LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 175th Anniversary of the Town
of Forestburgh, to be celebrated on Forestburgh Day, August 11, 2012

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 175th Anniversary of the Town of Forestburgh, to be celebrated
on Forestburgh Day, August 11, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Forestburgh is one of the smallest of the 15 towns of Sulli-
van County, bordered by Thompson, Lumberland and Mamakating; and
WHEREAS, Early inhabitants in the 1780s were of Celtic, German and
Swedish ancestry; David Handy and his wife were the first known sett-
lers; and
WHEREAS, By Act of Legislature in 1837, Forestburgh became a town,
taken from lands of Thompson and Mamakating, part of the Hardenburgh
patent; William Broadhead was the town's first Supervisor, serving from
1837-1840, and was twice a member of the Assembly from Sullivan County;
and
WHEREAS, After the American Revolution, tanneries, quarries, fishing,
hunting, trapping and lumbering induced settlers; W.W. Gilman arrived
about 1850 and brought trade and population growth to the town as he
established a lumber mill, built 32 houses for his employees, boarding
houses, a tannery and also a store; and
WHEREAS, Thereafter, a railroad was commissioned to serve the area and
a post office became necessary; resorts and summer camps soon emerged;
and
WHEREAS, When W.W. Gilman died, he left three million dollars; his
brother, George Gilman, then founded and renamed the A & P Tea Company
coinciding with the opening of the railroad connecting the east and
west; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, a log cabin was discovered within an existing home
in Forestburgh, when the recently purchased farmhouse was being reno-
vated; the cabin's age was traced to 1834, and the origin believed to be
in the 1700s when it was a pioneer schoolhouse; a title search indicated
Abe Cuddeback as owner, before the town was even established; and
WHEREAS, In 1895, the first Town Hall, and in 1963, the first Fire
House came into being, continuing today with all dedicated volunteers;
and
WHEREAS, The Forestburgh Playhouse began in 1947 from an old farm-
house, and a 100 year old barn, purchased from Walter and Elsie Klebs;
it has been in existence over 50 years, and though there were two sepa-
rate fires through the years, one destroying the large farmhouse and the
other a smaller home, it is still in existence with additions to the
main barn and an added cabaret building; and
WHEREAS, Also located in the Town of Forestburgh is the Merriewold
Park which is famous for being the residence of many play writers, and
stage and screen actors and actresses; in addition, Sho Fu Den, the
Japanese palace brought here from the 1939 New York's World Fair by Dr.
Takamine, chemist and inventor can be found in Forestburgh; and
WHEREAS, The Inn at Lake Joseph, currently under the direction of Ivan
Weiner, was a vacation home for the late Cardinal Hayes; in the 1940s
and 1950s, it abounded with children in the summer as a camp, and also a
teaching facility for the Dominican Sisters who used to run St. Josephs;
and

WHEREAS, Today, many second home dwellings exist in the Town of
Forestburgh for seasonal and weekend vacationers; there are also desig-
nated areas to preserve wildlife, especially the bald eagle habitat,
along the Mongaup River; and
WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the Town of Forestburgh continues its commitment to enhanc-
ing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive business,
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 175th Anniversary of the Town of Forestburgh, recogniz-
ing 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 Town of Forestburgh.