[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S7132]]
             THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

 Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a truly great 
American community, the city of Keene, NH, which will celebrate its 
250th Anniversary during a week of festivities beginning Tuesday, May 
27 and culminating on Saturday, May 31, 2003.
  On September 18, 1734, a group of eight individuals eager to expand 
the growing colonies settled on the outer edge of New Hampshire in an 
area that was then called Upper Ashuelot. In 1753, when the colony of 
New Hampshire granted a new township in the southwest section of the 
province, the Royal Governor, Benning Wentworth, named the town 
``Keene'' out of gratitude and respect for his friend and business 
associate, Sir Benjamin Keene, a career diplomat and one time British 
Ambassador to the court of Spain.
  Although agriculture was an important part of the region's early 
economy, Keene gained a reputation as an important glass producing 
center. In 1814, the New Hampshire Glass Factory was founded, producing 
mostly window glass for the New England region for nearly 40 years. 
Other glass manufacturers soon opened, making bottles and flasks that 
are now known as ``Keene Glass,'' and which remains highly valued 
today.
  With the arrival of the railroad in 1848, Keene's stature as an 
economic center grew. Rail lines between Boston and New York allowed 
Keene to thrive and by the end of the 1850s, Keene had seen the 
addition of some 100 buildings. During the 19th century, such 
industrial commodities as flannel, pottery, and furniture were being 
produced in Keene, and at the beginning of the 20th century, Keene even 
made automobiles.
  As Keene's economic growth expanded, so to, did its population. At 
the beginning of the century, the population was about 1,650 people. by 
1850, there were nearly 3,400 people in Keene and by 1870, that number 
expanded to almost 6,000. In 1874, the citizens of Keene passed a 
measure which established the city of Keene--9 years after the New 
Hampshire State legislature voted to allow Keene to become a city and 
after the citizens had twice voted down the idea.
  Today, more than 125 years later, Keene is still a vibrant city, home 
to many diverse industries, well renowned institutions of higher 
learning, and an acclaimed performing arts community.
  Each year, students from across the State and the Nation flock to 
southwest New Hampshire in order to expand their horizons at Keene 
State College, founded in 1909, and Antioch New England Graduate 
School. These and other quality institutions of higher learning 
throughout the region educate some of America's premier students.
  Culturally, Keene thrives, boasting the Redfern Arts Center on 
Brickyard Pond at Keene State College as well as the non-profit 
Colonial Theater on Main Street and numerous singers and musicians who 
perform at a number of other locations in Keene. The region's largest 
newspaper, the Keene Sentinel, is also the Nation's fifth oldest. 
Having been in publication since 1799, it continues to serve as a vital 
source of news and information for the people of Keene.
  Surrounded by mountains, lakes, and forest, in terms of quality of 
life, Keene is a community that has it all. In fact, the National Trust 
for Historic Preservation recently named Keene one of America's Dozen 
Distinctive Destinations, which is no surprise since the Elm City is 
often times described as the ``suburb without the big city next door.'' 
With its commitment to historic preservation, attractive architecture, 
and diversity of businesses, Keene epitomizes the quaint New England 
municipality it has grown to be.
  I congratulate Keene, New Hampshire on its 250th anniversary, and I 
extend my best wishes to its more than 22,000 citizens in celebration 
of this splendid milestone.

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