By Ramsay                                             H.C.R. No. 17
         76R3039 GMW-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, On January 26, 1999, many proud townspeople of
 1-2     historic Jefferson will gather in Austin to celebrate Jefferson Day
 1-3     at the State Capitol; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, The county seat of Marion County, Jefferson was
 1-5     founded in the early 1840s on Big Cypress Creek and, given its
 1-6     proximity to the Red River, rapidly became a substantial navigation
 1-7     site; by the late 1840s this commercially vibrant Northeast Texas
 1-8     town was the state's leading inland port; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, A lively and likely place for innovation, Jefferson
1-10     was the first town in Texas to use artificial gas for lighting, and
1-11     in its environs ice was first manufactured on a commercial scale in
1-12     1868; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Today, Jefferson is widely acclaimed for its
1-14     abundance of historic places, including stunning mid-19th-century
1-15     homes, churches, and other architectural riches; in 1971, 56 such
1-16     buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places,
1-17     and at least 10 others have since reached National Register status,
1-18     including the antebellum Excelsior Hotel and Planters Bank and
1-19     Warehouse; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Visitors flock to Jefferson each year for a
1-21     three-day spring historic pilgrimage, an event through which this
1-22     gracious town shares its colorful past; in addition to exquisite
1-23     homes, travelers can view the Jefferson Historical Society Museum,
1-24     the Jay Gould Private Railroad Car, and the famed Carnegie Library;
 2-1     and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Nestled in the forested East Texas hills, Jefferson
 2-3     is also a superb destination for tourists seeking the pleasure of
 2-4     the great outdoors; Caddo Lake and Lake O' the Pines offer fishing
 2-5     enthusiasts prime sport, and the Turning Basin River Boat Tour and
 2-6     Woodlands Trail provide a guided tour of some of Marion County's
 2-7     most intriguing scenery and wildlife; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Famous for its charming accommodations, Jefferson
 2-9     has more bed and breakfast establishments per capita than any other
2-10     city in the Lone Star State, and visitors come from far and wide to
2-11     experience this niche of Southern hospitality; and
2-12           WHEREAS, While the residents of Jefferson look back with
2-13     justifiable pride on their community's unique history and
2-14     evolution, they can also look forward to a bright future, for this
2-15     remarkable place will surely continue to sparkle; now, therefore,
2-16     be it
2-17           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-18     hereby recognize January 26, 1999, as Jefferson Day at the State
2-19     Capitol and extend to its citizens sincere best wishes for an
2-20     enjoyable visit to Austin.