Oneida County: An Illustrated History by Oneida County Historical Society - HTML preview

team at the CONMED booth in the

neers developed the Company’s first product—

gastroenterology. The company holds more

early 1980s.

single-use ECG electrodes.

than 700 patents on surgical devices.

As the company grew, operations were moved

CONMED became a publically traded company

to an 800 square foot building on Hopper Street.

through an Initial Public Offering in 1987.

Later, additional office and manufacturing

The 2013 revenue was $762 million and the

space was added at a location on Broad Street.

company employs 3,600 people, including 800

CONMED now occupies 500,000 square feet

in central New York.

of production and office space in a former

The company’s employees distribute more

GE facility on French Road. The facility serves

than 10,000 medical products worldwide

as the company’s worldwide headquarters.

from manufacturing facilities in Utica, New

York; Largo, Florida; Anaheim, California; and

Chihuahua, Mexico. The company’s primary

product distribution center is in Atlanta, Georgia.

Corasanti was committed to international

sales from the beginning and much of the

company’s success is attributed to an early

emphasis on exporting. Until 1997, when the

company acquired the Linvatec brand of sports

medicine devices, everything was exported

from facilities in the U.S. Then, sales offices

were opened in the United Kingdom, Canada,

France, Germany, Spain, Australia and Korea

where orthopedic lines were being sold. After

1997 the company continued to add direct

sales locations by opening overseas offices

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and buying direct distributors.

CONMED now has a selling pres-

ence in 100 countries from six-

teen sales offices.

The company has grown from

a small, start-up operation to

a highly respected worldwide

supplier of surgical devices and

equipment not only through

mergers and acquisitions, but

also by strategic partnerships and

through organic growth.

countries, currency exchange volatility, a slug-

❖

The company’s growth has not come without

gish economy and assorted taxes imposed on

Top: Current CONMED Utica

challenges. Physicians today are demanding

medical device manufacturers.

Facility—525 French Road.

less invasive procedures and there is tremen-

Despite the challenges, CONMED maintains

dous pressure from the healthcare community

an ongoing commitment to education and

Above: An artist’s rendering of the

to contain costs. The company must also

training. To share the latest innovations in

310 Broad Street facility.

contend with regulatory compliance in most

surgery, the company has long focused on

surgeon training. Currently, three training

Left: First CONMED ECG

facilities are located in Florida, New York and

Electrode #11-1.

Germany. In addition to these training centers,

CONMED also participates in more than 400

medical association courses and workshops

annually, reaching out to distributors and the

company’s sales people, as well as physicians.

CONMED’s strategy for future growth is to

continue its focus on organic growth through

the introduction of innovative products cou-

pled with complementary acquisitions. The

company will continue to focus on being

more efficient through lean-manufacturing

techniques, leveraging its technology and

pricing products appropriately.

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His son, John W. (Jack) Dimbleby and grandson

DIMBLEBY, FRIEDEL, WILLIAMS & EDMUNDS James W. Dimbleby continue to operate the business. Jim’s son, John, a great-grandson of

FUNERAL HOMES the founder, now in college, is expected to

become the fourth-generation family member to

be involved with the funeral homes. Jack and

Jim also operated funeral homes in Old Forge,

West Winfield, and Holland Patent.

John S. Friedel founded the John S. Friedel

Funeral Home; which was continued by his

son, John S. (Jack) Friedel, Jr., and son-in-law,

Salvatore Coriale, who later merged their busi-

ness with Stewart Williams, Jr., a third genera-

tion funeral director. The Williams Funeral

Home was founded in 1909. Donald Edmunds,

Jack’s son-in-law, became a partner in the busi-

ness; Friedel, Williams, Coriale & Edmunds

For more than a century, Dimbleby, Friedel,

Funeral Home. Following the retirement of Jack

Williams & Edmunds Funeral Homes have

Friedel, and Coriale, James Friedel joined the

cared for Mohawk Valley residents during

business, becoming a third generation funeral

the most difficult periods of their lives. Their

director. Stewart Williams has since retired.

commitment to excellence and

a passion for providing excep-

❖

tional service is unsurpassed in

Above: West Winfield Funeral Home.

the region.

The roots of Dimbleby,

Right: Old Forge Funeral Home.

Friedel, Williams & Edmunds

Funeral Homes go deep into

Below: Holland Patent Funeral Home.

the region’s history and a num-

ber of respected funeral homes

have merged over the decades

to form today’s organization.

Currently, the funeral homes

are owned by John W. Dimbleby,

James W. Dimbleby, Donald

Edmunds and James Friedel.

The two businesses combined, forming

James W. Dimbleby founded the J. W.

Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds

Dimbleby Funeral Home, Whitesboro, in 1931.

Funeral Homes, with six locations in Oneida

and Herkimer Counties. The

firm is comprised of several

former businesses, which

have become a part of

the current structure over

time. The current locations

are at 40 Main Street in

Whitesboro, 13 Oxford Road

in New Hartford, 1123 Court

Street in Utica, 7944 Steuben

Street in Holland Patent,

365 West Main Street in

West Winfield and 128 Fern

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Avenue in Old Forge.

