[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 102 (Friday, July 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING THE VILLAGE OF STODDARD, WISCONSIN ON IT'S 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2003

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise before 
you today to honor the historic village of Stoddard, Wisconsin. This 
year, from July 11 to July 13th 2003, Stoddard will be celebrating its 
100th anniversary. This beautiful village, the crossroads of western 
Wisconsin, is bordered by majestic bluffs and the mighty Mississippi 
River. Located along the great river road, Stoddard quietly represents 
Wisconsin's heritage and natural beauty.
  The first to arrive in the Stoddard area were the native Americans 
who planted their tradition and history in the region. However, it was 
Henry H. White and his family who really developed the future site of 
Stoddard after coming to the area from Vermont in 1868. His son, C.P. 
White, is credited for the naming of this village after Colonel Thomas 
B. Stoddard.
  Colonel Stoddard originally came to the area in 1853 and helped build 
and expand the new community. He was a great promoter of railroads and 
helped form the La Crosse and Prairie Du Chien Railroad Corporation.
  With its general stores, blacksmith shops, school, and railroad, life 
in Stoddard was a shining example of successful rural communities in 
the united states.
  While it already had developed a rich history, it was not until 1903 
when a post office was needed that Stoddard was officially born. 
Interestingly, Stoddard only become a river town in 1937, when the pool 
created by lock and dam #8 flooded 18,000 acres of bottom land and 
brought the river to its doorsteps.
  Stoddard's centennial celebrates the best of rural America. There are 
thousands of rural communities across this nation that form the 
backbone of rural life. These communities are the incubators of local 
politics, commerce, education, recreation, entertainment and faith for 
rural neighborhoods. Collectively, the hard working citizens of small 
town America are the builders of our great nation.
  I am frequently in Stoddard because, like many others in the area, I 
enjoy fishing in the Mississippi off of the new islands created by the 
E.M.P. program in pool 8, and my wife and I often take our two boys to 
visit my mother and stepfather, Greta and Don Lake, who live there. As 
often as we can, we also try to stop by Rocky's Supper Club for one of 
the best fish fry's in western Wisconsin.
  I am proud to congratulate the citizens of Stoddard on their unique 
anniversary. It is important that we all recognize their unique 
contribution to the development of western Wisconsin, and I wish all 
Stoddard residents happiness and success for another 100 years.

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