[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TO COMMEMORATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MV ``PRUDENCE''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of the MV Prudence, what is believed to be the oldest 
continuously operated, fully documented merchant vessel in the United 
States.
  The MV Prudence was originally christened as the Madeline in 1911 and 
commissioned for Former Boston City Councilor and Dedham State 
Representative Frank Gethro. Upon completion, the Madeline operated 
until 1920 providing ferry service from Marine Park in the City Point 
area of South Boston to Castle Island in South Boston and other Boston 
Harbor Islands.
  The Prudence received her name in 1921 when the Madeline was sold to 
the Prudence Island Navigation Company in Bristol, Rhode Island. For 
over four decades, ferry goers were serviced by the Prudence between 
Bristol, Rhode Island and Prudence Island, Rhode Island. Following the 
1960 election of President John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the 
Prudence was purchased by Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc. founders, Richard 
``Dick'' and Robert ``Bob'' Scudder in 1962 and returned to its home 
state.
  Since 1962, millions of Cape Cod tourists have been serviced by the 
Prudence's sightseeing cruises from Hyannis Harbor to the Kennedy 
Compound in Hyannisport, Massachusetts. Hundreds more have been 
provided employment by the Prudence's reliable passenger service. 
Today, I honor the Prudence's role as a celebrated cultural icon and 
reliable employer for residents of my district.
  With the celebrations of the MV Prudence's 100th year of service 
scheduled to begin on May 26, 2011, I extend my deepest congratulations 
to the vessel and its operators on this incredible achievement.

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