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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In 2009 proud residents of Magnolia Park are |
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celebrating the centennial of this neighborhood, one of the first |
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Mexican American communities in Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Magnolia Park traces its history back to 1890 when |
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John Thomas Brady developed a popular park dotted with thousands of |
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magnolia trees on approximately 1,300 acres along the Houston Ship |
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Channel; as the area grew increasingly industrialized, the Brady |
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family decided to sell the property for residential development, |
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and the Magnolia Park Land Company was chartered in January 1909; |
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four years later, the city of Magnolia Park was incorporated, its |
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two square miles bordered on the north and east by Buffalo Bayou and |
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the ship channel, on the south by Brays Bayou, and on the west by |
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rail lines; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in |
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1910, a wave of refugees from that country came to Texas; many who |
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made their way to Houston found employment connected to the |
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shipping industry and settled in Magnolia Park; these residents |
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developed a vibrant cultural life in clubs, schools, theatrical |
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troupes, sports and fraternal associations, and churches, most |
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notably Immaculate Conception, established in 1911, and Immaculate |
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Heart of Mary, founded in 1925; the Mexican Chamber of Commerce |
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prospered and the noteworthy Sociedad Mutualista Benito Juarez |
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provided mutual aid and a hall for social functions; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1926, Magnolia Park was annexed by the City of |
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Houston; the community continued to retain its ethnic character, |
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and by 1930, residents had established a private school, the |
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Escuela Mexicana Hidalgo, to preserve their heritage; such groups |
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as Club Femenino-Chapultepec provided recreation, promoted Mexican |
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American culture, and protested segregation, while Houston's first |
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branch of the League of United Latin American Citizens was |
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organized here in 1934; longtime landmarks and institutions still |
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enduring today include Hidalgo Park, which has served as a venue for |
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many Hispanic community events and festivals since 1927, and |
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American Legion Post No. 472, chartered in 1928, whose social |
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programs have included dances, concerts, and other functions; and |
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WHEREAS, With its strong sense of history and community, |
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Magnolia Park is one of the most distinctive neighborhoods in |
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Houston, and its residents have long contributed to the prosperity |
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and cultural vitality of the Bayou City; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of Magnolia Park and |
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extend to its residents sincere best wishes for a memorable |
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celebration; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association |
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as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |
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Hernandez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2988 was adopted by the House on June |
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1, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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