In Recognition of the 300th Anniversary of the Jonathan Dunham House

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with the Trinity Episcopal Church congregation and the Woodbridge community in celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Jonathan Dunham House. This incredible milestone and the history of this site is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

One of the oldest properties in Woodbridge, New Jersey, the Jonathan Dunham House is an incredible historical marker in the township. In addition to its ownership by the Dunham family and Trinity Episcopal Church, the house was also once owned by the Barron family, another well-known and renowned family of the township.

The rectory of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Jonathan Dunham House is part of the church's national and state historic registry listing. Built in the 1700s as a residence by Jonathan Dunham, an ancestor of former President Barack Obama, the Jonathan Dunham House became the church's rectory in 1873.

Purchased in 1872 by George Hance, Senior Warden of the church, the Jonathan Dunham House was donated to Trinity after a year of renovations that updated and enlarged the property. Begun in 2014 and recently completed, the rectory was once again renovated in order to restore the property. The site has continually served as the church's rectory since its acquisition.

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in marking the 300th anniversary of the Jonathan Dunham House and thanking the church, congregants and community volunteers for their dedicated work to preserve this historic site.

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