 
Assembly Resolution No. 676
 
BY: M. of A. Jensen
 
        COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of
        Greece
 
  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,  The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing and
celebrating important milestones in the history of towns in  the  Empire
State; and
 
  WHEREAS, One such town, the Town of Greece, is celebrating the 200th
Anniversary  of  its  founding;  it was founded in 1822 with an official
anniversary date of March 22nd; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Town of Greece  was  originally  inhabited  by  nomadic
indigenous  tribes  settled in the Finger Lakes Area and moved northward
to Lake Ontario in 1300 A.D.; and
 
  WHEREAS, By 1550, the dominant Native American Nations in the region
joined to form an  Alliance  known  as  the  Haudenosaunee  Confederacy,
consisting of the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Seneca; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Town  of  Greece  was  home to the Seneca for several
hundred years and being located on the western end of the  Haudenosaunee
Confederacy made the Seneca the "Keepers of the Western Door"; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  1669,  the  Town  of  Greece was visited by the French
Explorer La Salle and became the location  of  numerous  English  troops
during the war with the French for control of North America; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Originally  called  Northampton,  the  Town  of Greece was
chartered by the New York State Legislature on March 22, 1822,  and  was
named  Greece  because  of  the  wave of sympathy toward Greeks who were
fighting for independence from Turkish rule; and
 
  WHEREAS, On September 13, 1862, the 140th New York Infantry Regiment
was created, and Greece residents were placed into I Company; and
 
  WHEREAS, The 140th  would  play  a  vital  role  at  the  Battle  of
Gettysburg,  specifically  at  the  fighting  at Little Round Top; it is
estimated that 245 of the original 1,000 men called to arms in the 140th
New York Regiment would answer its final call to muster; and
 
  WHEREAS, During the early 1900s, numerous technological and economic
advancements would occur that would propel Greece and Rochester  to  the
forefront of American industry; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Photography  magnate  George Eastman opened the very first
Kodak plant in 1891; Kodak became the largest employer in the  area  and
Greece played a significant role in Kodak's worldwide success; and
 
  WHEREAS, Another major economic development would occur in 1931 from
John  and  Walter  Wegman; the two brothers founded Wegmans Food Markets
which has grown significantly over the last 75 years into the  country's
premier   grocery   operation,  with  Wegmans  employing  52,000  people
nationally; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Over  the  last  200  years,  the  Town  of Greece and its
residents have played a vital role not only in  our  local  history  but
also  upon  the  national  stage;  the  Town  of Greece looks forward to
another 200 years of growth, prosperity, and peace; now,  therefore,  be
it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Greece, 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 Greece.
Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Greece

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