Windows of Utica, New York, and Miscellaneous...

Authentic original cast stone streamlined Art Moderne bench at the Utica Aud circa 1950. Echoes of the dramatic design of the TWA terminal at New York's Kennedy Airport.w
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Anonymous Troll and Dog snow sculpture that I came upon in the winter of 2012-2013 in back of the Law Library downtown.

High Victorian painted porch "gingerbread" wood turnings from a large Italianate mansion at Steuben Park.

Hotel Utica Window circa 1914. Downtown.

Cast Iron Decorative Victorian Eyebrow Window Grate. From a circa 1855 Italianate brick house at 521 Columbia Street at Fay Street, west Utica. Demolished in 2013 for the new arterial greenway. The demolition company, fortunately, appeared to be involved also in architectural salvage. Window grates of this vintage have become almost rare in Utica.

Interior of vintage locksmith's shop. Bagg's Square West, 2013.

Turned and Painted Wood Victorian Pilaster Pendulum. circa 1855-1865. A wonderful wood turner's whimsey. I have never before seen one of these and there are several of these on this building at the east end of Plant Street. It is amazing that such fragile and delicate decorations have survived out of doors for over 150 years of weather, storms and brutal building remodelings throughout the city. The owner of this apartment row must have a unique and wonderful respect for historic architecture and is to be commended.

Palladian Window with what appear to be cast [ possibly plaster ] floral bowers. Circa 1885. 1 Hopper Street, downtown.

Classical Revival window with broken pediment on 19th century Savings Bank of Utica. Corner Genesee Street and Bank Street, downtown.

Window with cast iron Greek key motif in one of the few remaining Greek Revival commercial buildings in Utica; at 98 Genesee Street; Bagg's Square West. This building is famous in local abolitionist history as the setting for the brief imprisonment of a "runaway" slave who was freed by an abolitionist "mob" who stormed the building.

High Victorian dormer window with Palladian influence, Ionic columns and rising or setting sun fan light at one of Rutger Street's better preserved "mansions": 408 Rutger Street. "Downtown".

Victorian window with Rococo Revival cast iron lintel circa 1860 in one of Utica's Victorian " mansions", 320 Rutger Street.

Richardsonian Romanesque dormer window at No.5 Rutger Park. This stone mansion with rusticated masonry was designed by Utica architect Jacob Agne and built in 1889 when it became the home of Thomas A. Kinney who was mayor of Utica in 1885 and 1897. Note the original fish scale slate roof.

Gothic Revival Mid 19th Century Church, semi-abandoned at 930 Bleecker Street, east Utica. Circa 2011.

Hand cut exterior wood fretwork "gingerbread" panel decoration circa 1860 at 511 Henry Street.



METALWORK

Large copper dragon weather vane atop Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute.

Below: Very large circa 1925 Moorish style hand made steel  or iron lamp in the entry way of 259 Genesee Street. Downtown. Below: The same lamp as a Buddhist themed poster available for purchase from: 
peter-gumaer-ogden.fineartamerica.com

Antique bronze bird of prey finial atop the Bagg's Tavern Monument. Downtown.


VEHICLES

Vintage Utica Police Patrol Car # 100. Oriskany Boulevard, downtown.

Corner Stores of Utica, New York.

" Benjamin's. " South Street, east Utica. Most of this building is circa 1830-1850.

"Amy's Grocery & Deli." South Street, east Utica.

" Mahanna's Market. " Site of s shooting homicide out front in 2014. Whitesboro Street, west Utica.

" East Side Market. " At the heart of one of the most "high risk" neighborhoods in Utica. This is not such a good place to be "hanging out" late on a Saturday night in the summer. The proprietors of this store might increase their security by following the latest recommended guidelines for safety in convenience stores to replace exterior front walls with large windows as much as possible to increase visibility from outside and thus potentially reduce holdups. Highly visible security cams might also help. All of Bleecker Street is desperately in need of trees. East Utica.

" Foodland." Court Street, west Utica.

" Express Deli. " Stark Street, west Utica, This sign needs a little maintenance!

" Court Street Market. " West Utica.

Old Timey Buildings of Utica, New York.

Utica is a treasure trove of old buildings, especially for those with the ability to recognize them under their sometime disguises.

" Munn's Castle ".  No. 1 Rutger Park. Italianate villa circa 1850 designed by prominent Victorian A.J. Davis. The original architectural plans are in the archives of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Rutger Park was an exclusive compound for a small Utica elite developed in the mid Victorian period. It is sited on a high hill with one of the finest sweeping views north of the Mohawk Valley. An interesting story claims that when the Erie Canal was first built across the valley below one of the park's high class female residents complained that "Clinton's Ditch " so destroyed her view that she was moving. I hear that the same was said by many of the Eiffel Tower " monstrosity " when it was first built in Paris.

Interesting how time can change widely held aesthetic opinions. Will people be referring to the giant new electric generating windmills across America as " romantic " in another fifty to one hundred years?

