Community Foundation’s Wilcox Community Fund for Theresa Supports Local History Project
THERESA — Town officials unveiled a pair of new historical markers last Saturday made possible by grant funding from the Wilcox Community Fund for Theresa of the Northern New York Community Foundation.
A $3,000 grant awarded to the Town of Theresa last spring supported the State Route 37 Historical Marker Signage project.
The Wilcox Community Fund for Theresa is a permanent grantmaking fund of the Community Foundation that will forever support programs, activities, and initiatives to advance the general welfare of the Theresa community. Lifelong Theresa residents Russell I. and Mary Wilcox established this family legacy fund at the Community Foundation in 2020 to help strengthen the quality of life in their community.
The historical markers were installed along NYS Route 37 to commemorate the significance of Old Military Road, which includes Hiram Becker’s Red Tavern, a pivotal site for the Patriot War meetings, and Chaufty’s Corners, a once-thriving community hub. The nearby Chaufty’s Corners Cemetery is the resting place for at least eight soldiers who served in the War of 1812.
The Historical Marker Signage project addresses a community need for historical education and preservation, with a broader goal to instill pride and interest in local heritage among residents and visitors. The Town already has several markers in other notable areas and additional signage will help to one day create a heritage tourism trail.
Also on Saturday, officials dedicated trees planted in memory of Theresa residents who left their mark on the community and moved on to serve in larger capacities.
Allen T. Drake, Paul E. Porter, and Orin S. Wilcox were each honored with a Colorado blue spruce tree, which is the official tree of the Town of Theresa.
Orin S. Wilcox was Russell Wilcox’s father. He served as a Theresa Town Clerk and Supervisor, a New York State Assemblyman, a member of the state’s Civil Service Commission, and was the first Chairman of the New York State Lottery Commission. Orin Wilcox passed away in 1986 at the age of 87.
During his more than 20 years in the Assembly — from 1944 until 1965 — he was responsible for the introduction of more than 544 bills. He served 15 years as chairman of the lower house civil service committee and became a member of the New York State Civil Service commission in 1965. He served as the first chairman of the State Lottery Commission from 1967 until his retirement in 1971.
From 1923 until 1932, Orin and his wife, Gladys, owned and operated the Food Shop Grocery Store in Theresa, which now houses the U.S. Post Office. After that, they owned and operated a hardware store until the late 1950s. During this time, Mr. Wilcox, a Republican, also served as Theresa town clerk and town supervisor.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.