HR1314 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1314 LRB093 24216 HSS 54420 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Hoskins Building Center was founded in Apple River in 1854 as Wm. Hoskins & Company and is currently one of the three oldest Jo Daviess County businesses; and

WHEREAS, Wm. Hoskins immigrated to Jo Daviess County from Cornwall, England in 1847, and in 1849, he was one of many who traveled to California to seek his fortune in the Gold Rush; his western adventure was successful and he returned as a wealthy man to Jo Daviess County to start his business; and

WHEREAS, In 1888, Mr. Hoskins established the Elizabeth lumberyard and went on to purchase a yard in Galena in 1897; at that time, he opened another yard in Cuba City, Wisconsin, that was disposed of in 1927; around 1941, the Galena yard was sold off and all that remained was the Elizabeth yard; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Elizabeth business changed hands and incorporated on July 23, 1960; in 1971, the Galena Lumber Company purchased the business and operated the yard until 1974, when Vincent E. Toepfer purchased its stock; and

WHEREAS, On July 26, 2002, after working at Hoskins Lumber Company since 1989, Eric Wheelwright and his wife, Pam, purchased Hoskins Lumber Company and officially renamed the business as Hoskins Building Center; and

WHEREAS, The business has grown significantly over the past two years, with four full-time workers and a part-time bookkeeper; the company's commitment to quality is witnessed by a long list of loyal contractors who deal with the business; while the Center's main trade area is Jo Daviess County, the company has provided material for projects in Dubuque, Madison, and Chicago; the organization's extensive delivery service boasts three delivery drivers and four delivery trucks, including one crane boom truck that has the capability of hoisting material to multiple floors; and

WHEREAS, The Wheelwrights are active supporters of community organizations and projects; they are enthusiastic about continuing that support and are committed to quality as their business enters its 151st year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Hoskins Building Center in Jo Daviess County on the occasion of its sesquicentennial, and we salute the business for its rich history and tradition of quality in Jo Daviess County; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Hoskins Building Center as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for its continued success.