Senate Resolution No. 842
BY: Senator GRIFFO
COMMEMORATING the 160th Anniversary of the Utica
Maennerchor to be celebrated on May 3, 2025
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those vital organizations that foster community, preserve
heritage, and enrich the cultural fabric of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 160th Anniversary of the Utica Maennerchor to be
celebrated with a Banquet on Saturday, May 3, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1865, the Utica Maennerchor has, for 160 years,
remained faithful to its chartered purpose "to promote German and
American choral singing"; it stands today as a living testament to the
vibrancy and perseverance of German-American culture in Central New
York; and
WHEREAS, By the turn of the 20th century, Utica was home to nearly
3,700 German immigrants and thousands of their descendants; this dynamic
community established a dozen churches, four schools, seventeen social
organizations, and countless businesses, profoundly shaping the cultural
and economic development of the city; and
WHEREAS, Between 1905 and 1916, Utica's German-American population
sponsored a beloved annual German Day, drawing thousands of attendees
from all backgrounds and celebrating the shared spirit of community; and
WHEREAS, While the First World War brought challenges to ethnic
expression, the Utica Maennerchor endured, preserving not only music but
also a treasured heritage that continues to unite generations; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Utica Maennerchor remains a vital institution
with over 450 active members; it serves as a gathering place for people
young and old, for singers, dancers, and friends; it is a place to
learn, to share, to celebrate, and to build community through the
enduring language of music and camaraderie; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, many of its members still speak German,
continuing a legacy of linguistic and cultural continuity while
welcoming all who value tradition, song, and friendship; and
WHEREAS, The Utica Maennerchor is one of the last surviving
institutions established by the once-thriving German immigrant community
of Utica, and stands as a proud symbol of cultural perseverance and
intergenerational fellowship; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 160th Anniversary of the Utica Maennerchor, and to
applaud its enduring contributions to the cultural and social life of
the Mohawk Valley and the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Utica Maennerchor.
