By Frank Tomaino| Special to the Observer-Dispatch

1891, 130 years ago

Popular lecture

Henry Morton Stanleys lecture in Jacobs Opera House in Utica attracts more than a thousand people from Utica and vicinity. Stanley, a journalist and explorer of Central Africa, is best known for supposedly uttering the words, Doctor Livingstone, I presume.

Utica Mayor Alexander T. Goodwin introduces Stanley to the crowd in the opera house, on the northeast corner of Lafayette and Washington streets. Stanleys long-awaited lecture details his thrilling adventures in Africa, including the discovery of the course of the Congo River in interior Africa. He is liberally applauded throughout his talk.

David Livingston (1813-1873) was a Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa. In the early 1870s, many thought he was dead, but James Gordon Bennett, publisher of the New York Herald, was convinced that Livingstone was alive. He commissioned Stanley to go in search of him. He found him in the town of Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika and when he did, supposedly said his now famous words.

1916, 105 years ago

Valley View

Maria and Thomas Proctor once again give tangible evidence of their great love for Utica. They give seven acres in the heart of Roscoe Conkling Park to the city to be used as a public golf course. They had planned to build a summer home on the land the highest point in the park at about 800 feet above sea level but after meeting with Mayor James D. Smith decided to make it possible for all Uticans to enjoy playing golf, a game fast growing in popularity. (In August 1916, a nine-hole course was laid out by well-known golfer Walter Travis and became known as Valley View. Years later, Robert Trent Jones, famous golf course architect, improved the course, now an 18-hole course.)

1946, 75 years ago

Police, fire bureaus

Three World War II veterans are appointed to Uticas police and fire bureaus Patrolman Joseph A. Cittadino, to succeed Henry Looft who has retired; Firefighter Hugh W. Evans, to succeed William Spatuzzi who has been promoted to lieutenant, and Firefighter Raymond J. Curley, to succeed Howard E. Rice who has resigned.

1971, 50 years ago

Winter festival

Uticapades begins its three-day winter festival with fireworks and torchlight skiing at the Val Bialas Ski Center on the Parkway and by selecting a prince and a princess -- six-year-old Frank Broccoli and five-year-old Lucinda Baldof. There also is ice skating at the Parkways outdoor McBride Rink.

In area bowling, Roy Marley fires a 686 series on games of 206, 233 and 247 in the Suburban League on the Riverside lanes. Peg McMahan has a 612 series on games of 241, 167 and 204 in the Rainbow Girls League at the Aurora Bowlaway.

The Mohawk Valley Electrical League begins to plan its annual dinner-dance, Raymond Kulow is entertainment chairman and Leo Rahn is ticket chairman. Richard Dunn is league president and John Hennessey is secretary-treasurer.

1996, 25 years ago

Appointments, promotions

Utica and Rome fill positions and promote others in their police and fire departments. Uticas new police officers are: David L. Kuhn, George V. De Angelo, Jeffrey A. Foley, Laurie Garner and Camlee M. Gianotti. New Utica firefighters are: Francis P. Giglio, Jeffrey R. DeSarro, Philip DeSimone and John Nole. Promotions in Rome Fire Department: Joseph Gualtieri to deputy chief; captains Glenn Hand, Paul C. Matwijec and James Zielinski; lieutenants Patsy DiNardo, Allen J. Johnson, Gary W. Millington, Mark Kohlbrenner and Brad Warren. New Rome firefighters are: Mathew J. Reilly and David P. Zakala.

In high school basketball, West Canada Valley defeats Dolgeville, 71 to 48. The winners are led by Will Davidsons 22 points and 13 each by Dan Petkovsek and Jay Colburn. Chris Swartz has 20 points for Dolgeville. Meanwhile, Clinton defeats Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, 81 to 69, and is led by Colin Hubbells 27 points, Edwin Irizarrys 18, Steve Crawfords 14 and Ryan Finns 10. VVS is led by Scott Knapps 30 points.

The Holland Patent Teachers Association presents The Sunshine Boys in the high school auditorium. The cast includes Brian Ure, Doug Churcher and Lisa Mlynarski.

2011, 10 years ago

Hospital officers

The medical staff at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center has new officers, including President Timothy E. Page, medical director of the Emergency Department; Vice President Dr. Fred L. Talarico, a cardiologist, and Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Sudershan Dang, an internist.

The New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department elects its 110thslate of officers. They include: Thomas A. Bolanowski, chief; Scott L. Nicotera Jr., first assistant chief; David P. Mazzetti, second assistant chief, and James H. Monahan, third assistant chief.

Trivia quiz

This is a tough one. Who was the first U.S. president whose parents were both alive when he was sworn in on Inauguration Day? (a) Franklin Pierce, (b) Ulysses S. Grant, (c) Theodore Roosevelt or (d) John F. Kennedy. (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last weeks question: Four retiring presidents did not attend the swearing-in ceremonies of the new president. John Adams did not attend Thomas Jeffersons inauguration on March 4, 1801. John Quincy Adams was not at Andrew Jacksons inauguration on March 4, 1829. Andrew Johnson was not at Ulysses S. Grants ceremonies on March 4, 1869. Richard Nixon, who had resigned, was not there when Gerald Ford was sworn in on August 9, 1974.

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him atftomaino221@gmail.com.

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This Week in History: Famous explorer of Africa visits Utica - Utica Observer Dispatch