[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1473-E1474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATIONS TO BROOME, NY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 1997

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, the virtues that make America the greatest 
and freest nation this planet has ever seen can be found in their 
truest forms not in the giant megacities on either coast but in the 
small towns and villages in between. I'd like to mention one of them 
today, a very special one, in fact.
  This year the town of Broome in Schoharie County in upstate New York 
is celebrating its 200th anniversary, making it nearly as old as our 
Nation itself.
  The town of Broome was first known as Bristol when it was formed in 
1797, but was changed to Broome in 1808 in honor of then Lt. Gov. John 
Broome.
  The original town was much larger, with parts of the original town 
broken off to form or combine with the towns of Conesville, Gilboa, or 
Middleburgh. In fact, the first town meeting in 1836 was held in the 
house of Peter Richtmyer in the present day town of Conesville.
  By 1860, Broome was a thriving community of hillside farms, 
businesses, and 2,182 people. Among the businesses was a quarry which 
supplied stones for the capital building in Albany. The changing 
economy and demographics of the 20th century reduced the population to 
761, according to the 1980 census. But the 1990 census showed that the 
decline in population had been reversed, and the population increased 
to 926. Today, there are only seven working dairy farms left, and many 
of the town's 29,000 acres are occupied by summer homes and hunting 
camps.
  What makes the town of Broome attractive for such purposes is what 
makes small town life so pleasant and popular in today's America.
  Mr. Speaker, I was extremely pleased when that part of Schoharie 
County containing the town of Broome was added to our district in 1992. 
The same small-town virtues I mentioned, the pride, patriotism, and 
spirit of voluntarism, are found here in abundance.
  A ceremony marking the town of Broome's 200 years of existence will 
be held at Firemen's Hall in the hamlet of Livingstonville on

[[Page E1474]]

Sunday, August 10. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all members to join me in 
wishing this charming community of wonderful people a happy 200th 
birthday, with many best wishes as it approaches its third century.

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