Susan Collins: “I rise today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the town of Albion, ME. Albion was built with a spirit of…”

“I rise today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the town of Albion, ME. Albion was built with a spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, and this is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. The date of Albion's incorporation, February 25, 1824, was but one milestone in a long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the Kennebec River Valley was the home of the Abenaki Tribe. The reverence the Abenaki had for the natural beauty and resources of the region is upheld by the people of Albion today. In 1790, following America's independence, an early village called Freetown was established by Congregational Church minister Daniel Lovejoy with settlers drawn by the fertile soil and abundant forests. The prosperity produced by hard work and determination was invested in schools and churches to create a true community. In 1802, a son was born to Daniel and Elizabeth Lovejoy who would grow up to become one of the most inspiring and influential figures in American history. A journalist and fervent abolitionist, Elijah Parish Lovejoy founded a newspaper in the slave State of Missouri and fearlessly stood up to repeated threats and attacks. His murder by a pro-slavery mob in 1837 electrified the Nation and strengthened the anti-slavery movement.…”