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.