[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1655-E1656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TELL CITY SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARON P. HILL

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2008

  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the 
founding of Tell City, in Perry County, Indiana. Nestled on the Ohio 
River and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Hoosier National 
Forest, the city's 7,500 citizens personify a warm and welcoming 
demeanor and help define the term ``Hoosier Hospitality.''
  The Town's ceremonial observance of this anniversary will be held 
beginning Saturday, August 2nd continuing through August 9th, 2008. 
Organized to coincide with the city's annual Schweizerfest, itself a 
Hoosier treasure developed in 1959 after the city's centennial 
celebration, a number of celebratory events have been planned including 
musical performances, historical tours, steamboat river cruises, a city 
picnic, as well as a parade and trolley tours. I look forward to 
celebrating Tell City's Sesquicentennial with its residents and 
attending some of these events during the festival.
  The history of Tell City is richly accentuated by the story of 
European immigrants that came to our country during the 19th Century. 
The story begins not in Indiana but in neighboring Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Cincinnati was a

[[Page E1656]]

major departure point for German immigrants hoping to settle further 
west, and in 1856 a group of investors paid $15.00 per share to found 
the Swiss Colonization Society. Their desire was to locate and purchase 
land for a new community--and their search was exhaustive. The search 
included potential sites as far west as the Nebraska and Kansas 
prairie. The members of the Swiss Colonization Society finally agreed 
upon a 4,100 acre site between the Town of Troy and the City of 
Cannelton in Perry County, Indiana.
  They created the new city from scratch, laying out more than 7,300 
lots along wide streets named after leaders in science, education and 
the arts. The first 620 settlers arrived in May 1858 and within weeks 
more than eighty homes were either constructed or being built.
  The first name proposed for the city was ``Helvetia'' after the early 
Latin name for Switzerland. However, out of a desire to fit the new 
country they had come to settle, they reconsidered and instead chose to 
honor their Swiss heritage by naming the city after William Tell, the 
legendary 14th century Swiss freedom fighter well-known for sparking 
the rebellion against the Hapsburg Emperors that led to the formation 
of the Swiss Confederation, a precursor to the modern day Switzerland.
  The immigrants that settled in Tell City desired a community founded 
on the principles of free enterprise, hard work, and freedom. The 
community's founding mothers and fathers spoke mostly German and were 
born in Swiss cantons or the yet-to-be-unified Germany.
  These settlers left behind political tensions and the economic perils 
of Europe for the promise offered in America.
  Quickly developing sources of trade and commerce, these industrious 
men and women offered their fellow citizens the staples of the day 
through the milling of grain, brick making, and the production of 
clothing, food and beer. One of the earliest trades established in Tell 
City was that of woodworking and furniture building. That tradition 
continues today through businesses such as Tell City Chair, William 
Tell Woodworkers/Swiss Plywood, and Castlewood Corporation.
  As Tell City grew, other industries and services also came to the 
emerging community, including attorneys, the first postmaster and a 
fire-fighting company. The first school was constructed in 1859 in a 
small, two story school house. While the lower level was used for 
teaching, the upstairs room was used as living space for the school's 
teacher.
  Faith also played an important role in the growing community and 
remains a key component. The first church was a catholic church, built 
in the 1000 block of Main Street. While the original structure has long 
since been razed, St. Paul's Catholic Church continues that legacy and 
has been joined by ten other denominations throughout the city.
  The Swiss Colonization Society continued to direct the city's 
development through its early years and functioned in large part as a 
municipal government until the new city could function independently. 
Over the course of its last several years, the Society deeded the 
remaining land not settled to the city and the community schools and on 
April 17, 1879 disbanded.
  It wasn't until 1886, however, that the town elected August Schreiber 
as its first mayor. A native of Prussia, Schreiber came to America in 
1855 and entered the pharmacy business, founding Schreiber's Drug Store 
in Tell City. His term as Mayor lasted only two years. It wasn't until 
1892 when Albert Fenn was elected to the position that a native born in 
Tell City became mayor. Fenn held many other public offices, including 
that of county auditor, city clerk, and city councilman. Fenn also 
played an important role in politics outside of Tell City, serving as a 
delegate in 1896 and as a sergeant-at-arms from 1900-1912 at the 
Democratic national conventions.
  One of Albert Fenn's greatest legacies to Tell City is the City Hall. 
Conceived in 1895 by Fenn and others to lure the county seat to Tell 
City from neighboring Cannelton, the original intent was to construct 
the structure and then donate it to the County. This action set off a 
competition with the residents of Cannelton, who also began work to 
raise funds and construct a new structure for the county.
  Cannelton completed its project first and provided the structure to 
the county without cost or the legal process of relocating the county 
seat. Tell City retained its building as the city hall, using the extra 
space in the structure for a myriad of civic and community functions, 
including use as school space. In what is perhaps the most ironic and 
controversial footnote to the story, Perry County did relocate its 
county seat to Tell City in 1994 to a new structure located on Payne 
Street.

  Tell City played an important role for shipping during the 1880's. 
Early commerce and travel was easier along the Ohio River than via the 
rough roads that connected the city with other communities such as 
Paoli and Jasper, Indiana. As a result, Tell City developed one of the 
largest ports between Louisville, KY and Evansville, IN and in 1889, 
the Louisville and Evansville Mail line named a new boat Tell City in 
honor of the city's importance on the route. Comprising nearly 38 
acres, the Tell City River Port continues the city's river heritage, 
specializing in the handling of bulk materials such as pig iron, coke, 
coal and woodchips for area manufacturers.
  The river has also served to challenge the community. A victim of the 
1937 Ohio River Flood, much of the community had to be restored or 
rebuilt. Ohio River Flood Markers are painted on the William Tell 
Woodcrafters Office Building on Seventh Street depicting the actual 
levels of the water during this and other floods. As with other 
communities following that historic flood, the Army Corps of Engineers 
constructed a flood wall to protect the citizenry from future flooding.
  Tell City stands as Perry County's largest community and serves as 
the largest economic district in the county. To that end, the City 
recently completed a renovation of its downtown district with new 
landscaping, street lights, and bike racks. Bike lanes were also added 
throughout the four-block district.
  An extensive network of recreational facilities has also been 
developed in the community to provide assorted athletic opportunities 
to the residents of the community. New walking trails and further 
developments of these facilities demonstrate the pride and dedication 
enjoyed by this community.
  Above all else, the real treasure of Tell City is it citizens. 
Despite any challenges they may face, they continue to display a 
collective confidence and ingenuity that overcomes any problem and has 
allowed the city to flourish.
  It is an honor and privilege to represent this community in Congress. 
I want to congratulate Tell City on its Sesquicentennial, and look 
forward to seeing how this unique and wonderful city thrives for 
decades to come.

                          ____________________