[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KIEF, NORTH DAKOTA

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased today to recognize a 
community in North Dakota that will be celebrating its 100th 
anniversary. On June 21-22, the residents of Kief will gather to 
celebrate their community's history and founding.
  Kief is a small town located in the center of North Dakota with a 
population of 16. The land upon which Kief was founded was first 
homesteaded by a Ukrainian immigrant named Anton Bokovoy. In 1908, he 
sold half of his land to the Tri-State Land Company, which then sold 
the land to other settlers from Scandinavia, Russia, and Germany, 
effectively establishing the town of Kief. It was customary to give the 
first settler the opportunity to name the town. Anton Bokovoy chose to 
name the settlement after his birthplace of Kiev, Ukraine.
  Kief grew throughout the years. In 1910, the town was able to 
construct a schoolhouse, which served the community's students until it 
was closed in 1959. Kief officially became a village in 1918. At that 
time, the town had about 300 inhabitants. The many businesses that 
opened in Kief made the town a pleasant place to live. Multiple grain 
elevators and businesses related to agriculture offered a livelihood to 
many of the town's residents. In their free time, residents of Kief 
could be found enjoying themselves at the outdoor theater, pool hall, 
and bowling alley.
  Today, Kief supports three businesses. Krueger's Standard Grocery has 
been in operation since 1982. Recently, a long haul trucking company 
and a truck freight brokerage have been established.
  Current and former residents of Kief will gather to celebrate the 
100th anniversary. They will enjoy a parade, an ice cream social, and a 
street dance. Children and adults will play horseshoes, tug o' war, and 
other games throughout the weekend. Horse and buggy rides will remind 
celebrants of the conveyances of yesteryear.
  Mr. President, I ask the United States Senate to join me in 
congratulating Kief, ND, and its residents on their first 100 years and 
in wishing them well through the next century. I believe that by 
honoring Kief and all the other historic small towns of North Dakota, 
we keep the frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places 
like Kief that have helped to shape this country into what it is today. 
I believe that the community of Kief is deserving of our recognition.
  Kief has a proud past and a bright future.

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