[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF FRANKENMUTH

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                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 2009

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the City 
of Frankenmuth, Michigan as it celebrates its 50th anniversary on 
October 1st. A ceremony commemorating the anniversary will be held on 
that date.
  During the 1840s a German missionary named Frederick Wyneken working 
in the Ohio Valley and Michigan, appealed to Lutherans in Germany for 
help, citing the need for pastors, churches and schools. Fifteen 
farmers from Mittelfranken, Bavaria responded to his appeal and 
traveled to the Saginaw Valley in Michigan. They settled on the banks 
of the Cass River in 1845 and called their community Frankenmuth. The 
name means ``courage of the Franconians.'' The following year 90 more 
settlers arrived from Bavaria and the community grew. A business 
district started to grow about a mile east of St. Lorenz Church and a 
dam and mill were built on the river. In 1854 Frankenmuth Township was 
organized and in 1904 the Village of Frankenmuth was incorporated.
  On March 9, 1959 the voters elected a City Charter Commission. The 
Commission voted unanimously to submit a Charter to the State of 
Michigan and on July 9, 1959, Governor G. Mennen Williams approved the 
Charter. After the village residents voted to adopt the Charter, the 
City was officially incorporated on October 1, 1959. James Wickson 
served as the first mayor and held office until 1965. At the time of 
incorporation the City's population was 1,725. Today the population is 
4,838. Gary Rupprecht is the current mayor and has held office since 
1986.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me and 
applaud the City of Frankenmuth as they celebrate their 50th 
anniversary. The community has embraced its German heritage and strives 
to build on the dreams and hard work of the original settlers. I 
congratulate the community for their achievements and pray that 
``Little Bavaria'' continues to thrive for many, many years to come.

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