[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15982-15983]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE TOWN OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 375TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2014

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to 
join the community of Milford, Connecticut as they mark the 375th 
Anniversary of the town's founding--a remarkable milestone for this 
wonderful shoreline community. The sixth oldest town in Connecticut, 
Milford is the home of 52,000 residents and proudly showcases its 
meticulously maintained ``town green'', the second longest in New 
England, as well as seventeen miles of Long Island Sound coastline 
which funnel into the Milford Harbor and wind to meet the Wepawaug 
River in the heart of town. It is a special community full of rich 
history and community spirit.
  The area then known as ``Wepawaug'' was purchased from Ansantawae, 
chief sachem of the Paugusset Tribe on February 1, 1639. Settlers began 
arriving shortly thereafter and began to build the town known as 
Milford. Buried treasure is said to exist on a small island the Indians 
called ``Poquahaug'', just a mile off Silver Sands Beach. It is a 
recognized fact that Captain Kidd and other pirates sailed and hid 
along the Connecticut coast so it is no wonder that iron chests filled 
with ``loot'' are rumored to be buried on the land called Charles 
Island.
  Fort Trumbull was built to provide protection in the late 1700s 
during the Revolutionary War and during the Civil War Milford was a 
stop on the Underground Railroad. Though agriculture was the 
community's economic backbone, shipbuilding, oystering, small industry 
and trade on the open seas from the harbor were also part of the local 
economy. The early 1900's brought the leather industry along with the 
making of boots, hats and shoes. Milford was also famous for carriages, 
which were sold throughout the centuries.
  After World War II, the population swelled as soldiers returned from 
the war and bought houses in the suburb of New Haven and Bridgeport 
called Milford. Industry also developed to support the war effort. 
Norden, Milford Rivet, U.S. Motors, and Edgecomb Steel were some of the 
familiar names of the time. Other industry followed most notably the 
consumer giants of Bic and Schick. Then the completion of I95 in 1960, 
with its seven exits and entrances brought easy access. The Connecticut 
Post Shopping Center and other development followed rapidly. Today, 
Milford is home to more than 2,000 businesses of all types and sizes.
  With citizens dedicated to preserving and celebrating their rich 
history, Milford is well-known for its annual community celebrations 
like the Memorial Day Parade and Oyster Festival. Multiple memorials in 
honor of those who have served in past conflicts parade down the 
grassway of the Town Green, a memorial bridge provides a stone 
passageway of the history of their ancestors, and the Milford 
Historical Society also plays an important role in

[[Page 15983]]

the community, managing several historic properties including Wharf 
Lane, three early houses named for the old street which ran from the 
Town Dock, scene of Milford's commerce by water, to the Milford Green; 
the Eells-Stow House which is believed to be the oldest house in 
Milford; the Clark-Stockade or ``Stockade House'', the first house 
built outside the stockade or palisades which surrounded the town of 
Milford against Indians; and the Bryan-Downs House, originally built by 
Captain Jehiel Bryan and his son on the Post road between Milford and 
New Haven. Housed at the Bryan-Downs House is the Claude C. Coffin 
Indian collection which is a collection assembled by Milford native 
Claude C. Coffin, an archeologist of the 1920-1930 era which contains 
over 4,000 prehistoric Indian artifacts.
  Over the course of its history, Milford has certainly reflected its 
motto ``A Small City with a Big Heart!'' It has been an honor for me to 
serve as their U.S. Representative these last twenty-four years and I 
am proud to have this opportunity to extend my heartfelt 
congratulations to every member of this special community as they 
celebrate their 375th Anniversary.

                          ____________________