[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 110 (Tuesday, July 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S4498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MOUNT CHASE SESQUICENTENNIAL

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate the 150th 
anniversary of the Town of Mount Chase, ME. Mount Chase was built with 
a spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the 
community today, and this is a time to celebrate the generations of 
hard-working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place 
to live, work, and raise families.
  While this sesquicentennial marks Mount Chase's incorporation, the 
year 1864 was but one milestone in a long journey of progress. For 
thousands of years, the land surrounding Mount Katahdin, Maine's 
highest peak, was the hunting and fishing grounds of the Penobscot and 
Maliseet tribes. In the 1830s, the first White settlers were drawn by 
the fertile soil, vast stands of timber, and fast-moving streams, and 
the young village became a center of the Maine North Woods' lumber 
industry. The wealth produced by the forests and saw mills was invested 
in schools and churches to create a true community. The incorporated 
town that followed was named for the prominent mountain peak, Mount 
Chase, which towers more than a half-mile above the farms and forests 
below.
  The arrival of the railroads in the aftermath of the Civil War 
further secured Mount Chase's prominence in the lumber industry, and 
the town was home to the largest cold-storage plant on the line for 
wild game and other perishable food products. By the end of the 19th 
century, modern transportation and the region's spectacular scenery and 
abundant wildlife combined to create a new economic opportunity--great 
sporting camps and lodges that drew outdoor enthusiasts from around the 
world. Today, the people of Mount Chase continue to honor the strong 
land use traditions and love of the outdoors that have helped make such 
places as Shin Pond a favorite recreation destination for residents and 
visitors.
  In the early 20th century, the history, industry, and beauty of the 
Mount Chase region were made immortal by the great Swedish-born artist 
Carl Sprinchorn, who spent many years at Shin Pond. From his paintings 
of the strenuous daily life of lumberjacks to his evocative landscapes, 
the artist recorded a very special time in Maine history and a place 
that remains special today.
  This 150th anniversary is not just about something that is measured 
in calendar years. It is about human accomplishment, an occasion to 
celebrate the people who for generations have pulled together, cared 
for one another, and built a community. Thanks to those who came 
before, Mount Chase has a wonderful history. Thanks to those who are 
there today, it has a bright future.

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