[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                200TH ANNIVERSARY OF EAST MACHIAS, MAINE

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, located on U.S. Route 1 near the 45th 
parallel and nestled among the forests and rivers of eastern Maine sits 
the town of East Machias, now celebrating its bicentennial year. Taking 
its name from the swift-flowing river the Passamaquoddy called ``bad 
little falls,'' East Machias is known for its beautiful scenery, 
abundant wildlife, Colonial history, and warm, small-town community.
  East Machias was originally part of the town of Machias that was 
established as a British Colony. Records of trading posts in East 
Machias can be found as early as 1633, while the Colony wasn't 
officially settled until more than a century later, in 1763. In 1765, 
East Machias' first sawmill was built, launching a rich lumbering and 
shipbuilding industry which would remain the backbone of the economy 
for centuries. This industry was driven both by the forests of eastern 
Maine and the proximity to the Machias River system. These rivers also 
helped East Machias become a hub for trade and commerce and proved 
critical to the development of the region following the American 
Revolutionary War.
  A key landmark in East Machias is Washington Academy, a private 
school founded in 1792. The Academy's classes were originally conducted 
in Machias, taking place in the legendary Burnham Tavern--the 
headquarters of the patriots that fought and won the first naval battle 
of the American Revolution at Machias Bay--and then the Masonic Hall 
until the first school building was opened in East Machias in 1823. 
Today, Washington Academy is a high-achieving school that serves the 
local communities as well as international students from more than 20 
countries.
  Along with the Washington Academy, East Machias is home to a 
beautiful historic district, which was officially recognized by the 
National Park Service in 1973. The area encompasses the centers of the 
lumber and shipping industries, numerous houses built between 1760 and 
1880, and several churches, including the First Congregational Church 
and the Former Church of the Disciples of Christ. The district also 
houses the archeological remains of four separate river-powered lumber 
and grain mills.
  Due to its scenic location among the rivers, forests, and coast of 
eastern Maine, East Machias is a popular destination for outdoors 
enthusiasts in all seasons. The appeal of East Machias to travelers and 
Mainers alike are the characteristics of quintessential Maine. It is a 
pleasure to congratulate the people of East Machias on this 200th 
anniversary and to wish them all the best in the years to come.

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