Assembly Resolution No. 1249

BY: M. of A. Crouch

COMMENDING the Guilford Historical Society upon
the occasion of celebrating its 20th Anniversary on
July 21, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of those organizations which seek to bring recognition to
historical places within the State of New York, and in doing so, help to
ensure that the complete history of our State and Nation is preserved
and shared with present generations of citizens; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Guilford Historical Society upon the occasion of its 20th
Anniversary to be celebrated with an Open House on Saturday, July 21,
2018, at the 1820 Guilford Center Presbyterian Church in Guilford, New
York; and

WHEREAS, At a town meeting on April 28, 1998, the new Town
Historian, Thomas Gray, suggested a Historical Society should be
organized at the Klee House on Main Street in Guilford; the motion was
approved, and the first meeting was held at the Klee House on September
15, 1998; at this time, the following officers were appointed: Gertrude
Pierce Boyd, President; Steve Booth and Fran Seaman, Vice Presidents;
Tony Mangini, Secretary; and Jacquee Mason, Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, The Guilford Historical Society (GHS) met once a month at
the Klee House community center and charged a $10 yearly membership fee;
in 1999, the Society was one of the first local organizations to create
its own website; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, a few members spent many months documenting and
recording all of the gravestones in every one of the town's 22
cemeteries; the GHS also restored the Guilford Center Cemetery, and
consequently, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places;
and

WHEREAS, In addition, the GHS restored the Roots Corners Schoolhouse
which is now available for tours; and

WHEREAS, In that same year, the GHS conducted research on the
Guilford Center Angel Inn, and found its original angel in the Museum of
Folk Art in New York City; on October 6, 2001, a special Angel Day
celebration was held and the first carved angel replica was displayed
for all to see; later, the angel replica was exhibited in various towns
in Chenango County and at the Council of the Arts; and

WHEREAS, Today, the original angel is considered one of the most
priceless pieces of folk art in the United States; for its tireless
efforts to document the history of the Guilford Center Angel Inn, the
GHS was the recipient of the Pearlman Award from the Chenango Council of
the Arts; and

WHEREAS, After 10 years of service, Gertie P. Boyd retired as
President in 2008, and Scott Parsons assumed the role; Wilma Felton Gray
served as Vice President, Sharon Donahe was Secretary, and Karen Todd
held the position of Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, On August 27, 2001, the GHS became a tax exempt
organization; more than a decade later, the GHS received its New York
State Absolute Charter on July 18, 2011; and

WHEREAS, During the next few years, the GHS continued to flourish;
its dedicated members researched the history of the entire town, gave
tours of the hamlets, and hosted Annual Dinners at the Old Mill
Restaurant in Rockwell Mills; and

WHEREAS, Town Historian Thomas Gray completed and published a series
of 13 books on different aspects of the Town's history, and through the
generous support of the residents of Guilford and Chenango County, the
GHS thrived; and

WHEREAS, In December of 2015, the GHS accepted an offer to preserve
the Guilford Center Presbyterian Church, and subsequently, use it as its
new headquarters; during the summer of 2016, members of the GHS began to
move its artifacts and collections into the newly preserved building,
and meetings were held in its new location in the spring of 2018; and

WHEREAS, The Guilford Center Presbyterian Church was organized in
1800 in the new and open land which would be called Chenango County; a
small part of the county became what was later called Guilford Center;
and

WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, a school was built and was used not
only for educational purposes, but also for local meetings, some of
which involved Daniel T. Dickinson and other early settlers who made
plans for the building of a church; and

WHEREAS, After years of hard work, the church was completed and
opened to the public for the first time in 1820; as the years passed,
changes and additions were made, however the beautiful structure remains
intact to this day; the church is now open for GHS meetings and is
available for those would like to tour the building, and for individuals
who would like to conduct historical research; and

WHEREAS, From its humble beginnings, the GHS is now comprised of
over 250 members throughout the United States, and one person from
England; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity
to express its highest admiration for the Guilford Historical Society,
and for all of the individuals who have worked to bring proper attention
to a place and time which merits recognition in the grand panorama of
the history of our State and Nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Guilford Historical Society upon the occasion of celebrating
its 20th Anniversary on July 21, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Scott Parsons, President, Guilford Historical Society.