LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Town
of Villenova, New York

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commem-
orate the proud and distinguished histories of the communities which
comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Villenova, which means "new village," was first settled in
1810 on lands purchased in late 1809; the Town of Villenova was sepa-
rated from the town of Hanover in 1823; and
WHEREAS, Daniel Whipple was Villenova's first settler, building a home
at the corner of the current Silver Creek/South Dayton Road and Phillips
Road; the Whipple family arrived by oxcart in May of 1910, and built a
permanent log home with split log floor and front door consisting of a
heavy blanket; Daniel Whipple knelt beside the trunk of the first tree
he cut down and prayed that a Christian church would be established in
the settlement; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Villenova consisted of three small business areas
including Hamlet, Balcom's Corners and Wright's corners; and
WHEREAS, Villenova was home to popular social clubs including the
Grange, Oddfellows, Rebecca Lodge and Hillside Club in the early days;
these were later complemented by the Home Bureau, Thimble Club, Mother's
Club and 4-H; and
WHEREAS, The home of Charles Waters in Villenova, a home that includes
a room that was only accessible through the attic, is believed to have
been used as a station of the Underground Railroad; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Villenova's businesses included blacksmith shops,
sawmills, carding mills, grist mills, cheese factories, asheries and
wagon shops, in addition to a foundry that made high quality plows; and
WHEREAS, Villenova has continued to serve the more than 1,000 people
living within its borders with a safe and secure home in Chautauqua
County; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize those towns and communities that have contributed to the noble
history of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Villenova; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Town of Villenova.