LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the
Village of Panama, New York

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commem-
orate the proud and distinguished histories of the communities which
comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Panama, the only incorporated village in the Town of Harmony,
New York, was first settled in 1821; by 1824, businesses began to grow
in the area; a United States Post Office was established there in 1826,
when the name Panama was chosen for the settlement; and
WHEREAS, Panama was an important stagecoach and transfer station for
freighters traveling through the region between New York and Pennsylva-
nia; and
WHEREAS, Panama, New York, is home to rock formations known as Panama
Rocks, which contain Paleozoic fossils and has been a tourist attraction
since the 1880s, and has been visited by people from around New York
State, the United States and the entire world; and
WHEREAS, At the beginning of the 19th Century, Panama was a thriving
community thanks to the damming of Little Brokenstraw Creek, which
provided power for mills to grind grain and cut wood; at the peak of its
industrial days, Panama boasted six mills, four blacksmith shops, two
carriage factories, the largest tannery in New York State, an ashery,
fairgrounds and a racetrack; the Village of Panama also had a daily
newspaper and a number of churches, stores, hotels and taverns; and
WHEREAS, Several New York State notable citizens hail from Panama,
including current County Executive Greg Edwards; co-founder of
McGraw-Hill Publishing, James H. McGraw; United States Congressman
Walter Loomis Sessions; and Edith Sessions Tupper, novelist and Broadway
playwright; and
WHEREAS, The Village of Panama is known for its Greek Revival Archi-
tecture, and several buildings constructed in the 1830s still stand
there today; and
WHEREAS, The Village of Panama has continued to serve the approximate-
ly 500 people living within its borders with a safe and secure home in
Chautauqua County; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize those towns and communities that have contributed to the noble
history of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Village of Panama; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Village of Panama.