[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 24, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE CITY OF REDFIELD, SD

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and publicly 
recognize the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city of 
Redfield, SD. As the 125th anniversary approaches, Redfield looks back 
on a proud history and looks forward to a promising future.
  Located in east central South Dakota, Redfield is the county seat for 
Spink County, the largest wheat-producing county in our State. First 
settled in 1878 by Frank Meyers and a party of Chicago and Northwestern 
surveyors, Redfield was originally known as ``Stennett Junction;'' 
named after an official with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. The 
term ``Junction'' was added in anticipation of the railroad's 
popularity. Meyers established the first post office in 1880, thus 
marking the town's official birth. In February of 1881, however, the 
town's name was changed to Redfield, after Joseph Barlow Redfield, an 
auditor with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Company who 
purchased a great deal of the area's land for investors in Chicago.
  Although Redfield now serves as the county seat for Spink County, 
prior to 1886, that was not the case. In fact, Redfield supporters 
fought a contentious and controversial county seat battle between Old 
Ashton, Ashton, Frankfort and Redfield. Despite these efforts, old 
Ashton retained its position as county seat. All that changed, however, 
in 1886, when Redfield honestly won the majority of the votes in Spink 
County and was awarded the seat it still proudly claims.
  Among the city's many landmarks is the historic Carnegie Library. In 
1902, Redfield welcomed a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation 
that made the library possible. This contribution transformed a simple 
reading club into a majestic red brick building adorned with a tan 
sandstone foundation, a domed cupola and beautiful oak columns and 
woodwork. In the library's early years, it housed the Redfield city 
offices, in addition to the collections; the City Auditor doubled as 
librarian. Recently, I had the pleasure of helping the community of 
Redfield secure $100,000 to renovate and expand this historic 
structure, which is the oldest continuous-use Carnegie Library in South 
Dakota.
  The South Dakota Developmental Center, SDDC, is another notable 
Redfield landmark. Opened in 1902, the SDDC originally housed the staff 
and the patients in a single building, which is still used for office 
space today. There are currently 175 disabled individuals receiving 
services from SDDC today, ranging in age from 13 months to 78 years of 
age. Their disabilities range from moderate to profound.
  Redfield also is home to one of the last surviving drive-in movie 
theaters. Erected in 1952, Pheasant City Drive-in Theater still 
entertains more than 2,800 Redfield residents.
  In the twelve and a half decades since its founding, Redfield has 
proven its ability to thrive and serve farmers and ranchers throughout 
the region. Redfield's proud residents celebrate its 125th anniversary 
July 1-3, 2005, and it is with great honor that I share with my 
colleagues the achievements made by this great community.

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