[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1235-E1236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WAMPUM BOROUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KLINK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 1996

  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Wampum Borough 
on its 200th anniversary.
  Wampum was the first town to be settled in Lawrence County. It was 
settled in 1796 by two Irish brothers, Robert and John Davidson.
  The famed steel baron and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie had a 
financial interest in

[[Page E1236]]

the local Wampum Furnace. The Wampum mine has supplied a large amount 
of limestone for steel and cement production, but is better known for 
its storage capacity. The mine has 2.5 million square feet of storage 
space. It currently holds various items from 50 industries, most 
notably 8,000 films from 20th Century Fox and the world's largest 
optical mirror.
  Athletics has played a large part in Wampum's history. Wampum High 
School basketball team won three state championships in 1950's and 
1960's. In 1955, the team went undefeated, 31-0. The coach, L. Butler 
Hennon was known for unusual practice techniques, such as players 
wearing weighted jackets and workmen's gloves. Hennon's theory was that 
such handicaps in practice made things easier in games. His techniques 
were featured in a Life magazine article and used by the Russian 
Olympic basketball team. Hennon's son, Don, was a star at Wampum. Don 
set a regional scoring record that lasted almost 40 years. Don went on 
to be an All-American at the University of Pittsburgh.
  The Hennons were not the only famous athletic family to call Wampum 
home. The Allen brothers, Harold, Ron, and Richie, all played major 
league baseball. Richie was the most proficient of the three. Richie 
has the distinction of being the first African-American to play in the 
Philadelphia Phillies organization. In 1972, with the Chicago White 
Sox, Richie was named the American League Most Valuable Player. Richie 
led the league with a .308 batting average. Richie also slugged 37 home 
runs and had 133 runs batted in.
  Wampum is certainly a special place with special people. So today, 
Mr. Speaker, I join with all my colleagues in the House in 
congratulating Wampum Borough on the momentous occasion of its 200th 
anniversary.

                          ____________________