LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town-
ship of Kingsbury, New York, to be celebrated May 4-12, 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 250th Anniversary of the Township of Kingsbury, New York, in
Washington County, New York; and
WHEREAS, This most auspicious celebration will commence on Friday, May
4, 2012, and conclude on Saturday, May 12, 2012 with a host of events
planned for each day which include, an opening concert, a large parade,
a cemetery and church tour, speeches, a carnival, and fireworks; and
WHEREAS, On May 11, 1762, H. M. George III, of the United Kingdom
granted a charter to James Bradshaw and 26 other associates to open the
Kingsbury Township; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the name of Hudson Falls, the area that was incorpo-
rated as a village was called Sandy Hill, incorporated in 1810; and
WHEREAS, The population of the Village of Sandy Hill was small in
1810, consisting of under three hundred people; and
WHEREAS, About forty years later, the size of the Village of Sandy
Hill was extended to the area that now encompasses the village; this
addition enlarged the Village of Sandy Hill by two-thirds; and
WHEREAS, The Village of Sandy Hill was a sleepy little settlement
which had little trade, industry or people passing through, until the
opening of the Glens Falls Feeder Canal, by New York State, in the
1830s; and
WHEREAS, The Glens Falls Feeder Canal was used to bring extra water
from the Hudson River, above nearby Glens Falls, into the middle of the
highest section of the Champlain Canal, which opened in 1823, two years
prior to the opening of the Erie Canal; and
WHEREAS, Mills were erected along the Hudson River, at the falls, and
along sections of the Feeder Canal; these mills produced lumber, various
types of paper, pianos, wagons and many other products; and
WHEREAS, The Champlain Canal opened canal traffic between the upper
Hudson River and Lake Champlain; this allowed trade in and out of the
region, to Canada and New York City; and
WHEREAS, It was the opening of the Champlain Canal which made the Town
of Kingsbury become prosperous; and
WHEREAS, Around this time, the town consisted of a number of hamlets
besides Sandy Hill, including Dunham's Basin, Smith's Basin, Adamsville;
Moss Street; Kingsbury Street; Vaughn's Corners; Patten's Mills; Sanford
Ridge; and Langdon's Corners; and
WHEREAS, The main business of the Township of Kingsbury has always
been agriculture; and
WHEREAS, Early on its agriculture was mainly subsistence agriculture,
which lasted until the early 1900s, when other types of agriculture were
introduced; and
WHEREAS, In the mid 1900s Kingsbury's main agricultural production was
the raising of sheep; at that time, Washington County was one of the top
sheep producing areas in the United States; and
WHEREAS, When the canal opened in the 1820s, a large part of the town
began production of potatoes, shipped out on canal boats to be used for
starch manufacturing; later, when railroad cars were refrigerated the
farm crops began to change to dairy production, which still exists
today; and

WHEREAS, The name of the village was changed at the annual village
election, held in March 1910, from Sandy Hill to Hudson Falls in an
effort to bring tourists there to see Baker's Falls, on the Hudson
River; and
WHEREAS, Baker's Falls is named for the first settler of Sandy Hill,
Albert Baker, in 1765; he also built a saw mill and later a grist mill
at the top of these falls; and
WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the Township of Kingsbury, New York, continues its commit-
ment to enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a posi-
tive 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 250th Anniversary of the Township of Kingsbury, New
York, to be celebrated May 4-12, 2012 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 tran-
smitted to the Township of Kingsbury, New York.