[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              125TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEW SALEM, NORTH DAKOTA

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased to honor a community 
in North Dakota that is celebrating its 125th anniversary. On July 18 
through 20, the residents of New Salem, ND, will celebrate their 
community's history and founding.
  New Salem began on an April day in 1882 when young John Christiansen 
hopped off a westbound freight train. The only sign of civilization he 
saw were the train tracks behind him and the belongings he brought. 
Soon after his arrival a Colonization Bureau out of Chicago sent 
settlers to the area and gave the colony its independence for $600. A 
church, land office, lumber yard, drugstore, and general store were 
soon built, and by the end of 1883, the town was ready for great plains 
living.
  Known nationally as the home of the world's largest Holstein cow, New 
Salem is a community filled with pride and energy. ``Salem Sue'' stands 
38 feet high, weighs over 6 tons, and was erected by the New Salem 
Lions Club in 1974 to honor the dairymen of North Dakota. New Salem 
also has a nine-hole golf course, public swimming pool, and numerous 
parks to entertain residents and tourists.
  To celebrate its 125th anniversary, the community of New Salem is 
organizing a celebration that will include a parade, demolition derby, 
mixed golf scramble, pitchfork fondue, and numerous outdoor activities. 
A street dance down New Salem's Main Street will also be held. It 
promises to be a wonderful event.
  Mr. President, I ask the U.S. Senate to join me in congratulating New 
Salem, ND, and its residents on their first 125 years and in wishing 
them well in the future. By honoring New Salem and all the other 
historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the pioneering frontier 
spirit alive for future generations. It is places such as New Salem 
that have helped to shape this country into what it is today, which is 
why this fine community is deserving of our recognition.
  New Salem has a proud past and a bright future.

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