H.R. No. 457
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great
1-2 pleasure in joining the citizens of Ellis County in celebration of
1-3 Ellis County Day at the State Capitol on March 29, 1995; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Ellis County, with an area of 953 square miles in
1-5 North Central Texas, is bounded on the east by the blackland belt,
1-6 which extends through the center of the county, and varies from a
1-7 gently rolling terrain to a level plain; and
1-8 WHEREAS, The earliest inhabitants of the county were Tonkawa
1-9 Indians, and buffalo were often hunted; one of the first settlers
1-10 was W. R. Howe, who located near the site of Forreston in July
1-11 1843; and
1-12 WHEREAS, At an election held in August 1850, Waxahachie was
1-13 chosen as the county seat; the county was named for Richard Ellis;
1-14 and
1-15 WHEREAS, On August 19, 1850, William Hawkins presided over
1-16 the first Ellis County Court, which on August 23, 1850, authorized
1-17 the expenditure of $59 to construct a courthouse; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Ellis County has been recognized as one of the
1-19 leading agricultural counties in the state since its first
1-20 settlement in 1843; and
1-21 WHEREAS, The coming of the railroad in 1871 attracted top
1-22 industries from throughout the United States; and
1-23 WHEREAS, The city of Midlothian in the western part of Ellis
1-24 County is home to Chaparral Steel Company, TXI, Holman Texas LP,
2-1 and North Texas Cement Company, making Midlothian the Cement and
2-2 Steel Capital of Texas; and
2-3 WHEREAS, The city of Ennis in the eastern part of Ellis
2-4 County is a cultural center for Czech ancestry, and its proud and
2-5 industrious citizens make it a resourceful and responsible
2-6 community; and
2-7 WHEREAS, The Red Oak area in North Ellis County on Interstate
2-8 35E is only minutes from downtown Dallas and the D/FW International
2-9 Airport and serves as the gateway to the metroplex; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Waxahachie in central Ellis County serves as the
2-11 seat of county government and is known as the Gingerbread Capital
2-12 of America because of its hundreds of beautifully restored
2-13 Victorian homes, making it the centerpiece of rich historical
2-14 pride; and
2-15 WHEREAS, The Mahoney-Thompson Home, along with the Ellis
2-16 County Museum in Waxahachie and the Railroad Museum in Ennis,
2-17 showcases hundreds of antiques and artifacts concerning the history
2-18 and heritage of Ellis County; and
2-19 WHEREAS, Waxahachie has one of the only remaining chautauqua
2-20 auditoriums; built in 1902, it brings thousands of visitors each
2-21 year to Waxahachie; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Filmmakers recognize Ellis County for prime movie
2-23 locations, and Waxahachie was noted by the Los Angeles Film Makers
2-24 Association as "The Best Little Hollywood in Texas" and "Vintage
2-25 America in Mint Condition"; and
2-26 WHEREAS, Tourists are drawn to the many events and annual
2-27 festivals in Ellis County; Ennis hosts the Texas Motorplex, the
3-1 Bluebonnet Festival, and the National Polka Festival; the
3-2 Scarborough Faire Renaissance Festival and the Gingerbread Trail
3-3 Historic Home Tour occur in Waxahachie, and the historic Larkin
3-4 Newton cabin is a tourist attraction in Midlothian's downtown area;
3-5 and
3-6 WHEREAS, The first school in Ellis County was organized at
3-7 Milford in 1855 by Michael Dickson, and today Ellis County hosts
3-8 Navarro College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University as
3-9 two highly regarded colleges; and
3-10 WHEREAS, The residents of Ellis County, being proud of their
3-11 great history and heritage, have taken recent steps to restore many
3-12 of the historic homes and landmarks to their former grandeur, and
3-13 many cities throughout the county have participated in the Texas
3-14 Main Street Project; and
3-15 WHEREAS, The centennial of Ellis County's greatest historical
3-16 landmark, its unique redstone courthouse built in 1895, will be
3-17 celebrated in July 1995, and this event will be marked by various
3-18 celebrations and events, including a play denoting the history of
3-19 the courthouse; Governor George Bush has been invited to serve as
3-20 Grand Marshal of the Centennial Parade, and all Texans are invited
3-21 to come and share this historic occasion; and
3-22 WHEREAS, Ellis County was chosen to be on the leading edge of
3-23 America's scientific advancement with the superconducting
3-24 supercollider; Ellis County residents are proud to note that
3-25 although the original scope of the collider has changed, a current
3-26 proposal would allow for a cancer therapy center to be built on the
3-27 site and would allow Texas to be an international leader in
4-1 state-of-the-art proton cancer therapy; and
4-2 WHEREAS, All of the cities and communities of Ellis County
4-3 are preparing for economic development from commercial, industrial,
4-4 and residential growth due to the county's good quality school
4-5 districts, responsible citizens, and access to the metroplex; and
4-6 WHEREAS, The many contributions of the citizens of this
4-7 modern, energetic county are cause for great appreciation by all
4-8 Texans; now, therefore, be it
4-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
4-10 Legislature hereby recognize March 29, 1995, as Ellis County Day as
4-11 a gesture of highest esteem and in recognition of this remarkable
4-12 county's contributions and achievements; and, be it further
4-13 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for
4-14 Ellis County in recognition of its celebration and as an expression
4-15 of congratulations from the Texas House of Representatives.