Cambria celebrates its bicentennial

Photos and story by Janet Schultz
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, March 15, 2008

Susanne Pasquarella of the Weavers Guild of Buffalo presents Cambria Fire Company
President Mark Patterson with a quilt that pays tribute to those who lost their lives at 9/11.

More than 450 people braved the ice-covered roads, cold and lightly blowing snow on Sunday to attend the kickoff of the Town of Cambria’s bicentennial.

The event, held at Cambria Volunteer Fire Company, featured more than 30 displays of small businesses, churches and organizations from the town, as well as displays from the historical societies of neighboring towns.

Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois Marching Band and the Iroquois Indian Dancers provided entertainment. Crafters from the Weavers Guild of Buffalo and Woodcarver Patrick Stanczyk demonstrated the crafts of weaving, spinning and wood carving, and the Fort Niagara re-enactors brought historical items from the Fort. Cambria resident Elden School performed a song he wrote for the occasion.

Town Crier Wayne Jagow, better known as Niagara County clerk and reverend, rallied the audience for a brief program that included proclamations from President George W. Bush, outgoing Gov. Eliot Spitzer, state Sen. George Maziarz, R-C, 62nd District, Newfane, state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-138th District, Lewiston, U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-26th District. Niagara County Legislature Chairman William Ross presented the proclamation from the county.

Devin Napolean of the Iroquois Indian Dancers performs at the Town of Cambria Bicentennial celebration.

Cambria Bicentennial Committee Chairman George J. Bush announced that Julie Chesterfield and Ashton Chapman were the winners of the poster contest. Both are students at St. Peter Lutheran School, North Ridge, Cambria. Both will receive a $100 savings bond. Town Supervisor Wright Ellis served as master of ceremonies and noted that the Town of Cambria shares the bicentennial anniversary with the county of Niagara. The Town of Cambria made up Niagara County when it was founded in 1808. The Buffalo Weavers Guild presented the Cambria Fire Company with a wall-hanging remembering 9/11 to Company President Mark Patterson. The event culminated with Council members Deborah Kroening, Joseph Ohol, Robert Blackman and Bush presenting a cake decorated with the bicentennial logo. Supervisor Ellis acknowledged the work of Bicentennial Committee members Bruce Geschwender, Deborah Jagow-Wynes, Christine Kesterson, Sally Kolkmeyer, Gerald Lafler, Jon MacSwan, Sonny Morreale, Rich Murajda, Lou Ann Murawksi, Neil Patterson, Sally Marotta –Reed, Gail Reinbird, Lynn Schlemmer and Forrest Wendt. Ellis announced that a weekend extravaganza would be held July 26 and 27 at Niagara County Community College to celebrate the accomplishments and future of the Town of Cambria.