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

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize histor-
ical events that have helped shape our community into what it is today,
celebrating all that leads to a high quality of life for all residents;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Salina, recognizing the
importance of this historic milestone and the effect it has on so many
throughout our community; and
WHEREAS, The earliest settlers of what is now known as the Town of
Salina began forming a community in the 1780s and 1790s because of the
burgeoning salt industry; and
WHEREAS, The first frame house in the Town of Salina was built in
1792 by Colonel Jeremiah Gould, who was very prominent in the salt
industry along with many other well-known names such as Loomis, Olcott,
Danforth, Gaston, Van Vleck, Alvord, Gale, Orman, Bellows, Riley, Gord,
O'Blennis, Forger and Gleason; many of these names are still recognized
on streets and buildings throughout the area today; and
WHEREAS, In 1798, the Village of Salina was formed; it was incorpo-
rated in 1824, and eventually, became the 1st Ward of the City of Syra-
cuse; and
WHEREAS, In 1808, Elisha Alvord formed the first salt block and laid
out the Salt Road which ran from Salina through Cicero to Sackett's
Harbor; and
WHEREAS, On March 27, 1809, the Town of Salina was incorporated and
the first official town meeting was held the following day, March 28th;
at this meeting, residents elected Elisha Alvord as the first Town
Supervisor, Fisher Curtis as the Town Clerk, and four elected assessors
and three commissioners of highways; and
WHEREAS, The Erie Canal was completed in 1825, and the Oswego Canal in
1828, both became great assets to the thriving salt industry as they
allowed for easier transportation of goods; boat building became an
important industry for a short time due to the many wooded areas in the
Town of Salina; the completion of these new canals served as gateways to
the rest of the state; and
WHEREAS, The first paved road in the Town was completed in 1829, and
was called Canal Street and is now known as Salina Street; and
WHEREAS, The Village of Liverpool was incorporated on April 20, 1830,
with Joseph Jaqueth as the first Village President; Liverpool was known
as "Little Ireland" in its early years, and it is still a thriving busi-
ness and residential center of the Town of Salina as its only incorpo-
rated village; and
WHEREAS, The first brick school house was built in 1846, and expanded
in 1863; the Liverpool Union Free School District was organized in 1874;
and
WHEREAS, The Town of Salina, once covering an area around Onondaga
Lake, was reduced to its present size when, in 1847, the Village of
Salina became the 1st Ward in the City of Syracuse and, in 1848, the
Town of Geddes was formed; and
WHEREAS, In 1855, the Basket Willow industry began as the land in Town
was ideal for its necessary growth and cultivation; this industry
continued through the decline of the salt industry; and

WHEREAS, The Syracuse and Northern Railroad line was built through the
Town of Salina on November 9, 1871; the Brewerton and Bridgeport plank
roads were built in the east part of the Town; and
WHEREAS, The Salt Industry that was such a significant part of the
early history of the Town of Salina at the time of its formation in the
late 1700s began to decline in 1873 and was abandoned in the 1920s, as
other areas of the country began large scale salt production and the
tariff on foreign salt was reduced; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Town of Salina has been the home to many
successful businesses and industries, some of which include the Will &
Baumer Candle Company, founded in 1855; Syracuse China, founded in 1871
as Onondaga Pottery Company; Galeville Grocery, started in 1888 and
still in operation today; Brannock Device Company, opened as the Park-
Brannock Shoe Company in 1906; Syracuse Hancock International Airport,
created in 1927; Salina Industrial Power Park/GM Inland Fisher Guide
Plant; Electronics Business Park, home to General Electric beginning in
1946 and later Martin Marietta Corporation and now Lockheed Martin; and
Penny Curtis Bakery, opened on LeMoyne Avenue in 1963; and
WHEREAS, Throughout many changes, the Town of Salina remains a vital
center of commerce and residential neighborhoods within Onondaga County
and, although reduced in physical size many years ago, Salina is today,
the second most populous town in Onondaga County; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Salina is still home to many of the original five
small community centers of Mattydale, Lyncourt, Galeville, the Village
of Liverpool, and a portion of North Syracuse, each adding a unique and
distinguishable part of the fabric of the Town, but together comprising
the makeup of the Town of Salina; and
WHEREAS, On March 28, 2009, Town of Salina officials along with the
Salina Citizens Bicentennial Committee, kicked-off an anniversary cele-
bration that will last throughout much of the year and which began with
an open house at the Town Hall at 10 a.m. on that day, which featured
lessons of history about the Town, complete with artifacts and photo-
graphs representing much of the Town's great history; and
WHEREAS, Bicentennial activities coming up this spring and summer
include a tram ride at Onondaga Lake Park, Camp Fire Stories at Sainte
Marie Among the Iroquois, the unveiling of the Liverpool Public
Library's Civil War Project, and a DVD series about the Town's history;
and
WHEREAS, Residents of the Town of Salina and throughout Onondaga Coun-
ty are invited and welcome to take part in any or all of these cele-
brations of the Town's history as Salina prepares to embark on its next
200 year journey; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Salina; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra, and the Salina Citizens Bicen-
tennial Committee.