Senate Resolution No. 3255

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of the Jervis
Public Library on July 15, 2020

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the communities across the great
State of New York is reflective of certain exemplary institutions whose
purpose is dedicated to serving the community and the needs of its
citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Jervis Public Library to be
celebrated with a series of free virtual programs on the history of this
vital institution and its founder on Wednesday, July 15, 2020; and

WHEREAS, The library's founder, prominent 19th century civil
engineer John Bloomfield Jervis was born in Huntington, Long Island in
1795, and moved with his family as a three-year-old to what was then
called Fort Stanwix; and

WHEREAS, After attending public schools and working on his father's
farm, John Bloomfield Jervis began his career as an axeman on the Erie
Canal which began construction in Rome, New York, on July 4, 1817; and

WHEREAS, Apprenticing under Benjamin Wright, the father of American
civil engineering, John Bloomfield Jervis worked his way up to rodman,
stone weigher, surveyor, resident engineer, and eventually was promoted
to superintendent of the eastern section of the Erie Canal; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary man went on to have a successful career
as chief or consulting engineer on numerous early railroad and canal
projects throughout the eastern United States, designing two of the
earliest locomotives to run in the nation; he was also chief engineer of
the 41-mile Croton Aqueduct project, the first reliable water supply to
New York City which was used from 1842 to 1891, and featured Jervis'
1848 Harlem River High Bridge, the oldest surviving bridge in New York
City; and

WHEREAS, John Bloomfield Jervis designed his Greek Revival-style
house located at 613 North Washington Street in Rome, which he
bequeathed along with his personal library to the City of Rome to
establish a public library; Jervis Public Library officially opened to
the public on July 15, 1895; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its history, the Jervis Public Library has
served hundreds of thousands of people, from all backgrounds and all
ethnicities, with materials and resources only a public library could
provide; today, the library is a vibrant community center serving the
young and old alike, just as it had done 125 years ago; and

WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, the Jervis
Public Library may take just pride in its purposeful growth, as it looks

forward to continuing to serve the educational, cultural and
intellectual needs of the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Jervis Public Library on July
15, 2020; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Jervis Public Library.