Gouverneur Historical Association
Joseph Laurenza, President
Anna Easton, Vice President
R. Joseph Weeks, Treasurer
Miki Hopper, Secretary
Bill Cartwright
Lea Dickson
Charles Gonio
Jon Jackson
Katie Pistolesi
Tania Sterling
Melissa Tersmette
Joseph Laurenza
About Gouverneur
The town/village of Gouverneur was named for Gouverneur Morris, a statesman, U.S. senator, signer of the Constitution, and minister to France. Nicknamed the "Marble City," Gouverneur is the only United States community with that name. The settlement was once known as Cambray. Among the area's first settlers were Pardon Babcock, Willard Smith, Eleazer Nichols and Isaac Austin. The village was incorporated in 1805. The area is best known for farming and mining. Gouverneur Marble, which was in operation from the 1800s to the 1940s. Gouverneur is noted for its Memorial Arch, which is built of Gouverneur marble. The town was also the boyhood home of Edward John Noble, philanthropist and developer of Life Savers candy; home of Jay Corbin, inventor of the disk harrow farm implement still used by today's farmers, and home of Rhoda Fox Graves, first female state senator.
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Current Historical Association Project
Replace/Restore the Village Park Bandstand
The bandstand/gazebo in the Gouverneur Village Park is deteriorating. The Village of Gouverneur has secured a New York State grant for some major improvement to the park.
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The grant includes $15,000 for a new bandstand, but that amount is not enough. The estimated cost of a new bandstand is approximately $50,000, so we must raise at least $35,000. We plan to build a bandstand similar to the sample photo.
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Officials from the Village and members of the Gouverneur Museum/Historical Association Board met and formed a Bandstand Committee to fundraise the $35,000 needed for a new bandstand.
The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce has also assisted in the project. We are asking for your support and hope you or your business/organization will donate towards this project.
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Because the Village is tax exempt, your donations are deductible. In the past, our community has always supported village projects. Some examples of our community’s generosity include the 2021 "Light Up Our Village & Town" decoration fund, repairs to the eagle on the monument arch, and the Village Park Clock project. Thank you for considering a donation.
Donate by check to: Village of Gouverneur Bandstand.
Mail to: Village of Gouverneur, 33 Clinton Street, Gouverneur NY 13642
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Donate securely online with a credit card:
www.gouverneurchamber.net/bandstand-fund
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