By Glaze H.R. No. 418
77R5727 MMS-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud citizens of Van Zandt County have come to
1-2 the State Capitol on March 13, 2001, to celebrate the significant
1-3 part they and their forebears have played in the development of the
1-4 Lone Star State; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Created by an Act of the Texas Legislature on March
1-6 20, 1847, this Northeast Texas county was named for Isaac Van
1-7 Zandt, a Republic of Texas lawyer, legislator, and diplomat; and
1-8 WHEREAS, Canton, the county seat, was laid out in 1850 and
1-9 incorporated in 1919; recently named a Main Street City, it is home
1-10 to the Van Zandt County Fair and First Monday Trade Days, one of
1-11 the country's best-known flea markets; a library of genealogy and
1-12 local history is also a popular attraction and preserves much of
1-13 the county's notable heritage; and
1-14 WHEREAS, The development of this fascinating area can be
1-15 traced in a number of other communities as well; Edgewood, settled
1-16 in the 1840s, boasts the Edgewood Heritage Park Museum, a facility
1-17 dedicated to the preservation of rural cultural and architectural
1-18 history; and
1-19 WHEREAS, Edom, established in 1856, is one of the oldest
1-20 towns in the county, and its past is highlighted by 10 state
1-21 historical markers, many of them researched by members of the Edom
1-22 Historical Society; the residents of this small community also give
1-23 hearty support to an active civic theater; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Fruit cultivation prompted the naming of Fruitvale,
2-1 where a nursery operated as early as the 1870s; several generations
2-2 in this century-old town have treasured the Randall Store, a local
2-3 institution since 1910; and
2-4 WHEREAS, Grand Saline, originally called Jordan's Saline and
2-5 the first Van Zandt County seat, takes its name from an immense
2-6 dome of salt lying beneath the city; about a mile and a half wide
2-7 and 16,000 feet thick, the deposit is presently mined by Morton
2-8 Salt; those exploring the town can tour the Grand Saline
2-9 Museum/Salt Palace, a structure built with salt blocks, stop by the
2-10 historical marker that commemorates native son Wiley Post, the
2-11 renowned aviator, and visit the new Veterans Memorial Wall; and
2-12 WHEREAS, The town of Van, established in 1891, remained a
2-13 quiet farming community until 1929, when the discovery of oil
2-14 nearby transformed the village into a boomtown; the Van Area Oil
2-15 and Historical Museum recaptures the excitement of that frenetic
2-16 time; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Wills Point, settled in 1873 and originally known as
2-18 Iola, was renamed for William Wills, whose cabin served as a
2-19 stopping place for those traveling between Shreveport and Dallas;
2-20 the Wills cabin still stands, as does the Texas and Pacific depot,
2-21 which houses the Historical Society Museum; Wills Point, which
2-22 calls itself the Bluebird Capital of Texas, hosts the annual
2-23 Bluebird Festival; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Other major events in the county include the East
2-25 Texas State Fair, the Texas State Bluegrass Festival, and the Van
2-26 Zandt County Relay for Life; for the outdoor enthusiast, the Neches
2-27 and Sabine rivers, Purtis Creek State Park, and Lake Tawakoni offer
3-1 wonderful opportunities for fishing, boating, and camping; and
3-2 WHEREAS, The home of nearly 45,000 people, Van Zandt County
3-3 relies on oil, tourism, and agribusiness; the area is a major
3-4 producer of hay, blueberries, sweet potatoes, and nursery crops, in
3-5 addition to cattle, hogs, and dairy products; and
3-6 WHEREAS, Present with us today in the Capitol are numerous
3-7 residents of Van Zandt County, including the Van Zandt County
3-8 Choir, city and county officials, and members of Vision 2002; also
3-9 in attendance are members of the Council of Van Zandt County
3-10 Communities, which sponsors the biennial visit to the state
3-11 legislature, an occasion for focusing on legislation affecting Van
3-12 Zandt County citizens; and
3-13 WHEREAS, The citizens of Van Zandt County take justifiable
3-14 pride in the hard work and ready cooperation that have made their
3-15 county an important part of this state, and it is a pleasure to
3-16 join them in honoring the county they are proud to call home; now,
3-17 therefore, be it
3-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-19 Legislature hereby recognize March 13, 2001, as Van Zandt County
3-20 Day at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the
3-21 visiting delegation for an informative and memorable day.