on exhibit. [Read more…] about Behind-The-Scenes Tours of Oneida Co History Center

Vintage Victorian Valentines & A Utica Drop-In Valentine Workshop

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Victorian era valentineThe Oneida County History Center in Utica has announced “Vintage Victorian Valentines & Drop-In Valentine Workshop,” a special exhibition featuring Victorian era and vintage valentines from the History Center collections, now open through March 5th. [Read more…] about Vintage Victorian Valentines & A Utica Drop-In Valentine Workshop

Oneida County Virtual Black History Month Celebration

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NAACP logoThe Utica/Oneida County Branch NAACP are set to celebrate Black History Month 2023 with its annual program hosted by the Oneida County History Center on Saturday, February 4th.

This event will follow the 2023 national theme, Black Resistance, which explores how the fight for justice against discrimination, bodily autonomy, and self-determination in American society. [Read more…] about Oneida County Virtual Black History Month Celebration

Historic Snowstorms of Central New York

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CNY Snowstorm book front coverCentral New York is renowned as one of the snowiest regions in the world. In the past, major snowstorms have crippled cities, towns, and farming country for weeks at a time.

From the Lake Ontario port in Oswego to the busy streets of Syracuse and Utica, every community in the region has found themselves buried from brutal snowstorms. [Read more…] about Historic Snowstorms of Central New York

Waterville, NY’s Automotive Pioneer Frank Snell

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In November of 1900, Frank Snell in his horseless carriageThe Waterville Times reported that “Frank Snell, who has been building an automobile during the past few months, had it far enough toward completion to give it trial on Tuesday. It ran nicely but was rather too fast for everyday use on our roads. He is remedying the defect.”

The article noted that the top speed of “the horseless carriage” reached was 15-20 miles an hour – a speed only achieved by locomotives at that time. [Read more…] about Waterville, NY’s Automotive Pioneer Frank Snell

The Story of Mohawk Airlines (1945 – 1972)

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Mohawk AirlinesFirst headquartered in Ithaca, NY, Mohawk Airlines operated from the Oneida County Airport in Oriskany, NY. It was a regional passenger airline that covered the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States from the mid-1940s until it was bought by Allegheny Airlines in 1972.

At its peak, it employed over 2,200 personnel. It was a pioneer in regional airline operations, including being the first airline in the United States to hire an African American flight attendant and the first to offer a pressurized cabin. [Read more…] about The Story of Mohawk Airlines (1945 – 1972)