Town board members as well as residents of the town celebrated the bicentennial Sunday at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, on Terrace Avenue.

The master of ceremonies was Dale Robbins, former town supervisor, and guest speakers included Lakewood Village Mayor Randy Holcomb; Chautauqua Count Executive PJ Wendel; State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown; State Sen. George Borrello, R- Sunset Bay; and a representative from U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy.

Holcomb thanked town Supervisor Jesse Robbins for making the town’s birthday celebration happen. “I have to say first of all the town of Busti is the best town in this country, and I am proud to be here and thankful for it,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb, began working for the town during high school, and moved his way up to the town assessor. “It was a wonderful experience and one of the most influential parts of my life. And that was because of all of the people in this room and the town of Busti and I am forever grateful for that,” Holcomb, the former town assessor said.

The Busti Mill in Busti. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

“So I started my job working for Supervisor Robbins. I ended my job working for Supervisor Robbins. I have a very favorite supervisor, and his name is Supervisor Robbins,” Holcomb said.

Wendel noted in his speech that the town of Busti borders Pennsylvania and “serves as a gateway to the great Empire State of New York.”

Also, town board members held a re-enactment of the first town board meeting. They were dressed in age-appropraite attire. Town Clerk Darlene Nygren potrayed Town Clerk Emry Davis and Tax Collector Solomon Biship; Jesse Robbins portrayed Supervisor Daniel Shearman; Todd Hanson portrayed David Hatch; Jim Andrews portrayed Assessor Homer Wellman; Doug Brown portrayed Assessor Samuel Garfield; Greg John Portrayed Commissioner of Highways and Pathmaster Thomas Danforth; Lakewood-Busti Police Chief Chri DePonceau portrayed Constable Abram Shearman; and Beth Moss portrayed puond keeper Jonas Lanphere.

The celebration was to include a cornhole tournament, a chicken barbecue dinner, and a fireworks display.

The town was first incorporated in 1823, and named after Paul Busti, who came to the area from Philadelphia where he worked for the Holland Land Company. Two-hundred years later Busti remains a small, quaint town in southern Chautauqua County.

This is a coin commemorating the Town of Busti’s bicentennial.

More events are planned for the town’s 200th birthday.

On Memorial Day the Busti Fire Department will hold its annual parade with a pancake breakfast at the Busti Fire Hall. In June and July a number of lectures have been scheduled including one about Paul Busti and some lectures will feature historian Norman Carlson. The Busti Fire Department will be hosting a tractor pull, car show, and a band on June 17 at the Firemen’s Grounds and the Gazebo.

Also in July the town’s birthday will be celebrated with a special, 40-lap Super Late Model feature show on July 1 at Stateline Speedway, which has been part of the town since 1956. There will also be a special night with the Jamestown Tarp Skunks baseball team on July 15, with discount tickets for Busti residents and special recognition of veterans from the town.

More events are planned for August including an Aug. 5 Sock Hop and Car Show at Country Elegance Farms LLC; a golf tournament at South Hills Country Club on Aug. 12; and a square dance program on Aug. 19 at Country Elegance Farms, LLC.

From Sept. 21-23, the town will host its Bicentennial Celebration at the Busti Firemen’s Grounds featuring concerts and a carnival with disc jockeys and five bands performing. This year’s annual Busti Apple Harvest Festival will be held over two-days on Sept. 23 and 24 held in conjunction with the event. Supervisor Jesse Robbins adds there will be a parade and fireworks on Sept. 23, to conclude the event.