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

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commem-
orate the proud and distinguished histories of the people and communi-
ties 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 Chautauqua, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Chautauqua was formed from Batavia in 1804, and
originally included all of present-day Chautauqua County; formed from
the Town of Chautauqua are Pomfret, Portland, Harmony, Clymer, Ellery
and Stockton; it also held the county alms house and asylum; and
WHEREAS, The first settlement in Mayville was made by Dr. Alexander
McIntyre; at the time of the settlement, Holland Land Company agents
gathered to decide upon a name; after discussing a number of names with
no agreement by those present, it was suggested that the town be named
for May Busti, infant daughter of agent Paul Busti; the name Mayville
was quickly agreed upon and became the official name of the settlement;
and
WHEREAS, Upon the formal organization of Chautauqua County, Mayville
was designated as the county seat; and
WHEREAS, The first businesses in Chautauqua's village of Mayville
included law offices by Anseim Potter, Dennis Brackett and Casper Rouse;
an office from which Holland Land Company sold land; the court house;
physician services by Jediah Prendergast and his nephew William Prender-
gast; and a store established by Jediah and Martin Prendergast; and
WHEREAS, Businesses in other areas of the town included the office of
physician Lawton Richmond, a store and an ashery owned by Darius and
John Dexter in Dewittville, a sawmill built by Philo Hopson and William
Bateman in Hartfield and a blacksmith shop opened by noted axe-maker
Zaccheus Hanchett in Stockton; homes and settlements were established in
Point Chautauqua, Dewittville, Hartfield and Stockton; and
WHEREAS, With the birth of new villages and communities in the Town of
Chautauqua, churches were established in many denominations including
the First Baptist Church of Mayville and the Chautauqua Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1820; St. Paul's Church in 1823; and The
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Dewittville in 1834; these churches
were followed by many more throughout the Town; and
WHEREAS, Chautauqua remains one of the largest towns in Chautauqua
County, and holds within its borders the Village of Mayville; the
hamlets of Chautauqua with its world-renowned Chautauqua Institution,
Cottage Park, Dean, Dewittville, Hartfield, Lighthouse Point, Magnolia,
Pleasantville, Point Chautauqua, Shorelands, Summerdale, Wahmeda and
Wooglin; and the communities of Lakeside Park and Orchard Terrace; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize and honor milestones in the history of communities large and small
in 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 Chautauqua; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Town of Chautauqua, New York.