[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              125TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHEYENNE, NORTH DAKOTA

 Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, I am pleased to honor a community 
in North Dakota that recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. From 
July 4 to July 6, the residents of Sheyenne gathered to celebrate their 
community and its historic founding.
  Sheyenne is located in Eddy County. The name is said to have come 
from the Cheyenne Indian Tribe; however, it was misspelled by the 
area's first explorers and hasn't been changed since. The town was 
inhabited in 1885 by Clarence E. Bennett and then formally platted in 
1892 under the jurisdiction of J.W. Richter. The Richter family built 
the first store and elevator on what is now Main Street. Sheyenne began 
as a large wheat growing community and slowly evolved into a small 
business community with the expansion of the railroad and increased 
numbers of settlers. The nearby Sheyenne River served as a constant 
source of food and other goods throughout its development.
  As my colleagues know, the Great Depression left no community in the 
Midwest unaffected. Sheyenne suffered greatly as an agriculture 
community, but--- as they had done during World War I and the influenza 
epidemic--- citizens helped one another and fought through all of the 
hardships
  Today, Sheyenne is home to Hendrickson Park, the Log Cabin Museum, 
and the Warsing Dam. Volumes of the ``Shining Star'' Sheyenne Newspaper 
dating back to 1897 can be found at the Log Cabin Museum. Outdoorsmen 
can catch anything from a largemouth bass to yellow perch along the 
banks of the Warsing Dam. Camping, hiking, and biking are also popular 
activities in this area.
  The celebration of 125 years as a community was nothing short of 
spectacular. Sheyenne had an all-school reunion, a parade, a BBQ 
dinner, a Bull-a-Rama, and memorable fireworks to top it off. The 
community also honored the newly remodeled and expanded Equity Elevator 
that has been in operation since 1910. This was truly a celebration 
unlike any other.
  Madam President, I ask the Senate to join me in congratulating 
Sheyenne, ND, and its residents on their 125th anniversary and in 
wishing them well for the future. By honoring Sheyenne and all other 
small historic towns of North Dakota, we keep the pioneering, frontier 
spirit alive for future generations. It is places such as Sheyenne that 
have helped to shape this country into what it is today, which is why 
this fine community is deserving of our recognition.
  Sheyenne has a proud past and a bright future.

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