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.