Honoring the Town of Tyndall

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Sept. 7, 2004
HONORING THE TOWN OF TYNDALL

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I honor and publicly recognize the 125th anniversary of the founding of the town of Tyndall, SD. The town of Tyndall is a spirited and self-reliant county seat with a proud past and promising future.

In 1879, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway chose to enter Bon Homme County. Dan Currier build the first home and store along the railroad route in Tyndall, so-named for the English physicist John Tyndall who first explained what makes the sky blue. In 1884, Dan Currier opened the Grand Central Hotel, referred to as the greatest hotel this side of Chicago at the time. Mr. Currier remained active in the town's growth and became the first mayor in 1887. The first settlers in Tyndall were predominately German, Czech, and Irish. Their meeting halls were some of the first building in the town of Tyndall and many are preserved today.

A major attraction opened in Tyndall in 1989: the Soukup and Thomas Balloon Museum. The museum exhibits one of the best displays of ballooning history, including the first balloon basket to fly over the Soviet Union. The museum also houses a rare collection from the Hindenburg Airship as well as examples of balloon mail, lithographs, jewelry, trophies, and other collectibles. Tyndall hosted the 6th World Gas Balloon Championship and the 1st World Roziere Balloon Championship in 1990. The second annual International Balloon Rally was held in 1991 in Tyndall.

Though the railroad which gave birth to the town of Tyndall is no longer operational, the town continues to thrive, relying on friendly local business and aggressive agriculture. Currently 1,200 people reside in this progressive community. It is with great honor that I advise my colleagues of the achievements made by this great community.