HR0413 LRB094 12246 CSA 45918 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The City of Girard marks its 150th anniversary in
3 2005; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The Sesquicentennial celebration will be held
5 July 27-31, 2005; many events are planned for these five days,
6 such as a carnival, fireworks, games, entertainment, parade,
7 Miss Girard Pageant, contests, historical exhibit, food
8 stands, and souvenirs; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Girard, a site of Black Hawk's hunting ground, was
10 a fertile spot on "The Grand Prairie"; this prairie became
11 known as Macoupin County in the year 1829; a few peaceful
12 Indians were still enjoying life in their village on the
13 current site of Oak Leaf Country Club near Girard; these
14 Indians declared to the first settlers that this was a spot
15 favored by the "Great Spirit", for here "no cyclone would ever
16 blow"; and
 
17     WHEREAS, An enterprising Frenchman by the name of Girard
18 built a sawmill on the timbered banks of the stream, which was
19 soon to be called Mill Creek, west of the entrance to the
20 Country Club; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Following an old Indian trail, John Henderson
22 settled about one and one-half miles north of the present site
23 of Girard, and established a stage coach stop; this line later
24 became State Route 4 in 1921; during the years 1926 to 1930,
25 this highway served as part of U.S. Historic Route 66; and
 
26     WHEREAS, Early efforts were made to establish a town at
27 Girard's mill before 1834; then, in 1834, two of the settlers,
28 Dr. Edwards and Colonel George Mather, made a second effort to
29 form the town; in the spring of 1853, Barnabas Boggess and
30 Charles H. Fink laid out a town site "at right angles to the

 

 

HR0413 - 2 - LRB094 12246 CSA 45918 r

1 world"; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Thomas Lewis and John Way made the first addition
3 in 1855 on the town's south side; this section has always
4 carried the nickname "Waytown"; the town was incorporated in
5 1855; and
 
6     WHEREAS, As the years passed, the city grew with the
7 development of fine businesses, good schools, many churches,
8 railroads, farming, coal mining, and recreational
9 opportunities; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12 we recognize the Sesquicentennial of the City of Girard and
13 encourage former and current citizens of Girard and the
14 surrounding communities to join in celebrating this important
15 anniversary; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the City of Girard as an expression of our esteem
18 and best wishes for Girard's successful five-day celebration.