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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 76
BY SENATOR JOHNS AND REPRESENTATIVE DANAHAY AND SENATOR JOHN
SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVE KLECKLEY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the city of Sulphur upon its first Centennial celebration.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend and congratulate the city of Sulphur, Louisiana, its citizenry, and public2
officials, on the celebration of its Centennial.3
WHEREAS, April 17, 2014, marks a memorable and historic occasion for the4
municipality as the one hundredth anniversary of official recognition as a village by5
proclamation by Luther E. Hall, Governor of Louisiana; and6
WHEREAS, Sulphur, a ten square mile portion of Calcasieu Parish, abounds with7
a quaint charm and vitality all its own; named the "Gateway to the Creole Nature Trail", its8
wetlands and alluvial plains are a focal point of time-honored traditions that date back to the9
agrarian and cowboy-ranching cultures of the 1880's; and10
WHEREAS, the city's name evolved from the rich deposits of the bright yellow11
element, sulfur; also known as brimstone, that were mined by corporations such as the12
Calcasieu Sulphur Mining Company and the Union Sulphur Company; and13
WHEREAS, Dr. Herman Frasch, a German chemist, had patented a process in which14
sulfur could be safety extracted from sandy soil and a regional mining industry was born;15
and16
WHEREAS, Thomas Kleinpeter originally named the area "Kleinpeter's Square",17
however, in 1900, when he filed the map of the town's layout, the name was changed to18 SCR NO. 76
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"Sulphur City", then the U.S. Post Office intervened and the City designation was dropped1
from its name; it also bore the affluent title of "the richest fifty acres in the world"; and2
WHEREAS, the founders and first entrepreneurs of Sulphur include the names of3
Burton, Perkins, Frasch, Henning, Burleson, Root, LaFargue, Ellender, and Breeden, along4
with familiar institutions that include the Brimstone Railroad, the Methodist, Baptist, and5
Catholic churches, and the Frasch School; and6
WHEREAS, in the 1920s, sulfur mining and the timber industry were no longer7
lucrative economies and new commercial ventures were developed with utilization of the8
accessability of deep water channels to the Gulf of Mexico which gave rise to extraordinary9
industrial growth along the Calcasieu River including petrochemical and manufacturing10
facilities such as Mathieson Alkalie Works; now Olin, Cities Service Refinery; now known11
as Citgo; PPG, and many others along the corridor that drew its labor force from around the12
world; and13
WHEREAS, the present population of over twenty-two thousand consists of all14
manner of ethnic origins and many are descendants of early immigrants who can trace their15
roots back to the heartland of the United States, Canada, and Germany; and16
WHEREAS, today Sulphur is strategically located as a transportation hub with17
readily available modes of transport either by railroad, motor carrier, or waterway which18
stimulates the exportation of Louisiana's goods to global marketplaces and the importation19
of foreign trade; and20
WHEREAS, the abundance of vital water resources provide ample wildlife for21
hunting and fishing which makes Sulphur an excellent area for leisure and recreation; and22
WHEREAS, Sulphur is blessed with warm, friendly people with strong ties to family,23
community, and country, steadfast loyal patriots of their locale and its traditions that are24
reflected in their fairs and festivals, the Cal-Cam Fair, Christmas Under the Oaks Festival,25
and the Heritage Days Festival; and26
WHEREAS, in mid-March Sulphur held a series of fetes to celebrate its first one27
hundred years, 1914-2014, that included a rodeo, a centennial parade, concerts performed28
in Heritage Square, demonstrations of traditional undertakings such as soap-making and29
blacksmithing, arts and crafts, a pictorial quilt raffle, opening of a time capsule, exhibits at30 SCR NO. 76
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the Henning Cultural Center, the unveiling of a permanent centennial display at the1
Brimstone Museum, the striking of commemorative coins, and the publication of centennial2
history books; and3
WHEREAS, Sulphur's lengthy economic success is linked to the city's attitude and4
motto of "Faith, Family, and Community" and is destined to experience an unprecedented5
wave of growth with new industrial expansion for many years to come; and6
WHEREAS, the people of Sulphur strive to preserve and celebrate a way of life that7
has survived since its inception, and together contemplate a future filled with hope and8
prosperity for generations yet to come.9
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby10
commend the city of Sulphur upon the celebration of its first one hundred years.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that April 17, 2014, is hereby recognized as the First12
Centennial Anniversary of the founding of the city of Sulphur. 13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to14
Christopher Duncan, mayor of the city of Sulphur.15
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
Johns SCR No. 76
Commends the city of Sulphur for the100th anniversary of its founding.