78R10777 MMS-D

By:  Gattis                                                       H.R. No. 739



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Citizens of Weir are gathering on April 26, 2003, to 
celebrate the centennial of this proud Williamson County community; 
and
	WHEREAS, Situated a few miles northeast of Georgetown, the 
county seat, Weir was named for Thomas Calvin Weir, a native of 
Tennessee who settled in Williamson County in 1856; the rural 
community that developed in the vicinity of Mr. Weir's farm had a 
close neighbor in the settlement of Towns' Mill, also known as 
Townsville, located on the east bank of the San Gabriel River; and
	WHEREAS, In 1893 the Georgetown and Granger Railroad built 
through Weir and bypassed Towns' Mill, sealing the fate of the 
latter community; Weir was formally established on or about April 
27, 1903, around the time the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad 
purchased the Georgetown and Granger line; that same year the 
Towns' Mill post office moved to Weir, along with most of the Towns' 
Mill residents; and
	WHEREAS, Businesses in Weir soon included a blacksmith shop, 
a lumberyard, a bank, a theater, grocery and drug stores, four 
mercantile stores, and two telephone companies; in addition, 
tourists came to enjoy the Katy Lake Resort, which had been 
developed by the railroad at the site of the Towns' Mill dam; and
	WHEREAS, A flood in 1913, which damaged the resort, railroad 
bridge, and several businesses, was the first of several events to 
batter the town's prosperity; a drought, World War I, and the Great 
Depression all took a toll, but by the mid-20th century the 
community began to recover; the town incorporated in 1987, and 
between 1990 and 2000 its population more than doubled, rising to 
591; and
	WHEREAS, The cohesive spirit of Weir's citizens, old and new, 
is readily apparent; the town's calendar is punctuated by several 
annual festivities--the fish fry in April, street dance in 
September, and parade at Christmas--that draw residents together 
for fun and fellowship; and
	WHEREAS, Weir's 100th anniversary is being commemorated with 
a full day of events, including a parade, barbecue fund-raiser for 
the volunteer fire department, arts and craft show, entertainment, 
street dance, and the dedication of a historical marker; and
	WHEREAS, The residents of Weir are preserving their heritage 
while devoting themselves to building an ever brighter future, and 
it is indeed a pleasure to join in recognizing this joyous milestone 
in their history; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate the citizens of Weir on the 
occasion of their town's 100th anniversary and extend to them 
sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable celebration.