Assembly Resolution No. 522

BY: M. of A. Tague

COMMEMORATING the 350th Anniversary of the Town of
Coeymans on April 7, 2023

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and
commemorate 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
commemorate the 350th Anniversary of the Town of Coeymans in Albany
County, New York, to be celebrated with a myriad of events on Friday and
Saturday, June 9 & 10, 2023; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Coeymans was named after Barent Pieteres
Koijemans who arrived in New York from Holland in 1639; on April 7,
1673, he officially took possession of the land he purchased from Native
Americans in 1672, land which became known as the Coeymans Patent; and

WHEREAS, The land from the Coeymans Patent was approximately 120
square miles, located along the Hudson River, spanning from Bethlehem to
Coxsackie, inclusive of the modern towns of Coeymans, New Baltimore, and
Westerlo; and

WHEREAS, It was in this area which Barent Pieteres Koijemans erected
his home which is known as the Coeymans Castle, along with two grist
mills and two sawmills, all located along the Coeymans Creek; these
mills were the catalyst for the area's flourishing commercial and
industrial river port, making the Town of Coeymans well known to river
travelers for many centuries; and

WHEREAS, The Revolutionary War, starting in 1776, was another
contributing factor to the rapid growth of local industries; the need
for ship building grew drastically, with local sawmills supplying lumber
for the construction of ships such as gunboats and gundelos; and

WHEREAS, Following the war, the Hudson River Valley area became
rapidly settled; the prosperous river port known as Coeymans Landing was
the earliest settlement which quickly became instrumental in the
commercial trading of goods such as spices, molasses, tobacco, cloth,
clothing, rice, brandy, spirits, and local produce; and

WHEREAS, The first recorded Town meeting was held in April of 1811,
and the first Supervisor was elected in 1818; and

WHEREAS, Commerce continued to grow following the close of the War
of 1812, and continued to grow through the turn of the century; ship
building and ice harvesting were prominent industries, alongside brick
manufacturing, Mossy Hill Stone Quarry, and the variety of grist, saw,
and water mills which were built along the Hannacroix Creek and in
modern day Alcove; and

WHEREAS, Stage companies established routes and were given contracts
for carrying mail around 1820; prior to this time, mail had commonly
been carried by Post Riders; and

WHEREAS, A turnpike company was incorporated for the construction
and maintenance of a highway from Coeymans Landing through Coeymans
Hollow, Indian Fields, Dormansville, and Westerlo, to the Delaware
Turnpike, ranging a total of approximately 18 miles; and

WHEREAS, The first newspaper in the area was published in 1863; in
1907, the Ravena News bought the Coeymans Herald to become the News
Herald, with F. E. Bleezarde becoming the owner in 1917; and

WHEREAS, Coeymans was first connected to Albany in 1864 by the
Saratoga and Hudson River Railroad, however, this railroad was
short-lived, and the Town went without a railroad until 1883, when the
New York West Shore Buffalo Line was completed; and

WHEREAS, With the completion of the latter railroad, Coeymans
Square, which later became known as Coeymans Junction, and lastly called
Ravena, truly thrived; and

WHEREAS, Waterworks systems were constructed in the Town in 1897,
telephone services were added in 1903, electric lights were added in
1908, Ravena was incorporated into a village in 1914, and a sewage
system was installed in 1915; and

WHEREAS, Rich in history, the Fletcher Blaisdell Farm Complex,
Coeymans School, Ariaanje Coeymans House, Coeymans-Bronck Stone House,
Mull House and Cemetery, Tobias Ten Eyck House and Cemeteries, Cornelius
and Agnietje Van Derzee House, Little Red Schoolhouse Museum, and the
Electus Shear house are all listed on the National Register of Historic
Places; and

WHEREAS, Present day Coeymans is home to a population of around
7,200 citizens, sitting just 15 miles south of the City of Albany, the
New York State capital in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School
District; and

WHEREAS, Many events and activities take place to celebrate life in
the Town of Coeymans; notably, the occasions of Riverfest, the
Friendship Festival, and the We Love aRtCS Music and Art Festival
provide opportunities for the community at large to socialize, educate,
learn, eat, dance, and marvel at the artistic and musical talents within
the community; and

WHEREAS, The 350th Anniversary of the Town of Coeymans will be
celebrated on Friday and Saturday, June 9 & 10, 2023, at Joralemon Park
and Coeymans Landing; these days will be host to food, vendors, parades,
rides, local live music, and a memorable display of fireworks to close
the night; and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the Town of Coeymans continues its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive
business, institutional, and educational climate, as well as providing
all essential services for its citizenry to thrive; now, therefore, be
it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 350th Anniversary of the Town of Coeymans on April 7,
2023, recognizing 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
transmitted to the Town of Coeymans.