[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8626-8627]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANN M. KUSTER

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2015

  Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Concord, New 
Hampshire in celebration of the city's 250th anniversary. With each 
passing year, Concord continues to grow and prosper as the capital city 
of the Granite State. Having grown up and attended school in Concord, I 
know this historic city has so much to share with us all.
  Concord, New Hampshire has a proud and storied history. Prior to its 
incorporation, the land that today makes up the city's limits was 
presided over by the Pennacook, a tribe of Abenaki Native Americans. 
Situated in the Merrimack River valley, the fertile soil proved ideal 
for growing a wide variety of crops along the river's banks.
  Following Concord's incorporation and naming in 1765, the city 
continued as a popular area to visit and also to establish roots and 
start a family. The beautiful Merrimack River that winds its way from 
the rural northern border and through to the southern limits of the 
city continues to provide an idyllic backdrop and playground for all 
generations.
  Concord's location at the geographic center of the state has enabled 
the city to serve as a meeting place for lawmakers, dignitaries, and 
citizens. Our beloved State House is distinguished as the oldest 
capitol in the country in which both houses of the legislature continue 
to meet in their original chambers.
  One cannot discuss Concord without also mentioning its proud history 
of craftsmanship, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The fourteenth President 
of the United States, Franklin Pierce, chose to raise his family in 
Concord during his time as an elected official, leaving the city with 
his beautiful historic homestead that continues to bring history to 
life today for school groups and visitors. The Capital City also became 
the namesake for the most famous of the prestigious Abbot-Downing 
Coaches, with the Concord Coach smoothly transporting passengers for 
decades before the advent of the automobile.

[[Page 8627]]

  Concord has been called home by numerous notable figures over the 
years, including Crista McAuliffe, who has inspired generations of 
students both in the classroom as a teacher and through her legacy as a 
member of the Challenger Space Shuttle crew. Basketball player Matt 
Bonner honed his athletic skills at Concord High School before 
launching his professional career in the NBA. And we cannot forget Tara 
Mounsey, who helped lead the United States Women's Hockey Team to a 
gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics. The successes and achievements 
of Concord's citizens are a testament to the wonderful community that 
so many are lucky to call home.
  Concord is now in the midst of a 21st century transformation made 
possible in part through the competitive TIGER grants, as its Main 
Street is revitalized to improve safety and increase greenspace along 
this vital economic corridor.
  As a native of Concord and a lifelong resident of the Granite State, 
I am immensely proud of all that Concord, New Hampshire has 
accomplished over the past 250 years, and I am confident that the city 
will continue to thrive in the centuries ahead.

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