[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 87 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5206-H5207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1512) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of
designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton,
Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1512
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Taunton, Massachusetts
Special Resources Study Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is home to 9
distinct historic districts, with more than 600 properties on
the National Register of Historic Places. Included among
these districts are the Church Green Historic District, the
Courthouse Historic District, the Taunton Green Historic
District, and the Reed and Barton Historic District.
(2) All of these districts include buildings and building
facades of great historical, cultural, and architectural
value.
(3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons of Liberty
first raised the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event
that helped to spark a popular movement, culminating in the
American Revolution, and Taunton citizens have been among the
first to volunteer for America's subsequent wars.
(4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton, and the first
Attorney General of Massachusetts, was a signer of the
Declaration of Independence.
(5) Taunton was a leading community in the Industrial
Revolution, and its industrial area has been the site of many
innovations in such industries as silver manufacture, paper
manufacture, and ship building.
(6) The landscaping of the Courthouse Green was designed by
Frederick Law Olmsted, who also left landscaping ideas and
plans for other areas in the city which have great value and
interest as historical archives and objects of future study.
(7) Main Street, which connects many of the historic
districts, is home to the Taunton City Hall and the Leonard
Block building, 2 outstanding examples of early 19th Century
American architecture, as well as many other historically and
architecturally significant structures.
(8) The city and people of Taunton have preserved many
artifacts, gravesites, and important documents dating back to
1638 when Taunton was founded.
(9) Taunton was and continues to be an important
destination for immigrants from Europe and other parts of the
world who have helped to give Southeastern Massachusetts its
unique ethnic character.
SEC. 3. STUDY.
The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate State
historic preservation officers, State historical societies,
the city of Taunton, and other appropriate organizations,
shall conduct a special resources study regarding the
suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic
buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of
the National Park System. The study shall be conducted and
completed in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-
383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)) and shall include analysis,
documentation, and determinations regarding whether the
historic areas in Taunton--
(1) can be managed, curated, interpreted, restored,
preserved, and presented as an organic whole under management
by the National Park Service or under an alternative
management structure;
(2) have an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural
resources that together represent distinctive aspects of
American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation,
interpretation, and continuing use;
(3) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and historical
events that are valuable parts of the national story;
(4) provide outstanding opportunities to conserve natural,
historic, cultural, architectural, or scenic features;
(5) provide outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities; and
(6) can be managed by the National Park Service in
partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and State and local governments to develop a
unit of the National Park System consistent with State and
local economic activity.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds
are first made available for this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report on the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations of the study required under
section 3.
SEC. 5. PRIVATE PROPERTY.
The recommendations in the report submitted pursuant to
section 4 shall include discussion and consideration of the
concerns expressed by private landowners with respect to
designating certain structures referred to in this Act as a
unit of the National Park System.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
General Leave
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1512.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1512, introduced by the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), would direct the Secretary of the Interior
to conduct a special resources study regarding the suitability and
feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas of the
City of Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System.
It was in the City of Taunton where the Sons of Liberty first raised
the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event that helped to spark the
American Revolution.
I urge the adoption of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
(Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, the Taunton area to be included
in the study authorized by H.R. 1512 is rich in cultural and historic
resources. A comprehensive study of these resources will help determine
if inclusion within the National Park System is appropriate.
The sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Frank), is to be commended for his tenacity and resolve in
pursuing this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Frank).
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the members of the
committee who have brought this bill forward.
This is a bill that has particular meaning to me. The City of Taunton
has been in the district I have been privileged to represent for just a
couple of years. Prior to that, it was represented by one of our late
colleagues; and when you talk about history, which this bill does,
building as it does on the history of the City of Taunton, you could
not talk about the history of this institution without some reference
to the man who represented Taunton before me and that is our late
colleague, Joe Moakley.
Joe Moakley represented Taunton for years. He was the one under whose
representation the discussion of a national park began. I was
privileged to take this over actually from his immediate successor, my
colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch). It is on
behalf of both of us that we present this, and we do want to invoke the
memory of Joe Moakley when we go forward with this bill.
The City of Taunton, Massachusetts, is a wonderful place. I am lucky
enough to have one of my congressional district offices right in the
heart of this area. I have checked and I do not believe I will derive
any particular benefit from it, so I do not have to vote ``present'' on
the bill. What I do have is a chance right now to really be a part of
this great history.
The Sons of Liberty Flag was first raised here. The Sons of Liberty
raised
[[Page H5207]]
the flag Liberty Union in 1774. There were buildings that played an
important role in the Revolution. They were there in Taunton. Taunton
Green is a major place in our history. We would include here the Church
Green Historic District. It has the Church Green National Register
district.
