H.R. No. 181
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Many proud citizens of Van Zandt County have come to
the State Capitol on February 4, 2009, to celebrate the significant
part they and their forebears have played in the development of the
Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Created by an Act of the Texas Legislature on March
20, 1847, this Northeast Texas county was named for Isaac Van Zandt,
a Republic of Texas lawyer, legislator, and diplomat; and
WHEREAS, Canton, the county seat, was laid out in 1850 and
incorporated in 1919; recently named a Main Street City, it is home
to the Van Zandt County Fair and First Monday Trade Days, one of the
country's best-known flea markets; a library of genealogy and local
history is also a popular attraction and preserves much of the
county's notable heritage; and
WHEREAS, The development of this fascinating area can be
traced in a number of other communities as well; Edgewood, settled
in the 1840s, boasts the Edgewood Heritage Park Museum, a facility
dedicated to the preservation of rural cultural and architectural
history; and
WHEREAS, Edom, established in 1856, is one of the oldest
towns in the county, and its past is highlighted by 10 state
historical markers, many of them researched by members of the Edom
Historical Society; the residents of this small community also give
hearty support to an active civic theater; and
WHEREAS, Fruit cultivation prompted the naming of Fruitvale,
where a nursery operated as early as the 1870s; several generations
in this century-old town have treasured the Randall Store, a local
institution since 1910; and
WHEREAS, Grand Saline, originally called Jordan's Saline,
the first Van Zandt County seat, takes its name from an immense dome
of pure salt lying beneath the city; more than a mile and a half wide
and 20,000 feet thick, the deposit is presently mined by Morton Salt
Company; the city celebrates salt with an annual Salt Festival;
those exploring this 2004 Main Street City can tour the Salt Palace
Museum, a unique structure built with rock salt crystal, stop by the
historical marker that commemorates native son Wiley Post, the
renowned pioneer aviator, and visit the new Veterans Memorial Wall
Park, featuring a genuine U.S. Army tank; and
WHEREAS, Van, established in 1891, remained a quiet farming
community until 1929, when the discovery of oil nearby transformed
the village into a boomtown; the Van Area Oil and Historical Museum
recaptures the excitement of that frenetic time and commemorates
the discovery with an annual Oil Festival; and
WHEREAS, Wills Point, settled in 1873 and originally known as
Iola, was renamed for William Wills, whose cabin served as a
stopping place for those traveling between Shreveport and Dallas;
the Wills cabin still stands, as does the Texas and Pacific Railroad
depot, which houses the Historical Society Museum; Wills Point,
which is officially the Bluebird Capital of Texas, hosts the annual
Bluebird Festival; and
WHEREAS, Ben Wheeler, surrounded by natural springs and rich
farmland, was named for Van Zandt County's first mail carrier,
Benjamin R. Wheeler, in 1876; and
WHEREAS, Martins Mill, which got its name from Dan R.
Martin's gristmill, was established in 1880 and is home to one of
the largest dairies in East Texas; the community survived
destruction by tornadoes and fires and today boasts a successful
school district; and
WHEREAS, Major events in the county include the Texas State
Bluegrass Festival, the Edom Arts Fair, and the Van Zandt County
Relay for Life; for the outdoor enthusiast, the Neches and Sabine
Rivers, Purtis Creek State Park, and Lake Tawakoni State Park offer
wonderful opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and
camping; and
WHEREAS, The home of nearly 50,000 people, Van Zandt County
relies on tourism, oil, and agribusiness; the area is a major
producer of hay, blueberries, sweet potatoes, and nursery crops, in
addition to cattle, horses, hogs, and dairy products; and
WHEREAS, Present with us today in the Capitol are numerous
residents of Van Zandt County, including the Van Zandt County
Choir, city and county officials, members of Vision 2009, and
members of the board of the Council of Van Zandt County Communities,
the sponsors of the biennial visit to the state legislature that
provides an occasion for focusing on legislation affecting Van
Zandt County citizens; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Van Zandt County take justifiable
pride in the hard work and ready cooperation that have made their
county strong, and it is a pleasure to join them in honoring the
county they are proud to call home; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 4, 2009, as Van Zandt County
Day at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the
visiting Van Zandt County residents for an informative and
memorable day.
Flynn
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 181 was adopted by the House on
February 4, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House