[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOROUGH OF SHENANDOAH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Borough of 
Shenandoah, which celebrated its 150th anniversary on August 27, 2016. 
Shenandoah is located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
  The area that became Shenandoah was first settled in 1835 by Peter 
Kehley, who developed the land for farming. The settlement was 
maintained for two decades. After anthracite coal was discovered, the 
land was sold to the Philadelphia Land Company. Planning for the town 
began under Peter Schaeffer in 1862.
  Shenandoah was officially incorporated on January 16, 1866. Situated 
in the Middle Western Coal Field, the area around Shenandoah contained 
rich deposits of anthracite. As mining got under way, the borough's 
population grew in response to the increased demand for labor. 
Shenandoah became a hub for business, attracting depots for three major 
railroad companies to ship coal to New York and Philadelphia. 
Immigrants came first from Wales, Ireland, and Germany. Later, 
immigrants from Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia arrived. With 
each new wave of immigrants, parochial schools and places of worship 
arose unique to their own ethnic group. By the 1920s, Shenandoah had 
developed a garment industry with 15 large factories at the peak of 
clothing production.
  Today, Shenandoah is experiencing a revitalization. People are moving 
into the region, some in retirement and many to raise their families. 
Houses are being restored, businesses are being opened. Shenandoah is 
now home to popular brands such as Mrs. T's Pierogies, Lee's Oriental 
Foods, Kowalonek's Kielbasy Shop, Lucky's, and Capitol's Kielbasy.
  It is an honor to recognize Shenandoah on its sesquicentennial. I am 
proud to represent a community so rich in history. May the people of 
Shenandoah be proud of their past and look forward to a bright future 
as they celebrate the city's 150th anniversary.

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