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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Wills Point are celebrating the |
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150th anniversary of their city's founding in 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Wills Point traces its origins back to 1847, when |
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its namesake William A. Wills and his family settled in what would |
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later become Van Zandt County; the family traded their carriage, a |
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rarity on the frontier, for a log cabin, in order to provide a way |
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station for travelers on the Dallas-Shreveport Road; the community |
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was laid out at the highest elevation point between Fort Worth and |
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New Orleans when the route of the new railroad was determined, and |
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the town was officially established in 1873, the same year that the |
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Texas and Pacific Railroad line was built through the region; the |
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community thrived as the railway drew a number of businesses to the |
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area; and |
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WHEREAS, The Wills Point post office was established in 1870, |
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and the town's first newspaper began publication several years |
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later; in 1886, a four-room school, the largest in the county, |
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opened its doors; in the succeeding years, the city faced many |
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challenges, including three devastating tornadoes, but its |
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citizens overcame those difficulties to build a stronger, more |
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resilient community; and |
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WHEREAS, Wills Point has continued to thrive over the |
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decades, and today it is a dynamic community of more than 3,700 |
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residents; retaining its early charm, the city boasts a picturesque |
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historic district that features brick streets, a railroad depot |
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museum, and the original Wills log cabin; residents and visitors |
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alike can enjoy the cultural and recreational opportunities |
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afforded by the Wills Point Visual and Performing Arts Centre and by |
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Lake Tawakoni State Park; the Wills Point Chamber of Commerce also |
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puts on a variety of annual events, including community Halloween |
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and Christmas celebrations; and |
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WHEREAS, Wills Point has acquired a number of nicknames over |
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the years, including the Queen City of the Prairie, Gateway to East |
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Texas, and Gateway to Lake Tawakoni, and in 1995, it was designated |
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as the Bluebird Capital of Texas by the Texas Legislature; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their history as they work to build an |
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even brighter future, the people of Wills Point are justifiably |
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proud of their community, and it is indeed fitting to recognize them |
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on this milestone anniversary; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of Wills Point |
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and extend to its citizens sincere best wishes for the future; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the city as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |