[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 77 (Friday, June 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF PAULSBORO, NEW JERSEY'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Centennial 
Celebration of the Borough of Paulsboro, New Jersey. Paulsboro has a 
long and colorful history, as well as a promising future of which its 
citizens should be quite proud.
  The town of Paulsboro lies next to the Delaware River across the 
border from--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though the Borough was 
officially established in 1904, the history of the region dates back 
many more years. Settlers first came to the Delaware River area in 1623 
and, over time, Paulsboro developed into a small farming community. On 
March 2, 1904, Paulsboro joined with a nearby town by the name of 
Billingsport, and the two were together incorporated as the Borough of 
Paulsboro.
  William Penn once said that the land that Paulsboro now sits on would 
never become a great industrial center because it was an island with a 
swamp on one side and a creek on the other. However, just before World 
War I, Paulsboro was selected as the location for an oil refinery. The 
Paulsboro Plant, which began in 1917, was designed to manufacture 
lubricating oil, and began the transformation of Paulsboro from a 
residential town into an industrial town. While the plant, which still 
exists today as an ExxonMobil research laboratory, is actually located 
in neighboring Gibbstown, it is still referred to as the Paulsboro 
Plant, and many of its loyal employees are residents of Paulsboro.
  With a keen eye on the future, the Borough of Paulsboro is now 
considering a proposal for the creation of a deep-water port on the 
Delaware River. County officials predict that such a port could create 
2,300 jobs, and generate $100 million each year in revenues and taxes, 
becoming a vital component of the community's future. From its humble 
beginnings at the turn of the century, Paulsboro is set once again to 
reinvigorate and diversify our regional economy and community.
  The residents of Paulsboro should be proud that their community has 
prospered for 100 years, an accomplishment in and of itself. The 
Paulsboro area has made significant cultural and economic contributions 
to our country throughout its history, and I am certain that there is a 
bright future ahead for the Borough and its citizens. Mr. Speaker, I 
ask that you join me in congratulating the citizens of Paulsboro, New 
Jersey as they celebrate 100 years of pride and accomplishment.




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