Greater Utica Magazine Cover – October 2020 – Saturday Globe and Horrocks-Ibbotson Utica NY

The October 2020 cover of Greater Utica Magazine explores the shared history of the Saturday Globe and Horrocks-Ibbotson Utica NY, two major institutions that occupied the same iconic building on Whitesboro Street during different eras.

The Utica Saturday Globe, founded in 1881 by brothers Thomas and William Baker, became one of the most influential illustrated weekly newspapers in the United States. What began as a local publication quickly grew into a national powerhouse, reaching peak circulation near 300,000 and producing dozens of editions weekly.

The Globe was a pioneer in visual journalism, known for its heavy use of illustrations and early adoption of color printing. It helped shape the future of mass media and is often considered a forerunner to modern national publications. However, with the rise of competing illustrated media, the paper declined and ultimately ceased publication in 1924.

In 1930, the building entered a new chapter when it was purchased by the Horrocks-Ibbotson Company (H-I), a globally recognized manufacturer of fishing rods and tackle. Originally rooted in the 19th century and formally established in 1901, Horrocks-Ibbotson grew into one of the largest fishing equipment producers in the world.

From its Whitesboro Street headquarters, Horrocks-Ibbotson Utica NY became a major industrial force, employing local workers and distributing products worldwide. The company later merged with the Gladding Corporation in 1967 and eventually closed in 1978, though its products remain highly collectible today.

This cover captures the evolution of one historic Utica building—from a groundbreaking newspaper printing plant to a major manufacturing hub—highlighting the layered industrial and cultural history of Utica NY.