by Peter Widener, Chili Historian
Fact or Folklore, the validation and actual factual legislation is: The Hamlet of Clifton, circa date pre-1822. Folklore has many unqualified beliefs that, even at 2022, citizens mistakenly refer to the Hamlet as the Town of Clifton. Furthermore, undocumented verbiage, “the Village of Clifton,” often echoes throughout the community.
Legislation regulations clearly require elected governing officials for a township or village to legally exist. The Hamlet of Clifton, circa 1808, accurately qualifies folklore as “Hamlet.” The past two hundred plus years has had Clifton identified as: Grab – All, Hard Scrabble and Harmon Mills with nearly all aspects of a complete “Civilization in the Wilderness.”
On February 22, 1822, New York State Legislature approved approximately 35 square miles of land for recognition as Chili township. Shortly thereafter our ancestors held their first town meeting at James Coleman’s Inn on April 2, 1822, and elected governing officials.
Now, 200 years later, Chili will have its bicentennial birthday with a historic marker installed for The Hamlet of Clifton at Clifton Fire Department Inc. on April 2 at 10 a.m.
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