Utica Free Academy - Class of 1967

In Memory

David Stedman

UTICA FREE ACADEMY Christmas Ornament -Utica Landmarks Society

The Landmarks Society's 2008 collectible ornament honors a building sure to inspire nostalgia in those who were educated in its stone and brick classrooms throughout nearly nine decades.

This year's ornament commemorates Utica Free Academy.

In announcing its decision, President Michael J. Bosak stated: “The UFA building is very high in significance and importance, not only because of its architecture, but because of the lives that it touched and the sentiment it evokes”.

The Utica Academy, UFA's predecessor, opened in 1814 and was Utica's original secondary school. Several fires and community need eventually let tot the construction of the Kemble Street UFA building, which welcomed its first students on September 11, 1899. Another fire and popu­lation increases led to an expansion of the building that doubled its size by 1917. UFA closed in 1987. In the summer of 1995, the building re-opened for use as the Loretto Utica Center.
Purchasing The Ornament - The UFA ornament will become available at a special reception Thursday, Nov. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Loretto Utica Center, the former UFA on Kemble Street. Ornaments can be purchased at the event for $22 plus tax. They will also be available for purchase by calling the Landmarks Society at 315-732-7376; one the Landmarks' Web site, http://www.uticalandmarks.org/; and at several local retail outlets:
Lennon & W.B. Wilcox Co.
McHarris Gifts, Clinton
Dannella Photographic
Oneida County Historical Society
Munson- Williams -Proctor Arts Institute Gift Shop

Landmarks' Annual Collectible Ornaments - The Utica Free Academy ornament is eighth in the Landmarks' popular series that has included the Whitestown Town Hall, Union Station, F.X. Matt Brewery, Utica Public Library, SBU Bank, Hotel Utica, and Old Main. A limited supply of previous years' ornaments are available on the Landmarks' Web site. The Hotel Utica and Brewery ornaments are sold out.

UTICA FREE ACADEMY Class of 1967

"Are you one of our missing classmates ?"

http://www.ufa1967.blogspot.com/

Utica Free Academy Class of 1967 Lost Classmates

Still looking for classmates before the next Utica Free Academy Class of 1967 reunion.

We just found
Millie (Mildred Doat) Currey------- Heuvelton, NY
send info to
ufaclass67(at)yahoo(dot)com

Summer of '67 Songs

What would our memories be without our music.
We've added a couple of our favorites.

What were you listening to during that summer we graduated ?
Let us know and we'll add them

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...

Lost Friends, girlfriends, boyfriends,teachers, hangouts,etc.
of the Class of 1967 Utica Free Academy, Utica, NY.

Leave a comment here

The picnic

Sunday morning many of us gathered at New Hartford Town Park for a picnic. Yet another chance to connect with old friends. The Holy Trinity classmates won the prize for the best turn out! Annette planned some ice-breakers for us that got me, for one, back to those high school years.

And so the 40th reunion week-end came to a close. Our family took off for Cape Cod a couple of days later. My grandchildren had never seen the ocean. Wow, were they surprised by the salt water!

One of the cool things about the reunion is that I actually made some new friends. We had such a big class that we could not possibly know everyone. I have enjoyed becoming acquainted with Jacq Glinecki Baldini, among others!

Onward to the 50th reunion!!

Saturday Night

On Saturday night, we gathered at The Roselawn in New York Mills for dinner and dancing. Harold Haggarty and his wife (above) were there. The next photo shows the handcrafted candy boxes Natalie Krohn made as table favors. Next to the candy box with the UFA picture are key chains from the UFA Alum Assoc. It was festive and fun with a casual feel. We had a prime rib buffet and Italian pasteries for dessert. Dennis Thompson from the Alum Assoc. spoke briefly. Click on the video to hear his remarks. Red, Hot and Wild provided the music but, truthfully, classmates were awfully busy trying to talk to old friends to dance much. Jacqueline Glinecki brought 2 of her paintings to display along with memorabilia from the Alum Assoc.

Nostalgic Reading

Three Uticans have written books that may be of interest to classmates. They are available through Amazon and at the Oneida County Historical Society (buying through the historical society helps support their activities).

Wasn't It Only Yesterday? by Mario Fumarola is a series of stories about growing up in East Utica, portraying life in the Italian community.

The Olive Tree by Arlene Stein is a book about growing up in the Auburn Ave. area and portrays life in the Jewish community. I enjoyed descriptions of streets and businesses I remember from my childhood in South Utica.

The Courtship of Julian and Frieda by Krista Perry Dunn is the story of Julian Noga and his wife, Frieda. You'll remember that Julian Noga is the MC for the Polish language radio program we hear on Sundays. It's the longest running Polish language show in the US. The book isn't about Utica but how Julian and Frieda met during WWII in Austria.

The Rockettes

I couldn't resist posting this photo taken at UFA on tour day. About 30 of us gathered on Saturday morning. . .a loyal band, to be sure! We were really impressed to see the NYS historic site placque on Elm St. declaring UFA an historic site!

The interior, used for Loretto Nursing Facility, has been renovated to look light and contemporary. You saw the photo of the entrance to the former auditorium. The shop area in the basement is now the dining room. Some classrooms upstairs are being made into apartments. We suggested a Titan wing!

We got to see the gym that looks just the same and is used for a youth program, choir room where Mrs. Williams reigned, and the little theater near the choir room.

This photo was taken in one of the corridors and features Laurey Jones from FL, Annette Pelewski from CA, Camille Claeys and Polly Nolan. "Still crazy after all these years. . ."