From Loom to Boom - The Life of Utica Mayor Boyd E. Golder

From Loom to Boom - The Life of Utica Mayor Boyd E. Golder

By Brad Velardi

Although it’s difficult to have clarity amid our harsh climate conditions, if we can somehow separate ourselves from the present, we see that there’s beauty in the four seasons. Many have made the symbolic connection between the seasons of the year and the evolution of our lives – with spring comes renewed life; in the summer, nature is in full bloom; autumn represents change, and in many ways, death; the winter snow provides water for nourishment and allows the cycle to repeat itself again in the spring. Whether it’s people, places, things or events in our lives, we see this process play out repeatedly.

Imagine if you will, that during a particular year, we experienced a warm and colorful spring followed by a bluesky summer and the aesthetic beauty of autumn foliage. As we surpassed the midway point of November, winter conditions began to kick in – frost and then eventually banks of snow covered the ground. We didn’t mind it much though, because we knew that within the next few months, the temperature would rise, and the white landscape would turn to a kelly green. Except this year it was different. Suddenly, we reached the month of May with temperatures and snowy conditions being the same as they were in January. Then came June, July and August – nothing changed. Before we knew it, we found ourselves in mid-November and poised for another winter.

There’s no end in sight.

communities across America suffered in the mid-twentieth century; however, that was not the case for the city of Utica. For the better part of a century, the textile manufacturing industry was the backbone of Utica’s economy. When companies began heading south after World War II, Utica was left in a very vulnerable position and strong leadership was needed to survive this “winter storm”. Along with several other community leaders and organizations, then Utica Mayor Boyd E. Golder led what became known as the “loom to boom” era that helped the region experience renewed life. As the great Frank Tomaino once labeled them, these were “The Golder

Years”. Allenwood, PA (1892)