[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 34 (Monday, February 26, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      200TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALBION

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 200th 
anniversary of the town of Albion, ME. Albion 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 date of Albion's incorporation, February 25, 1824, was but one 
milestone in a long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the 
Kennebec River Valley was the home of the Abenaki Tribe. The reverence 
the Abenaki had for the natural beauty and resources of the region is 
upheld by the people of Albion today.
  In 1790, following America's independence, an early village called 
Freetown was established by Congregational Church minister Daniel 
Lovejoy with settlers drawn by the fertile soil and abundant forests. 
The prosperity produced by hard work and determination was invested in 
schools and churches to create a true community.
  In 1802, a son was born to Daniel and Elizabeth Lovejoy who would 
grow up to become one of the most inspiring and influential figures in 
American history. A journalist and fervent abolitionist, Elijah Parish 
Lovejoy founded a newspaper in the slave State of Missouri and 
fearlessly stood up to repeated threats and attacks. His murder by a 
pro-slavery mob in 1837 electrified the Nation and strengthened the 
anti-slavery movement. Since 1952, the prestigious award that bears his 
name has been presented annually by his alma mater, Colby College, to 
journalists who demonstrate uncommon courage. In addition, his brother 
Owen was a leader of the Underground Railroad in Illinois and a close 
adviser to Abraham Lincoln.
  Albion provides an outstanding example of the Maine tradition of 
people working together. In 1894, construction began on a narrow-gauge 
railroad to connect cargo ships on the coast to the crops and lumber 
produced inland. The line grew town by town and reached its northern 
terminus at Albion a year later, and for decades, the unique ``Maine 
Two-Footers''--a reference to the reduced width of the locomotives and 
cars--helped bring prosperity to the region. Today, the Wiscasset, 
Waterville, and Farmington Railway is a National Heritage Railroad with 
excursions that keep alive this fascinating era.
  That tradition of working together is evident in the energy and 
planning that are going into Albion's yearlong bicentennial celebration 
that demonstrates the pride townspeople have in their community. This 
200th birthday party is a time to congratulate the people of Albion who 
have built a great community with a wonderful history and a bright 
future.

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