Bill Text: NY K00135 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Village of Depew

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-04 - adopted [K00135 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00135-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 135

BY: M. of A. Wallace

        COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of the Village
        of Depew

  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  125th  Anniversary  of  the  Village of Depew, in Erie
County, New York; and

  WHEREAS, This historic Village, incorporated on July 23, 1894, as  a
railroad  town,  is  one  of  the  largest villages in western New York,
extending partly into both the towns of Lancaster and Cheektowaga; Depew
is the proud home to over 15,000 residents as well  as  many  businesses
both small and large; and

  WHEREAS,  The village is named in honor of Chauncey M. Depew (1892),
President of the New York Central Railroad, who later went on to  become
a United States Senator (1899-1911); and

  WHEREAS,  In  1892,  the  Depew Improvement Company hired the Boston
firm of Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot to design  a  whole  Village  around  a
manufacturing  theme,  rather  than just a residential area; Chauncey M.
Depew purchased 100 acres in 1894, which  became  known  as  "the  place
where Depew will build"; and

  WHEREAS,  Ground  broke  for  The  New York Central Locomotive Works
shops in May of 1892, opening the following year with 40 employees,  and
by 1895, the business employed 640 men; in that same year, Gould Coupler
Company  constructed a plant on a 60-acre plot, producing steel castings
for railroad equipment; and

  WHEREAS, By 1893, the first post office in  Depew  was  established,
and the water works building was constructed on the north side of Sawyer
Avenue  at  Penora  Street,  holding  the  original offices of the Depew
Improvement Company; in 1894, the building housed a temporary  classroom
for the school system and meeting rooms for various organizations; and

  WHEREAS, Under new management in 1896, the Depew Improvement Company
constructed  a  brick  structure  at the northeast corner of Transit and
Ellicott Road to serve as a  bank,  several  offices,  and  a  community
center; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1899,  the  Gould  Storage Battery Company was formed,
producing batteries for use in the railroad industry; when World War  II
began, production turned to manufacturing submarine batteries; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1910,  Buffalo  Batt  and Felt Corporation Depew Plant
opened as a rag shop, and later, cotton based products for packing  were
manufactured;  the  plant  is  now the oldest continuous employer in the
village; and


  WHEREAS,  One  of the most magnificent buildings ever erected in the
Village of Depew, The Depew Inn, was one of the  showpieces  of  western
New  York  and considered the best suburban hostelry in this part of the
state at the time it was built; and

  WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb  and  flow  of  decades  of
growth  and  change,  the  Village  of Depew 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  125th Anniversary of the Village of Depew, 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 Nikonowicz, Mayor, Village of Depew.