[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11657]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE TOWN OF DE SMET, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and publicly 
recognize the 125th anniversary of the founding of the town of De Smet, 
SD. As the 125th anniversary approaches, De Smet looks back on a proud 
history and looks forward to a promising future.
  Founded in 1880 by the Western Town Lot Company, De Smet is almost 
equidistant from the Nebraska State line and from the North Dakota 
State line. Situated in central Kingsbury County, De Smet is named for 
Father Pierre Jean De Smet, a Belgian priest who tirelessly worked 
among the region's local Indian tribes. Despite the town's status as 
Kingsbury County seat, De Smet originally was sparsely populated, home 
predominantly to single men. The arrival of the Chicago Northwestern 
Railroad in 1880, however, sparked an influx of residents that included 
many families.
  In 1889, De Smet's most notable resident, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 
author of the Little House on the Prairie books which evolved into the 
longest running series in TV history, arrived with her family. While 
her series immortalizes this great community, every summer De Smet 
honors the famous writer with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant.
  Another of De Smet's attractions is Washington Park, host to 
countless family picnics and outdoor activities. The park is also home 
to a statue honoring Father Pierre Jean De Smet, the duplicate of which 
is located in his hometown of Dendermonde, Belgium. De Smet's statue, 
which was dedicated to the public on June 8, 1986, established a bond 
between Dendermonde, Belgium and De Smet, SD and the two became sister 
cities.
  De Smet's other distinguished landmarks include the historic 
courthouse, the Ingalls Homestead, the Loftus Store, and the De Smet 
Depot, a museum immortalizing the town's past. Additionally, De Smet's 
over 1,100 residents have come to count on The News, founded in 1880, 
and The Kingsbury County Independent, established in 1890, for quality 
and accurate reporting on local events and affairs.
  In the twelve and a half decades since its founding, De Smet has 
proven its ability to thrive, while preserving and cherishing its rich 
past. De Smet's proud residents celebrate its 125th anniversary on June 
11, 2005, and it is with great honor that I share with my colleagues 
the achievements made by this great community.

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