[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF GROTON, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the city of 
Groton, SD, and to recognize the 125th anniversary of its founding.
  Groton was founded in 1881 in Brown County. Still standing from those 
early days is Trinity Episcopal Church which was built in 1884 as a 
place for the newly formed town to come together and gather as a 
community. Groton now has six churches and multiple gathering places to 
house its growing and thriving community.
  Groton is home to the Granary Rural Cultural Center. Groton's 
commitment to fine arts and culture shines through in this 
establishment where art shows from artists from both North and South 
Dakota are on display. The Granary Rural Cultural Center not only 
promotes the arts, but also the heritage of those living in the Dakotas 
while celebrating and caring for the land.
  One of the most notable pieces of Groton's history took place in 1923 
when $1,000 was stolen from the First National Bank, while the tellers 
were held at gunpoint. During the holdup, one brave citizen ran outside 
to ring the alarm alerting the authorities of the situation. 
Fortunately, only minor injuries were inflicted in the ordeal.
  Groton will be celebrating its 125th anniversary with a variety of 
events. Among the festivities will be an all-school reunion, Legion 
baseball, pancake breakfast, water carnival, bingo, tractor pull, 
parade, dance, fireworks display, and community church service. The 
anniversary will serve as an occasion to bring this close-knit 
community even closer together.
  I am proud to publicly recognize Groton and congratulate the 
community on this achievement. As the people of Groton take this 
opportunity to appreciate how far the city has come from its 
beginnings, I know they will understand the important role Groton plays 
in making South Dakota the great State that it is.

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