[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3804-S3805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO THE TOWN OF NOTTINGHAM ON ITS 275TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to the town of Nottingham on its 275th anniversary. On May 10, 
1997, at the 275th anniversary celebration, the Nottingham Historical 
Society and the anniversary committee will be reading the Royal Charter 
of May 10, 1722, which founded the town of Nottingham.
  When the charter was formally issued in 1722, there were 132 persons 
who were allowed to draw lots of land to establish the town. Now, 
Nottingham is a quaint New England town of 3,002 people, still 
dedicated to the Yankee ingenuity that formed the town in colonial 
times.
  Nottingham was at the forefront of America's industrial history. In 
1727, the townspeople decided to build the first sawmill on the 
Tuckaway River which was the beginning of 17 water powered mills for 
the purpose of sawing lumber, grinding grain, and fulling, a process of 
cleansing and working up a nap on rough, woolen homespun cloth.
  The rugged land was too rocky for the planting of crops and the land 
had to be cleared to allow the family's provisions to be raised, and to 
provide winter food for the livestock. Charcoal was produced for sale 
in the seacoast towns like this one; it was used as the fuel in the 
furnaces for making iron and for heating and cooking in city 
fireplaces. The ironmills along the two-mile streak--also known as New 
Portsmouth--required large amounts of charcoal, too, for building 
furnaces and making iron. The name of today's Smoke Street still 
indicates how much charcoal was produced in the former Summer Street of 
the 1700's.
  In spite of the hardships of nature in the cold northeast, Nottingham 
started to grow. By the late 1760's the Nottingham Square included a 
school house, a church, a meeting house, and a store. Landowners were 
building homes which were substantial. The Butler Inn, for example, and 
many other colonial and federal style homes remain in good condition 
today.
  Nottingham also has a place of honor in our Nation's military 
history. Gen. Henry Dearborn led Nottingham in the march of the 
Minutemen to the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolution. 
Three other brave Revolutionary War generals, Joseph Cilley, Thomas 
Bartlett and Henry Butler, remained in Nottingham to become leading 
citizens and many of their descendants are still actively involved in 
the improvement of Nottingham today.
  During the Civil War, Nottingham residents provided many able-bodied

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men to fight and supplied the Union Armies with food and clothing. From 
the Civil War to the gulf war, many members of Nottingham's families 
have served their country proudly and honorably in all branches of our 
Nation's services.
  Nottingham's residents today serve in professional, semiprofessional, 
trade, and service occupations. Though individualistic, these 
townspeople are family-oriented and prudent. They always strive for the 
betterment of their community and are willing to contribute their time 
and talents on behalf of their neighbors.
  I congratulate all the dedicated and patriotic residents of 
Nottingham on this historic milestone and wish them an enjoyable year 
of celebration and remembrance. They all should be very proud of the 
town's heritage and 275 years of distinguished history. I send them my 
best wishes for continued success and prosperity. Happy Birthday, 
Nottingham.

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