[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SESQUICENTENNIAL OF CALVERT CITY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for 150 years, Calvert City has been a 
central hub of the Jackson Purchase, serving as a focal point for 
pioneers, farmers, and railroaders from all over western Kentucky. The 
town's enduring legacy is a tribute to the enterprising demeanor of 
those trailblazing Kentuckians who first called the Purchase home. In 
recognition of Calvert City's sesquicentennial, I am privileged to join 
this vibrant Kentucky community in celebrating 150 years of Bluegrass 
heritage.
  Calvert City started off as nothing more than a depot alongside the 
Paducah & Elizabethtown Railroad, but quickly blossomed as settlers 
spread west into the Jackson Purchase to profit from the region's 
fertile soil and easy access to the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and 
Mississippi Rivers. By the time the Kentucky Dam was completed nearby 
in 1944, bringing jobs and hydroelectric power to the region, the town 
was a flourishing center of commerce. Today, Calvert City is home to 
numerous advanced chemical manufacturing facilities and continues to 
play a critical role in western Kentucky's economy.
  In recognition of Calvert City's pioneer spirit, the town is 
celebrating 150 years of history with 150 events throughout the 
calendar year. These ceremonies are made especially poignant by the 
passing of Mayor Lynn Boyd Jones this January. He had dreamed about 
Calvert City's 150th anniversary since the town's centennial 50 years 
ago and was an early planner of this year's festivities.
  As Kentucky emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration will 
be a uniquely joyous tribute. All aspects of Calvert City's storied 
history will be on display, from railroad cars, to an auto show, to 
events at Oak Hill, the original home of town founder Potilla Calvert.
  I want to give special thanks to the Calvert City civic leaders who 
made this year's sesquicentennial celebration possible. It is through 
their hard work and dedication that the town continues to prosper, so 
many years after its founding. On behalf of the Senate, I share our 
congratulations with every Calvert City family and join them in 
honoring 150 years of proud Kentucky traditions.

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