[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NEW BOSTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I wish today to honor the town 
of New Boston, NH, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year. As 
its name suggests, New Boston's long and admirable history bridges that 
of New Hampshire and our neighbor Massachusetts.
  New Boston's first settlers came north in search of new opportunity. 
The land was originally granted in 1736 by the regional governor of 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Jonathan Belcher. Records show that 
locals had originally planned to christen the town ``Lanestown,'' but 
over time referred to the property as New Boston in honor of their 
former home. From 1736 until 1763, New Boston was legally part of 
Massachusetts; but during the course of those 30 years, the original 
grantees failed to establish a proper claim. In 1763, New Boston was 
formally incorporated and recognized as part of New Hampshire by 
Governor Benning Wentworth.
  From its first census, we know that New Boston's residents quickly 
established a bustling community, building a lumber mill and clearing 
200 acres of land. By the early 19th century, New Boston boasted 16 
school houses, a bark mill, clothing mills, over 25 saw mills and even 
a tavern to host both travelers and townsfolk after a long day. 
Unfortunately, many documents depicting New Boston's origins were 
destroyed by the Great Village Fire of 1887, which ravaged the town and 
set over 40 of its buildings ablaze. New Boston's residents were 
undeterred by this tragedy, taking stock and quickly rebuilding their 
industrial center.
  By 1893, New Boston had a railroad station, allowing merchants to 
move goods and services through their town into Massachusetts and 
further northeast. In the 1940s, New Boston became the proud home of 
two military institutions: the Gravity Research Foundation, which 
conducted research in hopes of creating a gravitational shielding 
system, and the New Boston Air Force Station, which tracks military 
satellites.
  New Boston continues to inspire our State with its industrious and 
creative spirit. There is much to celebrate in New Boston's 250 years, 
and I am sure that the next 250 years will be equally or even more 
successful.

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