[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 144 (Wednesday, September 3, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H3770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                          THE COLOSSAL CHERRY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend 
the Wilds Sonshine Factory, a distillery in McKean County, Kane, 
Pennsylvania, that makes a great product using sunflowers for that 
beverage.
  I commend them today for honoring a vital piece of the Commonwealth's 
logging and conservation heritage, the Colossal Cherry. The Colossal 
Cherry is now an artifact, but at one time it was the largest black 
cherry tree in the world. The Wilds Sonshine Factory hosted a 
dedication ceremony on August 22 in honor of the Colossal Cherry, which 
is also known as the Sheffield Log.
  Discovered and preserved through efforts of local historians and 
conservation advocates, the Sheffield Log stands as a powerful symbol 
of the region's natural history, the resilience of its people, and the 
enduring value of sustainable forestry.
  It once stood in the woods of the Allegheny National Forest before 
being knocked down during the tornado of 1985. It was then formally 
homed in Sheffield, Pennsylvania, to mark its sesquicentennial in 1986. 
Now, the newly restored Colossal Black Cherry sits at its permanent 
home at the Wilds Sonshine Factory.
  Mr. Speaker, this rededication is a story worth celebrating. I thank 
everyone who took part in the preservation of the Colossal Black 
Cherry.

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