[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 17 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E148-E149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF PRINCEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA'S 130TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 2, 2015

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise in 
recognition of the 130th Anniversary of the Town of Princeville, North 
Carolina--the oldest town in the United States incorporated by African 
Americans. Princeville is located in Edgecombe County in my 
Congressional District and was originally known as Freedom Hill when it 
was founded at the close of the Civil War in 1865 by newly-freed slaves 
who sought protection in the Union Army encampments there.
  Following the departure of the Union soldiers, many of the former 
slaves stayed behind and formed a free community in Freedom Hill. The 
settlement grew and was incorporated on February 20, 1885, as 
Princeville in honor of Turner Prince, a former slave who used his 
carpentry skills to build many homes in the free community for his 
family and others who sought refuge there.
  The Town of Princeville and its residents have endured much over its 
130 year history. Whether it was racial prejudice, social and economic 
isolation, or Hurricane Floyd that nearly destroyed Princeville, the 
Town and its proud residents remain resilient and dedicated to building 
for the future. Today, the Town has well over 2,000 residents and 
continues to grow.
  The Town of Princeville serves as a symbol of the self-determination, 
endurance, and fearlessness of the African Americans who braved the 
unimaginable horrors of slavery to reclaim their lives and build a 
lasting community for future generations.
  Today we celebrate Princeville's incredible survival and its unique 
place in African American culture and United States History. 
Princeville's story deserves recognition so that the historical and 
social significance of the

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Town and the unwavering spirit of its people are widely known.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
congratulating the Town of Princeville, North Carolina for 130 years of 
perseverance and for being a symbol of African American strength and 
resilience.

                          ____________________