[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VILLAGE OF BALDWIN, ILLINOIS

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                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2001

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the 125th anniversary of the Village of Baldwin, 
Illinois.
  The Village of Baldwin originally was settled about one mile north of 
it's present location. The early settlers were the Henderson, Allen and 
Preston families. In 1874, the Mobile and Ohio Railroad built a 
railroad line at it's present location. Later, a grain elevator was 
built along the railroad and the village started to develop. In 1876, 
villagers circulated a petition requesting the official incorporation 
of the Village of Baldwin. On July 12, 1876, at a special term of the 
County Court, this petition was presented to Presiding Judge John H. 
Lindsey and County Clerk, John T. McBride. The petition, signed by 
fifty legal voters, requested that the organization of the Village of 
Baldwin located in the County of Randolph be approved.
  County Judge Lindsey approved the petition and ordered an election be 
held on Tuesday July 11, 1876 at the office of RH Preston Esq. for the 
purposes of voting for or against the organization of the Village under 
the general laws of the State of Illinois. William L. Wilson and James 
C. Holbrook, Justices of the Peace of Randolph County, canvassed the 
election returns, finding that all votes cast were unanimously for the 
organization of the Village. Judge Lindsey ordered that on August 8, 
1876 at the office of RH Preston Esq., an election be held for six 
Village trustees and one Village Clerk. The first Village Board that 
was elected then was S.H. Johnson, J.E. Davis, W.T. Thompson, James R. 
Holden, W.M. Wilson and S.B. Adams. The elected Village Clerk was S.D. 
Lindsey. On August 11, 1876, the Board of Trustees held it's first 
meeting. S.B. Adams was chosen as the President of the Board and W.S. 
Johns was appointed Village Constable and S.D. Lindsey was appointed 
Village Treasurer.
  The Village of Baldwin prospered as a small trading Village 
throughout the years. The main business being a grain elevator, of 
which there has been one in Baldwin since it's incorporation. At 
present, the elevator is owned and operated by Gateway FS. In 1932, 
Highway 154 was built through Baldwin to provide all-weather 
transportation to neighboring towns and communities. In September of 
1940, the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was purchased by the Gulf, Mobile 
and Northern Railroad and renamed the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. Later it 
merged with the Illinois Central Railroad and today it is part of the 
Canadian National System. Passenger and freight service was provided on 
the railroad until October 1958, when passenger service was 
discontinued in the 1980's. The present rail system supplies services 
to the Baldwin Power plant, Fairmont Minerals, the Kaskaskia Regional 
Port District and Gateway FS.
  In the Village of Baldwin the educational system consisted of a 
three-year high school, a public grade school and a Lutheran grade 
school. The high school was discontinued in the mid 1940's and the 
school district became part of the Red Bud School District. In 1959, 
the public grade school closed and children were sent to Red Bud 
schools. The Lutheran grade school also closed in the mid 1970's and 
children attend either Prairie or Red Bud. Baldwin is also the home to 
many churches. Both the St. John's Lutheran Church and the Baldwin 
Community Presbyterian Church have organizations to promote the welfare 
of their members. The Village also has many varied civic organizations 
which include the American Legion Nicholas Laufer Post 619, the Baldwin 
Athletic Club, the Baldwin Community
  In 1964, the Village installed both water and sewer systems. The 
water plant received severe damage from the 1993 flood and the plant 
needed to be moved out of the flood plain. After deliberation by the 
Board, it was determined that the Village became part of the newly 
formed rural water system. In early last year, the Village water system 
became part of the Egyptian Water Company, which purchases water from 
the City of Sparta. The Village sanitary sewer system was upgraded in 
1987 and with federal and state assistance, their water system is about 
to be improved.
  In 1999, the old school building, which previously served as the 
Village Hall, was razed. With assistance from local political leaders, 
funds were made available for a new Community Center. Both State 
Senator David Luechtefeld and State Representative Dan Reitz helped to 
secure the new Center. This center, when completed, will be used for 
all community functions and also serve as a meeting room for the 
Village Board. Offices for the Village President and Village Clerk will 
also be included in this facility. Today, the Village of Baldwin is 
presided over by Jeffrey S. Rowold, Village President, Wesley G. 
Stellhorn-Village Clerk, Eileen Mehring-Village Treasurer, Craig 
Hartman, James Mueller, Darrell Mueth, Tammy Prost, Gary Schoenbeck and 
Cheryl Sellers all Village Trustees.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 125th 
Anniversary of the Village of Baldwin and to salute it's past, present 
and future residents.

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