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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Dickinson are celebrating the grand |
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opening of the Historic Dickinson Railroad Center on the weekend of |
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April 27, 28, and 29, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, The Railroad Center is made up of two restored |
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historic railroad depots, the Dickinson depot and the League City |
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depot; and |
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WHEREAS, The original Dickinson depot was built in 1859 for |
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the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad, one of the earliest |
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railways in Texas and the first to reach the Texas Gulf Coast; after |
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the depot was destroyed by fire in 1900, it was rebuilt by Galveston |
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architect George B. Stowe, who designed the new depot's distinctive |
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redbrick mantle fireplace, double half-moon doors, and bay window; |
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thousands of visitors passed through this beautiful Victorian depot |
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over the years; and |
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WHEREAS, After the GH&H Railroad abandoned the Dickinson |
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depot, the Weed'N Wish Garden Club acquired the building in 1967 and |
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moved it to its present location; in 1968 the garden club acquired |
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the League City depot as well and moved it to the new site; and |
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WHEREAS, For the next 30 years, the garden club maintained |
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the two depots as a community event center and museum; in 1997 the |
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two buildings were deeded to the city of Dickinson; and |
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WHEREAS, The Dickinson Historical Society was formed in 2000 |
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and took over the responsibility for funding and renovating the |
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depots; with assistance from the City of Dickinson, the Dickinson |
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Economic Development Corporation, the Texas Department of |
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Transportation, the Texas Historical Commission, and many other |
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contributors, the newly restored depots have become the basis of |
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the Historic Dickinson Railroad Center; and |
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WHEREAS, The new center incorporates community meeting |
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rooms, a visitor center, a museum, a gift shop, and a bicycle |
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rest-stop, as well as the offices for the Dickinson Historical |
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Society and the North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, The new Historic Dickinson Railroad Center |
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celebrates the rich history of Dickinson even as it serves as a |
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focus for the city's bright future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Dickinson Historical Society |
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on the grand opening of the Historic Dickinson Railroad Center and |
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extend best wishes to all involved with the center for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Dickinson Historical Society as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |