[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 78 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF CLAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2002

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 175th 
anniversary of the town of Clay. The first settler arrived in the 
township of Clay in 1793, and the town was the scene of much of Central 
New York's notable early history. Clay became its own entity on April 
16, 1827.
  The town was named in honor of Henry Clay, the great statesman from 
Kentucky, and is surrounded by three beautiful Central New York 
rivers--the Oneida, Seneca and Oswego. This location was the site of 
numerous Indian Councils and served as the center of the Iroquois 
Confederacy. It was here that early French and English explorers, 
traders and military officers met with the Indians and matched 
eloquence with that of the Indian orators.
  The town flourished in its early days and continues to grow at a 
rapid pace. In the 175th year history of Clay the town population has 
grown from 700 to over 58,000, and Clay continues to expand. It remains 
Onondaga County's most populated town today. It is my honor to 
recognize the town of Clay and extend best wishes for many more years 
of distinguished history in Onondaga County.

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