1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 394
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the residents
 1-4     of Freestone County in declaring Wednesday, March 7, 2001, as
 1-5     Freestone County Day; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Located in East Central Texas, Freestone County was
 1-7     carved from Limestone County in 1850 and was named for the area's
 1-8     indigenous stone; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Freestone County was occupied by both Spanish and
1-10     French settlers, and there is evidence the area was once occupied
1-11     by the Caddoan Indians; and
1-12           WHEREAS, A county of rural charm and natural beauty,
1-13     Freestone County is a popular area for fishing, hunting, and
1-14     vacationing; the area is known for its rich farmland, clear springs,
1-15     and vast amounts of timber; the county's rolling terrain drains to
1-16     the Trinity River, which runs through its northeast quadrant; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Agriculture plays a major role in the county's
1-18     economy; commercial orchards consist of peaches and other fruits,
1-19     and pecans, melons, and vegetables are plentiful; cattle, hogs,
1-20     and horses are significant sources of income for area farmers and
1-21     ranchers; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, New development and population growth in the county
 2-2     have been managed with care in order to preserve natural habitats
 2-3     and the historical and pastoral ambience of the land and its famous
 2-4     agricultural fields; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Much of the county's rich history is evident today
 2-6     in three of its largest cities, Fairfield, Teague, and Wortham; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Fairfield is the county seat and was founded in
 2-8     1851; the city is home to the Freestone County Museum, the Antique
 2-9     Telephone Museum, and the county's turn-of-the-century courthouse;
2-10     Fairfield retains the charm of small-town America, and the five
2-11     nearby lakes provide ideal locations for water sports, camping, and
2-12     bird-watching; two major employers in the area are TXU Electric
2-13     Generating and TXU Mining Company; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Wortham is a historic Texas oil boomtown that
2-15     gradually turned into a farm and ranch community with a down-home
2-16     atmosphere; Wortham's Main Street remains largely unchanged since
2-17     the brick streets were laid in the 1940s; it is home to the
2-18     gravesite of blues legend "Blind" Lemon Jefferson and to three
2-19     churches built in the 1920s; local events include a Frontier Day,
2-20     which is held every spring; and
2-21           WHEREAS, The City of Teague traces its beginnings to the
2-22     farmers, cattlemen, and merchants who migrated to the area in the
2-23     1800s; cotton was the most productive crop in the early days and
2-24     was transported to markets across the state by railroad; the city
 3-1     is home today to the Burlington Rock Island Railroad Museum and to
 3-2     the old Teague Hotel, which was built in 1906; and
 3-3           WHEREAS, The residents of Freestone County are friendly and
 3-4     hospitable and have taken care to preserve the amenities of their
 3-5     county during urban growth and development, and they deserve to be
 3-6     proud of their efforts; now, therefore, be it
 3-7           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 3-8     77th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to the people of
 3-9     Freestone County for their contributions to our state and extend
3-10     best wishes to them for a celebratory Freestone County Day; and,
3-11     be it further
3-12           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
3-13     the residents of Freestone County as an expression of high regard
3-14     from the Texas Senate.
3-15                                                                   Ogden
3-16                                  ______________________________________
3-17                                          President of the Senate
3-18                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-19                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-20                                  on March 7, 2001.
3-21                                  ______________________________________
3-22                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-23                                  ______________________________________
3-24                                           Member, Texas Senate