[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

  

                                 ______
                                 

                   TOWN OF CHELSEA 175TH ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, In 1851, 31 years after Maine became the 
23rd State of the Union, the small, agricultural town of Chelsea was 
incorporated. Chelsea, named after the town of Chelsea, MA, is known 
for its peaceful community, with a strong sense of pride in its 
history. From its humble beginnings to a thriving agricultural center, 
Chelsea remains a true treasure of central Maine.
  The first settlers were farmers, and their fierce determination and 
hard work made Chelsea an agricultural force. Chelsea became the 
largest produce market in the county, with apples from the town's 
sizable orchard a leading fare. By 1856, the first cider mill had been 
built. In addition, Chelsea shipped more wool than anywhere else in the 
State during the last half of the 19th century.
  Chelsea has also played an important role in honoring those who serve 
our country. The Togus Veterans Hospital, established by President 
Abraham Lincoln, was the first Federal facility dedicated to providing 
care for America's heroes. In its long history, the facility cared for 
veterans from the American Civil War to the present day.
  Thanks to its strategic location on the beautiful Kennebec River, 
Chelsea served as a significant site in our country's fight for 
independence during the Revolutionary War. More than 1,000 soldiers 
followed the Kennebec River north during Benedict Arnold's Quebec 
Expedition in 1775, using Chelsea as a key staging area to plan and 
prepare for the long journey.
  Aside from the Togus Veterans Hospital, perhaps the building with the 
greatest historical significance is the Chelsea Grange Hall. Built in 
1914, the Grange Hall symbolizes Chelsea's rural heritage and is a 
place where an organized effort is made to bring people together for 
good times and to orient the community around family and friendship.
  Chelsea's history and its continued service to this Nation make it an 
absolute pearl of our State. The town of Chelsea has a proud legacy of 
service, resilience, and close-knit community spirit woven into the 
heart of rural Maine.
  Maine has long played a role in the guidance and leadership of our 
great Nation. The town of Chelsea, by her safeguarding of our Nation's 
heroes and her place in our revolutionary history, leads the State of 
Maine into a future of continued service to neighbors and Nation.

                          ____________________