[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 119 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1492-E1493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        COMMEMORATING 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF BELVIDERE, NEW JERSEY

                                 ______


                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 21, 1995
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 
150th anniversary of the founding at Belvidere, NJ. The residents of 
Belvidere will hold a parade tomorrow as one of several events in a 
year-long celebration that began with a New Year's Eve party December 
31. There have also been a costume ball, a charter signing re-enactment 
and a family fishing day. Obviously, there's so much to Belvidere's 
proud history that it cannot all be celebrated in just one day or just 
one event.
  Belvidere was officially founded in 1845. But its history goes back 
to at least 1716, when William Penn and his partner, Colonel John 
Alford, purchased what was then the Lenape Indian village of Pequase. 
The property covered both sides of the Pequest River. The line 

[[Page E1493]]

dividing the Penn and Alford properties became a colonial road that is 
now known as Route 519.
  Many historical events have happened since then in Belvidere. 
Belvidere has had roles to play in the French and Indian Wars, the 
American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, just to name a few 
of its places in history.
  Belvidere was founded largely because of its location at the 
confluence of the Delaware and Pequest Rivers. The rivers first 
attracted Indian villages, then 18th century settlers and made possible 
19th century mills. Since 1824, Belvidere has been the county seat of 
Warren County and continues to be the focus of the county.
  I'd like to mention some of the past residents of Belvidere who 
contributed to the town's heritage in ways that should not be 
forgotten:
  Robert Patterson, a tinsmith who purchased land along the Pequest 
from William Penn in 1759, Patterson's wife had been killed and scalped 
by Indians in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War and brought 
his son to New Jersey to escape the violence. Patterson's log house 
still stands as Warren Lodge 13 of the Free and Accepted Masons at the 
corner of Front and Greenwich Streets.
  David Brainerd, a 26-year-old Presbyterian minister who came to 
Belvidere in 1744 to preach Christianity to the Indians. Brainerd was 
dying of tuberculosis but spent the remaining 3 years of his life at 
his work. Brainerd translated a number of prayers and Psalms into the 
Indians' language. In addition, he kept a journal and wrote several 
reports on the lives of both the local Indians and settlers, which are 
still of immense historical value today.
  Robert Hoops, who in 1769 purchased 500 acres of land from Patterson 
and William Penn, giving him water rights to both sides of the Pequest. 
These water rights made possible the industrialization of Belvidere 
through a saw mill, grist mill, and small factories. When the 
industries began to thrive on both sides of the river, Hoops linked 
them with the first bridge across the Pequest.
  Captain John Craig, who opened the American House tavern-stagecoach 
stop at 322 Market Street. During the Revolutionary War, it was Captain 
Craig who helped reveal the British Army's plan of attack on General 
George Washington's army as it retreated to Valley Forge in 1777.
  There are many others, of course, who contributed to Belvidere's 
history. I cite these as only a few examples of the wealth of history 
in a small town that might easily be overlooked by the pages of history 
books.
  At only 1.25 square miles and 2,600 residents, Belvidere is the 
smallest municipality in the county. But its importance in our county's 
history obviously goes far beyond its size. I congratulate Belvidere on 
its history and accomplishments, and wish all the people of Belvidere 
as equal amount of success in the town's future.


                          ____________________