Town of Whiting 200th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the Town of Whiting, ME, observes its bicentennial this July with a 3-day celebration that includes a Revolutionary War reenactment, displays of antique farm and lumbering tools, historical presentations, quilts and other local crafts, great food, and good friendship. This long-planned event demonstrates why Whiting prides itself on being a small town with a big spirit.

The Revolutionary War reenactment is especially significant as one of the early settlers of the wilderness of far Downeast Maine after America won its independence was a hero of that conflict, General John Crane. A Massachusetts carpenter, Crane was a leader of the Sons of Liberty and was the only rebel injured during the Boston Tea Party.

Crane recovered and was commissioned as a Continental Army artillery officer who distinguished himself at Bunker Hill. Despite losing part of a foot to a cannon shot in 1776, he continued to serve and became the top commander of the U.S. Corps of Artillery. After the war, a grateful new nation granted the remarkable patriot a land grant on the coast of Maine.

With vast forest lands and fast-moving rivers, General Crane's settlement soon became a bustling lumber center with two sawmills. The fertile soil produced productive farms of crops and livestock, and pristine lakes, ponds, and streams supported abundant wildlife. When the general died in 1805, he was laid to rest with honors in the village cemetery.

Originally called Orangetown, after the river that powered the sawmills, the town was renamed Whiting upon its incorporation in 1825 after Timothy Whiting, an early settler and the town's first representative to the Maine Legislature.

Today, Whiting is a nature lover's paradise of gorgeous scenery and year-round outdoor recreation. The beautifully maintained Union Meeting House, built nearly two centuries ago, is a wonderful example of traditional New England church architecture and a worthy addition to the National Register of Historic Places.

Another major landmark is the Mill Pond Dam, built in 1830 where the Orange River meets Whiting Bay. In addition to creating a place of scenic beauty, the pond created by the stone dam has long been a crucial source of water for firefighters. Many residents recall how that precious water saved the town from destruction during a massive forest fire in 1985.

In addition to structural repairs, the dam needed a new fish passage. The Orange River is designated as Critical Habitat for Atlantic Salmon and supports herring and other important fish species and wildlife important to the economy and the ecosystem.

The people of Whiting stepped forward with investments of more than $1 million for the watershed restoration project, and I was pleased to join the effort by securing $2.9 million in Federal funds. During the legislative process, many students at Whiting Village School wrote letters supporting the Mill Pond Dam project. When I discussed this funding with my Senate colleagues, those letters made a difference. It was impressive to see young people getting involved in the future of their community.

This 200th anniversary is not just the passing of years. It is about the people who for more than two centuries have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a community. My congratulations to the people of Whiting, ME, and my best wishes for the future.

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