[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 128 (Tuesday, August 6, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF THE CITY OF WILLARD'S SESQUICENTENNIAL

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                          HON. ROBERT E. LATTA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 6, 2024

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the City of 
Willard's Sesquicentennial. The perseverance of pioneers and settlers 
to overcome the challenges faced during the early years of the city's 
history has persisted throughout the past 150 years. The hard work and 
spirit shown by generations of city residents have made Willard an 
outstanding example of American ingenuity.
  In 1874, the City of Willard was established as a community and a 
junction for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's line to Sandusky and the 
branch west to Chicago. The original name of Willard was Chicago; 
however, passengers would mistake the community for Chicago, Illinois. 
The city's name was changed to Chicago Junction, but the word 
``junction'' did not fit on name boards at the time. In 1917, the town 
changed its name to Willard, after the then-president of the Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad, Daniel Willard. In 1960, Willard officially became a 
city. The city is an asset to the great State of Ohio through its many 
contributions in the fields of manufacturing and agriculture. It 
remains to this day a key junction for the rail company CSX 
Transportation.
  Mr. Speaker, by remembering the 150th Anniversary of the City of 
Willard, community members recognize the outstanding achievements, 
maintain the pioneer attitude, and strive to better their city through 
the principles on which it was founded. I thank and congratulate 
Willard on this significant milestone.

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