[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING SKIPPACK TOWNSHIP'S 300TH ANNIVERSARY

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                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Skippack 
Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on its 300th Anniversary.
  What began as a Mennonite community organizing the Lower Skippack 
Mennonite Church in 1702 is now a beautiful, mostly residential 
community known for an exceptional quality of life. The township has a 
history that dates back to the earliest years of our nation and was a 
camp and resting place for George Washington and his troops on more 
than one occasion.
  The township as we know it today was created in 1886 when Perkiomen 
and Skippack, established from Mathias Van Bebber's purchase of land 
from William Penn in 1702, was divided into two townships. Skippack was 
comprised of three villages: Creamery, Lucon and Skippack. The area was 
heavily agricultural and domintated by Mennonite owned lands. The 
principal community is Skippack village located at the junction of 
Routes 73 and 113.
  Two land acquisition programs had a tremendous impact on the makeup 
of the township. The first was the establishment of the Pennsylvania 
State Correctional Institution at Graterford in 1927. The second was 
the establishment of Evansburg State Park in 1970. These two sites 
occupy nearly half of the township's acreage, dedicating it to public 
use. In addition to Evansburg State Park, which lies along Skippack 
creek and provided countless recreational activities, there are two 
other parks. Privately owned Hallman's Grove provides a baseball field 
and pavilion to the community and a plot of land given to the township 
by J. Hansell French, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture from 1935-
1939 is used by local scout groups.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing 
Skippack Township for 300 years of history, heritage and service.

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