LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 135th Anniversary of the Borden
Home Farm in Wallkill, New York

WHEREAS, Agriculture is an important part of the foundation upon which
our distinct American and New York State heritage is built and remains
the number one industry in New York State; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality of life in the communities across this great State of New
York is enriched by the many New York farm families whose hard work and
ingenuity maintain and improve our food and fiber supply for countless
citizens; 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 135th Anniversary of the Borden Home Farm in Wallkill, New
York; and
WHEREAS, John G. Borden had just become President of America's most
pioneering milk company in 1874, when he set out to find his utopia; he
sought to establish an impressive farm of at least 1,500 acres along a
fertile river valley; the land would be groomed like a park, yet work
like a productive farm; and
WHEREAS, The agrarian enterprise would be profitable, but also self-
sustaining, and its dozens of workers would eat, drink and make their
living from its bounty; John G. Borden spent years combing rural areas
along the railroads that snaked through Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, His search for paradise ended in 1881, when John G. Borden
visited a large homestead atop a hill in southern Ulster County, New
York; from there, he could see the rolling fields which hugged the Wall-
kill River, the Shawangunk Mountains and Hudson Highlands which rose in
the distance, and the Wallkill Valley Railroad which shipped people and
goods to New York City; this innovative farmer called it the most beau-
tiful place in the world; and
WHEREAS, John G. Borden purchased the homestead and its 261 acres for
$35,000; he then began to purchase farms around his new home, and quick-
ly amassed more than 1,700 acres that would be known as the Borden Home
Farm; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the next 50 years, a bustling village also grew in
that valley, a hamlet that John G. Borden would name Wallkill; the
village benefitted immensely from the wealth, benevolence and ingenuity
of the Borden family, which donated land for a library and school,
helped build dozens of homes for its workers and even brought electric-
ity to their dreamland; and
WHEREAS, John G. Borden's father, Gail Borden, revolutionized the
dairy industry by inventing and patenting condensed milk in 1856; the
federal government paid him millions to provide condensed milk to the
Union Army during the Civil War, and it later became popular across
America; and
WHEREAS, After the death of his father, John G. Borden took over the
family business; during his 11 years as President of the company, he put
liquid milk in glass bottles for the first time and opened several more
condensories across the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Borden dairy empire grew, but historical sources say John
G. Borden increasingly focused on the Borden Home Farm and his vision
for the ideal community which would surround it; the huge farm comprised
most of the hamlet of Wallkill, stretching south to Lake Osiris and east
to the top of Kings Hill, near the Town of Newburgh border; and

WHEREAS, Records from 1889 show the robust farm included 246 beef
cattle, 250 hogs, 600 sheep, 400 poultry, 77 milking cows, 50 young
heifers and bulls, 650 apple trees, 110 acres of corn, and it produced
grapes for juice, 200 bushels of rye and 1,000 bushels of oats; and
WHEREAS, The prosperous farm was dotted with numerous barns, cottages
for workers, 40 miles of roads and a network of walking paths also were
built; the farm featured 11 lakes which were channeled together into a
concrete reservoir; and
WHEREAS, To operate and maintain his farm, John G. Borden required a
huge workforce; some records show that housing was required for at least
88 workers; and
WHEREAS, The Bordens, benevolent and community minded, believed their
workers deserved a central village near the farm in which to raise their
families; in 1883, he hired draftsmen to plot his dream village on a
4-foot by 8-foot map that was labeled Wallkill; and
WHEREAS, John G. Borden donated a park, filled and graded the new
village, built many of the roads, installed sewer and drainage lines and
then provided the materials and plans for his employees to build their
own homes in Wallkill; and
WHEREAS, In 1884, Borden's New York Condensed Milk Company built its
largest condensory, built of local brick and employed dozens, along
Route 208; it was designed to process the milk of 5,000 cows from nearby
farms in Ulster and Orange counties; and
WHEREAS, John G. Borden's commitment to Wallkill also had a personal
touch; he is said to have given a bag of 25 new pennies and an American
flag on Memorial Day to every child at the old school on Bridge Street,
and distributed ice cream and cake across the village to mark the holi-
day; in addition, the Bordens hosted many other social events at the
Home Farm to celebrate local farmers; and
WHEREAS, John G. Borden died in October of 1891, at the young age of
47; his wife, Ellen, would manage the Home Farm until 1904, when his
youngest daughter, Marion, took over and invested even more in the farm,
its workers and the community; and
WHEREAS, Marion Borden contributed to Wallkill in new ways; in 1908,
she brought electricity to Wallkill for the first time by building a
steam-powered electric station at the Home Farm; the station lit the
farm and the mansion at first, but quickly expanded to provide power to
the family's workers and neighbors in Wallkill; and
WHEREAS, Marion Borden also introduced telephone service to Wallkill;
the system provided communication among the 70 Home Farm buildings and
was soon connected to the Walden Telephone Company to allow for outside
.SO DOC S R3166 RESO TEXT 2015
calls; and
WHEREAS, Under Marion Borden's leadership, farm equipment with diesel
engines replaced horse-drawn implements, and a 100-foot-tall water tower
was also erected to provide pressurized water across the Home Farm,
which had its own fire company; and
WHEREAS, Marion Borden, her sister Nellie, and her mother were found-
ing members of the Wallkill Library Association; they would give loans,
money, and books from the Borden farm to the village library; and
WHEREAS, Marion Borden was a member of the local school board and
hosted board meetings at her mansion; in 1919, she donated land for the
construction of a modern high school to be named after her father; and
WHEREAS, The Ulster County Girl Scouts were among Marion Borden's
favorite benefactors; after her death in 1930, she left 26 acres of the
farm to the Girl Scouts for a camp, and donated land for a boys camp
which today is known as Camp Robbins; and
WHEREAS, Marion Borden's generosity continued even after her early
death; in her will, she left $25,000 for the construction of a library

and $5,000 to be held in trust for the library's benefit; she also left
money for the construction of an all-purpose gym and theater at the
Wallkill Reformed Church, and the new high school was given money for an
auditorium and swimming pool; and
WHEREAS, The Borden Home Farm was bequeathed to the Masons, who quick-
ly sold off pieces of the farm, mostly to other local farmers; Marion
Borden's grand mansion became a school for a while, and today, it is
owned by the School of Practical Philosophy, which hosts lectures and
retreats there; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the house, owned by Alexander Hoyt, is now some-
thing of a landmark for people who care about the history of the valley
and appreciate the philanthropic traditions of the Borden family; and
WHEREAS, The proud heritage of the Borden Home Farm continues to
change and expand with the times, and will forever be a symbol of the
family who shaped it with their wealth, which was only outweighed by
their abiding generosity to the place they named Wallkill; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 135th Anniversary of the Borden Home Farm; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Alexander Hoyt, Owner, the Borden Home Farm, Wallkill, New
York.