[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     MARKING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE VILLAGE OF VANDERBILT, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, certainly one of the milestone events in the 
history of our nation was the adoption of the Constitution by a 
convention of the states in 1787. But another significant event in our 
history took place that year. Congress, operating under the governing 
document known as the Articles of Confederation, approved a plan for 
the growth of the Untied States known as the Northwest Ordinance.
  I call these facts to mind, Mr. Speaker, because the Northwest 
Ordinance spelled out to the world that the United States planned to 
settle the areas that would eventually become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Wisconsin, and my own state of Michigan.
  Despite this early commitment by the young nation to expand, 
settlement came late to many of these areas. In my congressional 
district the Village of Vanderbilt is celebrating its centennial, 
making it a young community even by the standards of this young nation. 
The community plans to mark its celebration with three days of 
festivities at the end of July.
  Communities like Vanderbilt sprang into being when railroads pushed 
north into the vast timberlands of the upper Midwest. Vanderbilt itself 
is named for Cornelius Vanderbilt--famously known as Commodore 
Vanderbilt--who in 1866 took over the railroad that runs through this 
small village, located near the northern end of Lower Michigan.
  The efforts of Commodore Vanderbilt to build for himself a sprawling 
rail empire are the stuff of American legend, the legendary tycoon did 
not visit all his holdings. As Vanderbilt local historian Bonnie 
Karslake has written, ``None of the Vanderbilts ever lived in northern 
Michigan, even though the town as named for them.
  Bonnie Karslake's history details the arrival of the first permanent 
settlers and the development of the first local businesses around 1880. 
Such business activity, like the Vanderbilt Bowl Factory under the 
proprietorship of G.G. Williams, were based on forest products. As 
Bonnie's history makes clear, however, a village truly becomes a 
community when other businesses and services arrive, such as the 
Vanderbilt Gazette in 1883 and the Corwith Township Library in 1884.
  Within a decade of 1879 the community acquired three hotels, a two-
story school, three sawmills, a planing and shingle mill, a stave mill, 
and a store and post office. Among other professionals and tradesmen, 
it had a taxidermist, a shoemaker, a constable, a milliner, a barber, a 
liquor dealer, a druggist, blacksmiths, wagon makers and two justices 
of the peace. Though not yet incorporated as the Village of Vanderbilt, 
by 1887 a community had sprung to life in the North Woods, much as the 
writers of the Northwest Ordinance had envisioned 100 years before.
  Elizabeth Haus, village president, has said that residents have 
planned ``an old-time celebration'' to mark the milestone 100 years. In 
addition to celebrating the centennial of Vanderbilt's incorporation, 
the community will also mark the 100th birthday of the Vanderbilt 
Community Church building, one of the centers of community life.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my House colleagues join me in 
wishing the people of Vanderbilt a joyous centennial celebration and in 
praying the community can thrive and continue to be a great place to 
live, work and raise families.

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