[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE TOWNSHIP OF CRANBURY, NJ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, this year a community in my district, one of 
the oldest towns in the State of New Jersey, Cranbury Township, 
celebrates its tercentennial, 300 years since the time that it was 
founded.
  Cranbury certainly looks different than it did back in 1697 but its 
residents have done a remarkable job in maintaining its historic 
qualities. While it has adapted to changing times, it has held firm to 
its roots.
  Cranbury is a model of what many towns strive to be and what many 
people look for in a community. It is the kind of town that you read 
about, a place where people say hello on the street and look after each 
other.

                              {time}  1300

  Many people probably remember the theme song to the popular 
television show ``Cheers.'' There is a line in the song that epitomizes 
what it is like to live in Cranbury. It is a place where everybody 
knows your name.
  One drive down Main Street is all it takes to take hold of the hearts 
of the visitors. It reveals distinct beauty and history that makes the 
town the subject of pride for its residents and an unforgettable memory 
for visitors. As you walk down the street, you cannot help but get 
nostalgic.
  Main Street itself is literally layered deep in American history. 
This modern-day paved road that runs through the center of the town was 
once an Indian trail, then a stagecoach road, and then a road partially 
covered with stone cinders and then laid with gravel.
  Main Street was also where, on June 26, 1887, General George 
Washington stopped with his troops and established a temporary 
headquarters to lay out the plans that led to the Battle of Monmouth 
during the American Revolution.
  As residents and visitors drive or stroll down Main Street, they 
cannot miss one of the town's principal attractions, Brainerd Lake. 
There is a colonial house right next to the lake that is so picturesque 
and tranquil that I am told at least once a week a visitor offers to 
buy it. Looking at that house by the lake makes you think that for many 
people this is the American dream come true.
  Beyond its recreational uses and its sheer beauty, the brook off the 
lake has been used as a source of power and business since the mid-
1700's. It provided power to a grist mill, a saw mill, and even ice 
harvesting.
  Cranbury Township is more than a lake or a Main Street, it is 
America. The tercentennial celebration, which has been led by Betty 
Wagner, recognizes much more than the town's mere existence, the 
landmarks, and history. As we pause to pay tribute and recall the past 
of this community, we look forward to its future.
  In 1980, the National Park Service recognized the historic, cultural, 
and architectural importance of Cranbury by listing the Cranbury 
Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. The 
town's 18th and 19th century architecture has been maintained and can 
still be seen in its buildings and homes.
  I would like to recognize the efforts of Mayor Alan Danser and the 
township committee, the tercentennial committee, the Cranbury 
Historical Preservation Society, and all the residents of Cranbury who 
have played a role in this year's celebration.
  As the people of Cranbury look back on all that has occurred during 
the past 300 years, they stand at the crossroads between the past and 
the future, steadfast in their commitment to preserving the landmarks 
and values in the finest tradition of our country. It is in these 
values of the past that we find the many solutions for the future.
  In conclusion, the people of Cranbury have made an investment in the 
future by preserving the past. Not only do they share their history, 
their landmarks, and their stories but they share their values. In 
these days of the Internet, fax machines, and teleconferencing, it is 
reassuring to know that America still has places like Cranbury that 
people can call home.

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