| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Harrison County are gathering to |
|
|
celebrate Harrison County Day at the State Capitol on March 21, |
|
|
2013; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Situated among the rolling piney woods of East |
|
|
Texas, Harrison County was first inhabited by the Caddo people, and |
|
|
large numbers of non-Native American settlers began to arrive in |
|
|
the 1830s; the county was established by the Republic of Texas in |
|
|
1839 and named after Texas revolutionary leader Jonas Harrison; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The city of Marshall, founded in 1841, became the |
|
|
county seat the following year; at the time of the Civil War, it was |
|
|
one of the most populous and prosperous cities in the state, and it |
|
|
produced a large amount of saddles, clothing, gunpowder, and |
|
|
ammunition for the Confederate Army; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Cotton was the basis for the county's economy for |
|
|
many years and continued to be important well into the 20th century; |
|
|
in addition, the red and white clay soils of the region are |
|
|
excellent for stoneware, and the county is home to numerous pottery |
|
|
companies, including Marshall Pottery, which was established in |
|
|
1896 and remains one of the largest manufacturers of red clay pots |
|
|
in the nation; the area's diverse economy is further enhanced by the |
|
|
lumber industry, oil and gas production, manufacturing, and |
|
|
ranching and farming; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Outdoor enthusiasts may take advantage of the fine |
|
|
opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, and boating at Caddo |
|
|
Lake State Park, home of the only natural lake in Texas, while those |
|
|
interested in the county's past can appreciate the revitalized |
|
|
downtown Marshall, which benefited from the Main Street Program and |
|
|
other initiatives of the Texas Historical Commission; the 1901 |
|
|
County Courthouse and the Texas and Pacific Railway Museum and |
|
|
Depot have been restored, and the nearby Ginocchio National |
|
|
Historic District preserves several other fine examples of early |
|
|
Texas architecture; additionally, the Starr Family Home State |
|
|
Historic Site showcases a family that was a major contributor to the |
|
|
growth of the railroad and cotton industries and the settling of the |
|
|
frontier of Texas in the late 1800s; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The educational needs of Harrison County are met by |
|
|
such fine institutions as Wiley College, East Texas Baptist |
|
|
University, and Texas State Technical College; those schools' |
|
|
cultural offerings are supplemented by the Michelson Museum of Art, |
|
|
which features work by several important early 20th century |
|
|
artists; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy the county's |
|
|
colorful annual festivals, including the FireAnt Festival and |
|
|
Western Days in October and the yearly Wonderland of Lights, which |
|
|
is held in Marshall during the holiday season and draws visitors |
|
|
from all 50 states and around the world; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work toward |
|
|
a bright tomorrow, the citizens of Harrison County may indeed take |
|
|
great pride in their unique contribution to the history and culture |
|
|
of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 21, 2013, as Harrison County Day |
|
|
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
|
|
best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin. |