Senate Resolution No. 4089

BY: Senator MARCELLINO

COMMEMORATING the 350th Anniversary of the
founding of the City of Glen Cove, New York on May
24, 2018

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 350th Anniversary of the founding of the City of Glen
Cove in Nassau County, New York, to be feted at a free community
celebration on Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Morgan Memorial Park in Glen
Cove; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the residents of the City of Glen Cove
recognized the 100th Anniversary of its incorporation on January 5,
2018; and

WHEREAS, Like many settlements on the North Shore of Long Island,
Glen Cove's history is closely related to its waterfront; surrounded by
water on three sides, Glen Cove offers its residents and visitors access
to over 10 miles of beautiful waterfront including three public beaches,
two nature preserves, a public golf course and a public park; and

WHEREAS, On May 24, 1668, Joseph Carpenter of Warwick, Rhode Island
purchased approximately 2,000 acres of land to the northwest of the Town
of Oyster Bay from the Matinecock Indians; later in that year, he
admitted four co-partners into the project, Nathaniel, Daniel, and
Robert Coles, and Nicholas Simkins; the five young men named the
settlement "Musketa Cove," which in the Matinecock language means "this
place of rushes"; these settlers have been known forever after as the
five original proprietors of Musketa Cove Plantation; and

WHEREAS, The men built a saw mill and a gristmill across what is now
known as Glen Cove Creek, which was dammed to provide power for the
mills; the saw mill would be used to provide New York City with lumber
for the construction of housing; by 1679, the mill was producing nine
different thickness of boards; and

WHEREAS, The proprietors and their families built their homes near
the campfires of the Indians along a street atop a hill overlooking the
saw mill, and worked hard to build their community; much of the land was
maintained as common space for the grazing of cattle, and the first
settled street, named "The Place," is still in existence today; and

WHEREAS, In less than 10 years after its settlement, the thriving
community of Musketa Cove was composed of carpenters, weavers, wool
spinners, saddlers, tailors, millers, shipbuilders, and many tradesmen;
they had their own town government, constable, overseers, Justice of the
Peace and Recorder; and

WHEREAS, After the defeat of George Washington's Army at the Battle
of Long Island in 1776, the local militia was reorganized as the
"Musketa Cove Company of the Loyal Queens County Militia"; dozens of
British Provincial Corps and Hessian regiments were stationed on Long
Island, housed in homes abandoned by Patriots who had fled the area; the
population of Musketa Cove in the decade after the Revolution grew to
nearly 250; and

WHEREAS, About 1810, a local physician named Thomas Garvie
discovered large deposits of clay on his property; within a short time,
the clay was dug, and marketed in New York City; and

WHEREAS, In 1827, Dr. Thomas Garvie opened negotiations with
Cornelius Vanderbilt to begin operating a steamboat between Glen Cove
and New York City on a regular basis; two years later, a daily steamboat
run was made between Glen Cove and New York City; shortly thereafter,
the town was renamed Glen Cove; and

WHEREAS, By the late 1850's, Glen Cove had become a resort community
with six major hotels centered near the steamboat landing; in addition
to the hotels, a number of "oyster saloons," taverns, and boarding
houses opened, catering to wealthy New York City residents who were
beginning to build summer estate homes; and

WHEREAS, During this time, the Duryea Corn Starch Manufacturing
Company relocated their main plant from Oswego to Glen Cove; it covered
more than an acre and employed nearly 600 people; and

WHEREAS, The Glen Cove Public Library was founded in 1894, and
chartered three years later; in 1959, it was relocated next door to the
Post Office; currently, it houses over 130,000 books, many videos, DVDs,
music CDs, and offers an array of services to a community of over 25,000
residents; and

WHEREAS, By the beginning of the 20th Century, Glen Cove began to
see an influx of wealthy industrialists, bankers and business people who
built lavish estates, many along the waterfront; these wealthy residents
drew upon the rich pool of skilled and unskilled labor that was abundant
in Glen Cove, and often built housing for their workers; many of these
estates are still standing and are currently used as schools, houses of
worship and executive retreats; and

WHEREAS, For 250 years Glen Cove was part of the Town of Oyster Bay;
however, as the population grew to over 10,000 residents, it became
evident that a new government was needed; on June 8, 1917, the Governor
signed into law a bill proclaiming Glen Cove to be a City; and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the City of Glen Cove 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 350th Anniversary of the founding of the City of Glen
Cove, 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 Timothy Tenke, Mayor, City of Glen Cove, New York.