[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E881]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNITION OF ASHAWAY LINE AND TWINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY--175 YEARS 
                      OF SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 1999

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ashaway Line 
and Twine Manufacturing Company, a family-owned firm in Ashaway, Rhode 
Island, which celebrates 175 years of successful small business this 
June.
  Six generations of the Crandall family have owned and operated this 
company since its inception in 1824 at its Laurel Street headquarters 
in Ashaway. Today, it is one of the oldest family-owned companies in 
the United States and exemplifies this country's proud tradition of 
manufacturing and innovation. Over the course of the last 175 years, 
the company has gone from a local fishing line supplier to a global 
seller of medical threads, tennis strings, and other specialized lines.
  In recent times, we have all heard many disheartening stories of 
manufacturing plant closings in communities around the country. Some of 
these firms were unable to compete in the new global marketplace; 
luckily for the citizens of Ashaway and the Line and Twine's customers, 
the Crandall family has always been able to adapt to the changing times 
and remain open for business. Its products are now sold to sixty 
countries, and fifty percent of its business is currently done outside 
the United States. The company has discovered new and creative uses for 
its products, including special strings for NASA to sew up its space 
suits, and movie props for Hollywood. Because of this resourcefulness 
and innovative spirit, eighty-seven employees continue to work today at 
the Ashaway Line and Twine Manufacturing Company plant, operating the 
3,000 machines that braid lines, and dyeing and packaging the strings.
  The Crandall family and the Ashaway Line and Twin Manufacturing 
Company are planning an anniversary celebration for June of this year 
to recognize and thank their many customers and dedicated employees. I 
would like to take this opportunity to extend the same gratitude to the 
family and the firm for their loyalty to the community of Ashaway and 
the state of Rhode Island. Please join with me in the recognition of 
one of the oldest family-owned manufacturing firms in this country, and 
let us always remember the incalculable contribution such companies 
have made and continue to make to this great nation.

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