[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 11188-11189] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CELEBRATING CORYDON'S BICENTENNIAL ______ HON. BARON P. HILL of indiana in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, 2008 marks the 200th anniversary of the town of Corydon, in Harrison County, Indiana. Just 19 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, and with a population of approximately 2,700, the town's welcoming citizens and good nature are what help define the term ``Hoosier Hospitality''. Corydon is a most extraordinary community and one that forms an integral part of the rich history of my home state and our Nation. The Town's ceremonial observance of this anniversary will be held on Saturday, June 7, and I look forward to celebrating Corydon's Bicentennial with its residents. This Saturday's event, however, is just one event of a year-long celebration that includes a Bicentennial Ball, an old fashion ice cream social, a bicentennial parade, the dedication of a time capsule and other competitions and displays. Corydon has a rich history dating back to the American Revolution when the region was still inhabited by Native Americans. It was in this fertile wilderness that in the early 1800's the family of Edward Smith located. General William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Northwest Territory, frequently traveled between the east and the Territorial capital in Vincennes and often stopped at the Smith property during his travels. While visiting, he discovered a good site for a town where two creeks, the Big Indian Creek and Little Indian Creek, joined to become one. Taking the name of a shepherd from a favorite song known as The Pastoral Elegy, he chose the name ``Corydon''. Harvey Heth, a government surveyor, officially founded the town by platting it in 1808. The town was connected by road to Doup's Ferry 15 miles to the south in Mauckport in [[Page 11189]] 1809, giving it good access to the Ohio River, the dominant transportation route of the time. The land for the town was originally purchased by Governor Harrison and he lived in the town for a period of time before moving to Ohio, and was eventually elected President of the United States. In 1811 construction on the first state capitol was begun by Harrison County with intention of the building serving as the courthouse. The structure was completed in 1813 using limestone quarried near the town, and that same year became the second capital of the Indiana Territory when it was moved there from Vincennes. In 1817, other structures, such as the Governor's Headquarters and First State Office Building, were built. The home of Colonel Thomas Posey was also built during this time. Posey would serve as Treasurer of Harrison County, a State legislator and Adjutant General of Indiana. His father, Thomas Posey, served Indiana as Territorial governor from 1813 until the creation of the state in 1816. The state's first constitution was written in June of 1816 in Corydon. The 43 delegates in charge of writing the state's constitution met inside the original Harrison County Courthouse, but due to cramped conditions inside the log structure and the summer heat, the delegates would often seek refuge outside under a giant elm tree along Big Indian Creek. Now known as the Constitution Elm, it died in 1925 but its trunk is still preserved at its original location. After statehood, Corydon served as the first State capital of Indiana from 1816 until 1825, when the capital moved to Indianapolis. During that time Corydon was the center of politics in the state and residents included Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of Indiana; Dennis Pennington, first Speaker of the House; Ratliff Boon the second Governor; and William Hendricks, Indiana's first Congressman, third Governor and a U.S. Senator. The Old Capitol Building is now a State historic site and the entire downtown area was designated a National Historic District in 1973. In 1860 the first annual county fair was held in Corydon and has continued each year as the longest continuously running fair in the state. Using natural terrain, the fairgrounds were built in the southwest corner of the town where it is bordered on the south and west by a large ridge to serve as a grandstand until the first grandstands were built around 1910. Corydon was the site of the only Civil War battle fought in Indiana. On July 9, 1863, a Confederate contingent led by Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan, aided by the citizens of Brandenburg, Kentucky, crossed the Ohio River into Indiana during what became known as ``Morgan's Raid.'' More than 2,500 mounted cavalry men with two pieces of artillery engaged about 400 hastily prepared home guard units at the Battle of Corydon, resulting in a Confederate victory and the town surrendering to Morgan. The town was subsequently sacked, the treasury robbed of $690, and inmates of the jail released. Morgan demanded amounts of money ranging from $600 to $700 from each mill and shop owner to spare their businesses being burned. Town myth says that one such miller overpaid two hundred dollars which Morgan promptly returned to him. Corydon was home to the late Indiana Governor, and my personal friend, Frank O'Bannon, who served Indiana as Governor from 1997 until his death in 2003. Known as a tenacious consensus-builder who quietly pressed others to do the right thing for the people of Indiana, his greatest legacy may be his work on behalf of children. He championed initiatives to provide health care to nearly half a million children who did not have insurance and created Building Bright Beginnings to emphasize the importance of emotional and brain development of children from birth to 4 years of age. Along with Dr. Suellen Reed, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and a team of education professionals on the Education Roundtable, O'Bannon tackled the most intractable problems facing public schools and developed some of the toughest academic standards and accountability system in the country, ensuring that Hoosier children learned more and improving Hoosier schools. As a result of this leadership, Indiana was one of the first states to meet new Federal standards, while at the same time Gov. O'Bannon continued to champion the implementation of full-day kindergarten statewide. Prior to his service as Governor, Frank O'Bannon also served the state as a State senator from 1970 until 1988 when elected Lieutenant Governor on ajoint ticket with Evan Bayh. His father, Robert O'Bannon, also served as a state senator prior to Frank and as part of the ceremony on June 7, 2008 the family will be honored with the dedication of a statue in the late Governor's honor. Because of its historic nature, Corydon is a well-known regional tourist destination. The community hosts weekly events from early spring until late fall, usually centered around the historic town square. Some of the better-attended events include the annual Halloween parade, summer band concerts, an annual reenactment of the Battle of Corydon, and a long string of country and bluegrass performances. Few locations in our Nation have such a remarkable and storied past, and it is an honor and privilege to represent this community in Congress. I want to congratulate Corydon on its Bicentennial, and look forward to seeing how this unique and wonderful town thrives for decades to come. ____________________