Founder’s Day Ceremony Celebrates Bicentennial of “Old Wolcott” Towns

On April 9, North Rose-Wolcott High School students and staff joined forces with local officials, historians, and other community guests to celebrate a significant milestone in local history.

This month marks the 200th anniversary of the towns of Butler, Huron and Rose and the re-establishment of the borders of their parent municipality, the Town of Wolcott. A special Founder’s Day assembly marked the occasion with musical performances, reflections, and historical overviews. Students and staff worked alongside town historians to organize Thursday’s program. 

Student speakers shared facts and favorites about their home towns, and the NRWHS choir and band performed songs of celebration. The NRWHS AV Club showed a preview of a short film they are working on, featuring historical images and interviews with senior members of the community about growing up in the “Old Wolcott” towns.

Proclamations were presented to each town by State Assemblyman Brian Manktelow and staff members of U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney and State Senator Pamela Helming.

While the “Old Wolcott” towns split in 1826, they would come together again 143 years later with the merging of the North Rose and Wolcott school districts in 1969. The Founder’s Day assembly was a unique opportunity to help students learn more about the past and their role in carrying history forward.

Thursday’s assembly was just the beginning – Old Wolcott celebrations are planned throughout 2026.

A replay of the live stream of the ceremony can be viewed online on our Hudl page.