Assembly Resolution No. 1407

BY: M. of A. Jenne

COMMEMORATING the Bicentennial of the Town of
Lyme, New York, to be celebrated July 27-29, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
events of significance which exemplify the history and development of
the State of New York; each city, town, village and hamlet within the
borders of our great Empire State proudly resonates with its rich and
noble history; and

WHEREAS, It is also the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
and commemorate the anniversaries of the founding of municipalities
throughout the State, noting in turn their contributions to the fabric
and progression 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 Bicentennial of the Town of Lyme, New York; this
auspicious milestone will be celebrated Friday, July 27-29, 2018, at
various locations in the municipality; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Lyme was formed in 1818 from part of the Town
of Brownville in Jefferson County, New York; and

WHEREAS, The first town meeting was held on March 3, 1818, and
Richard Esseistyn was named the first town supervisor; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Lyme now includes 32,521 acres after the
municipality surrendered land to what became part of the Town of Clayton
in 1833, and additional land to what became part of the Town of Cape
Vincent in 1849; and

WHEREAS, The first non-native settlement in what is now the Town of
Lyme took place in 1801, in an area just off the Chaumont River; and

WHEREAS, After two years of battling epidemics of typhoid, malaria
and diphtheria, the early settlers relocated to a spot near the mouth of
Chaumont River; and

WHEREAS, They named their new settlement Chaumont in honor of the
French Estates of J. Leray DeChaumont; and

WHEREAS, James Leray had acquired some 350,000 acres of land in
Northern New York as payment for assisting the fledgling United States
during the American Revolution; today, not only Chaumont but Cape
Vincent, Theresa and the Town of Leray all bear the family name in one
form or another; the village would become officially incorporated in
1874; and

WHEREAS, After 1803, other settlements within the town would rapidly
follow; Point Salubrious, a word meaning healthful, thus named in the
hopes that this area would be free from the sickness that had plagued
the other settlements, would first be settled in either 1806 or 1807;
Point Peninsula's earliest settlers appear to be circa 1808; Three Mile

Point and Three Mile Bays' settlement dates were between 1816 and 1818;
and

WHEREAS, All of the settlements had direct access to the surest
source of transport available at the time, the waterways of Lake Ontario
and the surrounding rivers and streams; the close proximity to the water
transport system would prove to be one of the greatest economic
motivators for settlement and expansion; not only could new settlers
come in to the area but the important transportation routes worked in
reverse to export the goods produced to outside markets; and

WHEREAS, The earliest settlers in the Town of Lyme started as
farmers and circumstances led many to turn to commercial fishing as the
major source of their income; and

WHEREAS, Over the next two centuries the industries, trades and
professions that served the Town of Lyme have also included fur
trapping, pot and pearl ash production, lumber and lumber mills, ice
harvesting, seed companies, blacksmiths, lime kilns, hotels, motels,
spas, boat and ship building, barrel makers, rock quarries, bakeries,
grist mills and marinas; and

WHEREAS, To this day, the Town of Lyme's proximity to Lake Ontario
and the waterways flowing into it continue to be an important part of
the region's economy with many seasonal residences, boating, fishing,
restaurants, motels and marinas in the community; and

WHEREAS, According to the 2016 U.S. Census, today, the Town of Lyme
has a population of 2,152 residents; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Lyme contained more than 1,700 inhabitants in
1820, and reached a population high of over 6,000 residents in 1845
before surrendering land and nearly half of its population to the Town
of Clayton; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Lyme's earliest residents included many
veterans of the War of 1812, including a former British soldier, and the
community has sent many of its residents to wars and conflicts
continuing to today's battles in Afghanistan and around the world; and

WHEREAS, The first Independence Day celebration held in Jefferson
County was held on July 4, 1802, in Chaumont; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the rich history and enduring
contribution of the Town of Lyme to the heritage of the State of New
York, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to join in commemorating
the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Town of Lyme so that present and
future generations may come to appreciate the unique significance which
its history plays in the progression of our State and Nation's
evolution; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Lyme, New York,
recognizing the significance of the role it continues to play in the
life of the communities of the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Supervisor Scott Aubertine, Town of Lyme, New York.