R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On this day, February 14, 2001, a number of citizens
1-2 from the city of Jefferson are with us in the house chamber to pay
1-3 tribute to the picturesque community they are proud to call home;
1-4 and
1-5 WHEREAS, The county seat of Marion County, Jefferson was
1-6 founded in the early 1840s at a river landing on Big Cypress Bayou
1-7 and, given its proximity to the Red River, rapidly became a major
1-8 East Texas river port of entry, welcoming steamboats traveling
1-9 inland from New Orleans; the discovery of nearby iron ore soon
1-10 brought smelters and plow works, while plentiful pine and cypress
1-11 made it a natural site of operation for a booming lumber industry;
1-12 and
1-13 WHEREAS, Jefferson was a leader in innovation as the first
1-14 town in Texas to use artificial gas for lighting and the first
1-15 community in the world to open an ammonia refrigerant ice plant;
1-16 and
1-17 WHEREAS, Confident in the steamboat, the city refused
1-18 financier Jay Gould's offer for a railroad, but, far from turning
1-19 Jefferson into a ghost town, the decision helped the community
1-20 retain the small town charm that can still be seen by passengers
1-21 enjoying a mule-drawn wagon tour, a romantic carriage ride, or a
1-22 city trolley tour, as well as more traditional modes of travel; and
1-23 WHEREAS, The city is widely acclaimed for its abundance of
1-24 historic places, including stunning mid-19th-century homes,
2-1 churches, and other architectural riches; in 1971, 56 such
2-2 buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places,
2-3 and at least 10 others have since reached National Register status,
2-4 including the antebellum Excelsior Hotel and Planters Bank and
2-5 Warehouse; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Visitors flock to Jefferson each spring for a
2-7 three-day pilgrimage, an event through which this gracious town
2-8 shares its colorful past; in addition to exquisite homes, travelers
2-9 can view the Jefferson Historical Society Museum, the Jay Gould
2-10 Private Railroad Car, the Freeman Plantation, and the famed
2-11 Carnegie Library; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Jefferson is also an ideal vacation spot for
2-13 tourists seeking outdoor recreation; Caddo Lake and Lake O' the
2-14 Pines offer fishing enthusiasts prime sport, and the Turning Basin
2-15 River Boat Tour and Woodlands Trail showcase some of Marion
2-16 County's intriguing scenery and wildlife; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Home to the first bed and breakfast in Texas, the
2-18 elegant Pride House, Jefferson has more bed and breakfast
2-19 establishments per capita than any other city in the Lone Star
2-20 State, and visitors come from far and wide to experience this niche
2-21 of Southern hospitality; and
2-22 WHEREAS, While the residents of Jefferson look back with
2-23 justifiable pride on their community's unique history and
2-24 evolution, they can also look forward to a bright future, for this
2-25 remarkable place will surely remain a source of enjoyment and
2-26 beauty for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
2-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-1 Legislature hereby recognize February 14, 2001, as Jefferson Day at
3-2 the State Capitol and extend to its citizens sincere best wishes
3-3 for an enjoyable visit to Austin.
Ramsay
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 257 was adopted by the House on
February 14, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House