Computer Timing Devices Come to Boilermaker: This Week in History

1845, 179 years ago

Warm up

Cricket – a game with a bat and ball that has been the main sport in England for years – is very popular in Utica.

The local team, called the “Star of the West”, plays exhibition games against teams from Rochester and Syracuse and attracts large crowds. They play on a field on Cornelia Street, between Columbia and Court streets

Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn (left) relaxes before speaking at the Utica Blue Jay's Hot Stove Dinner in February 1978 at the New Mayfair Restaurant on Flanagan Road in Marcy. With him is Rick Holt, general manager of the Blue Jays, Utica's team in the New York-Penn Baseball League. Ashburn played left field for the 1947 Utica Blue Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies' farm team that won the Eastern League championship. He was promoted to the Phillies and played with the

The Utica team includes: Dr. Theodore Dixon, MD; George Ralph, brewer; Charles Smith, who sharpens tools; George Beesley, newsagent owner; George Stevens, merchant; Dr. William Foster, veterinarian; Frederic Martin, who works with brass; Samuel Vines, owner of the variety store; OG Kellogg, lawyer; John Hackett, a merchant, and John Lindley, who works on the wagons.

1924, 100 years ago

Cows are champions

Cows at Washington Mills and Boonville produce the most milk in the First Oneida Dairy Improvement District.

The leading cow is the Holstein cow “No. 21” owned by FS Sessions of Washington Mills. Last month she produced 1,815 pounds of milk containing 61.7 pounds of butterfat. The leading cow in butterfat production is the “Guernsey” cow, owned by W. L. Davis of West Winfield – 70.1 pounds of fat from 1,131 pounds of milk. The leading cow in milk and fat production is Holstein “No. 1,” owned by William Casbaker of Boonville, with 3,042 pounds of milk and 91.3 pounds of butterfat.

George W. Bush, manager of the Oneida County Farm Bureau, says: “Never before in history has it been more necessary to keep accurate records of milk production. No farmer today can be successful without documentation.”

1949, 75 years ago

Names in the news

Robert Allinger is the new commander of Whitestown Post 1113, American Legion.

Phil J. Green is elected president of the year-old Mohawk Valley Advertising Club.

Players on the Whitestown Veterans softball team include Joe Manore, Peter Mielnick, Frank Cichowski, Larry Edlinger, Mike Dabieraj, Lou Wengert, Tony Wolencik, Edwin Korzenski, Jack Tine, Stan Lopata, Frank Cheslak, Stephen Fedor and Coach “Jitter” Bowes.

1974, 50 years ago

This is the first

In an ecumenical show of goodwill, a colorful honor guard of the Ziyara Temple in Utica escorts 100 fourth-degree Knights of Columbus candidates during a ceremony at St. Paul in Rome. It was the first time in Utica-Rome history that both groups had gathered for such a celebration.

Meanwhile, the pot is sweeter this year for golfers participating in the 15th annual Jenny Open. Chairwoman Cash Garvey says the first-place professional winner will receive $2,500. Total prize money reached an all-time high of $15,000, an increase of $3,000 over last year.

1999, 25 years ago

Kettle chips

Runners in this year’s Boilermaker Road Race in Utica will have computer chips in their shoes to measure timing, thanks to sponsorship by PAR Technology in New Hartford. They will be slightly larger than a quarter and can be attached to your shoes using a Velcro strap designed by PAR Technology.

Joe Kelly, director of the National Endurance Running Hall of Fame in Utica, says: “It’s the best system we can find. Runners will love it.”

George Ptak is elected commander of Clark Mills Post 26, American Legion. Others selected were John Cardone, first second in command; Herbert Wiedieger, second deputy commander; Richard Borges, third-in-command; Michael Wakefield, Sergeant-at-Arms; John Shepherd, treasurer, and Richard Wagner, adjutant.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Post 26 also elects officers: Elsa Anderson, president; Ginger Atherly, first vice president; Louise Roach, second vice president; Brenda Cobb, third vice president/member; Shirley Dykstra, historian; Carlene Machold, treasurer and Kathy Pianka, secretary.

Meanwhile, six area Girl Scouts are receiving the Gold Award for “hard work and dedication” – the highest award in Scouting. They are guests of honor at the Foothills Scout Council dinner at The Beeches in Rome. They are Sarah Smith and Samantha Nelson of Holland Patent; Jessie Marafioti of Stratford; Melissa Symonds of Marcy; Sara Adams of Rome and Jessica Davis of Whitesboro.

2014, 10 years ago

Students honored

The Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks honored two Town of Webb Union Free School students. The club – in partnership with the Webb City Police Benevolent Association – selects William Johnson of Forestport as the Kiwanis “Student of the Year.” Samantha Notley of Old Forge was named the City of Webb’s “Student of the Year.”

In high school baseball, Oriskany defeated New York Mills 3 to 1 on a pitch by Tyler Tarkowski and hits by Sam Martel, Nick Springer, Ethan Juarez, Ryan Enos and Shamis Lasher.

Trivia quiz

This US president was a great college football player. He was a center and center fielder, and when his team won the national championship, he was named its most valuable player. He turned down offers to play professional football for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers and instead chose to attend law school. Name him. (The answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week’s question: Camp David, the presidential residence in Maryland, was originally called “Shangri-La”. President Dwight D. Eisenhower – the 34th president from 1953 to 1961 – changed the name to “Camp David” in honor of his grandson, David Eisenhower II. David is married to Julie Nixon, daughter of President Richard Nixon.

This Week in History was researched and written by Frank Tomaino. Email him at [email protected].