Assembly Resolution No. 710

BY: M. of A. Lemondes

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the Central
New York Maple Festival

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its traditions, to honor and commemorate the proud and distinguished
histories of the communities which comprise the noble body of this great
Empire State; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
50th Anniversary of the Central New York Maple Festival on April 2-3,
2022, in Marathon, New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1799, the first settlers, Japheth Hunt and family,
arrived in Marathon, New York, a village situated along the southern
border of Cortland County; and

WHEREAS, On April 21, 1818, the Village was formed from the
southwest quarter of the Town of Cincinnatus of the Military Tract then
called Harrison; its name was officially changed to Marathon in 1829;
and

WHEREAS, Marathon's First Annual Maple Festival was held on March
27-28, 1971 under a blanket of snow; and

WHEREAS, The Maple Festival organizers were not prepared for the
event that was about to happen that weekend over fifty years ago; over
30,000 visitors attended the First Annual Maple Festival, significantly
more than the 5,000 the committee had hoped for; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, during this inaugural event, all the
organizations offering food sold out on the first day; subsequently,
many volunteers cooked, baked and prepared food well into the night,
while others shopped at neighboring villages to get what was needed for
the second day of the festival; and

WHEREAS, There were cars arriving bearing license plates from the
Albany Capital District as well as from Oneonta, Oneida, Ithaca, and the
triple cities area in the Southern Tier, with a heavy influx from
Syracuse, Onondaga and Cortland counties; there were even out of state
plates from Florida, Michigan, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut;
and

WHEREAS, Nearly 3,000 persons enjoyed the pancake breakfast at the
Marathon School cafeteria during the two-day festival, with estimates of
225 dozen eggs, 719 pounds of sausage, more than 350 pounds of flour,
and 33 gallons of maple syrup, all produced locally with approximately
25 volunteers manning the kitchen and cafeteria throughout both days;
and

WHEREAS, The throngs of visitors moved up and down Main Street,
around the fire station to the sugar shack at Lovell Field where long
lines of people waited patiently to see the sugaring process; and

WHEREAS, There was much to see and do while enjoying the fine
weekend weather, with both Peck Memorial Library and the Fahey Building
receiving their share of visitors; the Marathon Central School was also
a focal point where more than 40 booths displayed handicrafts, plants,
foods, arts and crafts, and the crowning of the First Maple Festival
Queen and her court; and

WHEREAS, The community, with all its tired, excited and determined
volunteers, pulled off what would be hailed as the biggest challenge the
village had ever encountered, apart from the Big Blackout of 1965; and

WHEREAS, The benefits of that first Maple Festival have given the
residents of Marathon a sense of pride and accomplishment which
continues to live through the people who faithfully work together for
the betterment of their beloved community; and

WHEREAS, Just as the pioneers of this vital festival overcame much
adversity 50 years ago, COVID-19 paused the Festival's 50th Anniversary
event in 2020, but that did not going to stop this loyal community from
celebrating with a drive through festival entitled, "49 and Holding";
and

WHEREAS, This year, the Marathon community will gather in
recognition of the Maple Festival's Golden Anniversary, telling stories
of past festivals and celebrating a community who dared to dream big and
work hard to make their dream come true; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
communities and events of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Central New York Maple Festival;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Community Members of Marathon, New York.