Honor Depew’s 125th Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 542 BY: Senator GALLIVAN 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.