[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 2, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE BOROUGH OF ROOSEVELT, NEW JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2012

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the borough of 
Roosevelt, New Jersey on their 75th anniversary. A quiet, peaceful town 
in central New Jersey, the borough of Roosevelt has a rich heritage. 
Through the work of local citizens and organizations such as the 
Roosevelt Oral History Committee and the Jersey Homesteads Historic 
District Advisory Council, Rooseveltians continue to maintain their 
town's unique history and background.
  Founded by Benjamin Brown with the support of Albert Einstein, 
Eleanor Roosevelt, and Louis Kahn, the borough was incorporated in 1937 
and was originally known as Jersey Homesteads. The borough was one of 
99 communities established as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal 
Initiative, but was unique in that it was the only town established as 
an agro-industrial cooperative comprised of a factory, farms, and 
retail stores. Initially composed of Jewish factory workers from nearby 
New York City, the borough of Roosevelt over the years has become more 
diverse, while still maintaining its historical roots. Renamed 
Roosevelt for President Roosevelt in 1945 following his death, the 
citizens of Roosevelt truly personify the American spirit of 
determination and hard work. Through the difficult trials and 
tribulations of the Great Depression, the borough and its citizens 
persevered and succeeded in making Roosevelt a great place to live and 
work. Although the borough is no longer a cooperative, its historical 
significance is recognized with its listing on the National and State 
Registers of Historic Places.
  Today, the borough still cherishes its unique history as the only 
town in the country to have been planned as a government subsidized 
agro-industrial cooperative. With a population just under 900, the 
borough remains a tightknit community where everyone works together for 
the benefit of the common good. With the hard work of Roosevelt's Mayor 
Beth Battel, City Council, citizens, and local organizations, the 
borough has been able to maintain much of its original architecture and 
historical sites.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in leading this body in recognition of 
Roosevelt, New Jersey's 75th anniversary. It is with great pleasure 
that I am able to join the citizens of Roosevelt in celebrating this 
historic occasion and I look forward to hearing of the borough's 
continued success in the future.

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