[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 41 (Thursday, March 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E284-E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE: CITY OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA COMMEMORATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MO BROOKS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2018

  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
recognize the City of Florence, Alabama, as it celebrates its 200th 
Anniversary. I am honored to serve the people of Florence, which is 
located in Alabama's 5th District.
  By way of background, on March 12, 1818, General John Coffee saw the 
potential for a settlement on the banks of the Tennessee River, and he 
founded Florence, Alabama. General Coffee led the Cypress Land Company, 
and these visionaries established what they saw as a bold, new, and 
prosperous settlement.
  At this time, these founding fathers of Florence commissioned an 
Italian surveyor named Ferdinand Sannoner to lay out the town. In 
deciding on a name for the new settlement, he named it Florence after 
the beautiful and historic city of Florence, Italy.
  Through the years, the city's population grew, and many businesses 
and educational institutions were established in Florence. The city 
became known for having a legacy of commerce, industry, music and the 
arts, education, and architecture.
  Florence stands as a testament to the Tennessee Valley's rich 
heritage, and I am proud

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to celebrate with the city's residents today. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in congratulating the City of Florence on this momentous 
occasion of its 200th Anniversary. I wish the city the best for another 
200 years.

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