LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of White
Plains, New York, becoming a city

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 100th Anniversary of White Plains, New York, becoming a city;
and
WHEREAS, In 1683, early settlers from nearby Rye, New York, purchased
4,435 acres of land from the Weckquaeskeck Indians; the men labelled
their purchase "White Plains," translating the Indian term "Quarropas"
or white marshes or plains; and
WHEREAS, In 1721, 18 settlers were granted a patent to White Plains,
from King George II; at that time, homes, churches and businesses had
already sprung up along the Village Street, now known as Broadway; and
WHEREAS, In the first courthouse, built in 1758, the members of the
Fourth Provincial Congress of New York, assembled on July 9, 1776, where
they received a copy of the Declaration of Independence sent to them by
the Continental Congress, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, This important document was referred to a committee of five,
chaired by John Jay; after a favorable report from the committee, the
Fourth Provincial Congress immediately approved the document, and
instructions were sent to New York's delegates in Philadelphia to sign
the Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, That same day, the Fourth Provincial Congress also "Resolved
and Ordered that the style or title of this house be changed from that
of 'The Provincial Congress of the Colony of New York' to that of 'The
Convention of Representatives of the State of New York'"; and
WHEREAS, On July 11, 1776, Judge John Thomas of Purchase, New York,
stood on the steps of the courthouse in White Plains, and read the
Declaration of Independence to the public for the first time in the
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Several months later, on October 28, 1776, General George
Washington and his troops fought British and Hessian troops in the
Battle of White Plains; this battle took place largely on today's Battle
Hill and on nearby Dusenbury Hill; even though the Americans were forced
to retreat, this key battle blocked the British campaign into Westches-
ter County; and
WHEREAS, In 1790, the population of White Plains was 505, and by 1820,
it had increased to 675, 113 of which were farmers who worked 5,300
acres of improved land, and raised 653 cattle, 150 horses and 426 sheep;
and
WHEREAS, The 1824 edition of the GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
described White Plains as "situated on a fine plain three quarters of a
mile east of the Bronx Creek....and containing two churches, a court
house and a small collection of houses"; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, the pivotal railroad reached White Plains
and beyond; gradually businesses left the Village Street for the newly
named Railroad Avenue (now Main Street) which connected the Village
Street with the railroad depot; and
WHEREAS, A new court house was erected on Railroad Avenue in 1856,
abandoning the site of the first two court house buildings on Broadway
where today's Armory stands; by 1870, the population of White Plains
exceeded 2,500 residents; and

WHEREAS, In 1866, White Plains was incorporated as a village, and five
decades later, Governor Charles E. Hughes signed the bill granting White
Plains Charter as a city in April of 1915; and
WHEREAS, Elections were held in November of 1915, resulting in the
election of Farrington M. Thompson with a 795 vote margin as Mayor of
the city of 19,000 residents; councilmen elected were Joseph Allen,
Charles H. Dewsnap, Frederick M. Garthwait, Frederick C. McLaughlin,
John T. Rehill, and William J. Weiss; and
WHEREAS, As the county seat, White Plains became an important legal
and banking center by the early 20th Century; in 1915, ground was broken
for a new County Court House on Main Street, and soon thereafter, other
large buildings went up nearby with tenants serving the legal and real
estate professions; and
WHEREAS, With the influx of new businesses, the profile of Main Street
was quickly changing; the new Municipal Building was dedicated on George
Washington's birthday in 1925, and the Home Savings Bank opened at the
end of 1925; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Westchester Title and Trust at 2 William
Street, opposite the court house, also began serving customers in 1925;
the Spanish and Romanesque-inspired Lawyers Building at the corner of
Church Street opened one year later; the impressive 10-story, $650,000
Bar Building was the tallest in Westchester County; and
WHEREAS, In 1930, the Art Deco-style Northcourt Building (just north
of the court on Main Street) opened in 1930, bringing more lawyers,
architects and real estate agents to Main Street; and
WHEREAS, In addition to Main Street, other areas of White Plains were
growing; The Westchester County Center opened its doors in 1930, and the
new County Office Building and the new Grand Street Post Office followed
in 1931; and
WHEREAS, Between 1966-1980, Urban Renewal changed the face of downtown
White Plains, with 130 acres redeveloped to facilitate growth of a
modern central business district; and
WHEREAS, By 2003, White Plains was undergoing a construction boom with
$650 million in new development underway; in 2010, 56,853 people lived
in White Plains, and several hundred thousand people come into White
Plains every day to work in corporate headquarters and offices, as well
as people involved in activities with the federal, state, county and
local courts; and
WHEREAS, White Plains is also a center for shopping for Westchester
County with many malls, retail shops, restaurants and theaters, as well
as home of the Westchester County Center; the City also offers excep-
.SO DOC A R1250 RESO TEXT 2015
tional educational, medical and cultural facilities; and
WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the City of White Plains, continues its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive busi-
ness, 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 100th Anniversary of White Plains, New York, becoming a
city, 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 Thomas Roach, Mayor, White Plains, New York, and the White
Plains Historical Society.