[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 105 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1338-E1339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMARKS IN HONOR OF BLUEFIELD WEST VIRGINIA'S 200TH LEMONADE DAYS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, last week, a great tradition in my native 
West Virginia, Lemonade Days, marked a sweet milestone--its 200th 
serving of free lemonade--and I am proud to offer this salute to it.
  The historic Lemonade Days was born in Bluefield, West Virginia in 
1939, when the late Edward H. Steel dreamed up the idea of serving free 
lemonade to the town residents whenever the temperature reached above 
the 90-degree mark. It wasn't until three years later, in 1941, when 
the first free cup of lemonade was served, as the temperature didn't 
hit the required 90-degrees until then.
  According to a recent editorial in the local newspaper, the Bluefield 
Daily Telegraph, it took a historic 71 years for the city to serve 200 
servings of free lemonade, and there have been at least 35 summers on 
record, in which the temperature never reached 90-degrees. Bluefield, 
West Virginia, has since received the moniker ``Nature's Air-
Conditioned City,'' as the temperature in this beautiful town rarely 
reaches this old faithful temperature.
  The free lemonade tradition in Bluefield is tried and true. It has 
endured challenges from cooler than normal summer months with no free 
lemonade servings, a lemon and sugar shortage during World War II, a 
strike by the lemonade lassies and several friendly controversies over 
the temperature reading and whether or not the town thermometer is or 
isn't accurate. Yet the tradition-- 200 cups later--is still 
flourishing--whenever the temperature hits of course.
  And what better place than Bluefield, West Virginia, to carry on a 
celebrated tradition that's as sweet as the people who live there? 
Nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains, the Bluefield area of 
southern West Virginia is home to a magnificent coal story. Most of the 
towns in Mercer County were built due to the thriving coal operations 
when Bluefield emerged as the corporate center of these coalfields. 
Many shops, businesses and activities flourished around the activity of 
the busy rail yard. The striking architecture of the city was built in 
the 1920's and reflects the optimism and confidence of that area.
  Eight of the areas downtown buildings are listed on the National 
Register of Historic places and locals and tourists bask in the hunt 
for old treasures in the town's antique and specialty shops.
  Mercer County is home to several cultural art centers, theatres and 
galleries and boasts of a Natural Gravity Switching Rail yard; the 
Eastern Regional Coal Archives; Chicory Square, which houses 25 
uniquely painted trains; a Railroad Museum, home to over 100 railroad 
lanterns, exhibits, and railroad artifacts, photographs and artwork; 
the last remaining structure from the Civil War, the McNutt House; 
Mercer County War Museum; Historic Bramwell, home to coal barons' old 
mansions, a train depot and many unique shops; two minor league 
baseball teams, the Bluefield Orioles (farm team for the Baltimore 
Orioles) and the Princeton Rays (the farm team of Tampa Bay); and the 
Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center in Bramwell, which houses 
relics and exhibits of West Virginia's truly inspiring coal story.
  Locals and visitors may also enjoy three of southern West Virginia's 
most beautiful state parks--Camp Creek, Pinnacle Rock and Pipestem--as 
well some of the country's best ATV trails, hiking and biking trails, 
fishing and boating. There truly is something for everyone in Bluefield 
and in Mercer County West Virginia.
  On behalf of all the residents of Bluefield in my native Mountain 
State who enjoy this wonderful tradition, Lemonade Days, I salute this 
historic sweet milestone and encourage anyone who hasn't visited this 
community to plan their next summer vacation in our ``Nature's Air-
Conditioned City.''

[[Page E1339]]



                          ____________________