[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E170-E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


THE RETIREMENT OF MARGE HOSKIN AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF 
              QUINEBAUG-SHETUCKET HERITAGE CORRIDOR, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 1999

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute of Marge 
Hoskin of Plainfield, Connecticut upon her retirement as Chairman of 
the Board of Directors of Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc. 
Marge is an extraordinary American who has worked for more than two 
decades to preserve and promote the historic, natural and cultural 
resources of eastern Connecticut.
  I first began working with Marge in the late 1980s. She was one of 
the leaders of a grassroots group in eastern Connecticut exploring how 
communities could preserve and promote the history of the region. Marge 
and the other members of this group had vision of the future. A vision 
built on the region's rich heritage as a world-wide center for textile 
production and incredible network of rivers anchored by the Quinebaug 
in the east and the Shetucket in the west. By the time Marge and her 
colleagues began developing this vision, the mills which line the 
rivers from Thompson through Willimantic to Norwich, some of them the 
largest and most productive in the world in the late Nineteenth and 
early Twentieth centuries, were silent, ghostly shells deteriorating 
with each passing day. Many feared these magnificent structures--
monuments to the industrial prowess of the United States and the 
ingenuity and hard work of generations of people from eastern 
Connecticut--would be lost forever, relegated to the history books and 
old snapshots.
  Marge, and others in this small, but committed group, believed that 
the mills could be preserved, could be redeveloped and could be 
transformed into engines of economic growth once again. They envisioned 
linking communities and citizens across the region using a natural 
resource which had always brought them together--the rivers. They 
developed this vision with the knowledge that economic development, 
historic preservation and environmental protection can go hand-in-hand.
  Between 1989 and 1994, Marge Hoskin devoted countless hours to making 
this vision, embodied in the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers National 
Heritage Corridor, a reality. She traveled from one corner of eastern 
Connecticut to the other explaining the concept and the goals it was 
designed to achieve. She came to Washington to testify in support of 
legislation I introduced to establish the Corridor. Marge also 
originated an event which has become synonymous with the Quinebaug and 
Shetucket Heritage Corridor--the Walking Weekend. Walking Weekend, held 
every year since 1990 during Columbus Day weekend,

[[Page E171]]

has educated tens of thousands of people from across eastern 
Connecticut and New England about the region through a series of walks 
highlighting our history, natural resources and culture. Marge 
celebrated with countless other residents of my district when President 
Clinton signed legislation formally establishing the Corridor in 
November 1994.
  Following enactment of this law, Marge played an active role in 
creating a non-profit entity--Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, 
Inc.--designed to coordinate efforts to achieve the goals of the act. 
Marge has served as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Director of the 
corporation. In these leadership positions, she has continuously 
demonstrated an ability to forge consensus from very diverse views. She 
has led by quiet example constantly striving to do what is best for the 
region. She has given of herself in so many ways and is unquestionably 
one of the reasons the Quinebaug and Shetucket National Heritage 
Corridor is a success today.
  Marge has been widely recognized for her service to the community. 
She was named ``Woman of the Year'' in 1997 by the Northeastern 
Connecticut Professional and Business Women's Association. She received 
the ``Civic Achievement Award'' in January 1999 from the Northeastern 
Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she has been honored with 
several awards from the Association of Northeast Connecticut Historical 
Societies. These awards are a testament to Marge's dedicated service, 
commitment to the region and penchant for delivering results.
  Mr. Speaker, all of us involved with Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers 
National Heritage Corridor look forward to working with Marge for many 
years to come. We remain secure in the knowledge that she will continue 
to play an important role in an endeavor she has done so much to make 
successful. I know I speak for many people across eastern Connecticut 
when I say--thank you Marge.

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