We are very fortunate that Munn's Castle has been preserved by our Landmarks Society very much as an authentic period piece inside and out. Nevertheless it seems rather sad that it has been vacant for years. It might be good if one or more of the corporations involved with Utica's evolving multi billion dollar nanotech industry could invest new life in the castle. Perhaps for a nanotech museum? It would be an stunning and dramatic contrast to have the history of this very modern, cutting edge technology displayed in an almost Gothic or " steampunk " setting.

Manse, First Presbyterian Church. Genesee Street, circa 1900.

430 Columbia Street. Downtown. Decorative Victorian cornice with painted terracotta tiles circa 1880.

Handcut porch brackets circa 1855 at 225 Rutger Street.

" Chamberlin of Utica ". One of the oldest extant commercial buildings in Utica. Note the "eyebrow" windows. Chamberlin closed around 2012. Building is circa 1835. Varick Street, west Utica.

Doorways of Utica, New York.

Many of these images are available minus the large copyright watermark for print on demand from:

www.peter-gumaer-ogden.fineartamerica.com

" 416 Rutger Street ". The house and door are circa 1865; the porch late Victorian to Edwardian.

" Art Deco Stone Griffin ". Hand carved architectural ornamental detail circa 1925? from doorway of the " Adirondack Bank Building ", Genesee Street, downtown.

" Munn's Castle ". Circa 1850; main entrance. One of the most historical significant oldest doorways in Utica. No. 1 Rutger Park.

" Miller House, No. 3 Rutger Park ". circa 1830. Once home to Senator Roscoe Conkling. Butterfield, Morse and Faxton met here to plot the future of the telegraph. For more details google " Rutger Steuben Park " or " The Landmarks Society of Utica ".

" 406 Rutger Street ". Circa 1860.

" 617 Plant Street ". Original circa 1850-1860 double doors with scarce original Victorian stained glass panels.

" Plymouth Bethesda Church". circa 1905?

" Main Doorway, Plymouth Bethesda Church ". circa 1905?

"Medieval-Gothic Revival, St. Agnes Church." Circa 1925?

West Side Kitchen. Varick Street, west Utica. circa 1880?

Hotel Utica. Main entrance circa 1912. Lafayette Street, downtown. 2013 photo.

The metal canopy over this doorway is so similar to the more ornate ones created for New York City's exclusive Plaza Hotel circa 1907, which can be seen at 20-22 West 59th Street, that there's a strong
chance they were produced by the same company and designers.

 " Come " Door.  604 Columbia Street, west Utica. 2013.

High Victorian front porch gable with unusual "gingerbread" wood turnings. 519 Columbia Street, west Utica. Circa 1875-1880. Demolished in 2013 to make way for the new arterial greenway. Photo 2013.

St. Joseph & St. Patrick Manse. Circa 1880. 702 Columbia St., west Utica.

Circa 1800-1820 doorway at 20 Main Street, New York Mills. At first glance this does not look like much. The house attached to it has been drastically remodeled but appears to be from the 1780-1820 era as is the framework and much of the glass around the door. I'm not sure about the door itself as I have not examined it. These frosted and colored panes of glass are quite old and rare. I have only once before seen them; they were in the door frame of the early 19th century house on the immediate west side of Hope House, Eagle Street, Utica, which was a community health clinic a few years ago. The colored panes at the Eagle Street house are no longer visible, whether simply covered up or trashed by persons not aware of their value I do not know.

296 Genesee Street. High Victorian circa 1865. Downtown.

" Fountain Elms ".  circa 1852. Main entrance, Genesee Street. Munson Williams Proctor Arts Instritute.

St. John of Kronstadt Russian Orthodox Church. East Utica.

Savings Bank of Utica. Classical Revival. Genesee Street, downtown.

Charles Eastlake influenced doorway at 1001 Brinckerhoff Avenue. Circa 1875. Rather bold and robust. The stairs, railing and landing are an improvised modern remodel job. Like so many exterior wooden structures near ground level, the lower original portion of this one has mostly rotted away due to our damp climate.

1889 Thomas A. Kinney House doorway; No. 5 Rutger Park. Designed with rusticated masonry in the Richardson influenced Romanesque style by Utica architect Jacob Agne for Mr. Kinney who was mayor of Utica in 1885 and 1897. Door is not original nor the steps and pipe railings. One of Utica's finest remaining examples of this style but with an unfortunate huge overpowering, out of place, modernistic mirror windowed empty office building looming immediately in front.

Gothic Revival balcony circa 1860 at 324 South Street.

Rococo Revival transitioning to Renaissance Revival. The house is circa 1835; the doorway circa 1865. 627 Henry Street: one of the best preserved high Victorian "porches" in west Utica.

" Skate - A - Rama ". Whitesboro Street, west Utica.

" 715 Roberts Street " . Circa 1850. West Utica.

" Grace Church ". Main entry. Downtown Utica.

Old industrial warehouse doorway with risque graffiti at transit center behind 19th century Main Street building. Downtown.

"Green Family Crypt Art Nouveau Doorway". Bronze circa 1900. Probably one of the finest doorways in Oneida County, ironically dedicated to serve the dead where few people see it. When I have the opportunity I hope to re shoot this one to avoid the large text at the bottom. Forest Hill Cemetery.

"Bagg's Tavern Monument." Downtown.