During the evening, the town’s officials were all sworn into office by Eden Justice Michael Cooper. This included Supervisor Glenn Nellis, Town Clerk Mary Jo Holtquist, Town Assessor Sharon Brockman, Town Justice Melissa Zittel, Town Assessor Susan Pratt, Town Councilman Edward Krycia Jr., newly elected Town Councilman Fran McLaughlin and Highway Superintendent Ron Maggs.

Also attending the party and the swearing in of Town of Eden officials were Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Erie County Family Court Judge Margaret Szczur.

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Adding a Bicentennial Theme to Your Events
There will be events specifically designed to celebrate Bicentennial 2012. For example, we plan to have a “Birthday Party” in March to commemorate the signing of the town charter. In addition, and more importantly, there is an opportunity to weave the Bicentennial celebration into the fabric of events that are held all year long. So, as your organization makes plans for their 2012 annual picnic, dance, chairity event, performance, or other occasion, please consider giving it a Bicentennial theme.

To be included in our upcoming calendar of events or for more information please contact Sue Minekime at 716-992-3146 or via email: sminekime@hotmail.com

In preparation of this momentous occasion, the Eden Bicentennial Committee has been hard at work.

According to Susan Minekime, co-chair of the Bicentennial Steering Committee and Town of Eden co-historian, the organization began its preparations for the event last year, with a contest to create a bicentennial logo.

The winner was Morgan Cole, a senior at Eden Jr./Sr. High School at the time, who is now attending college in New York City.

The committee has set up some events for next year.

“Right now we have several cornerstone events set for the year, with the kick-off being on Jan. 1 with a fireworks celebration,” Minekime said. The committee is still working on other ideas, and more events will be announced as they become official.

Eden will be sharing their 200th birthday with two other towns, Hamburg and Concord, who were also formed in 1812.

The three towns were originally part of a one large township  named Willink, which included all of Erie County south of the center of the Buffalo Creek Reservation. It was named for the four Dutch brothers who owned large shares of stock in the Holland Land Purchase.

On March 20 and March 21, 1812, Willink was divided into four towns: Eden, Hamburg, Willink and Concord. Willink no longer exists.

At the time, Eden included the areas of the current towns of Brant, Evans and part of Boston.

Within months of becoming a new town, residents prepared for war as in June, the U.S. declared war against England (War of 1812) and there was the possible threat of invasion.

According to history, a British vessel, the Queen Charlotte, cruised along the lake shore and sometimes sent a crew ashore to plunder the inhabitants of Hamburg and Eden (now Evans).

As time went on the Town of Eden continued to have sections split off and other municipalities were formed.

According to Minekime, the Bicentennial Committee have planned the following events: a celebration in March, some events during an expanded Alumni Weekend during the summer, a Heritage Day in September and Ecumenical event sometime during the Christmas season.

“We are hoping that other groups in the community will also incorporate the theme into their events next year,” Minekime said.

“We are working with the school community and our area businesses,” she said.

Other plans include creating a pamphlet that will outline the history  of the area, working out tours of historical sites in the town and presenting oral histories that will be held at different locations and times throughout the town.

“We are thinking about recording this oral history and then setting it up so it can be viewed at different locations,” Minekime said.

The committee is also hopeful they will be able to create a float for the Corn Festival.

Minekime added that for 2012 the committee is hoping there will be multiple floats reflecting the multi-faceted heritage of Eden from the variety of organizations that participate in the parade.

“We also want to highlight the agricultural part of Eden’s past and present,” she said. This includes working with the Welch Farm Museum and possibly having a display there.

“We are still working on other ideas and are excited about the possibilities of having an outstanding year-long celebration,”  Minekime said.

Members of the community are being encouraged to get involved and volunteers interested in helping the Bicentennial Committee can call Minekime at 992-3146.

Article as it appeared in The Hamburg Sun
Date: 2011-03-30
By:Felice E. Krycia-associate editor

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• Eden’s 200th Birthday Party! — In March, commemorating signing of the Town Charter
• Alumni Weekend Celebration — In July, activities to include 2 Bicentennial themed dances
• Fall Festival and Picnic — In the fall, we will celebrate the beauty of our town
• Ecumenical Celebration — To be held during the Thanksgiving or holiday season, this event will remind us of all we have to be thankful for, especially during the past 200 years

Many other events are in the works and more information will follow as we move along.