Assembly Resolution No. 93

BY: M. of A. Lifton

COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of
Groton to be celebrated on April 7, 2017

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and
commemorate the proud and distinguished histories of the towns and
villages 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 Groton to be celebrated
on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Groton High School; and

WHEREAS, The year 2017 marks the bicentennial anniversary of the
Town of Groton; and

WHEREAS, Settled in the late 1790s, the Town of Groton, known at the
time as the Town of Division, was formed on April 7, 1817, from the
Cayuga County Town of Locke; with its new name of 'Division' the town
became part of newly formed Tompkins County on that same day; and

WHEREAS, During this time, the Town of Division was comprised of 50
lots, each one square mile; the first town meeting was held at the home
of Samuel Love on April 15, 1817, and Samuel Crittenden was elected as
the first town supervisor and Admatha Blodgett as the first town clerk;
and

WHEREAS, On March 13, 1818, community residents successfully
petitioned to have the town's name changed to Groton; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Groton encompasses 50 square miles of rolling
hills and valleys, and is situated on the Owasco Lake watershed; north
of the Old Peruville Road intersection of New York State Route 38 marks
what was once the boundary between the Cayuga and Onondaga nations; and

WHEREAS, As a 19th century industrial center, an early iron foundry
brought way for the manufacturing of road rollers, iron truss bridges,
steam engines, separators, spoke machines, agricultural implements, and
carriages; and

WHEREAS, In 1876, the Groton Carriage Company became an incorporated
business, manufacturing carriages, wagons, and cutters; with a statewide
demand, the company began large-scale manufacturing and items became
famous throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Crandall Typewriter Company moved to Groton in 1887, and in
the early 1900s, became the Standard Typewriter Company; typewriters
with interchangeable type, known as Corona, were manufactured in Groton,
which was once known as the "Typewriter Capital of the World"; and

WHEREAS, Of historic origin, and remaining fruitful over the ebb and
flow of decades of growth and change, the Town of Groton continues to
provide the quintessential quality of life for its residents; and

WHEREAS, The residents of the Town of Groton have a bright outlook
for the future of their community, which remains a beautiful place in
which to live and raise a family; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the Town of Groton's rich history and
enduring contribution to the State of New York, this Legislative Body is
proud to pay tribute to this spirited town upon the occasion of its
200th Anniversary; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Groton to be celebrated
on April 7, 2017; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Town of Groton.