[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10638]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              HIRAM, MAINE

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President. I wish to commemorate the 200th 
anniversary of the Town of Hiram, ME. Known today as a gateway to the 
rugged and beautiful Western Maine Mountains, Hiram was built with a 
spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community 
today.
  Hiram's incorporation on June 14, 1814, was but one milestone on a 
long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the banks of the Saco 
River were the hunting grounds of the Sokokis Tribe, and the legendary 
Pequawket Trail was their route between the Atlantic Ocean and the 
mountains. The reverence the Sokokis had for the natural beauty and 
resources of the region is upheld by the people of Hiram today.
  The very name of the town, dating to the first European settlement in 
the 1780s, speaks of this reverence. Like the realm of the biblical 
King Hiram I of Tyre, the community was established among the trees 
that were its first source of prosperity. With the fast-moving Saco 
River and its tributaries providing power, sawmills became an important 
industry, soon followed by blacksmiths, leather manufacturing, and 
other endeavors vital to Maine's development. As a junction of two of 
Maine's early railroads, Hiram became the gateway to the White 
Mountains of New Hampshire. The wealth produced by the land was 
invested in schools and churches to create a true community.
  The history of Hiram is directly connected to the very birth of our 
Nation. One of the town's first settlers was General Peleg Wadsworth, 
whose company of Minutemen answered the call of freedom at Lexington 
and Concord. After a life of remarkable service to our young country, 
in the military and in public office, General Wadsworth settled in 
Hiram in 1807, established a farm, and led the incorporation of the 
township. It is fascinating to consider the influence the beautiful 
surroundings had upon his grandson, the poet Henry Wadsworth 
Longfellow, who spent many summers in Hiram as a boy.
  A quality that runs through Hiram's history is courage. Some 100 
young men from the town fought to save our Nation in the Civil War, and 
39 gave their lives in that noble cause. It is humbling to know that 
Pleasant Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place for patriots from 
four generations of the Lyons family who served with valor and 
distinction.
  Today, Hiram is a charming town of involved citizens. The historic 
Soldiers Memorial Library, built nearly a century ago in honor of those 
who defended our country, is avidly supported and remains a center of 
community activity. The saw and scythe depicted on the new bicentennial 
seal are reminders of Hiram's past and indicators of the hard work and 
enthusiasm the townspeople have put into this year's landmark birthday 
celebration.
  This 200th anniversary is not just about something that is measured 
in calendar years; it is about human accomplishment, an occasion to 
celebrate the people who for more than two centuries have pulled 
together, cared for one another, and built a community. Thanks to those 
who came before, Hiram has a wonderful history. Thanks to those who are 
there today, it has a bright future.

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