[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     150TH ANNIVERSARY OF WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP IN BAY COUNTY, MICHIGAN

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2004

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a community in my 
district that is celebrating an important milestone. This weekend, 
Williams Township in Bay County, Michigan will celebrate its 150th 
anniversary. Williams Township is a small community, but a warm 
welcoming one, and should stand as an example to us all.
  In the fall of 1854, Williams Township began its history in the same 
way as many communities in Michigan and throughout the country. A small 
party of six men visited the area, which was then uninhabited 
wilderness. Charles Bradford, John Gaffney, William Spafford, Charles 
Fitch, George W. Smock, and Lyman Brainard found the land inviting, and 
returned to Flint, Michigan to purchase the land they would shortly 
settle. On November 18th, 1854, John Gaffney felled the first tree in 
the area. It was his birthday, and Williams Township's.
  In 1855, the Township was organized as a part of Midland County. Two 
years later, Williams, along with Hampton Township succeeded in 
persuading the Michigan State Legislature to combine them into the new 
Bay County. Though there was much dispute over whether Midland and 
Saginaw County residents could vote on approving the new county, the 
State Supreme Court allowed it to go forward in 1858, and on August 
10th, the new Bay County held its first board meeting.
  Those early settlers of Williams Township were primarily farmers, and 
their numbers gradually increased. By 1869, the population had grown 
significantly, and the Township was reduced to its present size of 36 
square miles. Today, the population is about 4,500 strong, with another 
2,000 or so in the City of Auburn, which split from the Township in 
1948. And though the largest employer now is Dow Corning Corporation, 
which has its world headquarters and a specialty materials plant in the 
Township, farming and agriculture remain a vital foundation to the 
Township's economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I said that Williams Township is a warm community, and I 
can personally attest to that. The Township was part of the area added 
to my district after the 2000 census, and I have visited several times 
in order to get to know my new constituents. I held a town hall meeting 
in Auburn in February of 2003. I was impressed by their thoughtful 
questions and touched by their welcome to me as their new 
Representative.
  Later, in October, I went back to Bay City Western High School to 
speak to an American Government class and to have lunch at the Williams 
Township Senior Center. Again I was impressed by the residents of the 
Township, young and old. I was and continue to be very proud to 
represent this fine community in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join 
me in congratulating Williams Township and its residents on their first 
150 years as a community and in wishing them well in their next 150 
years.

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