LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION  commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Town
of Saugerties

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and  commem-
orate  the distinguished histories of the communities which comprise the
noble body of this great Empire State; and
  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its  long-
standing  traditions,  this  Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Saugerties, New York; and
  WHEREAS, Many festivities have been planned to observe this auspicious
occasion including exhibits at Saugerties  Historical  Society,  musical
events  and  art exhibits showing the transformation over time and high-
lighting the Town of Saugerties'  industry,  businesses  and  residents,
culminating with a Grand Gala, to be celebrated at the Lazy Swan Country
Club in Saugerties, New York on Friday, April 8, 2011; and
  WHEREAS, The Town of Saugerties is located at the foot of the Catskill
Mountains  on  the  West bank of the Hudson River and 100 miles North of
New York City; this remarkable town is a mecca  for  culture,  art,  and
history, topped off by a magnificent view stretching from the blue foot-
hills  of  the  Catskill  Mountains across the Hudson to the green Berk-
shires of New England; and
  WHEREAS, On April 27, 1677, New York's Colonial Governor Edmund Andros
signed an agreement with the Esopus Indian Kaelcop, Chief of  the  Amor-
garickakan  Family,  to  purchase  the land which is now Saugerties; the
price was a blanket, a piece of cloth, a shirt, a  loaf  of  bread,  and
some coarse fiber; and
  WHEREAS,  The  first  settlers  were  Dutch and in its early days, the
Saugerties area was a major supplier  of  grain;  early  Dutch  settlers
established  mills  there  including  Barent  Cornelis Volge, the Little
Sawyer who gave Saugerties its name; and
  WHEREAS, The population got a boost in 1710, when a  group  of  German
refugees  from  the war-torn Rhineland-Palatinate region near the French
border settled in West Camp; after seeking refuge in England, the  Pala-
tines were dispatched to the Hudson Valley on an economic mission; and
  WHEREAS,  Having  swelled  in  population since the original Dutch and
German settlers took up residence, Saugerties petitioned the  state  for
self-governance, which was granted in April of 1811; and
  WHEREAS,  On  April  5, 1811, the first Town Board meeting was held at
the home of Christian Fiero and Saugerties was officially  incorporated;
John Kiersted served as the first Town Supervisor; and
  WHEREAS,  Lured by the great water power furnished by the falls in the
Esopus, Henry Barclay built the first mill in Saugerties to  become  the
cornerstone of the Town's immensely successful paper industry; and
  WHEREAS,  The  Town  of  Saugerties was known for its industrial inno-
vations; paper-making was revolutionized there with the invention of the
endless web paper-making machine; and
  WHEREAS, The borders of the Town of Saugerties have not changed  since
1811; many new hamlets have sprung up over the past century in proximity
to the number of businesses, eventually totaling 17; and
  WHEREAS, The Town of Saugerties' early prosperous and thriving economy
is still evident in the architecture of Saugerties Village, known as one
of the most attractive communities on the Hudson; and
  WHEREAS,  Currently,  the  Town of Saugerties is a proud and beautiful
community which embodies a celebratory spirit, annually hosting a multi-
tude of festivities and events; as they serve as continuous reminders of
what a warm and welcoming community it has become; and

  WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the Town of Saugerties continues its commitment to enhancing
the quality of life of  its  citizens,  ensuring  a  positive  business,
institutional  and  educational  climate,  and  providing  all essential
services; now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED,  That  this  Legislative  Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Saugerties,  New  York,
recognizing  the  significance  of  the role it continues to play in the
life of the community of the State of New York; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Town of Saugerties, New York.