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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Washington County are gathering |
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in Austin on February 26, 2013, to celebrate the unique role their |
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county has played in the history and ongoing development of the Lone |
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Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, This region of rolling prairie lies just west of the |
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Brazos River and remained unsettled until 1821, when members of |
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Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred began to homestead the area; |
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during the Texas Revolution, the ferry crossing known as |
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Washington-on-the-Brazos became the headquarters of General Sam |
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Houston and the site of the Convention of 1836, when 59 delegates |
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from throughout the region declared the independence of Texas and |
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drafted its constitution; the town of Washington was the capital of |
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the new republic from 1842 to 1845; and |
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WHEREAS, Washington County was organized in 1837, and Brenham |
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became the county seat in 1844; higher education was important in |
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the area even in those early days; Baylor University was founded in |
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the county in 1846 and Soule University was founded in Chappell Hill |
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in 1855; today, Blinn College in Brenham carries on this proud |
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tradition; and |
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WHEREAS, Washington County's central role in the history of |
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Texas draws visitors from across the state and nation; the Star of |
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the Republic Museum, Independence Hall, and the Barrington Living |
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History Farm at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site |
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vividly evoke the years of the Texas Republic; the Chappell Hill |
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Historic District includes a historical museum, a folk art |
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collection, a Masonic cemetery where descendants of William |
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B. Travis are buried, and the site of the "Official Bluebonnet |
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Festival of Texas" each year in April; the building housing the |
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Brenham Heritage Museum is also a venerable landmark and is listed |
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on the National Register of Historic Places; and |
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WHEREAS, Other popular attractions include the recreational |
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opportunities of Lake Somerville, three wineries, more than 40 bed |
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and breakfast lodging properties, the Antique Rose Emporium's |
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eight-acre rose and herb garden, and scenic country roads where |
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wildflowers bloom in profusion; every year, thousands of people |
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take the tour of Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, where one of the |
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nation's best-selling brands of ice cream is made; visitors to the |
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county seat can also walk through the downtown historic district, |
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which features vintage stone storefronts, a host of shops and |
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eateries, and the plays and musical productions at Unity Theatre; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Honoring their rich history as they continue to work |
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on building an even brighter future, the residents of Brenham and |
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Washington County have many reasons to be proud of the place they |
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call home; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 26, 2013, as Washington |
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County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting |
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delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable stay |
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in Austin. |