The firm also operates

Sansone Funeral Home

and Ryczek Funeral

Home, both in Utica.

With a full-time staff

of ten and a number of

part-time employees, the

funeral homes provide

decades of experience

and a deep understanding

of a family’s needs during

its time of bereavement.

The funeral directors

❖

are also available to

Above: Whitesboro Funeral Home.

help individuals plan

their funeral arrange-

Left: Utica Funeral Home.

ments in advance. Pre-

arrangement provides

Below: New Hartford Funeral Home.

both emotional and

financial benefits, allow-

ing more time to con-

sider options without

feeling rushed and elimi-

nating many family con-

cerns. Prepaying funeral

expenses also guarantees

there will be no further

All the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams &

costs for services and merchandise at the time

Edmunds Funeral Homes are modern and

the service is provided.

up-to-date and provide a warm environment

After more than 100 years of service to

for families during their time of deepest need.

Mohawk Valley families, the commitment of

An experienced and caring team of profession-

Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds

als is available to assist families in creating

Funeral Homes is to provide exceptional

a meaningful, personalized and memorable

service to every family, every time.

ceremony to honor their

loved ones. The funeral

homes are designed to

offer services for all

faiths and to accommo-

date either intimate or

large gatherings.

Dimbleby, Friedel,

Williams & Edmunds

Funeral Homes offer both

traditional and cremation

services and the staff is

prepared to help families

choose the option that

best suits their wishes.

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Steeped in history and tradition, the Fort

shortly after the purchase, the club installed

FORT SCHUYLER

Schuyler Club is one of the oldest and most

150 electric lights throughout the mansion,

prestigious private clubs in the Mohawk Valley.

making it the first building in Utica with

CLUB

Through the years, the club’s membership has

electrical wiring. The club still occupies the

included distinguished business leaders, the

Hoyt mansion, which has undergone numerous

Chief Justice of the United States, ambassadors,

improvements and facelifts over the decades and

cabinet members, prominent military leaders

is now considered one of the most beautiful

and a number of U.S. senators and members of

buildings in Utica.

Congress. For genera-

tions, the Fort Schuyler

Club has been the meet-

ing place for Utica’s

community leaders.

The Fort Schuyler

Club was organized in

April 1883, when a

group of prominent

Uticans met at the

Butterfield House to

form a club dedicated

to fostering “social

intercourse among the

business and profes-

sional men of Utica.”

Senior membership

was limited to 150 and

members paid a $50 initiation fee and dues of

Former New York Governor Horatio

$40 per year.

Seymour, who ran for president against

General U.S. Grant,

was asked to become

the club’s first presi-

dent. Seymour was

reluctant to accept

because of his age

and health concerns,

but accepted after the

membership agreed

to make the office

of president a purely

honorary one. The

vice president became

the club’s executive

officer, a practice that

continues today.

Committees were

formed in the early

years to subscribe to

The new club first leased the old General

magazines and purchase a large Webster’s

Joseph Downer House, but soon purchased

Dictionary for member’s use. Members also

the John C. Hoyt House in 1883 for $25,000, a

purchased new billiard balls, an extra chande-

price that included the gas fixtures. However,

lier for the game room and a chess table.

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Arrangements were made to “exchange some

services were relieved of dues payment for the

of the high price cigars for others less

terms of their service.

costly.” Cigar smoking

was apparently a popu-

lar pastime because an

inventory showed $2,095

worth of cigars on hand,

but only $840 worth

of food.

The club’s tradition

of serving a free New

Year’s punch began

when members discov-

ered they had too much

champagne stored in

the cellar and were

afraid it would go flat.

However, the prohibi-

tion years of the 1920s

took its toll on the club’s

finances and the chair-

man of the House Committee complained that

The club was a males-only organization

prohibition was resulting in an annual loss of

until 1981 when by-laws were changed to

revenue totaling more than $5,000. He urged

provide membership and full use of the club

members to dine at the club more often to help

to females. Women now make up more than

make up the deficit.

a quarter of the club’s membership.

In 2004 the Fort Schuyler

Club was added to both the

State and National Registers

of Historical Places. Because

of this National Registration,

the club was able to form

a foundation, which helps

with the preservation of the

historic landmark.

Among the many ameni-

ties offered by the club

today are multiple meeting

and dining rooms, billiards

and card room and a

grand ballroom. Whether

hosting events, conducting

meetings or entertaining

friends and family, Fort

Many members of the Fort Schuyler Club

Schuyler Club members and their guests

were forced to resign because of the dire

receive the highest standard of service and

financial conditions during the Great

enjoy chef-prepared cuisine that rivals any

Depression of the 1930s. However, some

big-city club. After 132 years, the Fort Schuyler

were able to rejoin as the economy improved.

Club continues to offer unparalleled amenities

When the nation entered World War II in

and benefits that make it the premier club

1941, all members who joined the military

for Utica’s leaders.

