Nashua Celebrates its Sesquicentennial

NASHUA CELEBRATES ITS SESQUICENTENNIAL

 Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of Nashua, NH, the Gate City of New Hampshire. As the United States prepares to observe the 227th anniversary of our independence, the citizens of Nashua will be celebrating the city's sesquicentennial. It is therefore timely and appropriate that we recognize this great American community .

    With its rich heritage and the continuing role it plays in New Hampshire's economic and cultural vitality, I am proud to be a native of Nashua. We cannot accurately talk about this city without praising its most distinctive asset: the people of Nashua. From its founding as the Township of Dunstable in 1673 to its incorporation as the City of Nashua in 1853 through today, they have shown a unique entrepreneurial flair, a dedication to their neighbors and the courage to often times place their own lives at risk for the well-being of our country. Their involvement in the American Revolution is one of many episodes which vividly illustrate these characteristics. The residents in what was then called Dunstable, upon hearing of the fight at Lexington, rushed to take up arms. According to historical accounts, nearly one-half of the able-bodied men in Dunstable enlisted in the Army by the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill. CAPT William Walker organized a company of 66 of these men for this battle. They were placed at the high point of the British attack. To be stationed here was actually a great honor as it reflected their fighting expertise and commitment to the cause of independence.

    Since then, Nashuans have continued to serve and defend their country when our freedoms were at risk: 1,348 men served in the Civil War; 4,160 in World War Two. Nashua's airport is named after Paul Boire, a young navy pilot who died in March, 1943. Women, too, have greatly contributed to these causes, oftentimes on the front lines. Mrs. Adelaide Johnson Stevens was a volunteer nurse during the Civil War and was wounded during the assault on Fort Harrison.

    In the early part of the 1800s, the community was quickly becoming a center for commerce and industry. Daniel Abbott was the man perhaps most responsible for this reputation. He, along with partners Joseph Greeley and Moses Tyler, founded the Nashua Manufacturing Company which became one of the world's preeminent manufacturers of cotton, woolen, and iron goods. Throughout the 19th century, Nashua was well known as a center for innovation. For example, the Nashua Iron and Steel Works made the stoppers for the ports in the turrets of the S.S. Monitor. The Rollins Engine Company made the famous steam engine which help power the economic expansion not only in New Hampshire but throughout our country. As Nashua grew, so did its reputation as a home for entrepreneurs. Royden Sanders turned Sanders Associates into one of the top defense contractors in our country. In an interesting sidenote, Ralph Baer, who worked as a manager for Sanders in the 1960s, developed the first television video game and is often called the Tom Edison of video games. Sanders is now owned by BAE Systems but continues to be a pioneer in the design, development, and manufacture of electronic systems for both military and commercial use.

    What is perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of the city's people has always been their commitment to helping their neighbors and to constantly improving the quality of life here. Nashua's history is full of stories which illustrate their dedication. On April 20, 1861, the city passed soldiers aid resolution providing one dollar per week for the wife of an enlistee and one dollar per week for each dependent child. Today, Nashua has organizations like Marguerite's Place which has done so much to turn around the lives of women and their children who have been victims of domestic violence. The city's current mayor, Bernie Streeter, has long served the public and is continuing in the honorable tradition started by Nashua's first mayor, Josephus Baldwin. My father, Hugh Gregg, has also served as mayor of Nashua and Governor of New Hampshire. It was in large part through his work that the city's economic vitality was restored after the mills moved and closed in the early 1950s.

    All of these people, and their stories, demonstrate how Nashua has maintained its vitality, adapted to changing times, and continues to be a leader in so many areas. It is no wonder that the city has twice been named as the best place to live in the United States. I do not think any other community in the country can make that claim. With that, I am proud to honor and salute them as they celebrate the sesquicentennial of Nashua, NH.