[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        SWOYERSVILLE ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues the Centennial Anniversary of Swoyersville Borough in 
Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Borough will celebrate at a banquet on 
July 3. I am pleased and proud to have been asked to participate in 
this event.
  Originally part of Kingston Township, Swoyersville first sought 
incorporation as a borough in 1888, but the action was challenged in 
court. Eleven years later, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania sustained 
the incorporation and the Borough was officially born.
  Named for coal baron John Henry Swoyer, mining was the major industry 
in the Borough at the time. Swoyersville was broken up into sections, 
such as Shomemaker's Patch and Maltby, with several smaller sub-
divisions within the sections. The patches were groups of company homes 
owned by the coal companies. Today, coal mining is just a part of 
Swoyersville's history, as are the garment and clothing factories which 
replaced that industry.
  In 1972, when Tropical Storm Agnes caused the Susquehanna River to 
overflow her banks, eighty percent of the town was inundated. Like all 
residents of the Wyoming Valley, the townspeople pulled together during 
the summer of 1972, shoveled mud out of their homes, and began to 
rebuild. Today, Swoyersville flourishes as a beautiful residential 
area.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with the community in recognizing 
this milestone anniversary of the Borough Charter. I send my sincere 
best wishes to the people of Swoyersville as they gather for their 
Centennial Celebration.

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