Paolo Busti Monument
Monument dedicated in Paolo Busti Park October 27, 1984 by the Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation of Genesee County.
Paolo Busti's contribution to the development of WNY has been overlooked. His foresight and business acumen were important to the settlement of Holland Land Company sales.
Born and educated in Milan, Italy, Busti's business talents surfaced in Dutch banks. His reputation for industry and scrupulous honesty spurred an offer to be a representative of the company in the United States of America. Named General Agent in 1799, Busti received title to all the company lands, represented Dutch investors and could even defend their interests in court.
[west plaque]
Busti donated land and money for churches, inns, courthouses, schools, roads, and the canal. Integrity and honesty governed his decisions. Refusing to sell to speculators, he promoted sales to settlers with low prices, long credit, and every necessary accommodation. He believed the settlers' industriousness and enterprise would develop the area's resources.
To the industrious and indigent, Paolo Busti was a friend. The Batavia Times said he was: "Benevolent, kind, generous and humane - the patron of religion - the friend, the benefactor, and the ornament of man." So should he be remembered.
[east plaque]
Busti
this page online
Erected 1984.
Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1799.
Location. 42° 59.944′ N, 78° 11.422′ W. Marker is in Batavia, New York, in Genesee County. It is on West Main Street (New York State Route 5) 0.2 miles east of Oak Street ( Route 98), on the right when traveling east. Marker is on the east lawn of the Holland Land Office Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 131 West Main Street, Batavia NY 14020, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and monument is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, in the Finger Lakes, and in the Rochester Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Batavia Peace Garden (here, next to this marker); War of 1812 (here, next to this marker); Gabriel DeFabbio (a few steps from this marker);
Also see . . .
1. Holland Land Office Museum. (Submitted on July 29, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
2. Paolo Busti - Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 29, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
3. Holland Land Company - Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 29, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
4. Wikipedia entry for the Town of Busti, NY. The town of Busti in New York State was named after Paolo Busti. (Submitted on May 21, 2025, by Paige Miller of Getzville, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 692 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 29, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
