LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town
of Duanesburg, New York

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 Town of Duanesburg, in Schenectady
County, New York; and
WHEREAS, Duanesburg derives its name from its founder, The Honorable
James Duane, of New York City, a respected jurist and influential New
York Delegate to both sessions of the Continental Congress; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Judge James Duane was appointed Mayor of New York
City, and in 1788, was elected as a member of the Constitutional Conven-
tion; and
WHEREAS, In pre-Colonial days, the rolling hills of Duanesburg served
as hunting grounds for Mohawk Indians from settlements along the Mohawk
River and Schoharie Creek; in 1764, Judge James Duane acquired a total
of 20,000 acres of land in the wilderness west of Schenectady, New York;
and
WHEREAS, On March 13, 1765, the Colonial Council created the Town of
Duanesburg, which was comprised of 42,000 acres within its boundaries;
Judge James Duane worked hard to populate his town, vying with numerous
competing 18th Century land developers; and
WHEREAS, For most of its first century, the Town of Duanesburg was a
sleepy farming community; however, by the middle of the 19th Century,
the railroad made its way through the heart of the town; and
WHEREAS, By 1907, the Town of Duanesburg had become an important rail-
way center, boasting the largest coaling station in the world, located
in the Village of Delanson; the community was named after the railroad,
Delaware and Hudson; and
WHEREAS, With United States Route 20 (Western Turnpike), the Nation's
longest highway, cutting through town, the automobile brought the world
to the Town of Duanesburg's door in the first half of the 20th Century;
and
WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous leadership of Supervisor Roger
Tidball, the Town of Duanesburg remains a characteristically rural area;
with the advent of Interstate 88, Duanesburg has become a bedroom commu-
nity for the Tri-city area of Schenectady, Albany and Troy; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Duanesburg's present layout remains much the same
as it was throughout the 19th Century, large farmsteads with hamlets and
villages at major thoroughfares; and
WHEREAS, Of the eight historic byways, four communities remain intact
of significant historic concentrations of properties, the Village of
Delanson, the larger hamlets of Quaker Street and Mariaville, and the
small hamlet of Eatons Corners; and
WHEREAS, These areas contain important and broad ranges of architec-
tural styles, including pre-Federal, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate,
Queen Anne/Eastlake and Colonial Revival; the Town of Duanesburg
contains 643 structures identified as historic by New York State, 55
cemeteries and 15 natural sites of interest; and
WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the Town of Duanesburg of Schenectady County continues its
commitment to enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a
positive 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 Town of Duanesburg, New York,
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 Roger Tidball, Town Supervisor, Duanesburg, New York.