[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 133 (Tuesday, August 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS ON THEIR 140TH 
                        ANNIVERSARY AS A VILLAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 6, 2019

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the residents of 
La Grange, Illinois as the village celebrates its 140th anniversary.
  La Grange enjoys a long and vibrant history beginning in the early 
19th century. The area, originally consisting of prairie land, was 
first settled as a result of land grants offered by President Martin 
Van Buren. One of the early residents was Franklin D. Cossitt. After 
leaving Tennessee, Mr. Cossitt moved to Chicago and started the largest 
wholesale grocery business in the area. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 
destroyed Mr. Cossitt's business and drove people westward to the 
suburbs.
  Mr. Cossitt's dream for constructing a community began when he bought 
and developed 600 acres of land that was later incorporated as the 
village of La Grange in 1879. In 1873, Mr. Cossitt quickly began laying 
out streets and building homes. By 1890, La Grange had already seen 
tremendous growth and now included twenty-eight retail businesses, a 
new high school, churches, a newspaper, paved roads, and a railroad 
station. The Village of La Grange quickly became known as the largest 
town between Chicago and Aurora.
  The Village of La Grange has continued to develop and today is home 
to more than 130 businesses and 15,550 residents. Although La Grange 
has come a long way, it is still a safe and quiet place to live. The La 
Grange historic district is home to many of the original buildings 
built by Mr. Cossitt in the 1870's. Because of the quality of the 
architecture and the historic significance, the Village of La Grange 
historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic 
Places in 1979.
  I am proud to represent the residents of La Grange and I will gather 
with them on the Village Hall lawn on August 8th to celebrate the 
village's anniversary. I ask you to join me in honoring the residents 
of La Grange, Illinois, on their 140th anniversary as a village. May 
they enjoy this celebration and may the Village continue to thrive as a 
close-knit community.

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