[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 104 (Tuesday, September 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE TOWN OF TYNDALL

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I honor and publicly recognize the 
125th anniversary of the founding of the town of Tyndall, SD. The town 
of Tyndall is a spirited and self-reliant county seat with a proud past 
and promising future.
  In 1879, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway chose to enter 
Bon Homme County. Dan Currier build the first home and store along the 
railroad route in Tyndall, so-named for the English physicist John 
Tyndall who first explained what makes the sky blue. In 1884, Dan 
Currier opened the Grand Central Hotel, referred to as the greatest 
hotel this side of Chicago at the time. Mr. Currier remained active in 
the town's growth and became the first mayor in 1887. The first 
settlers in Tyndall were predominately German, Czech, and Irish. Their 
meeting halls were some of the first building in the town of Tyndall 
and many are preserved today.
  A major attraction opened in Tyndall in 1989: the Soukup and Thomas 
Balloon Museum. The museum exhibits one of the best displays of 
ballooning history, including the first balloon basket to fly over the 
Soviet Union. The museum also houses a rare collection from the 
Hindenburg Airship as well as examples of balloon mail, lithographs, 
jewelry, trophies, and other collectibles. Tyndall hosted the 6th World 
Gas Balloon Championship and the 1st World Roziere Balloon Championship 
in 1990. The second annual International Balloon Rally was held in 1991 
in Tyndall.
  Though the railroad which gave birth to the town of Tyndall is no 
longer operational, the town continues to thrive, relying on friendly 
local business and aggressive agriculture. Currently 1,200 people 
reside in this progressive community. It is with great honor that I 
advise my colleagues of the achievements made by this great 
community.

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