|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, The Van Zandt County Historical Commission and the |
|
citizens of Van are celebrating the dedication of a Texas |
|
Historical Marker honoring Van Common School on May 21, 2011; and |
|
WHEREAS, Van Common School opened in 1916 with 95 students |
|
and 4 teachers; the school was formed from the consolidation of |
|
Swindall and Spring Hill Schools; during its construction, |
|
community members pitched in to haul 114 wagonloads of building |
|
materials to Van from Grand Saline in order to keep down costs; and |
|
WHEREAS, In May 1928, the school was destroyed by a fire; the |
|
school district was able to quickly secure the funds to rebuild the |
|
school through its insurance payout and the issuance of school |
|
bonds; Van Common School reopened on its original site in time for |
|
the 1928-1929 school year; and |
|
WHEREAS, The school began the 1929-1930 academic year with 90 |
|
students; in October 1929, oil was discovered within a mile of the |
|
school, leading to a population boom that transformed Van from a |
|
small farming community into a bustling town in a matter of weeks; |
|
the forward-thinking school board and school administrators |
|
anticipated that they would need to prepare for rapid growth in the |
|
school district, and they worked to secure funding for a new high |
|
school and elementary school, which both opened in the fall of 1931; |
|
the district also had to contend with the disruptions caused by oil |
|
drilling operations taking place within 500 feet of the school, |
|
which led to classes being moved to a temporary site a short |
|
distance away; and |
|
WHEREAS, Van Common School played an integral role in the |
|
life of Van, and recognition by the Texas Historical Commission |
|
ensures that the school's noteworthy history will be preserved for |
|
future generations; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of a Texas Historical |
|
Marker at Van Common School and that all those involved in securing |
|
the historical marker be extended sincere appreciation; and, be it |
|
further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for the Van Zandt County Historical Commission as an |
|
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
|
|
Flynn |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1374 was adopted by the House on April |
|
28, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|