Senate Resolution No. 1393

BY: Senator LITTLE

COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of
Fort Covington on February 28, 2017

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 200th Anniversary of the Town of Fort Covington, in
Franklin County, New York; and

WHEREAS, On Tuesday, February 28, 2017, Supervisor, Patricia
Manchester, friends and neighbors gathered at the Senior Center to eat a
beef stew dinner together, and celebrate the Bicentennial Anniversary of
their hometown; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the Fort Covington Historical Society will be
selling their own 2017 calendars which have marked certain days
throughout the year with sponsored events the group will be hosting,
including the museum's Open House in May, the Firemen's Field Day in
August, and the Ghost Walk in October; and

WHEREAS, This monumental celebration was coordinated by several
groups including Moms of the Fort, North Franklin Sports, the Fort
Covington Adult Center, the Fort Covington Fire Department, American
Legion Post 1418, and the Fort Covington Town Board; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Fort Covington was officially created on
February 28, 1817, after splitting off from the town of Constable; part
of the initial town later split off to form the town of Bombay in 1833;
and

WHEREAS, Several years before, the area of Fort Covington was known
as French Mills and served as the location for an American military
outpost during the War of 1812; the outpost coordinated American
soldiers facing British soldiers across the border in what became
Canada, and often housed soldiers injured in the fighting; and

WHEREAS, The outpost, and later the town, was named after Leonard
Covington, a United States Congressman from Maryland, and later General
in the War of 1812; he was mortally wounded in the Battle of Crysler's
Farm, near Cornwall, Ontario, and subsequently, the Town was named after
him; and

WHEREAS, The residents of Fort Covington seem poised to revive their
history; the Town has recently begun setting up their own Historical
Society and have been sprucing up the old historical museum in the Town
Hall building; and

WHEREAS, Back in the 1970s, town residents renovated the old country
schoolhouse near Salmon River; the schoolhouse is now used to host some

local events and a tour destination for area children, who now attend
the Salmon River Central School District; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of President, Anne Smith, the
Historical Society hopes to see a similar revitalization with the town
museum; members have been cleaning out the area and setting up displays,
including several decades of newspapers printed by the old Fort
Covington Sun from between 1887 to 1995; and

WHEREAS, The Historical Society also plans on implementing an
outreach and research project to find information about veterans who had
lived or grown up in Fort Covington, and discover local families who
have a long lineage in the Town; and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the Town of Fort Covington 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 200th Anniversary of the Town of Fort Covington,
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 Patricia Manchester, Supervisor, Town of Fort Covington,
and Anne Smith, President, Town of Fort Covington Historical Society.