Projects/Events for Bicentennial Celebration

Updated: December 14, 2007

St. Bonaventure University Men's Basketball Game (1/5/08) - At the Bucknell/St. Bonaventure University Men's Basketball game scheduled for Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 4:00 p.m., every ticket bought from a Bicentennial Committee member or using the special form, $1.50 will be donated by Saint Bonaventure to the Bicentennial efforts. This project is a partnership with St. Bonaventure University. The tickets will sell for a special price of $10 each. They will go on sale September 26 - December 15, 2007. Buy your tickets now and help the Bicentennial! Call Cheryl at (716) 373-8030 for more information or to order your tickets.

Opening Event (3/11/08) - This event will take place on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, the actual date of the County's incorporation. Plans are being made to have the Cattaraugus County Legislative Board meeting at the Ellicottville Town Hall, only a few doors down from the actual site of the first Board meeting. The details are being worked out for a reception to follow. Other ideas being explored for this day are: ringing of the bell, dedication of State Plaques commemorating the establishment of Cattaraugus County, unveiling of the County wall hangings, press conference, and birthday cake.

Veterans Events (7/13/08) - This event is scheduled for Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at The Pines-Machias. The theme will be "Celebrate America's Veterans". We have received confirmation from Senator Catharine Young's office that she will be a guest speaker at this event. This may also include "slices of history". This would include different historical groups invited to share the history of the era. Examples of the types of groups that may be invited include: flint knappers, civil war re-enactors, etc. More details as they are reported. The public is encouraged to participate in these activities.

Community Day at Onoville Marina (8/9/08) - This event will be a family event held at the Onoville Marina. There will be live bands throughout the day and various vendors on site. A fireworks display will end the day.

St. Bonaventure University (8/7-11/2/08) - St. Bonaventure University will be celebrating their sesquicentennial in 2008. There will be a photographic exhibition at Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University from August 7 - November 2, 2008. This exhibition will feature photographs of early St. Bonaventure and around the County. Maps and etchings will be included in this exhibition. The photographs will be collected from the University archives, the archives of the Quick Center for the Arts, as well as the County Historical Museum and private lenders.

Wagon Train & Stagecoach Run (8/9 -22/08) - A Wagon Train and Stagecoach Run is planned over a 14-day period, traveling 150 plus miles throughout the County. The Stagecoach Run will be an educational living history celebration. The proposed route includes many municipalities. There will be hands-on demonstrations at each site. Town memorabilia will be picked up along the way for inclusion in the Time Capsule. There will also be a youth contest.

1808/1908/2008 Bicentennial Parade (9/28/08) - A bicentennial themed parade is being planned for Salamanca in conjunction with the Falling Leaves Festival. Marching bands would be part of this parade.

Santa Clause Lane Parade (11/28/08) - The Bicentennial Advisory Committee has agreed to work with the 2008 Santa Claus Lane Parade Committee. John Sayegh, Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, was contacted and they have agreed to partner with us for the parade activity. The County, with its bicentennial celebration, hopes to be able to embellish the already existing traditional Santa Claus Lane Parade. A bicentennial motif will be interwoven with the traditional parade activities. Themed floats and presentations will be judged using established guidelines. The date of this parade is Friday, November 28, 2008 (day after Thanksgiving). A fireworks display will mark the end of the parade. This will be the closing event for the Bicentennial celebration. There is discussion that the bell used to open the bicentennial celebration would be rung at the end of the parade for the closing of the bicentennial.

Time Capsule - At the end of the bicentennial, a time capsule will be placed on County property commemorating the Bicentennial. Memorabilia from 2008 will be included in this time capsule.

Christmas Ornament - The ornament is a flat gold ornament accented with a red ribbon with the silhouette bicentennial logo. It is now available. Contact Cheryl at 716-373-8030 for details.

Self-Guided Tours - Maps of self-guided tours (walking and/or driving) in Cattaraugus County will be posted on the website at www.cattco.org/bicentennial To date we have confirmation of tours located in Ellicottville, Portville, and Randolph. There is also a map for the Franciscan History. Cattaraugus County Arts Council will host a "Routes to Arts" May 17-18, 2008. A brochure is being developed of the Old Chautauqua Trail.

Old Chautauqua Trail - This trail was the main road used to travel in Cattaraugus County between the years of 1808-1814. It is mostly located in Cattaraugus County. A brochure is being created with the map for a drive, ride or hike tour.

2008 Calendar - This calendar will provide a year of activities for the whole family. It will include all the bicentennial activities, highlighted in the grey boxes, as well as the activities planned in the municipalities of the county. The calendar is now available. Great Gift!!!

Cook Book from Senior Citizens - The Senior Citizens of the County have gathered the family favorite recipes to be put together into a cookbook you won't want to miss. The cookbook is now available. Another great gift!!

Student Project - This is an essay/poster contest with a bicentennial theme. The project is to encourage young people to discover the history of where they live, what made this area what it is today and why people stay in Cattaraugus County. This contest is geared to coincide with specific studies of local history and government. The schools have been approached and the winners will be announced in May 2008. The winning essays/posters will also be on display at the 2008 County Fair.

County Wall Hangings - These wall hangings will reflect more of how "quilts" are created today. Municipalities have been submitting a photo of a building today to be incorporated into the wall hangings. The finished wall hangings will be displayed in the County Center in Little Valley and in the County Building in Olean.

County Bicentennial History Book - As part of the celebrations, a County Bicentennial History Book is being produced. Each municipality has been contacted for submissions. Sponsors and patrons are needed for this book. $50 - Page of the Bicentennial Book (20 words on a page in the book); $20 - A line on the Patron Page (10 words on the Patron Page in the book). Contact Cheryl at clokeefe@cattco.org or (716) 373-8030 for more information.

Tree Planting - During the bicentennial year, two trees will be planted at the Olean and Little Valley County Centers to commemorate the Bicentennial.

Traveling Trailer - This project is being coordinated with the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic, Development, Planning and Tourism. This trailer will travel to County events as well as surrounding areas for tourism efforts. It will house County tourism material in addition to bicentennial material and merchandise. Watch for the traveling trailer with the colorful murals and County Tourism logo!