[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            350TH ANNIVERSARY OF SALT SAINTE MARIE, MICHIGAN

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 350th 
anniversary of the city of Sault Sainte Marie, MI. As one of the oldest 
cities in the State of Michigan, as well as the United States, Sault 
Ste. Marie is endowed with a rich history, dynamic present, and bright 
future.
  As early as 800 A.D., the Chippewa Indians, originally referred to as 
Ojibway, inhabited the area now known as Sault Ste. Marie. The Chippewa 
Indians called the region ``Bahweting,'' or ``the Gathering Place,'' 
due to the wealth of fish and fur found along the St. Marys River, the 
only water connection between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes.
  In the early 1600s, British, French, and Jesuit missionaries ventured 
to the territory, including Fr. Jaques Marquette. In 1668, Fr. Jaques 
Marquette renamed the settlement Sault Ste. Marie in honor of the 
Virgin Mary, establishing the first permanent settlement in the Great 
Lakes region. Due to the abundant natural resources and strategic 
location of the St. Marys River, the French and British repeatedly 
fought over the area, as well as the right to trade with the Chippewa 
and Ottawa Tribes. Although Fr. Jaques Marquette built the first 
permanent structure, John Johnson is considered to be the first 
permanent settler in Sault Ste. Marie. In the late 1790s, Johnson and 
his family moved to the region to open a fur trade operation along the 
St. Marys River. In 1797, the Northwest Fur Company constructed a 
navigation lock approximately 38-feet long on the Canadian side of the 
St. Marys River. Unfortunately, the lock was destroyed in the War of 
1812.
  In 1820, the Chippewa Indians signed the Treaty of the Sault that 
turned control of Sault Ste. Marie to the United States. In 1852, 
almost three decades later, the State of Michigan contracted Fairbanks 
Scale Company to build a lock designed to permit waterborne commerce 
between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. The Fairbanks Scale 
Company constructed a system of two locks, each 350 feet long, called 
the State Lock. The State of Michigan operated and maintained the locks 
for more than a decade, but as the shipping traffic and vessel sizes 
increased, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assumed ownership of the 
facility and constructed a larger lock, more than 515 feet long, named 
the Weitzel Lock. Since then, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversaw 
the construction and replacement of five locks, later known as the Soo 
Locks, in order to meet the growing demand for larger vessels: First 
Poe Lock, Davis Lock, Sabin Lock, MacArthur Lock, and Second Poe Lock. 
Over the past 350 years, Sault Ste. Marie transformed from a base for 
fisherman and fur traders to an international gateway for community 
development and economic growth.
  Today, Sault Ste. Marie is home to more than 13,000 residents who 
enjoy the beautiful parks, historic downtown, and safe neighborhoods. 
Situated in Chippewa County, the city provides a number of recreational 
activities designed to enhance the quality of life for residents, 
ranging from the Sault Seal Recreation Area and Voyageur Island, to the 
River of History Museum and Sherman Park. Sault Ste. Marie is also 
active in the preservation and promotion of historic landmarks, 
including the Historic Locks Park Walkway, the John Johnston House, and 
the Kemp Coal Dock Office. Recognized as ``the place where Michigan was 
born,'' Sault Ste. Maris captivates the attention of residents and 
visitors from around the globe.
  I am honored to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the rich 
history, significant contributions, and outstanding achievements of the 
city of Sault Sainte Marie. I wish the city continued growth and 
prosperity in the years ahead.

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