Editing Williamsville, New York (section)

== History ==
The community developed where the major road between [[Batavia, New York|Batavia]] and [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] crossed [[Ellicott Creek]] just above [[Glen Falls (New York)|Glen Falls]]. The water power offered by the waterfall attracted millers. The first mill was built by Jonas Williams in 1811, giving the village its first name, "Williams Mills". It still stands today, next to [[Glen Park (park)|Glen Park]], and is known as the [[Williamsville Water Mill Complex|Williamsville Water Mill]].

Several other mills were built near Glen Falls during the 19th century. In 1841, a raceway was constructed to divert water from Ellicott Creek to the mills, creating an island known today as Island Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=Island Park |url=http://walkablewilliamsville.com/parks-pools/island-park/ |website=Walkable Williamsville}}</ref> A stagecoach stop, tavern, and inn was built along the main road near Ellicott Creek by Oziel Smith in 1827. Today it is known as the Eagle House.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eagle Hotel, Main Street, Williamsville |url=https://buffaloah.com/h/af/source/12.html |website=Buffalo Architecture and History}}</ref> The close crossing of the main road and Ellicott Creek's Glen Falls was the initial attraction, around which Williamsville grew. The village was incorporated in 1850.

Ss. Peter and Paul Church was loosely operating in the early 1820s, and the current church construction began in 1834 following the sale of land for the church from a non-parishioner, Oziel Smith, and was finished in 1836. [[St. John Neumann]] arrived to lead Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church from 1836 to 1840. Ss. Peter and Paul School was started by St. John Neumann in 1836, who also served as one of its first teachers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ssppchurch.com/Our-Church/Parish-History | title="SS. Peter and Paul Church of Williamsville NY, Parish History"}}</ref>

During the [[War of 1812]], American troops were stationed in Williamsville in the area between Garrison Road and Ellicott Creek. American soldiers and British prisoners were treated in a field hospital and log barracks that lined Garrison Road. A small cemetery, located on Aero Drive between Wehrle and Youngs Road, was used to bury the men who did not survive. General [[Winfield Scott]] used the Evans House as his headquarters in the Spring of 1813 when his entire army of 5,000–6,000 men were stationed in Williamsville. In 1813, when the British burned Buffalo, people fled to the safety of Williamsville, nearby [[Harris Hill, New York|Harris Hill]], and [[Erie, Pennsylvania]].

The village of Williamsville was one of more than 550 villages incorporated by New York State in 1850.

In 1983, Williamsville passed a Historic Preservation Code "to promote the awareness of landmarks of historic, cultural, social and architectural significance in the Village of Williamsville and to safe guard the heritage, character and quality of life unique to the Village through the preservation of these landmarks."<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://walkablewilliamsville.com/government/history/ |website=Village of Williamsville |access-date=October 27, 2022}}</ref>

Every summer in Williamsville, Old Home Days<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091026235817/http://geocities.com/oldhomedays/ Welcome to OldHomeDays.org!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> is held in Island Park, located directly on Main Street in the village. The Carnival begins with a parade on the opening Tuesday, and for four days, thousands of people enjoy rides, food, and the people of Williamsville. The Old Home Days festival is in remembrance of several women who in the mid-19th century came to the park once each summer to drink tea and catch up on the years past.

In 2010, government downsizing activist [[Kevin Gaughan]] campaigned to dissolve the village government. After a highly contentious campaign, a dissolution referendum was held on August 17, 2010, where voters rejected dissolution by a 5–1 margin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1689487/WBFO.News/Village.dissolution.rejected.in.Williamsville.and.Sloan |title=WBFO: Village dissolution rejected in Williamsville and Sloan (2010-08-18) |website=www.publicbroadcasting.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905062917/http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1689487/WBFO.News/Village.dissolution.rejected.in.Williamsville.and.Sloan |archive-date=September 5, 2010}}</ref>