HR0558 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0558 LRB098 13511 MST 48034 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Mayor Jackie D. "Butch" Mathus, Jr. and the City of Wamac on the occasion of the city's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, On July 5, 1913 a special election was held to incorporate Wamac into a city, which was previously recognized as a village; and

WHEREAS, Many of the original residents of Wamac were Italian, and some of the same families are still living in Wamac today, a testament to how well-liked the city is by its residents; and

WHEREAS, Wamac was named by A.P. Bindham, who derived the name from the counties that mark the city's boundaries; "WA" comes from Washington County, "MA" comes from Marion County, and "C" comes from Clinton County; and

WHEREAS, The first mayor elected to serve the city of Wamac was C.A. Campbell; and

WHEREAS, At the 2010 census, the population of Wamac was 1,185 people; and

WHEREAS, This year, an open house was held at Wamac City Hall on July 5, and the "Wamac Fest" will be held on September 21, 2013 in celebration of the city's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Wamac is known for being the site of the Number 5 Coal Mine disaster; on March 25, 1947 at 3:26 p.m., an explosion occurred in the mine; 142 coal miners were working at the time, 8 of them were rescued and 23 escaped, leaving 111 miners dead; a memorial in Wamac City Park is dedicated to the miners who lost their lives in the disaster so that they may always be remembered; and

WHEREAS, Wamac is the home of the first female voter in Illinois, O.W. Coleman, who voted in an Illinois special election on July 5, 1913, which incorporated Wamac as a city; and

WHEREAS, Wamac was originally founded due to its excellent location - its proximity to railroad, oil, and liquor stores in an otherwise dry area made it an ideal place to settle down; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the City of Wamac on its 100th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mayor Mathus and the City of Wamac as a symbol of our respect and esteem.