A New Sketch Of Old Utica

[fiona]

Oneida Square! We have arrived! Looking West towards the Civil War Sailors and Soldiers Monument and Plymouth - Bethesda Church, the large greystone building with the red roof, corner of State and Genesee Streets. Whew! We need to find some comfortable benchs

[fiona]

Oh my. This is just so beautiful. I will read aloud the inscriptions on the base... please bow your heads as I do so...

[fiona]

It surely brings a tear to my eye.



On the front of the base and facing south is handsomely chiseled: “We keep in memory of the men of Utica who risked their lives to save the Union.” Facing north is the inscription: “From Sumter by land and sea to Appomattox.”

Another side has the inscription “1861” and on the opposite side is inscribed “1865” - the years the war started and ended.

Above is inscribed six-inch raised letters taken from Oliver Wendell Holmes' “Ship of State” - “One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation, evermore.”

[fiona]

Let's walk up to the Oneida Flats Apartment House on the North East Corner of Hobart and Genesee Streets. I just love this building. Everybody calls it "The Castles" . Looking South you can just see the top of the Olbiston Apartment House. I can't wait to show it to you. We'll be there soon.

[fiona]

As we continue South we cross Hobart Street on the East. We are walking up into Genesee Hill, Utica's most exclusive residential area. I lived there once, at the Genesee Flats Apartment House, but now it all seems so long ago... Two buildings we shall see are the large apartment houses or "skyscrapers" as we like to call them: The Olbiston Flats and the Kan-a-tenah Flats. The Avenue is lovely this time of year with it's arching canopy of gracious elms, one almost feels as if one is in church. Shall we continue on... Oh, yes. Aunt Blandina says I must tell you that Kan-a tenah is an American Indian word meaning "place of many homes" and that the Olbiston is named after the owners, Owens, Latcher and Blanchard. She is very specific on her history you know.

[fiona]

As we turn to say goodby to our lovely Lady of Freedom... one last long look... she is blurry because of the tears in my eyes when I think of all the brave men ...and women of course... who sacrificed their lives so that this Noble Union could endure.

[fiona]

Just a block South on the South West corner of Noyes and Genesee Streets - a yellow brick mansion... if we left our cards do you think the mistress would recieve us?

[fiona]

Now here's the berries!!! This is the Olbiston Apartment House... on the East side of Genesee Street! It's wonderfully large inside, with marble halls, crystal chandeliers and a restaurant on the seventh floor. Mother and I take the Otis lift up and the lift operator wears the sweetest little grey cap... Mother says it reminds her of Fifth Ave!! Oh my. That lift operator has such darling dark curls. I feel faint. Where are my lavender salts?

[fiona]

Catching our breath as we cross Clinton Place at Genesee Street. Same side as the Olbiston. My feet hurt. Do yours?

[fiona]

On the East side of Genesee Street, just after Clinton Place and before Jewett, the home of "Sunny Jim" Sherman. Mr. Sherman and Father are great freinds and father says: Mind you, daughter, that man Sherman has greatness in him. He will be Vice-President someday soon. And then President, or I'll eat my bib and tucker. And my hat, gloves and walking stick too.

[fiona]

Wait! Theyre's more! Look at this, will you?? The Kan-a -tenah Apartment House... across the road from "Sunny Jim's" to the West, between Oswego Street and Watson Place. It's just ever so FASHIONABLE and the ladies wear such wonderful hats ,not just on Sunday, but every day of the week!

[fiona]

[fiona]

Crossing Watson place, on the West side of Genesee Street, directly South of the Kan-a-tenah... look at these beautiful homes... between Watson and Shaw Streets. I have no idea who lives in the first house, but I do know the next two belong to the Baker Brothers who own and operate the Saturday Globe newspapers.

[fiona]

Strolling up to the corner of Shaw Street past the Baker Brothers.... our next look is across Genesee Street to the East...

[fiona]

On the East side of Genesee Street, diagonally across the road from the Baker brothers residences, between Jewett Place and Faxton Street : Both of these beautiful homes were built by the famous Utica architect, Jacob Agne. Of course, Mr. Agne is a great freind of Mother and Father. He lives in the large double house (yellow brick) with his mother and his son lives in the red brick house on the corner. I just adore his mother. She is so tiny and sweet and always has the most delightfiul lemon drops in her apron pocket. I heard that the house was a wedding present to his son and daughter in law. I just love it. and.... someday I want to live there.









[img src="i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac193/fiona079/cornerfaxton.jpg"]