Senate Resolution No. 833 BY: Senator GRIFFO CONGRATULATING the Hamlet of South Otselic, New York, upon the occasion of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places 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 congratulate the Hamlet of South Otselic, New York, upon the occasion of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places; and WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at a Dedication Ceremony unveiling the historic marker on Saturday, July 8, 2023; and WHEREAS, The marker's inscription will read: the South Otselic Historic District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 by the United States Department of the Interior, William G. Pomeroy Foundation 2022; and WHEREAS, Located in Chenango County, the South Otselic Historic District is a cohesive grouping of historically and architecturally significant buildings which includes representative examples of both the modest vernacular housing of the early settlement period and the ostentatious commercial blocks and residences of the late Nineteenth Century; and WHEREAS, The South Otselic Historic District includes 60 commercial, residential, ecclesiastical, and industrial buildings; among the notable buildings are the Methodist Church (ca. 1867), Gladding Corporation factory and office (1895), J. Brown Grist Mill (ca. 1810), Noonan's Blacksmith Shop (1870), Cox Block (1890, destroyed by fire on December 14, 2014), and Dew Drop Building (now post office, 1896), and prominent residences such as the Octagon House (ca. 1860) and the Queen Anne style Former Gladding Mansion (ca. 1880); and WHEREAS, Today, the Gladding Corporation continues to provide stability to the hamlet's economy despite a general decline in population during the Twentieth Century; and WHEREAS, Located on the banks of the Otselic River in the southwest corner of the town, South Otselic was the leading population center by the mid-1800s; in 1850, it boasted a millrace with grist and sawmills and a ropewalk and many business establishments, two hotels, three blacksmith shops, wagon makers, an ashery, a large tannery, and assorted shops; and WHEREAS, As local industries and agriculture developed, transportation routes were improved, and a 20-mile plank road was built to Norwich, the county seat, in 1840; and WHEREAS, In the 1870s, the Auburn Branch of the Oswego-Midland Railroad stopped at Otselic Center, four miles north; locally known as the "Butter and Cheese Express", the railroad provided an outlet for the town's dairy farms and local industries; and WHEREAS, Historically, South Otselic has been a rural center, serving the commercial, social, and religious needs of a remote area; as the agricultural economy prospered, trips to South Otselic by farmers and their families for supplies and entertainment sustained a diversity of small business enterprises in the hamlet as well as a district school and two churches; and WHEREAS, Reflecting the increasing prosperity of South Otselic, a building boom ensued in the late 1870s, lasting until the turn of the century; large commercial blocks were built in the center of the hamlet, the grandest of which was the Cox Block, built as a department store featuring groceries, household goods, a drug store, and an ice cream parlor with apartments and Masonic rooms above; in 1905, the Otselic Valley National Bank was also installed in the building; and WHEREAS, The Perkins Block, (a two-story section survives) relocated in the 1930s, was another three-story mercantile structure with stores and a large ballroom for public gatherings, and the Dewdrop Block housed a theatre and offices; and WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Hamlet of South Otselic 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 congratulate the Hamlet of South Otselic, New York, upon the occasion of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places, 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 the Hamlet of South Otselic, New York.