HR1150 LRB093 23063 HSS 53028 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to recognize milestone events
4 that occur in the State of Illinois; and
 
5     WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that the Village of
6 Patoka is celebrating its sesquicentennial during the weekend
7 of September 3, 2004 through September 5, 2004; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Patoka is a small town in Southern Illinois with
9 an interesting history and a promising future; the number of
10 settlers in this area grew steadily due to the abundance of
11 rich farmland, and businesses began to thrive; some historians
12 indicate that this community was named in honor of an Illinois
13 Native American, Patoka, Chief of the Cahokias; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The Village of Patoka was established on July 4,
15 1854 and officially laid out by Brigham and James Clark; within
16 a year, C.F. Jones made an addition to the territory with the
17 building of the Illinois Central Railroad; shortly after the
18 building of the railroad, Cyrus Walker built the first home and
19 started the first store in Patoka, as well as handling the
20 duties of station agent; in 1856, Mr. Walker built the first
21 business house and was also the town's first postmaster; other
22 businesses that came to town were a produce store, a blacksmith
23 shop, and a gristmill; during the late 1800s, farmers depended
24 on tomatoes as a main crop, and they would bring their harvest
25 to the town cannery for processing; the Patoka Register, a
26 weekly newspaper was started around 1906; and
 
27     WHEREAS, Churches were a vital part of the early life of
28 Patoka; there were six churches originally established and four
29 of the congregations are still active today; and
 
30     WHEREAS, In 1921, all-weather roads came to Patoka with the

 

 

HR1150 - 2 - LRB093 23063 HSS 53028 r

1 building of Highway 51; in 1936, the first oil well was
2 drilled, and this marked the beginning of the oil boom; and
 
3     WHEREAS, At one time, there were 11 one-room school houses
4 in the area; the schools were consolidated into a schoolhouse
5 in Patoka, which was later replaced by a brick schoolhouse
6 after fire destroyed it; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Today, the population of Patoka is approximately
8 633; the residents are celebrating the 150th anniversary of
9 Patoka at the Fall Festival in September; the Festival will
10 include music, fireworks, a parade, a Patoka History Museum
11 display, food, crafts, bingo, a cake walk, an antique tractor
12 display, water wars, a pedal pull, a petting zoo, jumps, a rock
13 climbing wall, pony rides, face painting, sand volleyball, the
14 Terrapin Hill Muzzleloaders, a history presentation, and a
15 veteran's memorial; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
18 congratulate the Village of Patoka on the distinction of
19 reaching its sesquicentennial; and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 presented to the Village of Patoka as an expression of our
22 respect and esteem.