LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Town
of Gerry, 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 Gerry, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Gerry was formed on June 1, 1812, and originally
included the present-day towns of Cherry Creek, Charlotte and Ellington;
the town has gone through a number of name changes including Vermont
settlement, Vermont, Bucklin's Corners, Summerville and Gerry; and
WHEREAS, The first settlement in Gerry was made in 1809 by Amos
Atkins, a surveyor from Vermont; he selected a lot for himself and his
brother-in-law, Stephen Jones, who traveled from Vermont by ox cart;
many settlers in Gerry came from Vermont; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Gerry was named after Elbridge Gerry, a signer of
the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation; he
was elected as the fifth Vice President of the United States in 1812;
and
WHEREAS, The first town meeting in Gerry was held in 1813 at the home
of Major Samuel Sinclair, the town's first supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Various businesses were established and manufacturing was
developed in the town including the manufacture of wooden bowls, wooden
pails and most significantly, veneering in the late 1830s; the town was
called the "New Pittsburgh" for a few years; and
WHEREAS, The Gerry Grange 412 was established in 1876; they built a
hall in 1912 that was used by the community; the building was turned
over to the town in 1972 for use as the Town Hall; and
WHEREAS, Churches were established in many denominations in the Town
of Gerry, including two existing churches, the Gerry United Methodist
Church which traces its history back to 1840 and the Gerry Free Metho-
dist Church; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent 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 Gerry; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Town of Gerry, New York.