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We love our community and our history! 

In 1837, James Clark was a contractor on the I & M canal extending two miles through rock, completing it in April, 1848. 1845

In 1845, he purchased a cement company and manufactured hydraulic cement. His business grew to manufacturing 100,000 barrels of cement a year. 

In 1885, he became president of North Utica and again in 1888. Mr. Clark erected the massive two-story Italianate building as rental property. It was constructed of two-foot thick limestone and hydraulic cement. The main facade was covered with brick and featured fluted Corinthian columns and included 12-foot-tall, round arched windows with stone hoodmolds and keystones. The two storefronts were initially separated by a central stairway that led to a second story theater, first known as Clark’s Hall and later as Cary Theatre. It successively provided Uticans with Saturday night entertainment. 

The building was left vacant from 1946-1956 and was purchased by the Bickermans, and   Frances Bickerman embarked on a major building rehabilitation. It’s reported that the place was filled with pigeons, and they hauled out 60 truckloads of plaster and bird manure. The building became Bickermans’ Hardware until Frances retired in 1993.

The Bickerman Building remained in the families of Frances’ three daughters, Marlene Ernat, Sharon Barnhardt and Marsha Klimek until 2020, when it was purchased by Matt and Jen Cetwinski.

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