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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On May 7, 2011, current and former residents of the |
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Doans community in Wilbarger County are gathering for the 128th |
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annual Doans May Day Picnic in Vernon; and |
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WHEREAS, Considered the oldest ongoing historical |
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celebration in Texas, the event traces its history back to a simple |
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picnic on May 1, 1884, which was enjoyed by a half-dozen people in a |
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grove of trees near the Red River; and |
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WHEREAS, Starting a tradition that continues today, a queen |
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was crowned at the 1911 festivities, which included carnivals, |
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rodeos, airplane rides, barbecues, storytelling by early settlers, |
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and political speeches; stores closed so that employees could |
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attend, and later it became a two-day affair with Sunday morning |
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services; more than a century later, the highlight of this event |
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remains the coronation of a king and queen, and selected for this |
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honor in 2011 are King Dax Kieschnick, from the House of Kieschnick, |
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and Queen Madison Turman, from the House of Turman; and |
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WHEREAS, The first settlers in Wilbarger County were members |
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of the Doan family who arrived in 1878 and established a trading |
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post known as Doan's Store at a Red River crossing on the Great |
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Western Trail; the original adobe building, owned by Corwin Doan, |
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was renovated by the Wilbarger Historical Commission and is the |
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oldest structure in the county; and |
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WHEREAS, Nicknamed "the jumping off place" by trail drivers, |
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Doan's Crossing thrived as the last chance to buy supplies before |
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travelers entered Indian territory; the modest settlement grew to |
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include supply stores, a post office, a two-story hotel, a saloon, a |
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drug store, a wagon yard, a blacksmith, a restaurant, a school, a |
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chapel, and several homes; and |
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WHEREAS, Jonathan and Corwin Doan and their families were |
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Quakers who enhanced community relations by befriending local |
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Indians, learning their language, and establishing lifelong |
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friendships; Corwin Doan was appointed Indian agent and hosted |
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visits by Quanah Parker and other famous chiefs and their tribes; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Indians would trade only with the Doan family, |
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who also counted among their regular customers the trail drivers |
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who herded six million cattle past the trading post during the last |
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two decades of the 19th century; in 1931, a granite monument was |
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placed near Doan's Store in honor of those courageous trail |
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drivers; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Doans take justifiable pride in their |
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community and the immeasurable contributions its citizens have made |
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to the rich history and culture of the Lone Star State, and it is |
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indeed fitting that they be acknowledged at this time; now, |
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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 128th Doans May Day Picnic and |
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extend to all celebrants best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable |
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event. |