Bill Text: NY K00625 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Historic Salem Courthouse

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-19 - adopted [K00625 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00625-Introduced.html

Assembly Resolution No. 625

BY: M. of A. Woerner

        COMMEMORATING   the   150th   Anniversary  of  the
        Historic Salem Courthouse to be celebrated  on  July
        27, 2019

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the  quality  and  character  of life in the communities across New York
State are reflective of the concerned and  dedicated  efforts  of  those
historic  courts  of  law that would devote themselves to the welfare of
the community and its citizenry; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Historic Salem Courthouse to be
celebrated at its Annual Al Fresco Dinner on Saturday,  July  27,  2019,
with entertainment provided by Hot Club of Saratoga; and

  WHEREAS, In 1867, the Washington County Board of Supervisors decided
to consolidate the county seat into one central courthouse; the location
for  the  new courthouse was under heavy debate, with various Washington
County towns petitioning to have the privilege of being the county seat;
in December of 1868, the Board chose Salem and the new  town  supervisor
was James Gibson; and

  WHEREAS,  The  old courthouse and jail in Salem, circa 1789, were in
need of serious repair by this time, and the town decided both buildings
should be remade; in mid-January, the Board chose Marcus F. Cummings  of
Troy,  New  York,  to  be  the project's architect; he chose to move the
building site to its current location to  allot  enough  space  for  the
courthouse and jail complex; and

  WHEREAS,  The current structure was completed in 1869; by January 1,
1872, the surrogate's office and all of its records were  moved  to  the
courthouse  and  on February 15, 1875, a 713 pound bell from the Meneely
foundry in Troy was installed in the cupola of the courthouse; and

  WHEREAS, The courthouse continued to be used until  1993,  when  the
county  seat was officially moved to Fort Edward, and all county offices
were consolidated there in one new complex; and

  WHEREAS, The jail was used until May of 2003,  when  the  new  $16.8
million facility opened in Fort Edward; and

  WHEREAS,  In  2001,  Washington  County  was going to vacate the Old
Washington County Courthouse in Salem; William "Bill' Eberle, a  retired
attorney,  spearheaded  a  group of citizens to take action and make the
courthouse a community center; and

  WHEREAS, Concerned citizens met  with  John  G.  Waite,  a  renowned
preservation  architect, who made a presentation about other restoration
projects  and  arranged  for  the  group  to  visit  recently   restored
buildings; and

  WHEREAS,  The group held meetings on a regular basis and Bill Eberle
put in motion the chartering of  a  not-for-profit  with  the  Education
Department  of  New  York  State; in January of 2002, the Historic Salem
Courthouse Preservation Association, Inc. (HSCPA)  officially  became  a
corporation  and elected its first Board of Directors as well as Bill to
be the first President of HSCPA;  currently,  Robert  Akland  serves  as
President of HSCPA; and

  WHEREAS,  One  of  the  corporation's  missions,  to  facilitate the
transfer of the courthouse to a Salem  entity,  was  carried  out  while
HSCPA  negotiated  with  county  official; by the end of 2003, the Town,
Village, and HSCPA finalized a partnership by signing  a  Memorandum  of
Agreement; and

  WHEREAS,  On  January  1,  2004,  the  Town  became the owner of the
property; HSCPA  took  charge  of  management  with  the  Village  in  a
supportive role; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals and associations of such noble aims and accomplishments  are
brought to our attention, they should be recognized and applauded by all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Historic Salem Courthouse to be
celebrated on July 27, 2019; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Robert Akland, President, HSCPA.
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