[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORIC DETERDING FAMILY--PIONEERS OF CARMICHAEL, CA

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                         HON. DANIEL E. LUNGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize and honor the Deterding family for its legacy to Carmichael, 
California.
  After the marriage between Charles Deterding and Mary Shields in 
1894, along with their three children they forded the American River 
during the dry months to claim their homestead. This is where Charles 
and Mary Deterding established their legacy in Carmichael--on 425 acres 
of farmland that they continued to plough and live on.
  The Deterdings' San Juan Meadow Farm was named for the old Mexican 
land grant on which Carmichael was later established. Their original 
farmhouse was on a bluff above what is now Ancil Hoffman Park. Clearing 
the land, they planted grains and raised livestock.
  Mary's lasting impression on Carmichael was her generosity. She 
donated wood for settlers' cooking and heating. She was the first 
president of a local improvement club that eventually evolved into the 
Carmichael Chamber of Commerce. This visionary helped establish the 
irrigation company that became the Carmichael Water District.
  A local school and an Arcade Park bear her name but Mary Deterding's 
legacy stands tallest in Palm Drive. The avenue that once led to the 
Deterding farmhouse is shaded by 88 date palms that Mary planted 
herself.
  Younger generations of Deterdings have since included builders, 
property developers, teachers, landscapers, military and nursing 
careerists. In 2006, family ranks were reinforced by the famous McNulty 
babies--quadruplets. The only boy, Russ, is named for his great-
grandfather.
  Says patriarch Russ Deterding: ``As Mary and Charles' descendants, we 
have to admire how, 100 years ago, they survived such a challenging 
environment. Their work paved the way for what Daniel Carmichael 
developed. But nobody paved the way for Mary and Charles. They were the 
true pioneers.''
  I am pleased to recognize and congratulate the Deterding family for 
over 100 years of contribution to the Carmichael community.

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