Town and county officials gathered to mark the occasion with a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday at the future site of the new administrative and court offices for the town of North Harmony. The site will be adjacent to the Ashville Volunteer Fire Department’s Station 1 on 5388 Stow Road in Ashville.

The building will replace the current town offices on Old Bridge Road in Stow. Town Supervisor Robert Yates said the new building will be 5,000 square feet, and noted that construction is expected to take six months.

The project was headed by former town Supervisor Sally Carlson, who served in the position from 2006 until her death in March 2018.

Also in attendance Monday were former Supervisors Bill Reynolds and Frank Stow, family members of Carlson, former New York State Sen. Cathy Young, Town Clerk Nancy Thomas, town bookkeeper Robin Miller, town attorney David Stapleton, board members Louise Ortman and Duncan McNeill, Lakewood trustee Randy Holcomb, Chautauqua County legislator Pierre Chagnon, New York State Assemblyman Andy Goodell and representatives of M&T Bank, Harrington Architecture, Citadel Services, Empire Development Inc., Sullivan Electrical Contracting and Wm. T. Spaeder Co. of Erie, Pa.

Former New York Sen. Cathy Young speaks on the impact of the construction of the new courthouse and administrative building that will be named after former North Harmony town Supervisor Sally Carlson. From front left are members of the Carlson family. In the back is current North Harmony town Supervisor Robert Yates. P-J photo by William Mohan

Yates welcomed the attendees and explained that the project was a goal of Carlson’s when she was town Supervisor. He also said that the purchase of the property was made possible by Carlson with help from Reynolds, Stow and a $1 million bridge loan acquired by Young with assistance from Goodell.

“This property was bought with the intention of putting in a town office and court along with the fire hall and making this the center of the town of North Harmony,” Yates said. “Sally was instrumental in moving this project forward.”

Young also spoke Monday.

“It’s a very special day for this community and for someone who was special to all of us,” Young said.

“Sally being Sally was such a strong advocate for the community.”

Young said funding was secured after Carlson sent a grant proposal to her office. Young also described Carlson as relentless in pursuing opportunities for the town of North Harmony. She explained this through a meeting that happened immediately after the dedication ceremony for the Veterans Memorial in Ashville in 2016.

Yates said that upon completion of the project, the building will be dedicated in Carlson’s honor.

“She had the greatest attitude I have ever seen. She made sure she was inspiring other people, and that is why I thinks it’s so important that we do name this building in her honor,” Young said. “She was an inspiration to so many other people.”

Young also thanked Yates for his work in the town. She then invited members of the Carlson family to speak.

“It’s fantastic that we’re here today,” Carlson’s daughter Brooke Norris said. “I couldn’t be more honored to make sure this project happens. I’m proud of her and thankful that you see what she gave.”

“It’s great to have a new Town Hall, new town center and it will be wonderful to name it after Sally. For so many years she and her family gave to this wonderful town,” Reynolds said.

Following the ceremony, Young attributed the ground breaking to the hard work of Carlson.

“This building will be a reminder to everyone of that inspiration she gave to so many people,” Young said.