[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9599-9600]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE VILLAGE OF SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JESSE L. JACKSON, JR.

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 20, 2007

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
the Village of South Chicago Heights, Illinois on their Centennial 
Celebration. On its founding day, March 7, 1907, 150 citizens of Hannah 
and Keeney Subdivision voted to incorporate as the Village of South 
Chicago Heights.
  The first permanent settlers in the area, Adam and Phoebe Brown of 
Ohio, built a home and opened a general store some 74 years earlier at 
the intersection of Sauk Trail and the old Hubbard Trail. ``Brown's 
Corner'' became a busy crossroads, first allegedly for the Underground 
Railroad, then later for wagons, stagecoaches, railroads, and 
automobiles.
  One year after incorporating, the residents worked together to build 
the village's first school, the U.S. Grant School. As the village grew 
so did the budget and city services. The first year's budget was 
$3,800, which was met by property taxes and three saloon licenses at 
$500 each.
  In its early days the village steadily grew as immigrants of Italian, 
Polish, German and other ancestries moved here to work in nearby 
factories, railroads, and local businesses. South Chicago Heights is 
still home to many of these families and businesses.
  The village has had only 12 mayors in 100 years, including the 
Honorable David Owen,

[[Page 9600]]

who has served as mayor since 1989. Mayor Owen has officially declared 
South Chicago Heights as a good place to live, to work, and to raise a 
family; and the Centennial gives all 4,000 citizens a special 
opportunity to take pride in our history and to celebrate our heritage. 
On May 7, 2007, during the Founders Day program, the Village will 
dedicate a new Village Clock to start the next 100 years.
  I am proud to represent the Village of South Chicago Heights and I 
congratulate them on 100 years of service and I look forward to future 
celebrations.

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