HR0745 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0745 LRB103 40531 ECR 73033 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Village of Stewardson on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson, located on Route 32 in the southeastern part of Shelby County, was founded on September 30, 1874; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson's namesake, William Stewardson Jr., was born to William and Mary Nicholson Stewardson in Westmoreland County, England on February 24, 1828; he came to Shelby County in 1845; he married Nancy Douthit in 1851, and they relocated to Richland and Prairie Township soon after; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson was plotted by the surveyor of Shelby County on January 10, 1874, and it was incorporated as a village on September 30, 1874; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson's 150-year history includes a number of important events, such as the establishment of the Enterprise, the first village newspaper, in 1878, the building of an opera hall in 1893, the completion of the Hoffman Block Building in 1909, the vote for the village to be a dry community in 1910 which was later appealed in 2013, the consolidation of Stewardson-Strasburg and the opening of a new high school north of town along Route 32 in 1951, the placement of street signs at intersections in 1969, the opening of a new series station and convenience store in 2000, and the opening of a Dollar General in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson's school system was consolidated in 1949, with its first class graduating from the new high school in 1951; the Stewardson Grade School was built adjoined to the high school in 1967; the old Stewardson Grade School building was then sold to the village to become the civic center in 1970, and the structure was demolished in 1980; the school system added an every-day kindergarten in 1988, a prekindergarten in 1995, and a new junior wing in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Today, Stewardson is home to over 20 businesses, three churches, the Stewardson Fire and Ambulance District, a new Stewardson Community Center, and a new American Legion Hall; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson is a standing example of the positive growth that can be found in a small community; its citizens show care and concern for one's family, neighbors, and community, and they also show continued dedication towards growth and a positive vision for the future; and

WHEREAS, Stewardson will celebrate its 150th anniversary from June 27 through June 30, 2024; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Village of Stewardson on its 150th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Village of Stewardson as an expression of our esteem and respect.