By Pitts H.C.R. No. 95 77R4928 MDM-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Ellis County are gathered in 1-2 Austin to celebrate Ellis County Day at the State Capitol, and this 1-3 festive event offers an ideal opportunity to recognize the county's 1-4 many fine attributes; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Located in North Central Texas and including the 1-6 rich soils of the Blackland Belt, the 953 square miles of Ellis 1-7 County landscape vary from gently rolling terrain to a level plain; 1-8 and 1-9 WHEREAS, Created by the state legislature in 1849, Ellis 1-10 County takes its name from Richard Ellis, president of the 1-11 convention that declared Texas' independence from Mexico; in 1850 1-12 the first Ellis County Court authorized an expenditure of $59 for 1-13 the construction of a courthouse; that structure was replaced in 1-14 1895 with an elaborate red sandstone and granite building still in 1-15 use today and celebrated as one of the most beautiful historic 1-16 public buildings in Texas; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The arrival of the railroad in 1871 stimulated 1-18 agricultural production, and in the early 20th century Ellis County 1-19 ranked as one of the chief cotton-growing areas in the country; 1-20 today the county's diversified economy rests on agribusiness, 1-21 commerce, and industry; the city of Midlothian, home to such firms 1-22 as Chapparral Steel Company, Texas Industries, Holnam Texas, and 1-23 North Texas Cement Company, has been designated the Cement and 1-24 Steel Capital of Texas; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The people of Ellis County, eager to preserve their 2-2 heritage, have begun the process of restoring many historic homes 2-3 and landmarks to their original grandeur, and a number of 2-4 communities have participated in the Texas Main Street Project, a 2-5 program to rehabilitate and revitalize historic downtown and 2-6 commercial districts; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Waxahachie, the county seat, is affectionately known 2-8 as the Gingerbread City because of its lovingly maintained 2-9 Victorian homes, many of them framed by the colorful trees and 2-10 shrubs that have also caused the town to be known as the Crape 2-11 Myrtle Capital of Texas; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Waxahachie is home as well to one of the few 2-13 remaining Chautauqua auditoriums; constructed at the dawn of the 2-14 20th century, the hall hosted cultural and religious events and 2-15 continues to draw thousands of visitors each year; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Ennis, situated in the eastern part of the county, 2-17 was designated the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas by the Texas 2-18 Legislature in 1997; a cultural center for descendants of Czech 2-19 farmers who first settled on the Blackland Prairie in 1875, Ennis 2-20 is the site of the National Polka Festival, as well as the Texas 2-21 Motorplex, a professional and amateur track that offers world-class 2-22 auto racing; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Ennis's progressive economic environment has 2-24 attracted industries such as Sterilite Corporation, Elk Roofing, 2-25 Leggett & Platt, Inc., Atlas Soundolier, and Ennis Steel 2-26 Industries, Inc., and a state-of-the-art power plant, 2-27 Ennis-Tractebel Electricity and Gas International, is under 3-1 construction; and 3-2 WHEREAS, The other charming towns of Ellis County balance the 3-3 charm and comfort of small-town life with convenient access to 3-4 downtown Dallas and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; 3-5 and 3-6 WHEREAS, For several decades, prime movie locations in Ellis 3-7 County have drawn film production crews, and the Los Angeles Film 3-8 Makers Association has recognized Waxahachie as "The Best Little 3-9 Hollywood in Texas" and as "Vintage America in Mint Condition"; and 3-10 WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike can learn about the 3-11 region's past while touring the Ellis County Museum, the Railroad 3-12 and Cultural Heritage Museum, and the Larkin Newton Cabin, all of 3-13 which showcase myriad antiques and artifacts that tell the 3-14 captivating story of Ellis County; and 3-15 WHEREAS, Ellis County is one of the Lone Star State's great 3-16 assets, and even as its dynamic citizens reflect with satisfaction 3-17 on their proud accomplishments, they can also look forward with 3-18 anticipation to the new challenges and opportunities that lie 3-19 ahead; now, therefore, be it 3-20 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-21 hereby recognize February 28, 2001, as Ellis County Day at the 3-22 State Capitol and extend best wishes to all Ellis County citizens 3-23 for a bright and prosperous future.