[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VILLAGE OF BEVERLY HILLS, 
                                MICHIGAN

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                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2008

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize the Village of 
Beverly Hills, in Oakland County, Michigan, which is celebrating its 
50th Anniversary on June 14, 2008. The village's tree-lined streets and 
well-planned community live up to its reputation as a lovely place to 
live.
  The Village of Beverly Hills can be traced back to 1830. A thirty-six 
square mile area from present day 8 Mile to 14 Mile Roads and from 
Greenfield to Inkster Roads was organized as Ossewa Township on July 
12, 1830. Seventeen days later, Ossewa Township was renamed to 
Southfield Township. Throughout the 1800's and the early 1900's, the 
area was primarily farmland, with sawmills, gristmills, and cider mills 
dotting the landscape.
  In the 1920's, a subdivision called Beverly Hills was developed on 
Birchwood and Kirkshire Streets, and was quickly populated through the 
1950's. Beginning in 1953, Southfield Township slowly broke apart with 
the incorporation of Lathrup Village, Franklin, and Bingham Farms. When 
the City of Southfield was incorporated in 1957, the residents of what 
is now Beverly Hills felt the need for more home rule and local 
control. On September 23, 1957, the Village of Westwood was 
incorporated, and in March 1958, the village adopted the more popular 
name Beverly Hills.
  Today Beverly Hills is the largest Home Rule Village in Michigan, 
with a statewide reputation as a leader in municipal management and 
fiscal stability. The Village also has the distinction of being one of 
the safest communities in Michigan, due in large part to the efforts of 
their Department of Public Safety, police and fire departments, and 
emergency medical services.
  Madam Speaker, Beverly Hills is a forward thinking community aimed at 
improving the already sterling quality of life that their residents 
expect. I congratulate them on their 50th anniversary and wish the 
residents many more years of prosperity.

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