WHEREAS,  within the beauty of Aroostook County, the largest county in Maine, lies the picturesque Town of Eagle Lake; and

WHEREAS,  Eagle Lake is characterized by ruggedly sloping land dissected by brooks and streams as they flow into the pristine Fish River and the beautiful Eagle Lake, displaying a visually breathtaking area of Maine; and

WHEREAS,  in 1839, when Major Hastings Strickland set out with soldiers for the northeastern border of Maine and encamped on the border of this lake where a large number of white-headed eagles were flying, they decided to name it Eagle Lake; and

WHEREAS,  the first permanent settlements in this area were made in 1840 by Sefroi Nadeau, a Frenchman, and Richard Woods, an Irishman, and in 1856 Eagle Lake was organized as a plantation; and

WHEREAS,  by 1870, the population had increased to 143 people and by 1890 to 233 inhabitants, with schools, mills and stores, and as business and the town prospered, Eagle Lake was incorporated as a town in 1911; and

WHEREAS,  during World War II, Eagle Lake was proud that a quarter of its population was in uniform or working in some war effort; and

WHEREAS,  Eagle Lake continues to flourish as a community in northern Maine, with a population estimated in 2000 at over 800, 49% of whom speak French, reflecting Maine’s proud Franco-American heritage; and

WHEREAS,  as it begins its second century this beautiful town exemplifies the spirit, pride and strength of the State of Maine; now, therefore, be it