Senate Resolution No. 1494

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of
Fenner, New York

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and
commemorate the rich and distinguished histories of the communities
which comprise 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 Town of Fenner, in Madison
County, New York, to be celebrated with a community-wide celebration on
Saturday, August 12, 2023 at the Fenner Town Hall; and

WHEREAS, Organized by a dedicated planning committee, the
bicentennial event for the Town of Fenner will include vendors,
immersive activities for children, and a hub of proactive local
organizations and businesses; and

WHEREAS, A town rooted in its agriculture and sense of community,
Fenner was made the homeland of the Haudenosaunee, specifically the
Oneida Nation, hundreds of years ago; many settlers arrived from Rhode
Island, and the name Fenner was derived from former Rhode Island
Governor James Fenner; and

WHEREAS, Hence the name of Mutton Hill Road within the Town, Fenner
was one of the places where sheep farming became prevalent; later,
Fenner became home to many dairy farmers and many farms that still exist
today can be traced to the nineteenth century; and

WHEREAS, The Fenner Baptist Church is a prominent feature of the
local landscape and one of the earliest links to Fenner's
nineteenth-century heritage; the Church was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 2002 and has served a valuable role as a
community meeting space for special events and ceremonies; and

WHEREAS, Since the lowest point of 800 during the Great Depression,
the population of the Town of Fenner has seen a small, steady growth,
reaching over 1,600 in the 2020 census; and

WHEREAS, The community has seen diverse changes with the development
of the windmills and modern farming, but it still remains a place where
the community is strong and agriculture is valued; and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the Town of Fenner 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 Town of Fenner, 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 copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Bicentennial Planning Committee and the Town of
Fenner, New York.