[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5184-5185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN CELEBRATION OF THE TOWN OF MONSON'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2011

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the yearlong 
celebration of the town of Monson, Massachusetts' 250th anniversary. 
The town was founded by a small group of residents from Brimfield, 
Massachusetts, who petitioned for a town of their own. The first town 
meeting of Monson was held in 1760. When it was founded, Monson was a 
center for manufacturing in Massachusetts, with an abundance of mills 
powered by the water found in the nearby hills. Today, Monson is known 
primarily for their involvement in the arts, especially the theater and 
festivals.
  To honor this historic occasion, the town of Monson held a yearlong 
celebration with different events held by members of the Monson 
Steering Committee and several non-profit organizations located in the 
town.
  This yearlong celebration of the town's anniversary began in April 
2010, and will conclude on April 9, 2011. The inaugural event of the 
festival was a bonfire held at Veterans Field. Throughout the year 
there were family events and festivals, including the annual Summerfest 
held on the 4th of July, and the family ice cream social and concert 
sponsored by the Friends of the Keep Museum. Families also enjoyed the 
picnic held at Flynt Park. Other outdoor activities included a walk/run 
sponsored by the Peaked Mountain Committee and a motorcycle hill climb 
sponsored by the Quaboag Riders & Monson Lions Club. There were many 
cultural events as well, such as the Monson Arts Council's craft fair, 
the Monson Bellmen Antique Fire Apparatus Club and Museum's open house, 
and the Monson Rotary Club's concert at Dave Grieve Park.
  A quilt show was held in which 50 Monson quilters donated a block to 
make a commemorative 250th anniversary quilt. This quilt will be on 
display continually in various buildings in the town. The concluding 
event of this festival will be the Monson 250th Gala Ball with the 
theme of ``Remembering Monson.'' The ball will have a continuous slide 
show of all the old and new businesses and homes in Monson, as well as 
a display of Monson's non-profit organizations.
  The town of Monson has been an important part of Massachusetts since 
well before the United States was founded. While this quintessential 
New England town is a place where families have lived for generations, 
Monson has also grown into a dynamic center for arts, culture and a 
thriving workplace. On its 250th anniversary, I am honored to represent 
the town of Monson and I look forward to celebrating many more 
anniversaries.

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