Senate Resolution No. 693 BY: Senator BORRELLO COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Busti to be celebrated on April 16, 2023 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 Busti in Chautauqua County, New York; and WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at a community event on Sunday, April 16, 2023; and WHEREAS, The southwestern section of New York State is part of a vast section of land claimed by Massachusetts following the Revolutionary War; Robert Morris acquired it in 1791 and, after settlement with the Native Americans in 1797, sold it to the Holland Land Company, which was led by Paul Busti, for whom the Town was named; and WHEREAS, Born on October 17, 1749, in Milan, Italy, Paul Busti died in July of 1824, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, It is known that tribes of both the Erie and Seneca Indians were very early inhabitants of the area, and John L. Frank is reported to be the first white settler in 1808 on lot 61, although records indicate that he didn't purchase land until 1812; and WHEREAS, The first road opened in the southern part of the county was cut through the forest by Robert Miles between 1802 and 1804 and started by the Conewango at Pine Grove to Shadyside (Lakewood) and ended at a place on Chautauqua Lake known as Miles Landing; and WHEREAS, One of the first industries in Busti was a tannery built by John Frank around 1812 at what was called the Frank settlement, and the first blacksmith was Patrick Cambell, who operated his shop there; and WHEREAS, A short time later, Giles Chipman and Lyman Fargo opened a shop nearby where they installed a trip hammer and manufactured edge tools; other early industries were established by Deacon Samuel Garfield, Herman Bush, Uriah Haws, Samuel Chappel, James Startwell, and Francis Soule; and WHEREAS, Perhaps the most well-known inhabitants of Busti were the Stonemans; George Stoneman came to Busti in 1810, married Katherine Cheney, and had eight children; his oldest son George became one of the great cavalry leaders of the Civil War, and in 1871, he moved to California and became governor of the state years later; and WHEREAS, Kate Stoneman, another one of George's children, was the first woman to pass the New York State bar exams and to be admitted to law practice in New York State; and WHEREAS, The Underground Railroad had one of its most active routes through this region and it crossed the state line at or near Sugar Grove, passed through Busti and Jamestown and then across Lake Erie to Buffalo and on to the "railroad's" terminal in Canada; there was also a station where Sunset Hill Cemetery is now located; and WHEREAS, The first school, a one-room log cabin, was built in 1813, and was located at Fairmount and Winch Roads; the present Southwestern Central School was built and ready for use in 1954; and WHEREAS, The Baptist Church of Busti was organized on August 30, 1819, and the first Baptist house of worship was built in 1836, and another one was erected in 1853; the first Methodist Episcopal Church was organized under the direction of Reverend Alvin Burgess in about 1819, with approximately 60 members; and WHEREAS, Busti was also an early leader in agriculture; the first official test conducted on cows in Chautauqua County and one of the first in New York State, was made on the farm of Herbert Ayres, who also raised the first field of alfalfa in the county; and WHEREAS, Incorporated on May 9, 1893, Lakewood, which is in the northern end of the town of Busti, began with the consolidation of several farms all originally from the Holland Land Company; the village extends along the shores of Chautauqua Lake about three miles; and WHEREAS, The development of Lakewood, however, began with the building of the Cowing House by John T. Cowing in 1870; it was later enlarged and called the Lake View House; over time, it became the Sterlingworth Inn and later still, the Waldemere; and WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Town of Busti, under the able leadership of Supervisor Jesse M. Robbins, 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 Busti, 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 Jesse M. Robbins, Supervisor, Town of Busti.