[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I would like to call to the attention of 
our colleagues celebrations that are underway to celebrate the 250th 
anniversary of the establishment of the city of Frederick, MD. The 
mayor of Frederick, Jim Grimes, along with the entire community, has 
planned several significant events to commemorate this propitious 
milestone.
  Throughout its history, Frederick has served not only as a monument 
to Marylanders, but it has also carved its place in American history as 
well. Established in 1745, Frederick Town was the home of many great 
colonial Americans including Francis Scott Key, author of ``The Star 
Spangled Banner''; Roger Taney, second Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court; and John Hanson, President of the Continental Congress.
  The English and German settlers of Frederick Town were ferociously 
proud of the independence and the liberty they found in the New World. 
When the British passed the Stamp Act in 1785 requiring colonists to 
purchase stamps for all legal and commercial documents, 12 Frederick 
County judges resolved to reject the Stamp Act and approved the usage 
of unstamped documents. This bold maneuver is believed to be the first 
recorded act of rebellion in the colonies.
  According to several historians, it was in Frederick Town, not St. 
Louis, where Lewis and Clark began their famed expedition across the 
unexplored Nation. In July 1803, the travelers set forth from the 
Hessian Barracks in Frederick Town across the unchartered west and into 
the unknown territory.
  Frederick Town was incorporated as a city in 1817, thus officially 
changing its name to Frederick. In the early 1800's, construction of 
the B&O Railroad and the C&O Canal began. The establishment of these 
two major avenues of transportation opened a window to the world for 
the citizens of Frederick. These corridors to Washington and Baltimore 
would provide access to jobs, to industry, and to trade.
  But in 1864, Frederick was faced with grave despair. Under the threat 
of General Jubal Early's torch, city officials had to secure $200,000 
in loans from local banks to save Frederick. Three of the five original 
banks that contributed to that ransom are still open for business.
  Over the course of the next century, Frederick would mature into a 
thriving and continuously expanding community. It is the home of a wide 
spectrum of facilities that include Fort Detrick, high-tech firms that 
are instrumental in AIDS research, the Frederick Keys baseball team, 
Hood College and Frederick Community College. And although Frederick is 
the third largest city in Maryland, it still maintains its small town 
charm and charisma.
  Frederick is a model of community spirit and cooperation. The 
activities that have been sponsored to commemorate this auspicious 
occasion exemplify the deep devotion of Frederick's residents to their 
community. The spirit and enthusiasm of Frederick's citizens have been 
the foundation of its success. These celebrations provide the 
opportunity to renew the dedication that has supported Frederick 
throughout its history and helped it to develop into one of Maryland's 
most attractive communities.
  We in Maryland are fortunate to have an area as community-oriented as 
Frederick. I join the citizens of Frederick in sharing their pride in 
Frederick's past and optimism for continued success in the years to 
come.

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