[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 40 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING EILEEN McGUCKIAN

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 10, 2008

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my 
appreciation and gratitude to Eileen McGuckian, founder of Peerless 
Rockville, for her 35 years of service to the cause of historic 
preservation.
  Eileen was driven to take action in 1974, when she witnessed the 
demolition of the historic and beautiful Masonic Lodge in Rockville. 
Along with a group of like-minded community members, she formed 
Peerless Rockville and began raising money for the preservation of 
historic buildings and sites and educating the public on the importance 
of protecting our shared history.
  Peerless Rockville has become a model of public-private partnership, 
whose successes have included the rescue and preservation of the 1873 
B&O Railroad Station, the Montrose School and Baptist Cemetery, the 
Dawson farmhouse, the Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse, and 
Wire Hardware, one of the few examples of 19th century commercial 
architecture remaining in Rockville. In addition, Peerless Rockville 
fulfills its educational mission by providing walking tours and history 
programs, and maintaining an impressive collection of maps, historic 
photographs, architects' drawings and other documents. These documents 
are an invaluable resource for local residents, students and scholars. 
Eileen herself made full use of this collection in her award-winning 
book, Rockville: Portrait of a City. Today, Rockville is a richer and 
more beautiful place thanks to Eileen McGuckian.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing and honoring Eileen 
McGuckian for 35 years of dedicated and outstanding service to the city 
of Rockville and to Montgomery County, Maryland.

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