By Ramsay H.R. No. 257 77R6414 JKB-D 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.