[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8109-8110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HERRIN, IL

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                          HON. DAVID D. PHELPS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 2000

  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the towns in my 
district. On April 17, 2000, The City of Herrin marked the 100th 
Anniversary of its incorporation, and I thought it appropriate to 
acknowledge this city's great heritage of farming, coal mining, and 
industry. I would also like to commend the spirit of its citizens 
working together for a better community.
  The City of Herrin gets its name from its first settler, Isaac 
Herring, a veteran of the War of 1812. Mr. Herring received a parcel of 
land, which became Herrin, as a land-grant for his service in the war. 
Mr. Herring later shortened his name, and that of the town, to Herrin.
  Herrin was incorporated as a city in the election of April 17, 1900. 
At this time Herrin also elected its first mayor, Mr. C.E. Ingraham. 
Today Herrin is admirably served by Mayor Victor Ritter.
  Herrin began as a farming community with cotton being the primary 
crop. It was later discovered that Herrin was surrounded by vast veins 
of bituminous coal. The coal helped Herrin to grow rapidly and to 
develop as a leading community in the region, attracting numerous 
immigrants seeking work in the coal mines. At one point, thirty coal 
mines operated within six miles of the city. The coal fields of Herrin 
were ripe for widespread union organization at this time.
  Following World War II, Herrin's leaders and the Chamber of Commerce 
actively sought new industry for the community. Because of their 
efforts, Herrin is still one of the area's largest industrial cities, 
being home over the years to the Norge Division, Borg-Warner 
Corporation (now Maytag), Smoler Brothers, Inc., International Staple 
and Machine Company, Allen Industries, Container Stapling Corporation, 
Dura-Containers, Central Technology, Inc., and National Tape 
Corporation. Today Herrin continues providing business infrastructure 
and promoting even more industry, along with a better quality of life 
for its citizens.

[[Page 8110]]

  Herrin's first school was a log structure built in 1844. Today 
Herrin's schools provide quality education to approximately 2,600 
students from the greater Herrin area. Southern Illinois Healthcare, 
owner of Herrin Hospital, provides excellent healthcare for the region, 
as well as many jobs for the area. Herrin is also a deeply religious 
community, exemplified by its many churches of differing faiths. These 
churches, along with other charitable organizations, work together in 
providing help for those in need, the Herrin Food Pantry being a prime 
example.
  Herrin is also home to the annual Herrin Festa Italiana celebration, 
which is held over Memorial Day. The festival is known to draw around 
60,000 people over the four-day weekend. Home to one of the most 
popular city parks in the area, Herrin provides seasonal recreation 
including swimming, fishing, and picnicking. The park is also home to 
several ballfields used by a variety of school teams and city leagues.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the citizens and 
leaders of Herrin on their Centennial celebration, and also in wishing 
the City of Herrin continued prosperity in the new millennium.

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