Bill > K00211

This resolution commemorates the 175th anniversary of Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica, New York, recognizing its significant historical and cultural importance. Established in 1848, the cemetery is a non-profit, non-sectarian burial ground that serves as the final resting place for numerous notable individuals, including a Vice President of the United States, Medal of Honor recipients, political figures, and community leaders. The resolution highlights the cemetery's origins, which began when civic-minded citizens, including Judge William J. Bacon, recognized the need for a new burial site due to overcrowding in the original "burying ground on Water Street." Civil engineer Almerin Hotchkiss was commissioned to design the grounds, carefully preserving the natural landscape with winding roads. The cemetery's formal opening in 1850 was a momentous occasion, attended by a large crowd including 200 Oneida and Onondaga people who witnessed the placement of a sacred Oneida Nation stone near the entrance. The resolution celebrates the cemetery's 175-year history of serving the Utica community with dignity and respect, and formally recognizes its contributions to preserving local and national heritage by pausing in legislative deliberations to honor its significance.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/K211