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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, 2019, 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, In 1821, settlers recruited by Stephen F. Austin |
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began to homestead this region of rolling hills just west of the |
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Brazos River; during the Texas Revolution, the ferry crossing known |
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as Washington-on-the-Brazos became the headquarters of General Sam |
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Houston and the site of the Convention of 1836, which declared the |
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independence of Texas; the town was the capital of the new republic |
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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; the county's prospects were |
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improved by the thousands of immigrants from Germany and Poland who |
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arrived during the 1860s and 1870s, and its economy was further |
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spurred by the arrival of the railroad in 1880; in those years, |
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cotton, corn, and poultry were the region's mainstays; and |
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WHEREAS, The area played an important role in the history of |
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higher education in Texas; Baylor University was founded in the |
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county in 1846, and in 1855 Soule University was founded in Chappell |
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Hill; today, Blinn College in Brenham carries on the 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 and a Masonic |
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cemetery with descendants of William B. Travis and is the site of |
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the "Official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas," which is held each |
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year in April; and |
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WHEREAS, Other popular attractions include the recreation |
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opportunities of Lake Somerville, 4 wineries, over 40 bed and |
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breakfast lodging properties, the 8 acres of rose and herb gardens |
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at the Antique Rose Emporium, the county's scenic country roads |
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where wildflowers bloom in profusion, Unity Theatre, the Barnhill |
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Center, the 4 Star Concert Hall in Brenham's downtown district, and |
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Blue Bell Creameries, where one of the nation's best-selling brands |
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of ice cream is made; and |
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WHEREAS, Honoring their rich history as they continue to |
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build 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 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 26, 2019, 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. |
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Leman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 207 was adopted by the House on |
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February 26, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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