LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the
Village of Chittenango, New York

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commem-
orate the distinguished histories of the communities 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 Village of Chittenango in Madison
County, New York; and
WHEREAS, The name of the Village of Chittenango is derived from the
Oneida name for Chittenango Creek, meaning "where the sun shines out";
and
WHEREAS, Initial growth of this village is largely attributed to the
construction of the Erie Canal, which officially opened in 1825, joining
Buffalo on Lake Erie with Albany, the capital of New York, and the
Hudson River; and
WHEREAS, The village became a virtual canal town upon the construction
of the Chittenango Canal Boat Landing, which featured a three-bay dry
dock where canal boats were built and repaired; and
WHEREAS, The canal brought prosperity, growth and expansion to the
village; it created a need for inns, hotels and restaurants, and area
farms and factories found the canal useful as an inexpensive and easy
way to ship goods further along the canal or beyond; and
WHEREAS, Development increased considerably due to John B. Yates, who
opened and operated grist and saw mills, a woolen mill, stores, and
founded the village's first church in 1828, the Dutch Reformed Church,
now the First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango; and
WHEREAS, The village was incorporated on March 15, 1842; at the time,
it contained between 900 and 1,000 inhabitants, about 180 dwellings,
three churches, the Yates Polytechnic Institute, a large woolen factory,
two large water lime factories, one flouring mill, three taverns and 10
stores; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Village of Chittenango is best known for its
three-day annual festival called Oz-Stravaganza which celebrates the
literary works of author L. Frank Baum, who was born in Chittenango on
May 15, 1856; his children's novel, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, was
published on May 17, 1900; and
WHEREAS, The weekend-long festival consists of many events including a
parade, which features many community groups; and
WHEREAS, Several local shops and restaurants in Chittenango have
adopted an Oz theme, such as Auntie Em's Place, Over the Rainbow Crafts,
Tin Man Construction Co., Emerald City Grill, and Emerald City Bowling;
and
WHEREAS, In 1982, the Village of Chittenango installed a brick side-
walk on either side of the downtown portion of Genesee Street which was
painted yellow as an homage to the yellow brick road from the novels and
film; and
WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the Village of Chittenango continues its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive busi-
ness, institutional and educational climate, and providing all essential
services; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Village of Chittenango, recog-
nizing the significance of the role it continues to play in the life of
the community of the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Village of Chittenango.