[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2058-2059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mooney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, there are few places in our 
country that have both strong historical significance and scenic 
beauty. Harpers Ferry is perhaps the greatest example of both.
  Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was founded in 1734 by Robert Harper, 
who purchased the land for 50 guineas, or around $262. Over the next 
282 years, this quaint town was the backdrop for some of the most 
important events in American history.
  From the earliest settlement of this great Nation through the 
founding of the railroads, the beginning of Meriwether Lewis' adventure 
with William Clark out West, John Brown's raid, numerous Civil War 
battles and skirmishes, and the beginning of the civil rights movement, 
Harpers Ferry has stood the test of time and watched our American 
history unfold.
  As for the scenic beauty, none have described it better than one of 
our Nation's great founders, President Thomas Jefferson. After visiting 
Harpers Ferry on October 25, 1783, the author of the Declaration of 
Independence said he viewed ``the passage of the Potomac River through 
the Blue Ridge as perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in 
nature.''
  Let me tell you, this picture does not do the town justice.
  Harpers Ferry is a national treasure that has been enjoyed by 
millions of families for centuries. This past July, however, this 
quaint town of only 283 residents was struck by a large fire that swept 
through the downtown business district and destroyed 10 businesses, 
which is 30 percent of the commercial district, and 2 apartments.
  Even before the embers from the fire cooled, members of the community 
had begun to take action and began making plans to rebuild.
  The town council, the Merchants Association, and the community at 
large stepped up to take care of the people who were displaced by the 
fire. Jobs and housing were found for everyone who needed them, and 
space was offered for businesses that were able to immediately reopen.
  The Harpers Ferry Historical Town Foundation established a fund to 
collect and distribute money to help displaced residents, 
businessowners, and employees meet their most immediate needs.
  Over the past several months, in addition to the support the fund 
received from people who live in the eastern panhandle of West 
Virginia, thousands of visitors from across the country and some from 
abroad have contributed to this fund.
  The president of West Virginia University, Dr. G. Gordon Gee, brought 
a team to Harpers Ferry to help the town and the town council establish 
a plan. This plan enabled property owners to rebuild and restore their 
buildings, to develop a marketing plan, and to provide engineering and 
archeological services to prevent the demolition of their historical 
treasures.
  The superintendent of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, 
Rebecca Harriott, stepped forward with meeting spaces, security 
services, and additional personnel to protect town residents and 
visitors from the fragile, burned-out spaces.
  The Jefferson County Commission provided in-kind and financial 
support to reimburse the town for the unanticipated expenses of 
fighting the fire and providing for safety in the middle of Harpers 
Ferry's busiest part of the tourist season. Local, State, and Federal 
officials were a constant and reassuring presence for the town.

[[Page 2059]]

  The town council and the Historic Landmarks and Planning Commissions 
have worked together to streamline processes and enable property owners 
to quickly move ahead with the restoration of the burned buildings.
  This past Monday I personally visited Harpers Ferry in Jefferson 
County, where I live with my wife and three children, to see the 
progress that is being made to repair the structures.
  The mayor, Greg Vaughn, was kind enough to show me around the damaged 
buildings and introduce me to those who were impacted by the fire. I 
can't tell you how encouraging it was to see how the town has come 
together to rebuild after the fire.
  Harpers Ferry is no stranger to disaster: war, fire, floods. This is 
a town that endures. Today, Mr. Speaker, Harpers Ferry is still open 
for business, still thriving, still an elegant and evocative journey 
into the formative years of our Nation. I invite you to come visit.

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