K1361-2011 Actions

• May 22, 2012: adopted

K1361-2011 Text

 ATIVE  RESOLUTION  commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Town
 geway, New York

 S, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and  commem-
  the distinguished histories of the communities which comprise the
 body of this great Empire State; and
 EAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its  long-
 ng  traditions,  this  Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
 the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Ridgeway in  Orleans  County,
 rk; and
 EAS,  Seymour  Murdock was the first settler in what was to become
 wn of Ridgeway; in 1810, he left his home in Dutchess County,  and
  west in search of land, traveling with his family group of twelve
 s and a team of oxen; and
 EAS,  Soon,  more  settlers  arrived, and gradually amenities were
  a grist mill was built on the Oak Orchard Creek in 1812,  by  Dr.
  and  David  Hooker; Eli Moore built the first hotel and tavern on
 ay Corners in 1811; he also operated a small grocery and dry goods
 there; and
 EAS, Seymour Murdock built the first frame barn in 1812, of  heavy
 imber;  his  daughter,  Betsy  Murdock  taught at the first school
  remarkably, this barn is still standing; and
 EAS, The Town of Ridgeway was formed from the Town of  Batavia  on
 , 1812; and
 EAS,  The  first annual town meeting was held on Tuesday, April 6,
 at the home of John G. Brown; by  then,  there  were  173  taxable
 tants with 30,556 taxable acres assessed to them; and
 EAS,  Oliver  Booth was appointed the first Supervisor, and Israel
 ss the first Town Clerk; Elijah Hawley was the first Postmaster of
 st office established at Ridgeway Corners on October 22, 1816; and
 EAS, The Town of Ridgeway was the first town incorporated in  what
 w  Orleans  County  and originally included the towns of Ridgeway,
 , Gaines, Barre, Carlton, Gaines and Albion; and
 EAS, Ridgeway stretched from Lake Ontario  in  the  north  as  far
  as  the  present  line  north of the Towns of Alabama and Elba in
 e County; this entire area was about sixteen miles wide from north
 th and covered an area of about three hundred square miles,  about
 quarters of the acreage of the present county of Orleans; and
 EAS,  The  town  was  named  for "The Ridge," a natural embankment
  as the southern boundary of the glacial Lake Iroquois, which  had
 been  used  as an east to west route by Native Americans and other
 ers; and
 EAS, The Town of Ridgeway was divided into two towns by an Act  of
 egislature of the State of New York on March 6, 1818, thus forming
 wn of Shelby; and
 EAS, Currently, the Town of Ridgeway has a  population  of  6,534;
 are descendants of the early settlers; many are descendants of the
 thnic groups who moved here in search of opportunity; and
 EAS, Recently, Amish and Mennonite families have  moved  into  the
  attracted by affordable land as well as commercial opportunities;

 EAS, Town inhabitants continue to be industrious  and  innovative,
  adapted quickly to new digital technology; and
 EAS,  An enterprising farmer has established a successful vineyard
 rm markets provide revenue for farmers and fresh quality food  for
 rs; and

 EAS,  The  Town  of  Ridgeway is also home to Sigma, an innovative
 l technology firm; and
 EAS,  The  citizens  of  the  Town of Ridgeway have adapted to the
 uous changes of the last two hundred years; they fought  in  every
  and   many  made  the  ultimate  sacrifice;  they  have  survived
 sions and recessions with the same fortitude, enterprise  and  the
 table spirit of the early settlers; and
 EAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
 hange,  the Town of Ridgeway continues its commitment to enhancing
 ality of life of  its  citizens,  ensuring  a  positive  business,
 utional  and  educational  climate,  and  providing  all essential
 es; now, therefore, be it
 LVED, That this Legislative Body pause  in  its  deliberations  to
 orate  the  200th  Anniversary  of the Town of Ridgeway, New York,
 izing the significance of the role it continues  to  play  in  the
 f the community of the State of New York; and be it further
 LVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
 d to the Town of Ridgeway, New York.