By Johnson H.R. No. 98 74R4760 BNL-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On February 3, 1995, Texans will celebrate the 150th 1-2 anniversary of the founding of Nacogdoches University, and such an 1-3 august occasion is indeed worthy of special legislative 1-4 recognition; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Chartered by the Republic of Texas on February 3, 1-6 1845, Nacogdoches University is thought to be the first 1-7 nonsectarian institution of higher learning in Texas; at a time 1-8 when all other local colleges and universities were affiliated with 1-9 certain faiths, this institution opened its doors to all, 1-10 regardless of religious belief, and thus it paved the way for the 1-11 egalitarian public education system that we enjoy today; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The university's first facility was the "Red House," 1-13 an adobe and frame structure built by Colonel Jose de los Piedros, 1-14 the commander of the Mexican Army during the occupation of 1832; 1-15 the school later moved to Temperance Hall, at the intersection of 1-16 Hospital and Fredonia streets, before being relocated to the 1-17 permanent site on Washington Square in 1858; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The modified Grecian structure was built at a cost 1-19 of approximately $8,000 and was paid for by donations of money, 1-20 products, and labor by the citizens of Nacogdoches and East Texas; 1-21 with the exception of a brief period during the Civil War and 1-22 Reconstruction, when it served as a convalescent home and as 1-23 military quarters, the building has been used for educational 1-24 purposes since its construction nearly 140 years ago; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Nacogdoches University ceased operations in 1895, 2-2 but the building was subsequently leased by several other 2-3 institutions of higher learning, including Stephen F. Austin State 2-4 University; it was later deeded to the Nacogdoches Independent 2-5 School District, but the grand old building was threatened with 2-6 demolition in 1950 when the district could no longer afford to 2-7 maintain it; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Thanks to the dedicated and heroic efforts of a 2-9 federation of women's clubs, the Old Nacogdoches University 2-10 Building, as it is now called, was preserved for future generations 2-11 of Texans to enjoy, and it has become one of the city's most 2-12 popular tourist attractions; the building currently houses a museum 2-13 dedicated to the history of education in the region, and its 2-14 beautiful grounds are maintained through the attentive care of the 2-15 Deep East Texas Rose Society; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Texans take great pride in the relics and buildings 2-17 that stand as a reminder of their state's illustrious past, and the 2-18 Old Nacogdoches University Building, like the Alamo and the State 2-19 Capitol, has earned a unique place in Lone Star State history; now, 2-20 therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-22 Legislature hereby commemorate the sesquicentennial of the founding 2-23 of Nacogdoches University and recognize the university's many 2-24 outstanding contributions to Texas history.