By Holzheauser                                         H.R. No. 729
       74R11314 SAJ-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  the Carl and Mary Welhausen Library in Yoakum on the dedication of
    1-3  its Texas Historical Marker on April 23, 1995; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Originally known as the Yoakum Library, it was
    1-5  organized by the Philomathic Club in 1933, and noted businessman J.
    1-6  W. Cook generously offered a site in back of his office as the
    1-7  library's first home; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, The library relocated to the old Beck building on
    1-9  Nelson Street in 1955 and later moved into the old City Hall
   1-10  building; in 1988, at the request of the Friends of the Yoakum
   1-11  Library, the city offered the old  Municipal Power Plant building
   1-12  for use as a library; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, An excellent example of industrial architecture, the
   1-14  Municipal Power Plant building was designed by Montgomery and Ward
   1-15  Engineers of Wichita Falls and was built in 1932 by Yoakum resident
   1-16  F. O. Crawford; the land was purchased from the Spencer-Sauer
   1-17  Lumber Company; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, The building housed the city's sole electric power
   1-19  plant until 1938, and it was used as an auxiliary plant until the
   1-20  early 1960s; from 1964 to 1989 it served as a municipal machine
   1-21  shop; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, After the building was deemed appropriate for use as
   1-23  a library, the Friends of the Yoakum Library embarked on an
   1-24  ambitious fund-raising campaign to restore and convert the lovely
    2-1  and historic building; they were amply rewarded for their efforts
    2-2  at the dedication of the newly renamed Carl and Mary Welhausen
    2-3  Library in 1991; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Their outstanding work earned them well-deserved
    2-5  acclaim; the Texas Downtown Association recognized the structure as
    2-6  a fine example of restoration and adaptive reuse of a historic
    2-7  building, and after meticulous research, the old Municipal Power
    2-8  Plant building was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in
    2-9  1993; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, The Friends of the Yoakum Library and the DeWitt
   2-11  County Historical Commission have done a commendable job in
   2-12  preserving an important part of Texas' past, and their noteworthy
   2-13  efforts have helped ensure that the unique Municipal Power Plant
   2-14  building will remain a focal point in the Yoakum community for many
   2-15  years to come; now, therefore, be it
   2-16        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-17  Legislature hereby honor the Carl and Mary Welhausen Library on the
   2-18  dedication of its Texas Historical Marker and commend the Friends
   2-19  of the Yoakum Library and the DeWitt County Historical Commission
   2-20  for their exceptional efforts to preserve an important piece of
   2-21  local architecture.