2025 Gratz Grant Builds on Earlier Support for Utica Landmark
The League’s 2025 grant from the Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund was awarded to the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica. The $13,600 grant will help support work to restore the front entrance and sidelight windows of the Miller-Conkling-Kernan Residence at 3 Rutger Park.
The League has a long history with this property: included along with its neighbors on our 2006 Seven to Save list, we noted that “…the buildings are vacant and are enduring yet another winter without stabilization. Plans for their stabilization and rehabilitation should be made promptly…” In 2008, the League helped the Landmarks Society acquire the property by providing a loan of $200,000 from the Endangered Properties Intervention Program. In 2023, the League provided a grant from the Gratz Fund to help fund a new, historically appropriate portico that would allow the organization to safely welcome visitors to this remarkable site.
The portico pictured in the final stages of work, funded in part by an earlier grant from the League’s Gratz Fund.
With the recent completion of the reconstruction of the portico, this project is a logical next step and will continue to enhance the façade of this highly significant building in the city of Utica.
Work will include: historic paint analysis; paint removal and repainting of the exterior face of the front door; repairs to door hardware; installation of weatherstripping; restoration of sidelight windows; installation of period appropriate light fixtures; and associated electrical work. Randy Crawford of Crawford & Stearns Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC will develop the project scope and specifications, as he did for the earlier portico project.
The Miller-Conkling-Kernan Residence is located in a planned park-like setting in Utica, in what was once the rural outskirts of the city. Along with three neighboring houses (including the c.1854 A.J. Davis-designed #1), it faces Rutger Street with a deep setback. Because of its architectural significance and its association with several prominent historical figures, the house is a designated National Historic Landmark (NHL) — one of only two NHLs in Utica. In addition to being a NHL, it is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing building to the Rutger-Steuben Park Historic District.
Remembering Mike Bosak
We were sorry to hear of the sudden passing of Mike Bosak in late October. Mike was a longtime colleague and a driving force behind the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica, an organization he was involved with for over 30 years. The League team worked with Mike over the years through many of our programs, most recently on their continued efforts to restore the Miller-Conkling-Kernan Residence at 3 Rutger Park. The League was able to support this work through our Gratz Fund thanks to Mike’s dedication. Our thoughts are with his family. In his memory, contributions may be made to the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.
Established in 2010, the Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund is funded through a permanently endowed charitable contribution from Thomas J. Schwarz. The goals of the Gratz Fund are to support professional services for preservation projects that: illustrate the benefits of the NYS Historic Tax Credit; leverage other public and private investments; and enable the League to react quickly to preservation opportunities with financial resources. The Gratz Fund gives priority to projects in the Utica, NY area whenever possible.