Senate Resolution No. 53 BY: Senator WALCZYK COMMEMORATING the 130th Anniversary of the Town of Ellisburg, New York 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 130th Anniversary of the Town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County, New York; and WHEREAS, In the 17th century, Samuel de Champlain and other French explorers and missionaries visited the area where modern-day Ellisburg stands; and WHEREAS, Ellisburg was long the territory of various cultures of indigenous people; the Five Nations together identified as the Haudenosaunee; and WHEREAS, In 1797, European-American landowners Marvel and Lyman Ellis purchased the town's land and named it "Ellisburgh" and envisioned the rise of villages and farms; and WHEREAS, The town was officially organized in 1803 from the Town of Mexico (now in Oswego County) before the formation of Jefferson County; and WHEREAS, The U.S. Navy built and operated a major shipyard employing 3,000 workers during the war of 1812; they completed 12 warships to be used for the battles on the Great Lakes and were critical to the US being able to fight against the British there; and WHEREAS, In 1814, Americans defeated a British invasion force at the Battle of Big Sandy Creek in Ellisburg, New York; and WHEREAS, By the Fall of 1814, Ellisburg had become the third-largest population center in the entire state; and WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Town of Ellisburg 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 130th Anniversary of the Town of Ellisburg, 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 a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Town of Ellisburg.