Henry DiSpirito (1898-1995) was an Italian immigrant who came to Utica, NY, in 1921 from Castleforte, Italy. He settled into the heavily immigrant populated neighborhood of East Utica and found work as a stonemason/bricklayer; a trade he learned from his father. Through his work on a Works Progress Administration (WPA) art project creating dioramas and subsequent study at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute, he found his calling in direct carving in stone. [Read more…] about Utica’s Henry DiSpirito: Stonemason to Sculptor
Rome Historical Society
Green Living: Acting More Sustainably Virtual Program
The Rome Historical Society has announced Green Living: Getting Back to Better, a virtual program set for Wednesday, April 21st at 5:30 pm. [Read more…] about Green Living: Acting More Sustainably Virtual Program
Hot Wheels: A Virtual History Talk
The Hot Wheels line of toy racing cars, registered trademark with Mattel, was started in 1968 by Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler. Hot Wheels products became popular among adult collectors throughout the world.
Rome Historical Society has announced Hot Wheels – A Local Authority, a virtual program with Mike Zarnock set for Wednesday, March 27th. [Read more…] about Hot Wheels: A Virtual History Talk
The Cooper’s Trade (A Virtual Program)
A cooper is someone trained to make and repair wooden objects historically used to store dry and/or wet goods. These objects are made of carved wooden staves held together by wooden or metal hoops.
The Rome Historical Society will host The Cooper’s Trade, a virtual program set for Wednesday, February 17th. Bob Allers will discuss the techniques and tools he uses to construct buckets, pails, casks, tubs, and other hand-made wooden containers. [Read more…] about The Cooper’s Trade (A Virtual Program)
African American Voting Rights History Panel Set
The Rome Historical Society (RHS) is set to host to a panel discussion presented by Rome’s Afro-American Heritage Association (AAHA) on Wednesday, February 26th.
The topic of this discussion will be African Americans and the Vote which is the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s (ASALH) 2020 African American History Month theme. [Read more…] about African American Voting Rights History Panel Set
A History of Tube Radios Talk in Rome
The Rome Historical Society is set to present “A History of Tube Radios” by Phil Alerding from Totally Tube-ular on January 15 at 5:30 pm.
Phil will discuss the development of tube radios and its importance in American history including the use of tubes in military electronics, local developments by the USAF Research Lab and Rome Air Development Center such as radar, datalink systems and more.
1700s Mohawk Valley Holiday Traditions, Music Event
Colonial America was a melting pot of people from varied nations and traditions. The Puritans of New England did not celebrate Christmas at all. The early German and English immigrants to the Mohawk Valley were more accustomed to celebrating the holiday. In combining elements from various cultures, America developed its own unique traditions.
The Rome Historical Society – Friends of the Fort and Fort Stanwix National Monument are set to host a look back at holiday music and winter traditions of the Mohawk Valley on December 21st, at 5:30 pm. [Read more…] about 1700s Mohawk Valley Holiday Traditions, Music Event
Trinkaus Holiday Lights Were Once A Tradition
For over 30 years light displays were a cornerstone of the holiday celebration at Trinkaus Manor in Oriskany. Starting in 1955 the Trinkaus brothers began their holiday tradition and added new features each year: angels, snowflakes, Santa’s village, elf workshops, a carousel, and more. So lavish were the displays, they could be seen by planes passing overhead.
The Trinkaus Manor restaurant could seat nearly 700 patrons and attracted people from across the country including celebrities and politicians. Tour buses were a regular sight at the Manor to see the elaborate decorations. Tragically, a fire destroyed Trinkaus Manor in April of 1992, but the Christmas lights and displays had been stored in a separate area and survived. [Read more…] about Trinkaus Holiday Lights Were Once A Tradition
Rome Memories Photo Collection Highlights
The new book Rome Memories, A Photographic History of the Early Years (Rome Daily Sentinel, 2019) offers a glimpse into life in Rome, NY from the mid 1800s through the 1930s.
Rome Memories is a compilation of scanned images obtained from the public, and the collections of the Rome Historical Society and Oneida County History Center. [Read more…] about Rome Memories Photo Collection Highlights
Peter Leonard Being Feted At Rome Historical’s Annual Dinner
The Rome Historical Society Annual Dinner has been set for Saturday, November 9th at the Delta Lake Inn, 8524 Fish Hatchery Road in Rome, NY. Cocktail hour begins at 6 pm, with the Dinner and Program beginning at 7 pm.
At this year’s dinner the Society will award the Medal of the Order of 1777 to Peter Leonard. The Medal of the Order of 1777 is the Society’s highest award and given annually to the person who “in conduct of life and effort, exemplifies the highest charter purposes of the Society, the finest virtues of citizenship and the ever-reliant qualities of the true patriot. This person is as worthy as the unconquered defenders of Fort Stanwix were in their time and circumstances.” [Read more…] about Peter Leonard Being Feted At Rome Historical’s Annual Dinner