[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 117 (Tuesday, July 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4254-S4255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TOWN OF WHITING 200TH ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the Town of Whiting, ME, observes its 
bicentennial this July with a 3-day celebration that includes a 
Revolutionary

[[Page S4255]]

War reenactment, displays of antique farm and lumbering tools, 
historical presentations, quilts and other local crafts, great food, 
and good friendship. This long-planned event demonstrates why Whiting 
prides itself on being a small town with a big spirit.
  The Revolutionary War reenactment is especially significant as one of 
the early settlers of the wilderness of far Downeast Maine after 
America won its independence was a hero of that conflict, General John 
Crane. A Massachusetts carpenter, Crane was a leader of the Sons of 
Liberty and was the only rebel injured during the Boston Tea Party.
  Crane recovered and was commissioned as a Continental Army artillery 
officer who distinguished himself at Bunker Hill. Despite losing part 
of a foot to a cannon shot in 1776, he continued to serve and became 
the top commander of the U.S. Corps of Artillery. After the war, a 
grateful new nation granted the remarkable patriot a land grant on the 
coast of Maine.
  With vast forest lands and fast-moving rivers, General Crane's 
settlement soon became a bustling lumber center with two sawmills. The 
fertile soil produced productive farms of crops and livestock, and 
pristine lakes, ponds, and streams supported abundant wildlife. When 
the general died in 1805, he was laid to rest with honors in the 
village cemetery.
  Originally called Orangetown, after the river that powered the 
sawmills, the town was renamed Whiting upon its incorporation in 1825 
after Timothy Whiting, an early settler and the town's first 
representative to the Maine Legislature.
  Today, Whiting is a nature lover's paradise of gorgeous scenery and 
year-round outdoor recreation. The beautifully maintained Union Meeting 
House, built nearly two centuries ago, is a wonderful example of 
traditional New England church architecture and a worthy addition to 
the National Register of Historic Places.
  Another major landmark is the Mill Pond Dam, built in 1830 where the 
Orange River meets Whiting Bay. In addition to creating a place of 
scenic beauty, the pond created by the stone dam has long been a 
crucial source of water for firefighters. Many residents recall how 
that precious water saved the town from destruction during a massive 
forest fire in 1985.
  In addition to structural repairs, the dam needed a new fish passage. 
The Orange River is designated as Critical Habitat for Atlantic Salmon 
and supports herring and other important fish species and wildlife 
important to the economy and the ecosystem.
  The people of Whiting stepped forward with investments of more than 
$1 million for the watershed restoration project, and I was pleased to 
join the effort by securing $2.9 million in Federal funds. During the 
legislative process, many students at Whiting Village School wrote 
letters supporting the Mill Pond Dam project. When I discussed this 
funding with my Senate colleagues, those letters made a difference. It 
was impressive to see young people getting involved in the future of 
their community.
  This 200th anniversary is not just the passing of years. It is about 
the people who for more than two centuries have pulled together, cared 
for one another, and built a community. My congratulations to the 
people of Whiting, ME, and my best wishes for the future.

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