Sioux Falls, SD — U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) recognized Toronto on the 125th anniversary of its founding early this month. Johnson entered a statement in the Congressional Record highlighting the milestone.
“Small communities like Toronto are important to our state. I am honored to highlight this milestone for the local community with a statement in the Congressional Record,” Johnson said.
Full text of the Congressional Record Statement from Johnson below:
Mr. President, today I rise in order to pay tribute to the 125th anniversary of the founding of the community of Toronto, South Dakota.
Toronto was founded by four farmers who all donated land to the township. The farmer who donated the most land, Mr. McCraney, named the new community after his hometown of Toronto, Canada. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad built a depot which became a popular landmark, providing a gathering place for the citizens. In 1898, Toronto became the smallest town in the United States to have electric lights, with telephone service following three years later. This resilient town made it through seven major fires as well as severe bouts of small pox and Spanish influenza. I have a personal bond to the community as my grandparents, Rev Peder and Anna Ljostveit, are buried in the Toronto Cemetery.
The citizens will be celebrating this momentous anniversary July 3-5, 2009 with craft and quilt shows, meals, pageants, and games including a contest for yard decorations. This celebration will give Toronto the occasion to reflect on their strong, progressive past as well as look forward to its promising future. I congratulate Toronto and its people and reaching this historic milestone.
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For more information on Senator Tim Johnson visit his website at http://johnson.senate.gov. To contact Senator Johnson’s communications office via e-mail, write his Communications Director at Julianne_Fisher@Johnson.Senate.gov
or his Deputy Communications Director at Jeff_Gohringer@Johnson.Senate.gov
