By:  Armbrister                                        S.R. No. 246

 1-1                                       1

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle is celebrating

 1-4     its 100th anniversary on March 14, 1997, at the Lower Colorado

 1-5     River Authority's Cocheron House, and the Texas Senate is pleased

 1-6     to extend congratulations to its members as they mark this historic

 1-7     milestone; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, On September 15, 1897, the Magazine Club in

 1-9     Bastrop was organized for the purpose of studying literature;

1-10     Mrs. B. D. Orgain served as the club's first president; club

1-11     membership grew quickly and its name was changed to the Bastrop

1-12     Ladies Reading Club; and

1-13           WHEREAS, In 1900 the members studied United States and

1-14     English history, Othello, and contemporary literature; that

1-15     year the club issued its first yearbook; and

1-16           WHEREAS, The industrious group was interested in providing a

1-17     valuable resource for the community, and in March, 1900, the club

1-18     organized the first Bastrop Public Library with approximately 100

1-19     books available for circulation; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The reading circle has met continuously during

1-21     its 100-year history except for 1943 to 1946 when meetings were

1-22     suspended during World War II; it was a member of the Texas

1-23     Federation of Women's Clubs for many years; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Since its auspicious beginning, the Bastrop Ladies

 2-2     Reading Circle has continued to recognize the needs of the city

 2-3     and has worked diligently to provide those needs through special

 2-4     projects; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, The beautiful Ferry Park on the Colorado River bank

 2-6     was established by the club in May, 1956, for all to enjoy; when

 2-7     funds for the ambitious project were exhausted, the reading club

 2-8     turned the park over to the city for upkeep; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Through the years, the Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle

2-10     has continued to help preserve the history of the early Texas

2-11     settlement originally known as Mina; in 1965, the club purchased

2-12     a building on South Main Street to found the Bastrop Historical

2-13     Museum, which houses many important artifacts of the town's

2-14     earliest days; and

2-15           WHEREAS, The Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle was one of the

2-16     sponsoring organizations responsible for the establishment of

2-17     Literacy Volunteers of America-Bastrop in 1987; never losing

2-18     sight of their original purpose, the members pursue their

2-19     interests in literature while continuing their support of the

2-20     library, museum, and the Literacy Volunteers of America; and

2-21           WHEREAS, This dedicated group of women has served the

2-22     community well, and the members continue to make valuable

2-23     contributions to the citizens of Bastrop; now, therefore, be it

2-24           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-25     75th Legislature, hereby recognize the Bastrop Ladies Reading

 3-1     Circle on the grand occasion of its 100th anniversary and extend

 3-2     best wishes to the members for a most enjoyable celebration; and,

 3-3     be it further

 3-4           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

 3-5     the distinguished group as an expression of the high regard of

 3-6     the Texas Senate.

 3-7                                  ______________________________________

 3-8                                          President of the Senate

 3-9                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-10                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-11                                  on February 26, 1997.

3-12                                  ______________________________________

3-13                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-14                                  ______________________________________

3-15                                           Member, Texas Senate