Herkimer 9 Foundation Inc

TO COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION IN THE VILLAGE OF HERKIMER, AND ITS SURROUNDS, BY SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE THE AREA AS A CENTER OF ACTIVITY AND COMMERCIAL EXPANSION, TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES HAVING HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, AND TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF NEW FACILITIES WITHIN THE BLIGHTED, DECAYED OR SUBSTANDARD AREAS OF THE VILLAGE OF HERKIMER, ALL OF WHICH WILL HELP TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH THESE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS

THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO PROMOTE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE QUACKENBUSH FACTORY, A STRUCTURE ONCE OWNED BY THE QUACKENBUSH COMPANY WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVENTING OR SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUMEROUS EARLY 20TH CENTURY INVENTIONS INCLUDING THE 22-CALIBER RIM FIRE RIFLE, VARIOUS AIR RIFLES AND PISTOLS AND AMMUNITION, BICYCLES, A FOOT-POWERED WOOD LATHE, DARTS, STAIR RAILS, THE EXTENSION LADDER, THE KALEIDOSCOPE AND COAT HANGERS. THE ORIGINAL QUACKENBUSH FACTORY STILL STANDS IN DOWNTOWN HERKIMER AND THE VISION IS FOR THIS BUILDING TO BE REHABILITATED AS A CULTURAL CENTER AND MUSEUM HONORING HERKIMER'S MANUFACTURING HISTORY AND ALSO HOUSE AN INVENTION AND INNOVATION CENTER FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS.

THE ORGANIZATION ALSO WISHES TO DRAW ATTENTION TO AND HONOR HERKIMER'S ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN BASKETBALL. MANY OF THE RULES WHICH GOVERN THE MODERN GAME ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN HERKIMER AND THE FIRST GAME UNDER THOSE RULES WAS PLAYED AT THE HERKIMER YMCA IN 1891. THE ORGANIZATION ENVISIONS THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SPORTS VENUE IN THE VILLAGE OF HERKIMER THAT CAN PROVIDE A MUCH-NEEDED GATHERING SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO HONORING THIS LOCAL HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT. OTHER STRUCTURES IN THE AREA TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE REVITALIZATION PLAN INCLUDE THE HISTORIC HERKIMER COUNTY JAIL, THE OLD COUNTRY COURTHOUSE, A FEW CHURCHES, AND THE GOTHIC-STYLE MASONIC TEMPLE.

BY DEVELOPING A VISION AND IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO REVITALIZE CERTAIN HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND DEVELOP NEW FACILITIES, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO PROMOTE AND CREATE ECONOMIC AND TOURIST ACTIVITY FOR THE VILLAGE OF HERKIMER, ALL WITH THE INTENT OF RESTORING WHAT IS CURRENTLY A BLIGHTED, DECAYED AND DECREPIT AREA. THE ORGANIZATION WILL NOT UNDERTAKE ANY OF THE ACTUAL REHABILITATION OR NEW CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PART OF THIS REVITALIZATION EFFORT. NOR WILL THE ORGANIZATION HAVE AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN OR MANAGEMENT ROLE IN ANY THIRD PARTIES THAT UNDERTAKEN THESE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OR THAT OPERATE THE NEW FACILITIES OR ANY OF THE BUSINESSES OCCUPYING THESE RENOVATED STRUCTURES.