[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 134 (Tuesday, August 27, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 27, 2024

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to commemorate the 250th 
anniversary of the Township of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a modern 
metropolitan hub with roots in our Nation's Industrial Revolution. I 
have always been proud of the heritage and history of the 8th 
Congressional District of Pennsylvania, which I have the privilege to 
represent, and the story of Wilkes-Barre Township is one I'm eager to 
share.
  The Township of Wilkes-Barre, founded during America's Colonial Era, 
originally extended from the Susquehanna River to the Lehigh River. The 
Native American inhabitants of the region sold to Connecticut settlers 
rolling hills with endless forests, valley-wide vistas, and pristine 
watersheds nestled between these two major waterways.
  Officially incorporated in 1774, Wilkes-Barre Township was named for 
two courageous Englishmen, John Wilkes and Colonel Isaac Barre, who 
supported colonial America and fought for our country's independence 
while serving in the British Parliament.
  The Township's role in the 19th Century Industrial Boom began in 
1849, when Moses Tammany left the shores of his beloved Ireland for a 
better life that was promised in America. Upon arrival in our region, 
Moses acquired most of the land that is now Wilkes-Barre Township for 
the sum of $12,000. Not long thereafter, the largest anthracite coal 
fields in the United States were discovered nearby, with coal companies 
purchasing up major parcels of Tammany's land as it contained the 
finest and purest anthracite coal deposits in the world.
  Between the late 1800's and early 1900's, hundreds of thousands of 
European immigrants flocked to Wilkes-Barre Township to work in the 
mines, transforming the Wyoming Valley from an isolated farming area to 
a major metropolis and fueling America's Industrial Revolution.
  When coal mining waned in the 1930s, the region developed a highly 
diversified manufacturing economy that includes glass, boilers, toys, 
steel fabrications, airplane parts and electronics.
  Today, Wilkes-Barre Township serves as a commercial destination for 
Northeastern Pennsylvania thanks to the addition of the Mohegan Sun 
Arena at Casey Plaza and several major shopping hubs, including the 
Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township Commons, and the Wilkes-Barre 
Township Marketplace.
  Throughout the past two-and-a-half centuries, the spirit of America 
has truly been portrayed in Wilkes-Barre Township and the heart of 
American history lies within.
  I commend Mayor Carl Kuren and the citizens of Wilkes-Barre Township 
for their commitment and hard work in organizing a grand 
Semiquincentennial Celebration--250 years as a community and a township 
is certainly a cause for celebration.
  I also congratulate Wilkes-Barre Township for withstanding the tests 
of time and for providing a welcoming community for friends, neighbors 
and visitors.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask all Members 
of the House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to Wilkes-
Barre Township's 250th anniversary and wishing its residents many more 
years of good fortune.

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