[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 2002

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the city of 
Sebastopol, in the heart of western Sonoma County, CA, on the occasion 
of its 100th anniversary.
  The earliest residents of the Sebastopol area were members of the 
Miwok and Pomo tribes who traversed the old trail between Petaluma and 
Santa Rosa, making seasonal camps on the banks of the Laguna de Santa 
Rosa. The present community began as the town of Pine Grove, a trading 
post established in the early 1950s. The name Sebastopol originated in 
a protracted fist fight between two residents, Stevens and Hibbs. Hibbs 
sought sanctuary in Dougherty's store while Stevens waited for him 
outside. Citizens likened the fight to the ``siege of Sevastopol,'' a 
reference to the Crimean War then raging abroad.
  The town grew as an agricultural center, producing apples, hops, and 
berries and was chosen by Luther Burbank as the site of his famous 
Experiment Farm. In the 1890s, Sebastopol became an important railroad 
crossroads, with a market center and meeting place for Western Sonoma 
County. This increased prosperity and population led to the 
incorporation of the city of Sebastopol on June 13, 1902.
  The city has continued to thrive, surviving the 1906 earthquake, the 
Great Depression, the waning of the railroad era, and the many other 
challenges of the 20th century. It has maintained its rural character, 
surrounded by natural beauty and blessed with a mild climate and 
fertile soil. In recent years, its policies in becoming a nuclear free 
zone, creating a people-friendly downtown, and exploring the viability 
of renewable energy sources have set a standard for other progressive 
cities to emulate.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the city of Sebastopol on its centennial 
and know that it will continue to maintain its unique character as a 
special place in Sonoma County, CA.

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