WARSAW NEW YORK

1903  -  Centennial Photos

Click here to see Warsaw's 1903 celebration booklet


 
 
 


 
 

E. E. Farman gave Warsaw's first Centennial speech of welcome in 1903.

As is excerpted, it is descriptive of the community's pride in Warsaw's early achievements.

The year was 1803 when the ground called Warsaw received its first permanent settlers. The echoes of the Revolution had just died away. The Indian tribes still settled in Central New York were no longer hostile. Two hundred years ago brave men and women came from the east and settled in the primeval forests then covering the now beautiful valley of the Oatka and its surrounding hills. Following lines of blazed trees, or some old trails, crossing streams without bridges, passing through swamps and marshes without roads, they arrived at the sight of their new home, built log cabins and commenced felling the tall elms. Wild animals often made the nights hideous and the savage Indian was at times a real cause of alarm. As soon as the way was opened, the forests swarmed with settlers. The east was moving west. The remarkable western emigration to Warsaw was a part of a vast sweep west across the continent. It was the result of this spirit of adventure, the love of progress, the constant reaching out for something better or more abundant. Within five years from the time that Elizur Webster built the first cabin, with its roof of elm bark, . . ., the woodman's axe was heard in every part of the town. Log cabins arose with magical rapidity. The land was cleared of forest trees, and many fields were soon green growing wheat and corn. It however, required the life of a whole generation to fully clear away the immense growth of timber. The land brought forth its fruits abundantly. Roads, farm and school-houses and churches were built. Factories were springing up. The early settler of Warsaw did well their part in producing wonderful changes. (From E.E. Farman's 1903 Centennial speech)