[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE CITY OF OCONTO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MIKE GALLAGHER

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2019

  Mr. GALLAGHER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of 
Oconto's sesquicentennial.
  Nestled on the coast of Green Bay, the City of Oconto is the home to 
thousands of Wisconsinites. The city hosts thirty-three sites listed on 
the National Register of Historic Places and in its 150 years, it has 
seen tremendous growth and prosperity.
  First settled by the Copper Culture People over 6,000 years ago, 
Oconto is rich with history and culture. The Copper Culture People, 
rightfully named for their role as some of the earliest copper workers 
in the Americas, made a variety of tools and ornaments, many of which 
can still be found today in Oconto at the Copper Culture State Park. 
When Jesuit missionaries arrived in Oconto in the mid-1600s, Oconto 
became vital in building the trade relationships that helped so-called 
``New France'' to prosper. The Copper Culture People, along with 
ancestors of the Menominee who had settled there, traded beaver and 
other furs for various goods and tools with the European settlers.
  Oconto experienced a population boom during the 19th and 20th 
centuries. Located directly on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, 
Oconto became a hub for the growing commercial lumber and fishing 
industries. Americans were in search of a beautiful place to earn a 
living and raise a family, and this wonderful city in Northeast 
Wisconsin offered them just that.
  Today, several industries have expanded and are expected to continue 
to grow, creating new jobs and boosting the local economy. Oconto's 
small-town fishing lifestyle has continued to play a crucial role in 
the economy, attracting anglers from across the United States fishing 
for walleye at its Breakwater Park on the Bay.
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate the City of Oconto on 
150 years of community, industry, and success. As citizens committed to 
preserving the vibrant history of their home and watching it grow and 
prosper, the people of Oconto truly embody what it means to be a 
Wisconsinite: to strive forward. I wish them another 150 years of 
prosperity.

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