[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 RECOGNIZING TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, AS IT CELEBRATES ITS 
                           150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 10, 2006

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to 
Tunkhannock Township, PA, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary 
this year.
  With an area of 38.9 square miles, Tunkhannock Township was once part 
of Coolbaugh Township that was founded in 1794. Tunkhannock Township 
became a separate township in 1830 and, in 1856, it was officially 
formed.
  Two of the earliest known settlers were Peter Merwine, who arrived in 
1804 and George Altemose, who arrived about 1830. An 1875 map of Long 
Pond, the major community within the township, reflects that the land 
was primarily owned by Merwine and Altemose. Other owners included 
Nathan Hetter, Stephen Kistler, M. George, M. Heller, Levi Knecht, Mrs. 
Keiper, R.B. Bonser, H. Kingshold, J. Kresge, L. Bierman, P. Larzalere, 
Mrs. Barrall, E. Eckhart, Philip Henning and E. Christman.
  According to the census of 1900, Tunkhannock Township had a 
population of 329. By 1960, the population had dwindled to 214. Today, 
the population has expanded to 4,983.
  In its early days, the Township developed two sawmills that provided 
some employment opportunities and encouraged commercial activity. Three 
hotels emerged by 1856 including the Mount Pocono Hotel, Cold Spring 
Hotel and Tunkhannock Hotel. They all thrived from new settlers 
arriving to find land to build new lives and from weary travelers 
needing shelter and food.
  In 1883, the first post office opened in Long Pond. A one-room 
elementary school opened in Long Pond although student populations were 
small. Electricity did not come to the township until about 1940.
  Today Tunkhannock Township is, perhaps, best known as the home of the 
Pocono International Raceway, founded by Dr. Joseph Mattioli in 1968. 
The raceway has become internationally known and attracts hundreds of 
thousands of race fans annually. The facility is responsible for 
putting millions of dollars into the local economy over the years.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Tunkhannock Township on 
this auspicious occasion. Tunkhannock Township enjoys a rich heritage 
as a quiet residential community which has given birth to a tremendous 
economic engine in the form of the Pocono International Raceway that is 
helping fuel the economy of the entire Pocono region and beyond.

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