[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VILLAGE OF EMPIRE

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 
100th anniversary of the village of Empire. The community of Empire has 
planned many events for this significant milestone.
  The Village of Empire is known today as the home of the Sleeping Bear 
Dunes National Lakeshore Park Headquarters. The residents of Empire are 
renowned for their friendliness in welcoming over a million visitors to 
the lakeshore each year. With its beautiful beaches, hiking trails, 
abundant natural resources, and rich history, Empire is a recreational 
haven known the world over.
  Empire was settled in the mid 1850's. It quickly established itself 
as a lumbering center, the largest and best equipped hardwood mill in 
the State. Many Norwegians, recruited to operate the mill, settled 
here. With the manpower, modern equipment, and plentiful supply of 
wood, this mill produced up to ten million feet of lumber each year, 
and was a model of efficiency across the State.
  The village of Empire formally incorporated on October 16, 1895. It 
was probably named after the Empire State, a steamer-sidewheeler that 
ran aground nearby in 1849, and the Empire, a schooner that also ran 
aground in the area in 1865.
  The lumber mill burned in 1917, and the residents of Empire quickly 
adapted to produce agricultural products. Lands which had been cleared 
by the lumbering industry were replanted with fruit trees or became 
grazing for livestock. Empire drew many seasonal workers anxious to 
work the harvest, and fruit companies and slaughterhouses sent 
representatives to view and buy the goods Empire produced.
  In 1949, the Empire Air Force Station was established. The 752d 
Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned 300 personnel, 
almost doubling Empire's population. This station remained a part of 
Empire until the 1980's. The former station is now controlled by the 
FAA and provides essential radar services to the area.
  Empire's long and rich history was recognized through the 
authorization of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 1970. 
The National Park Service has improved the recreational resources in 
the area, while preserving cultural resources. The partnership between 
the residents of Empire and the national lakeshore will continue to 
draw many visitors in the years to come. Michigan is fortunate to boast 
of the contributions of the village of Empire.

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