[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF THE CITY OF BELLEVUE'S SESQUICENTENNIAL 
                              CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the 
City of Bellevue. This City in my congressional district was first 
settled in 1815. It is generally acknowledged that Mark Hopkins was its 
first resident, building a log cabin on East Main Street in 1816. The 
site is presently marked with a plaque first erected in 1915. Bellevue 
was known as Amsden's Corners after a prominent early settler, Thomas 
Amsden, who traded with the Indians and opened a general store at the 
site of present day City Hall.
  Later in the 1830's, the City was known as York Roads and in 1839 it 
was named Bellevue in honor of James H. Belle, an engineer who surveyed 
the first railroad through the town. The first major road was 
constructed in 1823, which began at the town square and terminated at 
the Maumee River in Perrysburg. In 1839, the first railroad from 
Sandusky to Bellevue was completed and this began Bellevue's long 
history as a railroad center.
  Bellevue was incorporated as a village in 1851 with a population of 
300 and incorporated as a city in 1912. Early commerce and industry 
consisted of a sawmill, tannery, cabinet shop, cooperage, wagon shop, 
farm products, four mill, railroad, and Mill Pond liquor distillery.
  The City's industrial base has developed steadily and is well 
diversified. Products range from aluminum windows and doors and 
heating/air conditioning equipment, to metal stamping, plastics and 
commercial balers.
  Several subdivisions have been completed recently, and an additional 
allotment of apartments and single family dwellings are also in the 
works.
  Area residents are served by an active central city business 
district. Recreational opportunities include numerous parks, a 
community center, golf course, as well as water recreation associated 
with Lake Erie, just 15 miles north.
  Local educational facilities and programs include five elementary, 
one junior high, and one senior high school. This is supplemented by 
participation in the EHOVE vocational school district. Higher education 
is available at two branch universities, a technical college, three 
nursing schools, and two four-year colleges within 25 miles.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the 
City of Bellevue on the occasion of it Sesquicentennial celebration. I 
am proud to offer these sentiments today properly documenting this 
event in the record of the 108th Congress.

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