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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Poteet are coming together on |
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April 9, 2011, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the |
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establishment of their community; and |
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WHEREAS, This area of the South Texas plains was first |
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settled in the 1880s, when Francis Marion Poteet established a |
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blacksmith shop and post office near the current site of the town; |
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by 1892, the community had acquired a cotton gin, a gristmill, and a |
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wagon maker; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1896, Henry T. Mumme arrived and opened a general |
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store, taking over for Mr. Poteet as postmaster; Mr. Mumme found |
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artesian wells in the area in 1904, and the discovery of a ready |
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source of water made the region more attractive for farmers; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1910, Mr. Mumme and his wife, Ida, donated land |
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for a railway line and land for a townsite near the railroad, three |
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miles from the original settlement; in 1911, Mr. Mumme moved his |
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store to that location, and the town of Poteet was born; and |
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WHEREAS, During that period, Mr. Mumme began to grow |
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strawberries, which soon became the town's signature crop; other |
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farmers started to grow peanuts, onions, and watermelons, and the |
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town became a commercial center for agriculture in the area; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Poteet is regarded by many as "The Strawberry |
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Capital of Texas," producing 40 percent of the state's |
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strawberries, which are renowned for their superior quality; |
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ranching and the farming of peanuts, hay, and forage grains also |
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continue to be important to the town's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike delight in the |
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Strawberry Festival held each April; one of the largest |
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agricultural festivals in the state, the celebration features a |
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strawberry competition, a food show, a parade, fireworks, and |
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performances by country music and Tejano stars; other popular |
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attractions include the seven-foot-tall, 1,600 pound concrete |
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strawberry outside the Poteet Volunteer Fire Department and the |
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mosaic of Poteet Canyon, a character from the Steve Canyon comic |
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strip who was named after the town; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their colorful past as they work to |
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build a bright future, the citizens of Poteet may indeed take great |
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pride in their community on this special day; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the |
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founding of Poteet and extend to the town's officials, residents, |
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and guests sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful |
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celebration. |