Ulster County News

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

DATE: October 24, 2003  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 24, 2003

The Month of November Proclaimed Ulster County Month

Richard A. Gerentine, Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, in conjunction with Frank Felicello, Chairman of the Education, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee and Legislator Alice Tipp, founding member of the Tercentennial Committee, in recognition of Ulster County’s 320th Anniversary, has proclaimed the month of November as Ulster County Month.

According to Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester’s History of Ulster County, in the year of 1683, the province of New York was first divided into counties, whereby previous to that time the only civil divisions of the province were manors and towns or cities.

On the first day of November 1683, the province of New York was divided into twelve counties by order of the Duke of York, then sole proprietor of the province who ascended the throne of Great Britain as James II on the 6th day of February 1685. At this time, the younger brother of King Charles had the Irish title of the Duke of Ulster, and thence Ulster County was named in his honor.

A Proclamation was presented to Ulster County Historian, Karlyn Knaust-Elia by Chairman Richard Gerentine and Legislators Alice Tipp and Frank Felicello, in front of the historic George Clinton plaque, located on the lawn of the Ulster County Courthouse. The plaque was presented by the Society of Dames.

In honor of Ulster County’s 320th Anniversary, a historical exhibit will be on display in the lobby of the Ulster County Office Building, located at 244 Fair Street, in Kingston. Organized by Ulster County Historian, Karlyn Knaust-Elia, the exhibit will be on display for the month of November.

For further information on the history of Ulster County, please contact Karlyn Knaust-Elia, Ulster County Historian, at 246-4754 or by e-mail at ulsterhistorian@aol.com.