| 1 | 1 | | 82R6152 JH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Flynn H.C.R. No. 55 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Town markets were essential to the development of |
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| 7 | 7 | | Texas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, serving as important |
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| 8 | 8 | | hubs of economic activity for communities all across the state; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Today, that tradition lives on at numerous events, |
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| 10 | 10 | | but one market in particular, the World Famous First Monday Trade |
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| 11 | 11 | | Days in Canton, is especially noteworthy, being widely recognized |
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| 12 | 12 | | as one of the oldest and largest events of its kind; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Canton's market traces its origins to the 1850s, |
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| 14 | 14 | | when a circuit judge began holding court in the town on the first |
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| 15 | 15 | | Monday of each month; the proceedings drew numerous people to town, |
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| 16 | 16 | | and they used that opportunity to trade produce, farm equipment, |
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| 17 | 17 | | and livestock with one another; as the gathering became well-known |
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| 18 | 18 | | throughout Van Zandt County and beyond, participants converged on |
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| 19 | 19 | | Canton to barter for all manner of goods, with dogs and horses being |
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| 20 | 20 | | part of many of the exchanges; as a result, the market acquired the |
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| 21 | 21 | | nicknames "Dog Monday" and "Hoss Monday"; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, With the passing years, the market's farm-oriented |
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| 23 | 23 | | products gave way to items such as antiques, collectibles, |
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| 24 | 24 | | furniture, and crafts; originally held in the courthouse square, |
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| 25 | 25 | | the event had grown so large by the mid-1960s that it moved to a |
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| 26 | 26 | | six-acre area two blocks away; the number of market days held each |
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| 27 | 27 | | month also expanded, initially incorporating the preceding weekend |
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| 28 | 28 | | days and now taking place Thursday through Sunday in advance of the |
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| 29 | 29 | | first Monday; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, The popularity and size of First Monday Trade Days |
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| 31 | 31 | | have continued to grow in recent decades; today, it encompasses |
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| 32 | 32 | | more than 7,000 indoor and outdoor vendor spaces spread over 500 |
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| 33 | 33 | | acres; as many as 400,000 people arrive for each monthly event, |
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| 34 | 34 | | transforming a small town of 3,600 permanent residents into a |
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| 35 | 35 | | sizeable city; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Those who make their way to the trade days find a |
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| 37 | 37 | | huge range of items for sale and also enjoy a shopping experience |
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| 38 | 38 | | that is in keeping with the historic character of the market; since |
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| 39 | 39 | | First Monday began 150 years ago, individuals have gathered in |
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| 40 | 40 | | Canton to take part in a personalized form of commerce where they |
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| 41 | 41 | | have the opportunity to spend time with vendors, artisans, and |
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| 42 | 42 | | fellow shoppers; the continuation of this time-honored tradition is |
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| 43 | 43 | | a fitting tribute to our state's commercial heritage, and it is |
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| 44 | 44 | | indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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| 45 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 46 | 46 | | hereby designate Canton as the official Home of the World Famous |
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| 47 | 47 | | First Monday Trade Days. |
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