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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 166
BY SENATOR MARTINY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the city of Harahan on the celebration of its 90
th
birthday
and recognizes July 24, 2010, as Harahan Day in Louisiana.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend the city of Harahan, Louisiana, on the celebration of its ninetieth birthday and2
to recognize this memorable and joyous occasion of July 24, 2010, as Harahan Day3
in Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to congratulate the citizens of Harahan for their city's5
bounty, cultural heritage, and unique history; and6
WHEREAS, in1715, a land grant from the French government, located in the7
Territory of Orleans, was ceded to the LaFreniere family; those six thousand acres comprised8
a portion of what would later be known as East Jefferson Parish, positioned between the9
Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, and LaFreniere Plantation was carved from that10
tract of land; and11
WHEREAS, the city's locale sets on a portion of the plantation which was renamed12
by successive owners as Elmwood Plantation, St. Peter Plantation, and St. George13
Plantation; and14
WHEREAS, until the Twentieth Century, the area remained largely a rural region of15
farms, dairies, and vast tracts of undeveloped land until the 1890s, when the local industrial16
economy emerged, and Illinois Central Railroad constructed several rail yards and a17
locomotive roundhouse, that supported a vast track system, and the country borough soon18 SR NO. 166
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became the hub of a prosperous rail and freight center; and1
WHEREAS, the municipality, itself, is unique in character as well as name, in that2
no other city in the United States is called, "Harahan", named in honor of a president of the3
Illinois Central Railroad, 1841-1912, James Theodore Harahan; and4
WHEREAS, the community of Harahan was incorporated in 1920 as the first official5
act of newly-elected Governor John Parker; the village plat was bordered on the east by6
Power Road, on the north by the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad, on the west by Folse7
Street, and on the south by the Mississippi River, and had two other streets, Oak and8
Hickory; and9
WHEREAS, as the economy of Jefferson Parish grew, Harahan also prospered with10
a direct connection to the commercial district of Canal Street in New Orleans by way of the11
Orleans-Kenner Trolley Line, for which O.K. Avenue is named; and12
WHEREAS, known as the City of Friendship, Harahan's growth and history have13
been intrinsically linked to New Orleans due to its close proximity, however, the14
municipality stands on its own as an attractive, distinct, and vibrant community; and15
WHEREAS, Harahan sustains a wide range of manufacturers, retail businesses, and16
service industries; and17
WHEREAS, Harahan remains a solid, residential community and home to nearly ten18
thousand Jefferson Parish residents; and19
WHEREAS, Harahan is a "youthful" metropolis with forty-five percent of the20
population under the age of forty years of age; and21
WHEREAS, a favorite son of Harahan is former state senator and American Football22
Hall of Fame member, Hank Lauricella; and23
WHEREAS, the city of Harahan merits a special measure of commendation for the24
tremendous pride and honor that it brings to the state of Louisiana with its uniquely rich25
historical and cultural legacy.26
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana27
does hereby commend the city of Harahan upon the joyous and memorable occasion of the28
celebration of its ninetieth birthday and to recognize July 24, 2010, as Harahan Day.29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does30 SR NO. 166
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hereby commend the citizens of Harahan, both past and present, for their outstanding1
accomplishments and for their extraordinary contributions to the state.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to3
Mayor Paul Johnston of Harahan and to Steve Theriot, president of Jefferson Parish.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
Martiny SR No.
Commends the city of Harahan, Louisiana, on the celebration of its 90
th
birthday and
recognizes July 24, 2010, as "Harahan Day".