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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Town markets were essential to the development of |
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Texas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, serving as important |
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hubs of economic activity for communities all across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, that tradition lives on at numerous events, |
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but one market in particular, the World Famous First Monday Trade |
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Days in Canton, is especially noteworthy, being widely recognized |
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as one of the oldest and largest events of its kind; and |
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WHEREAS, Canton's market traces its origins to the 1850s, |
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when a circuit judge began holding court in the town on the first |
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Monday of each month; the proceedings drew numerous people to town, |
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and they used that opportunity to trade produce, farm equipment, |
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and livestock with one another; as the gathering became well-known |
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throughout Van Zandt County and beyond, participants converged on |
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Canton to barter for all manner of goods, with dogs and horses being |
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part of many of the exchanges; as a result, the market acquired the |
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nicknames "Dog Monday" and "Hoss Monday"; and |
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WHEREAS, With the passing years, the market's farm-oriented |
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products gave way to items such as antiques, collectibles, |
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furniture, and crafts; originally held in the courthouse square, |
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the event had grown so large by the mid-1960s that it moved to a |
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six-acre area two blocks away; the number of market days held each |
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month also expanded, initially incorporating the preceding weekend |
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days and now taking place Thursday through Sunday in advance of the |
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first Monday; and |
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WHEREAS, The popularity and size of First Monday Trade Days |
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have continued to grow in recent decades; today, it encompasses |
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more than 7,000 indoor and outdoor vendor spaces spread over 500 |
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acres; as many as 400,000 people arrive for each monthly event, |
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transforming a small town of 3,600 permanent residents into a |
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sizeable city; and |
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WHEREAS, Those who make their way to the trade days find a |
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huge range of items for sale and also enjoy a shopping experience |
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that is in keeping with the historic character of the market; since |
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First Monday began 150 years ago, individuals have gathered in |
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Canton to take part in a personalized form of commerce where they |
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have the opportunity to spend time with vendors, artisans, and |
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fellow shoppers; the continuation of this time-honored tradition is |
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a fitting tribute to our state's commercial heritage, and it is |
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indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate Canton as the official Home of the World Famous |
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First Monday Trade Days. |