[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 71 (Monday, April 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  250TH ANNIVERSARY OF WINSLOW, MAINE

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 250th 
birthday of the town of Winslow, ME. Winslow is a town with a 
fascinating history and a bright future, connected by generations of 
hard-working and caring people.
  Winslow was incorporated in 1771, but its story began long before. 
For thousands of years, the land along the great Kennebec River was the 
home of the Abenaki Tribe, who hunted, fished, and tilled the fertile 
soil. The reverence the Abenaki had for the natural beauty and 
resources of the region is upheld by the people of Winslow today.
  Winslow's roots run deep into American history. It originally was a 
Native American settlement called Taconock, meaning ``in the trees.'' 
Located in central Maine along the mighty Kennebec River, the village 
was settled by colonists from Plymouth Colony.
  Winslow is home to important historical sites. One of those sites, 
Fort Halifax, the oldest blockhouse in the United States, was 
constructed by the town's namesake, General John Winslow, in 1754 and 
named after the Earl of Halifax, Secretary of State of Great Britain. 
Fort Halifax was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
  Today, visitors and residents enjoy this historic site at what is now 
Fort Halifax Park. This land was once home to industrial and commercial 
use after a railroad line was built in the 1840s to transport goods 
from local mills. Years later, the site was developed into a park which 
is now enjoyed for recreation, picnics, and holiday festivities.
  Winslow's Ticonic Footbridge, known by locals as the Two Cent Bridge, 
is one of the oldest footbridges and the last known toll footbridge in 
the United States. The bridge, built in 1903, connects the two 
communities of Winslow and Waterville. For several generations, 
residents of Winslow crossed the bridge daily to work at the Waterville 
mills.
  Winslow honors the men and women who defend our freedom. Central 
Maine Veterans Memorial Park was the dream of a group of veterans led 
by WWII Navy veteran Daniel DeRoch. With the collaboration of town 
officials, schools, residents, and veterans organizations, this park 
pays tribute to all who served in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, 
Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Merchant Marine.
  Mr. President, Winslow has played an important role in Maine history, 
and it continues to exemplify the best of our great State today. I 
congratulate to the people of Winslow on this landmark anniversary and 
wish them all the best in the years to come.

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