TITLE: Recognizing March 4, 2013, as Hempstead Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 4, 2013, as Hempstead Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Hempstead are gathering in Austin to celebrate Hempstead Day at the State Capitol on March 4, 2013; and WHEREAS, On December 29, 1856, Dr. Richard Rodgers Peebles and James W. McDade created the Hempstead Town Company to sell lots at the terminus of the planned Houston and Texas Central Railway; named after Dr. Peebles's brother-in-law, Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, the town was incorporated in 1858; and WHEREAS, Hempstead soon became a junction point for two railroads, which increased its importance as a distribution center; during the Civil War, the town was home to a Confederate hospital and a military supply center; Hempstead became the Waller County seat in 1873, and during a tumultuous period around the turn of the 20th century, the town earned the nickname "Six-Shooter Junction"; and WHEREAS, The city's economy originally depended on cotton, but in the 1900s, produce shipping and truck hauling became more important; for a time up until the 1940s, Hempstead was known as the largest shipper of watermelons in the United States; today it continues to be an agribusiness and manufacturing center, and it still ships watermelons across the nation during peak season; and WHEREAS, Hempstead continues to grow, thanks to its proximity to Houston and its favorable location at the intersection of Highway 290 and Highway 6; opportunities for higher education are afforded by Blinn College and by such nearby institutions as Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University; and WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike delight in touring the picturesque Liendo Plantation, which was home to Texas sculptor Elisabet Ney from 1873 to 1911; the city's annual Watermelon Festival, sponsored by the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, features a barbecue cook-off, a quilt exhibition, a car and tractor show, and musical performances, while every winter the Hempstead Festival of Lights, also staged by the chamber, creates a festive mood with food and craft booths on the square and a lighted parade; and WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich history as they work to build a bright future, the people of Hempstead may indeed take great pride in the unique place their city holds in the history of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 4, 2013, as Hempstead Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. Bell Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 693 was adopted by the House on March 4, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House