[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S7175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              125TH ANNIVERSARY OF ELLENDALE, NORTH DAKOTA

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased to recognize a 
community in North Dakota that will be celebrating its 125th 
anniversary. From June 28 to July 1, the residents of Ellendale will 
gather to celebrate their community's history and founding.
  Ellendale is a community of about 1,550 on the border between North 
and South Dakota. It was founded in 1881 in anticipation of the 
Milwaukee Road Railroad. It was the first white settlement in the 
county and, as the first stop on the railroad in the region, it became 
a great distributing point for settlers' supplies. It was named in 
honor of the wife of Milwaukee Road Rail Road official S. S. Merrill.
  Today, Ellendale is the county seat of Dickey County. It is also home 
to an Opera House which, at one time, was the largest between 
Minneapolis and Seattle. The Organization of the People in Ellendale 
for the Restoration of the Arts hopes to reopen the Opera House, which 
is currently undergoing restoration, so that it can, once again, have 
live productions. In addition, the Cole Memorial Museum hosts numerous 
artifacts and memorabilia showcasing the Ellendale area.
  For those who call Ellendale home, it is a comfortable place to live, 
work, and play. The people of Ellendale are enthusiastic about their 
community and the quality of life it offers. Nearby Pheasant Lake 
offers a wealth of recreational opportunities from fishing to boating 
to camping. The community has a wonderful quasquicentennial weekend 
planned that includes school reunions, a Walk of Fame inductee banquet, 
a golf tournament, and a Historical Pageant.
  Mr. President, I ask the U.S. Senate to join me in congratulating 
Ellendale, ND, and its residents on their first 125 years and in 
wishing them well in the future. By honoring Ellendale and all the 
other historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the great 
pioneering frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places 
such as Ellendale that have helped to shape this country into what it 
is today, which is why this fine community is deserving of our 
recognition.
  Ellendale has a proud past and a bright future.

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