One of the original settlers, and I think this is particularly
relevant to talk about, the modern impact of this, Elizabeth Pole was
the first woman we believe to found a community in America, and on the
seal of the city of Taunton the phrase ``Dux Femina Facti'' is
included. That translates, I am reliably informed by better Latin
scholars than myself, into ``the person responsible for this was a
woman.''
It was in early recognition of what we are still dealing with,
namely, that we make a great mistake when we refuse to give individuals
the full opportunity to engage their talents, no matter what their
gender or whatever other characteristics that they have.
I realize that this does not mean that we get a park immediately. It
begins the process of study. I am confident, Mr. Speaker, that an
objective study of the sort we get from the excellent staff that we
have at the National Park Service will document the importance to the
history of this country of this area of Taunton and the importance of
making it a part of our National Park System. I thank the two gentlemen
from New Mexico for their energy and work in this.
Mr. Speaker, the following is a list of some of the salient points of
the City of Taunton.
The city of Taunton has a history of equality, patriotism,
commerce and innovation that make the areas ideal candidates
for inclusion within the National Park System. The area to be
included within the study includes the Church Green Historic
District, which includes the Church Green National Register
District, Main Street, and the Taunton Green National
Register District.
Among the original settlers of Taunton, Elizabeth Pole is
credited as being the first female to found a community in
America. Her legacy is preserved at the Old Colony Historical
Society Museum on Church Green. The role that Elizabeth Pole,
a woman, played in founding Taunton is an important aspect of
our colonial history that should be emphasized as part of the
study. The National Park System has devoted many resources to
the role of women in our nation and history. However, no
other site presently in the National Park System matches the
unique circumstances surrounding Ms. Pole and her role as a
pioneering colonial female. The phrase ``Dux femina facti''
which translates into ``the person responsible for the deed
or accomplishment was a woman'' adorns the Seal of the City
of Taunton.
A statue of Robert Treat Paine symbolically faces away from
the Church Green National Registered District down Main
Street towards the Taunton Green National Registered
District. With the transformation from English colony towards
independent nation, the center of the city moved towards the
Taunton Green. Robert Treat Paine, a Taunton resident, was as
a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He along with
John Adams served as members of the First Continental
Congress in 1774. Paine and Adams' careers were linked again
as Paine served as an Associate Prosecutor at the trial of
the Boston Massacre. Paine went on to become the first
Attorney General of Massachusetts and was a member of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. While serving in the
Continental Congress in October of 1774, Paine was not a
party to the historic event that occurred near his home when
the Sons of Liberty raised the ``Liberty & Union'' or
``Taunton Flag'' on October 21, 1774 over Taunton Green on a
112-foot Liberty Pole. The Liberty and Union flag that still
flies over the Taunton Green is recognized as the first flag
of open defiance to the crown.
In addition to Robert Treat Paine, Taunton's General David
Cobb left his mark on the Revolutionary War. General Cobb
served as aide-de-camp to General Washington and was
entrusted with the duty of negotiating the evacuation of New
York. After the war, General Cobb served as Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas for Bristol County and was instrumental
in preventing bloodshed in Bristol County during Shay's
Rebellion.
As such, the history of the revolutionary war as symbolized
by Robert Treat Paine, General Cobb, the Sons of Liberty and
the Taunton Green are an important component of the study.
The distance down Main Street from Church Green to Taunton
Green past the homes of Paine and Cobb and Elizabeth Pole to
the Liberty & Union Flag are symbolic of our transformation
from colony to independent nation.
The anchor for the U.S.S. Constitution was forged in
Taunton, as was the anchor for the Civil War's Monitor. The
Taunton River served as a catalyst for industry and trade. At
one point, Taunton was one of the busiest inland ports on the
Atlantic coast.
The prime industry throughout Taunton history has been
silver. To this day Taunton is known by many as the ``Silver
City.'' As with Taunton's political, cultural and religious
legacy, the silver industry was born on Main Street, between
Church Green and Taunton Green. In 1824, Isaac Babbitt
invented and manufactured a new alloy that resulted in pewter
ware of a greater quality than ever before manufactured. Two
employees, Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton went on to
found Reed and Barton, one of the oldest privately held
companies in the nation and set a standard of excellence
known throughout the world. The standards established by Reed
& Barton are evident to this day; in 1994 Reed & Barton was
selected to produce all of the victory medals for the 1996
Atlanta Olympic Games.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the
entire staff of the Committee on Resources, especially Dave Watkins,
for their work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the staff, both majority and
minority; and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) for
submitting this valuable legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1512, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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