[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H3145-H3146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR OF GILLETT, ARKANSAS' CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

  (Mr. BERRY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my hometown of 
Gillett, Arkansas, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary this 
year. This is a significant milestone for our community and for all 
those who shaped our town's history.
  Gillett was incorporated in 1906, several decades after the first 
settlers migrated there from Fulton County, Illinois, in 1881. These 
early settlers purchased land; built modest homes; farmed crops of 
oats, corn and cotton; and developed orchards; and raised cattle. They 
worked hard to establish a town, building the first school and the 
first church in 1886, the first store in 1888, and lobbying for the 
completion of the railroad from Stuttgart, Arkansas, to the new town in 
1892.
  The name Gillett first appeared in 1892 after community leaders 
designated the town's first U.S. post office in honor of Francis M. 
Gillett, president of the railroad company. The

[[Page H3146]]

name stuck, and by November 21, 1906, the County Court of Arkansas 
County approved a petition to incorporate the town of Gillett. The town 
was busy in those early years, establishing the Bank of Gillett, 
constructing the first sidewalks, building a modern two-story high 
school on Champion Avenue, and dedicating the first flagpole in honor 
of the men from Gillett serving in World War I. By the early 1920s, 
Gillett recorded its highest population ever of 1,175 citizens.
  Gillett hit difficult times, however, in the late 1920s when the 
flood of 1927 and the Great Depression came. Residents lost their homes 
and farms, the local bank closed its doors, and businesses went 
bankrupt. It was not until the 1930s when jobs started to reappear as 
sawmills, stave mills, and handle factories relocated to our city.
  Gillett sent many men into World War II in the 1940s. Some were 
captured as prisoners of war in the Pacific. Others lost their life 
fighting for their country. While the town prayed for its war heroes, 
community leaders continued working to improve the economic conditions 
in Gillett. In 1946, all the one-room schools in the area moved to 
Gillett District 66, and the town held its first Coon Supper to raise 
money for local school and youth activities. This event evolved over 
the years into one of Arkansas' most popular political events and now 
receives national and worldwide attention.
  The town continued to grow during the 1950s and 1960s, with Gillett 
High School attaining North Central Accreditation, the construction of 
the Arkansas River Navigation Project, integration of the schools, and 
the establishment of the Planters and Merchants Bank of Gillett. 
Farmers and businesses continued to turn a profit, and by the 1970s 
area farmers reported all-time highs for commodities. Farms were paid 
off, new machinery purchased, and new homes constructed.
  The town itself also underwent a number of improvements thanks to the 
Federal Revenue Sharing period. A new city hall was constructed, and 
street improvements were made. A library was built, water and sewer 
improvements received attention, and many beautification projects took 
place.
  Despite the booming times of the 1960s and 1970s, the depressed farm 
economy of the 1980s and 1990s proved to be a challenging time for our 
citizens. Many businesses closed, and construction of new homes came to 
a halt. Population figures declined from the highs of the 1920s and 
1960s, and the schools continued to lose enrollment. This declining 
enrollment posed a serious threat during the 1980s, when a 
consolidation proposal almost cost the town its schools.
  It was during this time, in 1996, when the citizens of Gillett helped 
elect me to represent Arkansas's 1st Congressional District in the 
United States House of Representatives. As a resident of Gillett, 
Arkansas, I am honored to serve my friends in Congress and have spent 
the past decade working to restore prosperity to the region. We 
continue to fight for our farmers who struggle with high fuel and 
fertilizer costs, and we are working to diversify our energy supply so 
places like Gillett can benefit from new opportunities.
  Gillett has always been a town of citizens who pull together during 
tough times to improve our schools, help our businesses grow, and 
attract new development to the region. On May 27, 2006, our community 
will gather to celebrate 100 years as a corporate community. We will 
hold a parade down Main Street, reflect on our history, and place a 
time capsule in front of city hall to preserve our story for 
generations to come.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating my hometown of 
Gillett, Arkansas, on this significant milestone. We send our 
appreciation to the town's citizens for years of hard work and 
dedication to their community and wish Gillett many more years as a 
wonderful place to live and raise a family.

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