J 455: Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Village of Margaretville, New York

 Senate Resolution No. 455 BY: Senator OBERACKER COMMEMORATING the 150th Anniversary of the Village of Margaretville, New York 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 150th Anniversary of the Village of Margaretville, New York; and WHEREAS, The Village of Margaretville is located on the East Branch of the Delaware River in the south-central part of the Town of Middletown which is located in a mountainous area of the Western Catskill Mountains; and WHEREAS, The earliest European settlers in Margaretville arrived just after the Revolution; once known as Pakataghkan, or "the meeting of three rivers," the early village was named Middletown Center; in 1850 it was re-named Margaretville in honor of Margaret Lewis, the granddaughter of Robert Livingston, whose family once owned large portions of the Hardenburgh Patent, including the site of the village; and WHEREAS, Margaretville began to develop as a village in the early 1840s; among the village's earliest and most influential citizens was Dr. Orson M. Allaben; in 1843 he acquired land in what became the core of the Village of Margaretville; two years later he built a Main Street residence and office, which also served as the location of the first village store; and WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Orson M. Allaben ran a printing press and established the village's first newspaper, the "Utilitarian," in 1863; he also held several public offices, serving as a supervisor for seven terms and as a member of the New York State Assembly (1840; 1870) and Senate (1864-65); and WHEREAS, Between 1843 and 1869, the village experienced rapid growth; the Beers map from that period shows approximately 80 buildings, primarily along Main Street, with additional structures on parallel and intersecting streets; Main Street was positioned on the north side of the East Branch of the Delaware River, while a small channel, the Binnekill, was diverted from the river near Main Street to support the village's industrial activities; and WHEREAS, The development included a mix of industrial, residential, and civic buildings; early industries featured tanneries, foundries, and sawmills, along with businesses such as a cobbler's shop, wagon shop, harness shop, cooperage, cabinet and paint shop, and blacksmith shop; social and civic institutions included a post office, school, several doctors' offices, the Methodist Church (constructed in 1851), and both the Margaretville Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellow's Pakatakan Lodge, which were established in 1855; the area still had several farms, along with a few hotels and a cemetery; and WHEREAS, Like much of the Catskills, the growth of Margaretville was shaped by the arrival of the railroad; in the 1870s, the Ulster and Delaware Railroad, a major transportation route linking the Hudson River (and New York City) to Delaware County, ran northwest from Kingston to Phoenicia, then through Fleischmanns, Arkville, Kelly's Corners, Halcottsville, Roxbury, and further on toward Oneonta; and WHEREAS, Although Margaretville was located just off the U&D line, a few miles west of Arkville, the Delaware and Eastern Railroad (later known as the Delaware and Northern) was established in 1905 to extend the U&D line from Arkville westward along the East Branch of the Delaware River, with key stops in Margaretville, Dunraven, Andes, Downsville, and East Branch, where it connected with the Ontario and Western main line; and WHEREAS, This new railroad link connected Margaretville to two major railroads serving the Catskills; the D&N established its terminal yards and shops in Margaretville, providing significant support to both the agricultural and resort industries in the area; several creameries were built, and, like the neighboring town of Roxbury, butter became a key product; and WHEREAS, Margaretville's station also served as the departure point for local cauliflower shipments, as cauliflower, introduced in the 1890s, became one of the town's most significant exports; and WHEREAS, The village had hotels and boarding houses as early as the 1840s, with the largest, Briar Cliff Lodge, situated on a hill overlooking the town; originally built as a sanitarium, it was never used for that purpose; and WHEREAS, Other lodging establishments, including the popular Ackerly House on Main Street, were located throughout the village; by this time, Margaretville had become one of the region's most popular resort towns, and it continues to be a thriving community today; and WHEREAS, Of historic origin, and remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Village of Margaretville continues to provide the quintessential quality of life for its residents; and WHEREAS, The residents of the Village of Margaretville have a bright outlook for the future of their community, which remains a beautiful place in which to live and raise a family; and WHEREAS, In recognition of the Village of Margaretville's rich history and enduring contribution to the State of New York, this Legislative Body is proud to pay tribute to this spirited village upon the occasion of its 150th Anniversary; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Village of Margaretville, 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 the Village of Margaretville.