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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Van Zandt County Historical Commission and the |
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citizens of Van are celebrating the dedication of a Texas |
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Historical Marker honoring Van Common School on May 21, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Van Common School opened in 1916 with 95 students |
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and 4 teachers; the school was formed from the consolidation of |
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Swindall and Spring Hill Schools; during its construction, |
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community members pitched in to haul 114 wagonloads of building |
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materials to Van from Grand Saline in order to keep down costs; and |
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WHEREAS, In May 1928, the school was destroyed by a fire; the |
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school district was able to quickly secure the funds to rebuild the |
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school through its insurance payout and the issuance of school |
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bonds; Van Common School reopened on its original site in time for |
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the 1928-1929 school year; and |
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WHEREAS, The school began the 1929-1930 academic year with 90 |
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students; in October 1929, oil was discovered within a mile of the |
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school, leading to a population boom that transformed Van from a |
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small farming community into a bustling town in a matter of weeks; |
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the forward-thinking school board and school administrators |
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anticipated that they would need to prepare for rapid growth in the |
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school district, and they worked to secure funding for a new high |
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school and elementary school, which both opened in the fall of 1931; |
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the district also had to contend with the disruptions caused by oil |
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drilling operations taking place within 500 feet of the school, |
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which led to classes being moved to a temporary site a short |
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distance away; and |
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WHEREAS, Van Common School played an integral role in the |
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life of Van, and recognition by the Texas Historical Commission |
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ensures that the school's noteworthy history will be preserved for |
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future generations; 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 dedication of a Texas Historical |
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Marker at Van Common School and that all those involved in securing |
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the historical marker be extended sincere appreciation; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Van Zandt County Historical Commission as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Flynn |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1374 was adopted by the House on April |
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28, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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