By Kubiak H.C.R. No. 191 74R12151 WMS-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, On May 3, 1995, Washington County Day will be 1-2 celebrated by the proud citizens of that illustrious county in 1-3 recognition of the area's many significant contributions to the 1-4 State of Texas; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Located in southeast Central Texas, Washington 1-6 County has an area of 611 square miles drained principally by the 1-7 Brazos River, and its picturesque level-to-rolling terrain includes 1-8 the prairie and post oak belts; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The county was created in 1836 and organized the 1-10 following year and is renowned as the location of 1-11 Washington-on-the-Brazos, which was established in 1834 near the 1-12 location of a ferry that had been continuosly operated on the 1-13 Brazos River since 1822; a "must see" for Texas history buffs, 1-14 Washington-on-the-Brazos achieved prominence during the Texas 1-15 Revolution as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of 1-16 Independence and the drafting of the constitution of the newly born 1-17 Republic of Texas; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Modern-day Washington County boasts a thriving 1-19 economy based primarily on the production of cattle, hogs, horses, 1-20 dairy products, poultry, hay, cotton, and horticultural plants, as 1-21 well as a flourishing tourism industry; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The county seat of Brenham is home to the celebrated 1-23 Blue Bell Creameries, whose ice cream and other dairy products have 1-24 delighted Texans for generations, and the city also is the location 2-1 of Blinn Junior College; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Washington County has many stellar attractions to 2-3 offer both tourists and residents alike; Somerville Lake provides 2-4 some of the finest hunting and fishing to be found in the state 2-5 today, and colorful bluebonnet trails dot the highways and byways 2-6 during the springtime; and 2-7 WHEREAS, A number of the state's most unique and enjoyable 2-8 festivals also take place in Washington County; the Washington 2-9 County Fair is the oldest such event in the state and the town of 2-10 Chappell Hill hosts the popular Bluebonnet Festival in the spring 2-11 and the family-oriented Scarecrow Festival each fall; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Other notable celebrations occurring in Washington 2-13 County include the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and Brenham's Maifest 2-14 Days, a gala annual event that honors the area's proud German 2-15 heritage; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Washington County has long been regarded as a hotbed 2-17 of athletic excellence in the sport of baseball and the exceptional 2-18 success of local players has inspired many other area athletes into 2-19 taking up the bat and glove; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Adding to the rich cultural heritage of the area are 2-21 Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, the Texas Baptist Historical 2-22 Museum, the Star of the Republic Museum, as well as many other 2-23 notable historic sites; and 2-24 WHEREAS, Preeminent among the county's finest assets, 2-25 however, are its friendly and hospitable citizens, who have gone to 2-26 great lengths to make this lovely region a county that they are 2-27 proud to call home; and 3-1 WHEREAS, Renowned for Blue Bell, baseball, and bluebonnets, 3-2 Washington County is truly one of the state's most outstanding 3-3 counties, and the efforts of its residents in preserving its unique 3-4 beauty and heritage truly merit special praise and recognition; 3-5 now, therefore, be it 3-6 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-7 hereby recognize May 3, 1995, as Washington County Day and offer 3-8 sincere best wishes to the county's fine citizens for a memorable 3-9 and joyous celebration; and, be it further 3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-11 prepared for Washington County as a memento of this special day.