Bill Text: NY K00756 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 756 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the founding of the Town of Big Flats, New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-04-26 - adopted [K00756 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00756-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 756

BY: M. of A. Friend

        COMMEMORATING   the   200th   Anniversary  of  the
        founding of the Town of Big Flats, 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 200th Anniversary of the founding of  the  Town  of  Big
Flats, New York, in Chemung County, New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Located  between what is now Elmira and Corning, New York,
Big Flats was originally inhabited by numerous Native  American  groups,
the  largest  of which were the Runonvea, who named the fertile and flat
land, Atsingnetsing; early settlers shortened the name to Sing Sing, and
referred to it as the Great Flatts; and

  WHEREAS, After the Native Americans left the area, an act was passed
by the State of New York most favorable to persons who would  settle  in
this new land, by giving land grants in March of 1783; and

  WHEREAS,  Four  years later, Christian Myneer (Minier), his wife and
seven children came up the river through the "Gateway to Big Flats"  and
landed  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chemung River where he planted an
orchard and built the first log house; in March of 1791 he  received  an
official  deed and since then, many of his family members have continued
to call Big Flats their home; and

  WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, other settlers began to arrive,  and  a
Baptist  Church  was  organized  in 1807, land for a cemetery donated in
1809, a post office was built  in  1809,  and  the  Town  of  Big  Flats
(Flatts) was officially established in 1822; and

  WHEREAS,  The early settlers made a living through lumbering, and by
1850, at least nine saw mills flourished within the town;  farming  then
took over as a main source of income for the residents; and

  WHEREAS,  Meanwhile,  the  Feeder  Canal  had been built from Gibson
through Big Flats and joined the Chemung Canal at Horseheads; opened  in
1833,  the  16-mile  waterway  brought  an influx of traffic through Big
Flats bringing coal, grain and lumber to and from Albany, New York; and

  WHEREAS, In the mid-  to  late-1800s,  the  Erie  and  the  Delaware
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad were built to accommodate shipping of
dairy products and animals; and

  WHEREAS, In 1850, the first tobacco was grown  in  the  rich  valley
soil,  making  it  a main source of income; by 1918, approximately 2,000
acres were cultivated for tobacco  and  there  were  five  cigar-rolling
factories in the village; and

  WHEREAS,  The Schweizer Corporation, a sailplane manufacturer, moved
to the region and used Harris Hill to launch  their  products;  it  soon
became known as the Glider Capital of America; and

  WHEREAS,  Continuing  its  history  of aeronautics, American Airways
leased 100 acres of land for an emergency landing  strip  in  1926-1927,
henceforth  establishing  the  Elmira-Corning Regional Airport; from its
humble beginnings,  the  airport  has  grown  to  1,000  of  acres  with
thousands of travelers embarking for destinations around the world; and

  WHEREAS,  Today,  the  Town of Big Flats encompasses 26,097 acres of
land,  has  a  population  of  approximately  7,000  residents,  and  is
comprised of 200 businesses; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Town  is  the  home  of 13 parks, the Wings of Eagles
Discovery Center, the National Soaring Museum, Tanglewood Nature  Center
and the Big Flats Historical Society's Museum; and

  WHEREAS,  Remaining  fruitful  over  the  ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the Town of Big Flats  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 founding of  the  Town  of  Big
Flats,  New  York, 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  Edward  Fairbrother, Supervisor, the Town of Big Flats,
New York.