[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14499]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 175TH BIRTHDAY OF THE CITY OF TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the City 
of Tecumseh, Michigan, as it celebrates its 175th birthday.
  Located in Lenawee County, Tecumseh was one of the first three 
settlements established in 1824 in what was then the Michigan 
Territory. The settlement's founders, Musgrove Evans, Joseph Brown and 
Austin Wing, chose its location because of its fertile soil, good 
supply of timber and its proximity to the Raisin River. They named 
their new home after the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, who is said to have 
held war councils on the site.
  A growing agricultural community, Tecumseh's first rail line was 
built in 1838, and train service continued until the late 1970s. 
Tecumseh was not only a stop on the actual railroad, but was also a 
stop on the Underground Railroad. Many people in Tecumseh displayed 
their strong anti-slavery sentiment, and their Quaker beliefs, by 
providing shelter to slaves escaping from the South.
  Through the years, the landscape around Tecumseh has changed, as have 
the ways in which its people make their living. While it was primarily 
a small agricultural town, today the economy of Tecumseh mostly 
revolves around industry. In fact, its largest employer, Tecumseh 
Products, was founded in 1934 and grew to become a Fortune 500 company.
  Mr. President, Tecumseh is notable for its significance in Michigan's 
history, but its most dependable asset over the last 175 years has been 
its people. It is fitting that we recognize Tecumseh's residents as 
they celebrate the past while looking to build an even better future. I 
know my colleagues will join me in offering the people of Tecumseh 
congratulations and best wishes on this important occasion.

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