H.R. No. 421
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Van Zandt County are gathering at
the State Capitol on March 7, 2017, to commemorate Van Zandt County
Day and to celebrate the significant role their home has played in
the story of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Created by an Act of the Texas Legislature on March
20, 1848, this county in the northeast region of Texas was named for
Isaac Van Zandt, a lawyer who served as a legislator and diplomat
for the Republic of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Canton, the county seat, was laid out in 1850 and
incorporated in 1919; designated a Main Street City in 2001, it is
home to the Van Zandt County Fair and Rodeo, as well as one of the
nation's best-known flea markets, First Monday Trade Days; the city
is also the location of the Library of Genealogy and Local History,
which preserves the county's heritage and draws researchers from
far and near; and
WHEREAS, The county's other notable communities include Ben
Wheeler, which was named in 1878 for Benjamin F. Wheeler, an early
mail carrier in Van Zandt County; and
WHEREAS, Edgewood, which was first settled in the 1840s,
hosts the Edgewood Heritage Festival every November at the Heritage
Park Museum; this popular attraction is dedicated to the
preservation of rural culture and architecture; and
WHEREAS, Named after a figure from the Bible, Edom is one of
the oldest towns in the county, and it is home to 11 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 popular arts fairs;
and
WHEREAS, A 1901 petition by local fruit growers prompted the
renaming of Bolan Switch to Fruitvale; the town had boasted a fruit
nursery as early as the 1870s and also had a lumber shipping
business by the second decade of the 20th century, but Fruitvale was
not incorporated until the 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Originally called Jordan's Saline, Grand Saline was
the first county seat, and it takes its name from an immense dome of
pure salt that lies beneath the city; more than a mile and a half
wide and 16,000 feet thick, the deposit is now mined by the Morton
Salt company; named a Main Street City in 2004, the community
celebrates its heritage with the Salt Palace, a house built out of
salt blocks, and an annual Salt Festival; the town is also the
birthplace of pioneer aviator Wiley Post, whose life is
commemorated with a historical marker; and
WHEREAS, Martin's Mill was established in the valley of Cream
Level Creek before the Civil War; it got its name from Daniel
G. Martin, who opened a gin and gristmill there in 1875; and
WHEREAS, The community of Van was established in 1894, and it
remained a quiet farming community until 1929, when the discovery
of oil in the area transformed the village into a boomtown; the Van
Area Oil and Historical Museum and the annual Oil Pageant & Festival
recapture the excitement of that time; and
WHEREAS, Wills Point was named for William Wills, who settled
in the area in the 1840s and whose homestead became a way station
for travelers; his original cabin still stands in Bruce Park, and
the old Texas and Pacific Railroad depot features exhibits of local
history; as the official Bluebird Capital of Texas, Wills Point
hosts the annual Bluebird Festival every April; and
WHEREAS, Major events in the county include the Western Swing
Valentine Party in Canton, the Edom Festival of the Arts, and the
Relay for Life of Van Zandt County; for the outdoor enthusiast, the
Neches and Sabine Rivers, Purtis Creek State Park, and Lake
Tawakoni State Park offer fine opportunities for fishing, boating,
swimming, camping, and hiking; home to more than 53,000 people, the
county prospers thanks to agriculture, oil and gas, and tourism;
the region is a major producer of hay, sweet potatoes, beef cattle,
and nursery crops; and
WHEREAS, The people of Van Zandt County take great pride in
their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter
future, and it is indeed fitting to honor them and their unique
contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 7, 2017, as Van Zandt County Day
at the State Capitol and extend best wishes to the visiting
residents of the county for an informative and enjoyable stay in
Austin.
Flynn
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 421 was adopted by the House on March
2, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House