On May 24, 1997, the Oriskany Museum was dedicated with the following proclamation:
WHEREAS, on this 24th Day of May 1997, as proud citizens of the Village of Oriskany, we dedicate this fine facility to be forever more known as the John A. Piersma building; and
WHEREAS, the goal to construct this was attained only through the generous contributions and whole-hearted efforts of the many citizens and businesses of this great area, for which they have the everlasting thanks of a grateful community; and
WHEREAS, this magnificent structure will cause an unquestioned impact upon, and become a tremendous asset to the cultural development of the entire community,
NOW, THEREFORE, I Donald F. Rothdiener, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the Village of Oriskany, and acting on behalf of the Village Board of Trustees and all residents, do hereby extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to all who have worked so faithfully and given so generously to make this dream become a reality.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I do hereby set my hand, and cause the Corporate Seal of the Village to be affixed this date.
Donald F. Rothdiener
WHEREAS, on this 24th Day of May 1997, as proud citizens of the Village of Oriskany, we dedicate this fine facility to be forever more known as the John A. Piersma building; and
WHEREAS, the goal to construct this was attained only through the generous contributions and whole-hearted efforts of the many citizens and businesses of this great area, for which they have the everlasting thanks of a grateful community; and
WHEREAS, this magnificent structure will cause an unquestioned impact upon, and become a tremendous asset to the cultural development of the entire community,
NOW, THEREFORE, I Donald F. Rothdiener, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the Village of Oriskany, and acting on behalf of the Village Board of Trustees and all residents, do hereby extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to all who have worked so faithfully and given so generously to make this dream become a reality.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I do hereby set my hand, and cause the Corporate Seal of the Village to be affixed this date.
Donald F. Rothdiener
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JOHN A. PIERSMA
Pioneer Pilot 1907-1995 John Piersma was born May 25, 1907 in Oriskany, New York, the third of eight children. He was a lifelong resident of Oriskany.
John spent much of his life building his business Holland Farms, a milk processing, bottling, and delivery business which he founded in 1927 on his family's farm on Cider Street. |
John was at the forefront of milk producing when he introduced super-iodized milk in 1932, and Vitamin D milk for babies in 1937. He owned 4 milk routes, and was helped in the milk business by his brothers Sidney, Pierre, Herman and Jack. In 1955 he built the first Holland Farms Dairy Bar and Bakery, in Yorkville, and co-owned another store in Clinton. He built this retail store into a quality bakery and dairy products institution, which was easy to find with his trade-mark billboard of two large cow-heads. John never retired and took an interest in the business until his death.
John was President of the Whitestown Kiwanis in 1969-70, and was honored by them for his dedication to Kamp Kiwanis 1970-78, where he built new cabins, a swimming pool and cleared woods for the ball diamond.
John was 22 years old when he started flying and flew for the next 59 years. He soloed in a Dehavalind Moth on October 2, 1929 after one and one half hours of instruction. He became an instructor in June of 1940, a Private Pilot examiner in 1945, and a Commercial Pilot examiner in 1954. During World War 11, John was the chief pilot in the War Training Pilot Prom, teaching many army pilots night flying off Utica Airport. In 1944 he leased the Utica Airport, in Marcy, NY, and co-founded Utica Aircraft, Inc. In 1959, Utica Aircraft moved to the newly built Oneida County Airport, where he and his partners operated the FBO for ten years. For over 20 years John gave many Central New Yorkers their "ticket" while he was a flight examiner. In 1990 John donated his 1956 Mooney Mite to the Empire State Aerosciences Museum at the Schenectady County Airport. He was a life member of AOPA, a charter member of the Utica-Rome Hangar of the QB's, a member of the 0X5 Pioneer Pilots Association and the Seaplane Pilots Association. His joy in his last years of flying was his Super Cub that he flew off Fourth Lake in the summer and off the farm, on skis, in the winter.
His lifelong interest in Oriskany and history promoted him, before his death, to donate seed money to help construct a new Oriskany Village Museum.
John was married to L. Evlyn Harding for 47 years, and Genevieve Swierczek for 8 years. He had three daughters, Suzanne P. Spohn, Marolyn P. Wilson and Patricia (deceased), and seven grandchildren, Michael, Tricia, John, Cydney, Emily, Stephen and Heather.
John was President of the Whitestown Kiwanis in 1969-70, and was honored by them for his dedication to Kamp Kiwanis 1970-78, where he built new cabins, a swimming pool and cleared woods for the ball diamond.
John was 22 years old when he started flying and flew for the next 59 years. He soloed in a Dehavalind Moth on October 2, 1929 after one and one half hours of instruction. He became an instructor in June of 1940, a Private Pilot examiner in 1945, and a Commercial Pilot examiner in 1954. During World War 11, John was the chief pilot in the War Training Pilot Prom, teaching many army pilots night flying off Utica Airport. In 1944 he leased the Utica Airport, in Marcy, NY, and co-founded Utica Aircraft, Inc. In 1959, Utica Aircraft moved to the newly built Oneida County Airport, where he and his partners operated the FBO for ten years. For over 20 years John gave many Central New Yorkers their "ticket" while he was a flight examiner. In 1990 John donated his 1956 Mooney Mite to the Empire State Aerosciences Museum at the Schenectady County Airport. He was a life member of AOPA, a charter member of the Utica-Rome Hangar of the QB's, a member of the 0X5 Pioneer Pilots Association and the Seaplane Pilots Association. His joy in his last years of flying was his Super Cub that he flew off Fourth Lake in the summer and off the farm, on skis, in the winter.
His lifelong interest in Oriskany and history promoted him, before his death, to donate seed money to help construct a new Oriskany Village Museum.
John was married to L. Evlyn Harding for 47 years, and Genevieve Swierczek for 8 years. He had three daughters, Suzanne P. Spohn, Marolyn P. Wilson and Patricia (deceased), and seven grandchildren, Michael, Tricia, John, Cydney, Emily, Stephen and Heather.