[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12603-12604]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   BOOTHBAY, MAINE 250TH ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President. I wish to commemorate the 250th 
anniversary of the Town of Boothbay, ME. Boothbay was built with a 
spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community 
today, and this is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working 
and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, 
work, and raise families.
  The year of Boothbay's incorporation, 1764, was but one milestone in 
a long journey of progress, a journey that is inextricably linked to 
the sea. For thousands of years the Boothbay Peninsula was a fishing 
grounds of the Etchemin Tribe, and the extensive shell middens and 
other archeological sites are today a treasure trove of this ancient 
history.
  Drawn by one of the finest natural harbors in New England, English 
settlement began within a few years of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth 
in 1620. The early English influence is underscored by the fact that 
some of the first deeds granted to the settlers were signed by the 
Etchemin Sagamore, who was called Chief Robinhood by the newcomers. By 
1764, Boothbay was a growing town with an economy driven by fishing, 
shipbuilding, and tidal-powered sawmills. The wealth produced by the 
sea and by hard work was invested in schools and churches to create a 
true community.
  Boothbay was a vital center for revolutionary activity during 
America's fight for independence. The strategic

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importance of the harbor put the small town under frequent enemy 
attack, and more than 100 patriots rose to its defense. During the war 
Captain Paul Reed established himself as one of our young nation's 
ablest and most courageous naval commanders. The Reverend John Murray 
was an eloquent and fearless voice for freedom, and his powerful words 
called many to its cause.
  In the decades that followed, Boothbay became a place of industry and 
innovation with such endeavors as fish processing, canning, and fish-
oil production. During the 1830s, Boothbay's bracing sea breezes and 
crystal-clear waters made it an early health spa, and by the end of the 
19th century the town became a favorite destination for vacationers and 
summer residents.
  Today the people of Boothbay continue to build on those traditions. 
Fishing and lobstering are mainstays of the economy. Fine hotels, inns, 
and restaurants support a thriving tourism industry. Boatyards build 
luxury yachts, fishing boats, and advanced vessels for military and 
law-enforcement purposes. Since its founding in 1974, the Bigelow 
Laboratory for Ocean Sciences has become a global leader in 
oceanographic research. Lobster boat races, the annual Windjammer Days, 
and the Fishermen's Festival celebrate the town's maritime heritage, 
and the restored Opera House provides a beautiful venue for arts and 
entertainment.
  This 250th 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 and a half centuries have 
pulled together, cared for one another, and built a community. Thanks 
to those who came before, Boothbay has a wonderful history. Thanks to 
those who are there today, it has a bright future.

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