[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 13 (Friday, January 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   200TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANTON, MAINE

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 200th 
anniversary of the Town of Canton, ME. Canton was built with a spirit 
of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, 
and this is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working and 
caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, work, 
and raise families.
  The year of Canton's incorporation, 1821, was but one milestone in a 
long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the land of fields, 
rivers, lakes, and forests of what is now Oxford County was the home of 
the Abenaki Tribe, and Canton Point, or Rokomeko, was the headquarters 
of the Anasagunticook Band of the People of the Dawn. The reverence the 
Abenaki had for the natural beauty and resources of the region is 
upheld by the people of Canton today.
  In the 1790s, following America's independence, an early settlement 
called Phipp's Canada was established. Maine achieved statehood in 
1820, and on February 5 of the following year, the town of Canton was 
incorporated. With the mighty Androscoggin River providing power, 
Canton soon was home to lumber and grain mills, along with many other 
small industries. When the first paper mill opened in nearby Rumford in 
1893, the people of Canton were part of the skilled and dedicated 
workforce that built a great Maine industry. The prosperity produced by 
hard work and determination was invested in schools and churches to 
create a true community.
  Maine is known as ``Vacationland,'' and Canton has played a key role 
in the development of our State's tourism industry. A guidebook to the 
region published in 1888 described the easternmost town in Oxford 
County as ``one of the most beautiful and charming in all this 
attractive region.'' With guests arriving by train and, later, by bus 
and car, some of the first family vacation resorts were established on 
the shores of Lake Anasagunticook. Today, visitors and residents alike 
enjoy Canton's scenery, history, and outdoor recreation opportunities. 
The energy and planning that are going into Canton's yearlong 
bicentennial celebration demonstrate the pride townspeople have in 
their town.
  The celebration of Canton's 200th anniversary is not merely about the 
passing of time. It is about human accomplishment. We celebrate the 
people who, from the dawn of our Nation to our time, have pulled 
together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to 
those who came before, Canton, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to 
those there today, it has a bright future.

                          ____________________