[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE COMMUNITY OF FILLMORE

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise to offer my 
congratulations to the community of Fillmore, New York on the occasion 
of its sesquicentennial, and to wish them great success with their May 
27 to 29 celebration of this milestone.
  What is now Fillmore was originally a small settlement nestled into 
the corner where Cold Creek joins the Genesee River. The land was once 
part of the Caneadea Indian Reservation. By 1826, the Seneca Indians, 
who owned the land, had sold off all of the reservation. In 1850, 
during the Presidency of Millard Fillmore, the second New York State 
native to hold that distinguished office, a post office was 
established. Local lore has it that the citizens decided to name the 
settlement Fillmore in order to convince the government to establish 
the post office.
  The first settlers were attracted to the area by timber, but the 
building of the Genesee Valley Canal Line connecting the Erie Canal to 
the Allegany River brought an economic boom to all the areas along the 
line, including Fillmore. With its fertile soil, the Community 
eventually also became a farming area.
  The citizens of Fillmore are proud of their backgrounds, their 
community, their State and their country. It is a community with a 
strong work ethic. It places a high priority on education and for years 
has supported a superior school system that is the envy of many larger 
communities. It is proud of the success of its young people, both those 
who leave and those who stay and believes that the values instilled by 
the citizens of the community is one of the reasons their young people 
are successful in their careers, be they farmers or educators in 
Fillmore, government workers in Washington, business leaders in 
Fillmore or across the country, or professors in America's great 
colleges and universities.
  Fillmore has contributed many of its finest young men and women to 
serve this country in war and peace. All of them have served their 
country and their community with distinction and honor. During the 
Memorial Day weekend sesquicentennial celebration, Fillmore will 
remember with pride all of those service men and women who have served 
and are serving. It will pay special homage to those whose service 
required the ultimate sacrifice.
  The community is planning for its future. It is hopeful of attracting 
new and modern businesses to the community. It is developing community 
projects to improve key services and improve the environment. It 
intends to continue to improve its already outstanding public school by 
adding any needed facilities and continuing to attract outstanding 
teachers.
  It is anticipating with excitement its next 150 years.

                          ____________________