[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF ONTARIO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2007

  Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today recognition of the 
bicentennial anniversary of the Town of Ontario. Ontario is located in 
the northwest corner of Wayne County, with Lake Ontario forming its 
northern border.
  Led by Freeman Hopkins, the town separated from the town of 
Williamson 200 years ago, on March 27, 1807. After its separation, the 
town came to be known as Freetown. On February 12, 1808, the town 
officially became known as Ontario, in honor of the Great Lake on its 
border.
  Ontario was a major location of the iron industry in Wayne County. In 
1811, iron was first discovered in Ontario by a Mr. Knickerbocker. A 
few years later, Samuel Smith built a forge and began the making of 
iron. The real boom in iron industry came in 1880 when the Furnaceville 
Iron Company constructed a $200,000 furnace. For the next 17 years, 
Ontario became a mining town, and the product was sold for mill and 
foundry iron. As competition from the other parts of the country grew, 
the iron beds in Wayne County became idle and the people of the town of 
Ontario turned to another attribute of the region for sustainability.
  Sitting on the shores of Lake Ontario the area proved to be the 
perfect climate for apple growing. From the initial apple farms roughly 
a hundred years ago, the apple industry in Wayne County has grown to 
one of the top producing apple regions in the country.
  During the Civil War, the people of Ontario lived up to their town 
motto of ``A Community of Good Neighbors.'' No other town in Wayne 
County had as many fearless and brave citizens who served in the Union 
Army.
  Today, the town of Ontario is home to many high-tech industries and 
alternative energies. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant provides clean energy 
for the town and the surrounding region while wind power investment at 
Harbec Industries has spurred economic development. Other small 
businesses in the town boost accolades that include the manufacturing 
of parts for the Hubble telescope and equipment for our American 
troops.
  This once farming community has seen many changes from once booming 
iron production. Today Ontario grows and expands its industrial base 
while continuing to be a community of good, and proud, neighbors.
  On behalf of the people of the 25th Congressional District of New 
York State, I proudly honor the 200 years of existence of the town of 
Ontario.

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