Bill > K00758

This resolution commemorates the 130th anniversary of the Jervis Public Library in Rome, New York, celebrating the library's founding and honoring its namesake, John B. Jervis, a prominent 19th-century civil engineer. The resolution highlights Jervis's remarkable career, which began as an axe man on an Erie Canal survey crew and evolved to include groundbreaking engineering achievements like the Delaware and Hudson Canal, the Mohawk and Hudson Railway, and the Croton Aqueduct. Notably, Jervis introduced several engineering innovations, including the first locomotive to run in America and a revolutionary locomotive design. In his later years, Jervis bequeathed his personal estate, residence, and extensive library to the City of Rome to establish a public library. The Jervis Public Library, founded in 1895, now preserves Jervis's original collection of nearly 1,800 monographs, rare volumes, engineering plans, and historical documents, serving as both a community learning center and a significant historical archive. By passing this resolution, the legislative body aims to recognize the library's 130 years of service and honor John B. Jervis's enduring legacy of innovation, education, and public service.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/K758