[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E872-E873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF WILKES-BARRE

                                 ______


                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th 
anniversary of the city of Wilkes-Barre, PA. Tomorrow, May 23, 1996, 
marks the passing of 125 years since the founding of the city of 
Wilkes-Barre. I am pleased to have been asked to join Mayor Tom 
McGroarty in commemorating this event, and I take pride in recognizing 
Wilkes-Barre's anniversary on the House floor today.
  As the city of Wilkes-Barre celebrates its 125th anniversary, its 
citizens will remember the city's long and historically significant 
past. City residents will also look to the future when officials seal a 
time capsule that will remain closed until the 175th anniversary of the 
city.
  The history of Wilkes-Barre begins in 1769 when it was settled by 
colonists from New

[[Page E873]]

England under the leadership of Maj. John Durkee. Recognizing the 
beauty of the region, and the abundance of its many natural resources, 
the first settlers named the region after Col. John Wilkes and Col. 
Isaac Barre who defended the American colonies before their colleagues 
in the British Parliament.
  Located in the heart of the beautiful Wyoming Valley of northeastern 
Pennsylvania, the Wilkes-Barre area grew rapidly. On March 17, 1806, 
the area was incorporated as a borough; on May 4, 1871 it became a 
city; and on September 22, 1898, a third-class city charter was issued.
  The first residents of the city of Wilkes-Barre were a very diverse 
collection of early European immigrants drawn to the area by its 
fertile soil along the Susquehanna River. The earliest Wilkes-Barre 
residents brought with them an outstanding sense of family values, 
community pride, and commitment to remembering their heritage. Today, 
those same traditions still run strong through the residents of Wilkes-
Barre.
  From its earliest days, the development of Wilkes-Barre was driven by 
the strong will of the area residents. The earliest residents worked 
the soil to establish successful farms. When coal was discovered in 
abundance throughout the region, the residents of the Wilkes-Barre area 
moved quickly to mine the lands. By taking full advantage of this newly 
discovered resource, the productivity of the residents of the city made 
Wilkes-Barre the Anthracite Capital of the World. The region became one 
of the most prosperous areas anywhere in the country as anthracite 
fueled the industrial revolution.
  As the use of anthracite declined and after the Knox Mine Disaster 
virtually wiped out deep anthracite mining, the Wilkes-Barre area 
suffered a tremendous economic decline. In the 1950's and 1960's 
thousands of families left the area to find job opportunities 
elsewhere. Then in 1972 the Hurricane Agnes caused unprecedented 
flooding, causing nearly $1 billion in damages to 25,000 homes and 
2,700 businesses. More than 60,000 people were unemployed, some 
temporarily, and some permanently. Many thought that the city of 
Wilkes-Barre would become a ghost town.
  But the ``Valley with a Heart'' rallied together, cleaned up the muck 
and mud, rebuilt the community's infrastructure, and Wilkes-Barre once 
again became the hub of activity for northeastern Pennsylvania. This 
February, President Bill Clinton came to the Wyoming Valley to announce 
the completion of the general design memorandum that will allow the 
raising of the levees that protect Wilkes-Barre and much of the Wyoming 
Valley from the ravages of a flood the scale of that caused by 
Hurricane Agnes. After working on this project since my election in 
1984, I am pleased that finally we will have protection from the 
devastation that the Susquehanna River can bring.
  The Susquehanna River is now poised to be appreciated as the asset 
that originally drew Wilkes-Barre's first settlers to the area. The 
inflatable dam included in the levee raising project will serve as an 
incentive to beautify Wilkes-Barre's waterfront and lead to increased 
economic and recreational activity. I have no doubt that upon the 
opening of the time capsule in which this statement will be buried, an 
unpolluted Susquehanna River will once again be the center piece for 
the Wyoming Valley, with a thriving waterfront in Wilkes-Barre.
  The entire city of Wilkes-Barre is ready to undergo a tremendous 
revitalization. With the nearly $40 million renovation of the former 
Stegmaier Brewery complex and the newly renamed Max Rosenn Federal 
Courthouse, the city will experience an infusion of hope and new 
development. Mayor Tom McGroarty has shown tremendous energy and 
enthusiasm for solving the city's problems and preparing for the 21st 
century, and I appreciate the enormous amount of assistance he has 
provided for these and other projects.
  Northeastern Pennsylvania is destined for economic growth unlike any 
we have experienced since the beginning of the anthracite industry. 
Much of that growth will result from the development of new 
technologies by our talented and hardworking workforce, such as those 
individuals employed by Harris Semiconductor in Mountaintop. In the 
spirit of the time capsule, let me predict that over the next 50 years 
the city of Wilkes-Barre will serve as the core for an economically 
vibrant region; let me speculate further that the second electronic 
revolution brought about by the Harris Corporation's power electronics 
building blocks program will drive that economic development.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the city of Wilkes-Barre in the 
U.S. House of Representatives. I am also pleased to join all the 
citizens of Wilkes-Barre as we commemorate the city's 125th 
anniversary, and I look forward to great things for the city and our 
region.

                          ____________________