[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E279-E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE TOWN OF WOLCOTT ON ITS 200TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2007

  Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
the 200th anniversary of the town of Wolcott. This small town rests on 
the shore of Lake Ontario and currently has a population just under 
4,700.
  Named after Gov. Oliver Wolcott of Massachusetts, Wolcott was founded 
in 1807. The original town of Wolcott included what are now the present 
day towns of Huron, Rose, Butler, and Wolcott. At that time, the area 
was part of Seneca County.
  In 1806, one of Wolcott's first settlers, Jonathan Melvin, purchased 
500 acres in what would eventually become the village of Wolcott. Mr. 
Melvin built a gristmill and sawmill along with a frame house for his 
family, which he painted black. Known to be a very generous man, Mr. 
Melvin donated land for the construction of a local school and church.
  One of the landmarks of Wolcott is the statue of Venus Rising from 
the Sea. In 1913 the statue was placed at the four corners in Wolcott 
at the site of the old town pump. Constructed of cast iron, the 
fountain has been a landmark in Wolcott for over eight decades. Venus 
Rising from the Sea is one of only eight such statues in America.
  Production of iron was one of Wolcott's early main industries. The 
town was one of the two principle locations of the iron industry for 
western New York. The Wolcott furnace was located north of the village 
of Wolcott along the west bank of Wolcott Creek, on what is now Furnace 
Road. The Wolcott furnace was put into operation in 1821. The iron was 
formed into castings and hauled to Clyde, once the Erie Canal was 
constructed and began serving as the major transportation hub for 
bringing Wayne County products to market. The furnace remained 
operational until 1869 when the last run of iron making in Wolcott was 
completed. Today, Wolcott's main industries are fruit farming and food 
processing.
  On behalf of the constituents of the 25th District of New York, I 
congratulate the town of Wolcott on its 200th anniversary.

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