[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  STATEMENT OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JERRY COSTELLO HONORING THE 100TH 
                  ANNIVERSARY OF CARPENTERS LOCAL 480

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 18, 2000

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the 100th anniversary of Carpenters Local 480.
  Carpenters Local 480 had its charter issued to them on February 13, 
1900. That year they listed John Dippel, John Hexter, Joseph Hester, 
Harry Merrick, Carl Ross, William Schaeffer, Jacob Scheid, Louis 
Scheid, William Scheid, Edward Schiek, Henry Schiek and Henry Wilhelm 
as their first charter officers. The first elected officer of Local No. 
480 was H. Geiger who was elected the Financial Secretary and was 
charged with the responsibility of collecting dues and assessments.
  By 1907, Local 480's rolls increased to 16 members, which held until 
1940. At that time, Local 480-Freeburg merged with Local 1559-New 
Athens, bringing the membership an additional 25 members. Dues at that 
time were set at $1.25 a month for all inactive and pensioned members. 
Arthur Och was named the Business Representative for Freeburg, Illinois 
and Ed Knopp was named the Representative for New Athens.
  In 1947, membership increased to 35 members. In 1966, with membership 
hovering around 38 members, the International Union had pressed all 
locals to hire full-time representatives to ensure jurisdictional 
issues were considered. Louis Geiger was named as the first full-time 
Business Representative. At that time, there were only 14 local unions 
in the Tri-Counties Illinois District Council of Carpenters, with only 
two that were large enough to hire full-time representatives. Remaining 
smaller locals were then merged into four. Local 480-Freeburg, Local 
1361-Chester, Local 1997-Columbia and Local 1675-Breese.
  Further consolidations of the locals occurred in the 70's. Many 
changes occurred after the consolidations, bringing with it new 
challenges and new opportunities. A full-time Financial Secretary 
position was created at this time to handle the growth in the 
membership and to handle the responsibilities of caring for the members 
well-being. Further growth in membership and an expansion of Local 
480's area, necessitated the need for the creation of Field Stewart 
positions in each of the communities in the local.
  With the phenomenal growth of the local and the expansion of their 
responsibilities, in 1975 the local opened their headquarters building 
in Freeburg. Since then, the members of Local 480 have contributed to 
the growth and development of the metro-east. Evidence of their 
handiwork is everywhere, from new schools, shopping and commercial 
centers, public buildings and fine residential homes.
  I am proud of the history and accomplishments of Local 480 and I look 
forward to the future with the confidence that the facilities we work, 
visit and live in are the direct results of hard work of the members of 
Local 480.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Carpenters 
Local 480 on the 100th anniversary of their founding and to recognize 
the members of the local, both past and present, for the quality 
service that they have been providing to the people of our area for the 
past 100 years.

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