New Effort to Honor Rep. Daniel A. Reed Aims to Revive Town Pride
Last fall, SHS Trustee Susan Bigler began a special fundraising drive to raise money for the installation of a historical plaque honoring the late Rep. Daniel A. Reed, a 20-term United States Congressman who called Sheridan home. This spring brought the welcome news that our goal has been met, thanks to the generosity of many individuals.
The final seed money comes from a Community Benefit Grant in the sum of $655 from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. When combined with the donations of the Town of Sheridan and several local individuals, the grant will cover the cost of a long overdue tribute to one of Sheridan’s most distinguished citizens.
Although a historical marker stands outside Reed’s boyhood home on Center Road in Sheridan, no special tribute exists at his final resting place in Sheridan Center Cemetery. In the article that follows, Bigler shares more of the congressman’s history and what inspired her to spearhead this community project.
By Susan Bigler
The Town of Sheridan is divided by zip codes and by school districts. A sense of community has been lost. In order for a Sheridan identity to continue, we need things in common. My idea to revive our pride took me to Daniel Alden Reed and the proud history he represents.
The library at SUNY College at Fredonia is named after Daniel Reed. The pier at Barcelona has his name. We don’t give it a thought. But who was he, anyway? A house on the corner of Center and Chapin roads in Sheridan has a marker in its yard with perennials growing around it. What is that for? How many folks in Sheridan know the answer, that it was the boyhood home of Daniel Reed?
Daniel A. Reed was born in Sheridan, N.Y. on September 15, 1875. He attended primary school in the one-room schoolhouse No. 3 in Sheridan and graduated from Silver Creek High School. He went on to earn a law degree from Cornell University and establish a practice in Dunkirk. He coached college football, including for his alma mater, Cornell. Later, he presented local lectures and was instrumental in organizing municipal chambers of commerce. During and immediately following World War I he organized Liberty Loan programs, a Red Cross fundraising drive, and a food conservation program. President Herbert Hoover next appointed him to a commission studying post-war food needs in England and France.
Then came the part of his life for which he is most known today. In November 1918, he was elected to the United States Congress to represent our area, then part of the 43rd Congressional District. The district covered Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties. (Boundaries and district numbers have changed over the years.)
Early in his congressional career, he became chairman of the Committee on Education where, ahead of his time, he twice attempted to pass a bill to establish a Department of Education with a cabinet secretary. This effort did not become a reality until 1979, under the Carter administration. Meanwhile, Congressman Reed continued to be re-elected. He served in the United States House of Representatives for 20 consecutive terms. He was the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee under President Eisenhower. At the age of 83, he fell ill and passed away in Washington D.C. in February of 1959.
Now, how many Sheridan residents know that this man who played a significant role in our national government for 40 years has a final resting place in the town of his birth? He is buried in Sheridan Center Cemetery on Center Road. If you look for an imposing monument adorned with floral tribute, you won’t find it. His gravestone is a modest rectangular stone with only his name and life dates.
I have a vague memory of the funeral procession when he was buried, but only second-hand because I was 6 years old and in grade school. I’m sure my memories stem from pictures and stories. Those who grew up in Sheridan a bit earlier remember the day. For a time, the gravesite was attended. I believe it was surrounded by a hedge for a while.
Before Memorial Day last year, my cousin and I were in the cemetery with flowers for our family graves. I don’t recall how the subject of Daniel Reed came up, but conversation must have led to it somehow and I remarked how I didn’t remember where he was buried. My cousin remembered the general area and we found it. I was appalled by what I saw. Rep. Reed was a national public servant, with positions of authority in Congress and by presidential appointments. His constituents obviously respected him to have re-elected him to office so many times. Yet his final resting place was all but forgotten, with no flag or flower. It just didn’t feel right. From now on, we hope to remedy that.
No matter what his politics were, Congressman Reed dedicated his life to serving his country and the people of his district. Upon his death, he was described by his fellow congressmen as a gentleman of strength, integrity, and courage, with service above self. Such a man deserves to be honored and serve as an example still today.
Much as we honor our military servicemen and women with commemorative plaques on their graves, I felt that such a plaque belongs on the grave of Daniel Reed for his service to his country also. It should be different, since he served in a different way. But I resolved to begin raising money to erect an appropriate marker. I received some nice donations early on. The historical society then agreed to back the project, enabling us to apply for grant money from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, which was gratefully received.
These funds have enabled us to purchase a plaque from Mark Woolley of Riles and Woolley Monuments. Woolley will also help with an upright frame for the plaque, so that it will stand behind Daniel Reed’s stone. Any further donations anyone would like to contribute will be earmarked for this project and will go toward maintaining flowers at the gravesite yearly until the funds are used up.
A ceremony is planned in the cemetery for Saturday afternoon, September 23rd to dedicate the plaque. A reception will follow at the Sheridan Historical Center, where attendees will also have a chance to view the historical displays. Residents of Sheridan are encouraged to attend to learn about one significant part of our town’s history of which we can all take pride.
Daniel A. Reed’s legacy also has meaning beyond Sheridan, to the other two counties he represented in Congress and beyond. The honors bestowed upon him by SUNY Fredonia and the Barcelona harbor show his contribution is recognized outside of his hometown. Shouldn’t it be recognized by his hometown, as well? If this helps in any way to revive our pride, it is worth the effort.
The town of Sheridan has a proud history. But it is forgotten too often. Current residents may think of Sheridan as a quiet rural town, removed from all the development happening elsewhere. But Sheridan has been at the center of a lot of important history, as Congressman Reed’s legacy reminds us. I believe that some of the reasons we can be proud of our town can be reestablished, and hopefully encourage interest, growth and revitalization.