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With more than a hundred years in the

The Beeches Inn and Conference Center is

THE SAVOY

hospitality industry, the Destito family offers

located on a beautifully landscaped fifty-two acre

some of the finest food and accommodations

estate and mansion built in 1924 by inventor

RESTAURANT

in Central New York at The Savoy Restaurant

and millionaire businessman Frank M. Potter.

and The Beeches Inn and Conference Center

The country estate, designed by famous ‘Gold

Coast’ architect Harry Sternfeld, is dominated

THE BEECHES INN

by an English Tudor home of brown stone.

AND CONFERENCE

The estate was purchased in 1949 by

Michelina Destito and her sons, Rosario, Patrick

CENTER

and Orlando, who owned and operated the

popular Savoy Restaurant.

After purchasing the estate, the Destitos

opened the main house as a 100 seat restaurant.

By 1953 a thirty room hotel was added to the

estate and the restaurant had a capacity for 700

❖

The Savoy Restaurant was established in

people. By the 1960s with lots of money, hard

Above: The Savoy Restaurant is

1908 by the Italian immigrant family of Frank

work and the addition of Rosario’s sons:

located at 255 East Dominick Street

and Michelina Destito as a boarding house and,

Dominick and Frank P. and Orlando’s sons:

in Rome, New York.

later, a saloon. Thanks to Michelina’s cooking

Christopher P., Frank A. and Orlando, Jr.,

and a dedicated family kitchen staff consisting

the hotel grew to seventy-six rooms and the

Below: The interior of the

of Martha, Angela, Fanny and Yolanda, The

restaurant grew to 1,200 seats. The complex was

Savoy Restaurant.

Savoy became a popular bistro with its Italian

soon to be known as The Beeches Inn and

and old American fare.

Conference Center. The Beeches is famous for the

The Savoy has earned accolades from such

‘Roman Wolf’ statue that greets visitors at the

publications as Gourmet Magazine, Ski Magazine,

restaurant’s entrance. The story of the wolf began

Yachting Magazine, The Cleveland Plain Dealers

as an innocent joke that escalated into a burning

and Bon Appetit.

community issue that nearly caused an interna-

The Destito family has been host to Senator

tional incident between the U.S. and Italy.

Daniel Patrick Moyniham (a regular), Walter

As the story goes, the statue was offered to

Cronkite, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,

the City of Rome in 1956 by Alfonso Felici of

Alfonse D’Amato, Averil Harriman, Mario

Rome, Italy, in exchange for a snowplow to

Cuomo, and Joe Lewis. The Savoy has been

help the Italian city cope with a monumental

a watering hole for many prominent writers,

snowstorm. The tongue-in-cheek deal fell

including Alex Haley, Edmund Wilson, John

through, but Italian officials continued to

McDonald, Walter Edmunds, Jimmy Breslin,

offer the statue to Rome, New York. Many local

Andy Rooney; and entertainers such as Harry

citizens, however, were cool to the idea.

Chapin, John Pizzarelli, Chuck Mangione,

The statue is a replica of the famed Capitoline

Mstislav Rostropovich (a regular) and many

Wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, legendary

many others.

founders of The Eternal City. However, many

local residents felt the statue was

unsuitable for display in a promi-

nent public place. Following several

years of delicate negotiations, which

involved U.S. Senator Jacob Javitts

at one point, the Destito family

offered to provide a circle of land

in front of the restaurant as a

permanent site for the Roman Wolf.

After three years of controversy, the

wolf was finally unveiled and has

become a popular tourist attraction.

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❖

Left: The Beeches Restaurant located

at 7900 Turin Road in Rome,

New York.

Below: The Inn at the Beeches.

Bottom: The Roman Wolf

sculpture greets visitors at the

restaurant’s entrance.

The Beeches has also had its

share of famous guests from

sports, entertainment, industry,

politics, the media and the mili-

tary. This long list includes such

luminaries as Rocky Marciano,

Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Robinson,

Rocky Graziano, Carmen Basilio,

Otto Graham, Henny Youngman,

Milton Berle, George Jessel,

Donald O’Connor, Liza Minelli,

Lou Ferrigno, Gordon MacRae,

Connie Francis, Pat Boone, Patty

Page, Alan Pakula, Pat Paulson,

Professor Irwin Corey, Pat Cooper, John

Carridine, Les Paul, Arthur Fiedler, Frank

Gorshin, Tiny Tim, The Ink Spots, Broderick

Crawford, Michael Lang, McLean Stevenson,

Robert Stempel, Melvin Belli, President Gerald

Ford, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Senator

Robert Kennedy, Senator Barry Goldwater,

General Leslie Groves, Jimmy Doolittle,

Governor George Pataki, Senator James Buckley,

Harry Reasoner, Roger Ebert, Tim Russert and

Frank Blair.

The Savoy Restaurant and The Beeches Inn

and Conference Center owes its success to a cou-

ple from Italy, who taught their children to work

hard, treat all people with respect, and always,

always keep a passion for great food. For more

information about The Savoy Restaurant please

visit www.romesavoy.com. For more information

about The Beeches Inn and Conference Center

please visit www.thebeeches.com.

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ONEIDA

COUNTY

HISTORICAL

SOCIETY

❖

Three weeks before Christmas Day in 1876, a

The society’s first project in 1877 was to

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