[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 20, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO THE TOWN OF WESTMINSTER ON THE OCCASION OF THE 250TH 
                      ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING

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                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2009

  Mr. OLVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the founding of 
Westminster, Massachusetts 250 years ago on October 20, 1759. The 
following history provided by the Town's 250th Anniversary Committee 
vividly details a community with a rich cultural heritage and great 
natural beauty.
  Nestled at the foot of Mount Wachusett, the highest mountain in 
central Massachusetts, Westminster was unsettled territory at the 
beginning of the 18th century. The land had been designated as payment 
for soldiers who had fought in King Phillip's War, but for many years 
no one was interested in leaving the comforts of home to settle in the 
wilderness. In 1737, however, the descendants of those veterans and 
others were drawn to the region's bounty and began to settle the 
region. As the population grew it became a district in 1759 and was 
given the name of Westminster, a name rooted in traditions of England. 
Full incorporation of the town came in 1770.
  On June 10, 1776 Westminster residents voted to ``stand by and 
support the (Continental Congress) with their lives and fortunes if 
they should declare independence on the Crown of Great Britain.'' 
During the American Revolution, three hundred fifty six Westminster men 
served either as Minutemen or enlisted soldiers in the American 
Continental Army.
  Water was essential to the early industrial growth of Westminster in 
the 19th century, beginning with sawmills, gristmills, fulling mills, 
and tanneries. These industries were followed by the manufacturing of 
chairs, other furniture, and paper. But when the railroad bypassed the 
center of town in mid-century, the factories lost their ability to 
cheaply bring raw materials into town and transport their finished 
products to the world. Today there is little evidence of these early 
industries.
  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, residents of Westminster 
found jobs in neighboring cities. Indeed, it became clear that 
Westminster now had the strategic advantage of being located on and 
near major highways that pass through the Commonwealth.
  Today, Westminster's cultural heritage and rural, scenic beauty are 
appreciated by residents and visitors alike. The Westminster Cracker 
Factory, the longest running cracker bakery in the country, closed in 
the 1970s but the red clapboard building is a landmark which anchors 
the east end of Main Street. The town common on top of Academy Hill and 
the town center are remarkably preserved and greatly contribute to the 
Town's distinction of having one of the largest National Register 
Historic Districts in Massachusetts. Visitors of all ages enjoy 
Westminster--whether by skiing, hiking or viewing the autumn foliage on 
Mount Wachusett, dining at the Old Mill while watching ducks swimming 
on the nearby pond, or taking a tour of Wachusett Brewery.
  I am very proud to represent this community, which is rich in 
history, in natural beauty, and in the public spirit of its citizenry. 
Please join me in congratulating the Town of Westminster as it 
celebrates its 250th Anniversary.

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