Senate Resolution No. 1494 BY: Senator GRIFFO COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Fenner, New York WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commemorate the rich and distinguished histories of the communities which comprise 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 Fenner, in Madison County, New York, to be celebrated with a community-wide celebration on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at the Fenner Town Hall; and WHEREAS, Organized by a dedicated planning committee, the bicentennial event for the Town of Fenner will include vendors, immersive activities for children, and a hub of proactive local organizations and businesses; and WHEREAS, A town rooted in its agriculture and sense of community, Fenner was made the homeland of the Haudenosaunee, specifically the Oneida Nation, hundreds of years ago; many settlers arrived from Rhode Island, and the name Fenner was derived from former Rhode Island Governor James Fenner; and WHEREAS, Hence the name of Mutton Hill Road within the Town, Fenner was one of the places where sheep farming became prevalent; later, Fenner became home to many dairy farmers and many farms that still exist today can be traced to the nineteenth century; and WHEREAS, The Fenner Baptist Church is a prominent feature of the local landscape and one of the earliest links to Fenner's nineteenth-century heritage; the Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and has served a valuable role as a community meeting space for special events and ceremonies; and WHEREAS, Since the lowest point of 800 during the Great Depression, the population of the Town of Fenner has seen a small, steady growth, reaching over 1,600 in the 2020 census; and WHEREAS, The community has seen diverse changes with the development of the windmills and modern farming, but it still remains a place where the community is strong and agriculture is valued; and WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Town of Fenner 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 Fenner, 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 copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Bicentennial Planning Committee and the Town of Fenner, New York.