[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15483]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF LENOX

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                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2017

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the Town of Lenox, Massachusetts on the occasion of its 
250th anniversary. Over the course of its storied history, Lenox has 
been home to people and events which have greatly contributed to the 
vibrancy of our country's traditions and culture. Located in the heart 
of the Berkshire Mountains, the town is a wonderful representation of 
Western Massachusetts and the beauty it holds.
  Lenox was named after Charles Lennox, the Third Duke of Richmond, who 
was known and respected for being an advocate of the interests of 
American colonists in the British House of Lords. The town lived up to 
the legacy of its namesake as an active participant in the 
Revolutionary War. In less than a decade after its first town meeting 
in 1767, Lenox was represented before the Royal Governor of 
Massachusetts by Colonel John Paterson, who would go on to play a 
central role in paving the way for the birth of the United States of 
America.
  Since then, Lenox has contributed generously to the notable history 
and culture of not only Massachusetts, but also that of our nation. The 
region's rustic beauty helped Lenox develop into a lively artists' 
colony, attracting creative minds the likes of which included writer 
Nathaniel Hawthorne, photographer James Van Der Zee, and novelist Edith 
Wharton. The town has facilitated the preservation of The Mount, Ms. 
Wharton's country estate, which is a National Historic Landmark and 
welcomes tens of thousands of visitors annually. Lenox is also renowned 
for its cultivation and encouragement of the musical arts through the 
annual Tanglewood Music Festival, as well as the Tanglewood Estate 
which has served as the summer home for the Boston Symphony Orchestra 
since 1937. The town also boasts the new international campus of 
Shakespeare and Company, a popular theater group and world-famous 
center for creative excellence in the arts.
  Mr. Speaker, the Town of Lenox, Massachusetts has been a place of 
historical importance and cultural renaissance since its founding in 
1767. Additionally, its admirable promotion of the arts is certainly 
worthy of recognition. Lenox is a place of outstanding character and I 
am proud to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the 
town celebrates their 250th anniversary with a town-wide parade, I wish 
them all the best and continued prosperity.

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