[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14097]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE MARSHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, true to their Vermont roots, the citizens 
of Marshfield, VT, are bringing to fruition a new vision for the 
Marshfield Historical Society, an organization dedicated to 
preserving--and sharing--the long history of this 44-square mile town 
in the foothills of Vermont, just outside our State capital of 
Montpelier.
  In the late 17th century, the land that came to be known as 
Marshfield was home to the Abenaki. Then, just as now, its inhabitants 
enjoyed the Winooski River to fish and the surrounding hills to hunt. 
Marshfield is a community that upholds tradition and passes stories 
from generation to generation. The land is clearly different than it 
was centuries ago, but these customs can make it difficult to notice 
the sometimes subtle changes Marshfield has borne. Creating a public 
space to commemorate the town's past is the mission of the Marshfield 
Historical Society.
  On September 12, with the support of the Vermont Historical Society, 
the Marshfield Historical Society will host its grand opening, a 
reopening of sorts. In concert with the support of the local 
Selectboard, the Jaquith Public Library, a generous anonymous donor, 
the perseverance of a dedicated core of volunteers, and, of course, the 
residents of Marshfield, the history of this small but vibrant town 
will now be accessible to the public. Local artifacts and memorabilia, 
cloistered for years, will be publicly accessible in the Old 
Schoolhouse Common. The Marshfield Historical Society is returning to 
the residents of Marshfield their own history.
  The Marshfield Historical Society owes much to the memory of Hap 
Hayward, a longtime resident, who was an original inspiration for the 
establishment of a local historical society. The society's new site, 
organized content, and new exhibits will surely attract visitors and 
locals. Some of their most noteworthy collections include a rare copy 
of Militia Law of the State of Vermont from 1843, as well as an 
extensive collection of postcards of Marshfield buildings and 
landscapes. I hear such wonderful things about it from my sister, Mary 
Leahy, who is a Marshfield resident. These artifacts belong to the 
residents of Marshfield, and to all Vermonters. As a longtime supporter 
of the historic preservation of our communities, our downtowns and our 
local histories, I am eager to visit the new historical society.
  I congratulate the people of Marshfield on successfully undertaking 
this impressive effort to protect their history for generations to 
come.

                          ____________________