LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the Coloni-
al Farmhouse Restoration Society of Bellerose, Inc./Queens County Farm
Museum

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality of
life of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched by its
exceptional cultural, educational and recreational institutions; 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 35th Anniversary of the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society
of Bellerose, Inc./Queens County Farm Museum, to be celebrated on Satur-
day, August 14, 2010; and
WHEREAS, At the Queens County Farm Museum people may visit a working
farm surrounding the restored Jacob Adriance Farmhouse; the rich glacial
soil of Flushing first attracted European settlers in the 17th century,
and family farms characterized the area from then until the 1920s; and
WHEREAS, The earliest records of farm ownership by the Adriance family
on this site date from 1697; the third-generation Jacob Adriance built
his Dutch-style farmhouse in 1772, with a steeply pitched roof, four-
foot overhanging eaves, and hand-split shingles on the exterior; and
WHEREAS, The home was doubled in size by Peter Cox between 1833 and
1840, and the house and farmland were bought and sold several times
during the 19th century; in the 1870s, the neighboring Creed farm became
the Creedmoor rifle range, and the Creedmoor State Hospital acquired
this site in 1908 and then expanded and took over the Jacob Adriance
property in 1927; and
WHEREAS, From 1890 to 1926, two generations of the Stattel family
operated a truck farm on the site; a greenhouse and other farm buildings
added in the 1930s still remain; and
WHEREAS, For decades the area remained agricultural and was tilled by
hospital patients; the house was used by hospital staff until 1973; two
years later in 1975, the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society of
Bellerose opened the Queens County Farm Museum, and the land was trans-
ferred from the State to the City of New York in 1981; and
WHEREAS, The Jacob Adriance Farmhouse was partially restored in 1984-
1986; today, its 7 1/2 acres of croplands and orchards are being used to
demonstrate the history of agriculture in New York; educational tours
and workshops cover horticultural technology, farm life history and food
preparation; and
WHEREAS, The Museum also stages an old-fashioned county fair, an annu-
al Native American pow-wow and an antique car show; its barn has been
reconstructed and holds assembly, education and office facilities; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be 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 35th Anniversary of the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration
Society of Bellerose, Inc./Queens County Farm Museum; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society of Bellerose,
Inc./Queens County Farm Museum.