TITLE: Recognizing May 3, 2017, as Moonlight Tower Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing May 3, 2017, as Moonlight Tower Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Austin are celebrating one of the city's distinctive features on May 3, 2017, with the observance of Moonlight Tower Day; and WHEREAS, In the late 19th century, various designs of electrical moonlight towers were erected in cities across the globe, including Detroit, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London; Austin civic leaders, looking to light the city's streets with power from the newly completed Great Granite Dam, contracted with the Fort Wayne Electric Company to construct moonlight towers around the city; and WHEREAS, The company built 31 towers in 1894 and 1895, all 165 feet tall with six carbon arc lamps mounted at the top; each tower was guaranteed to provide enough light to read a watch within a 1,500-foot radius of the structure; the first tower was assembled in the newly established Hyde Park subdivision, and the others were strategically placed to illuminate as much of the city as possible; and WHEREAS, Through the years, nearly half of the towers have been lost to storms, accidents, and development, but 17 of them continue to stand and to provide the city with light; officially designated as state archaeological landmarks in 1970 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, they were prominently featured in the popular film Dazed and Confused,and one of the structures serves as the pivotal center of the annual Zilker Holiday Tree; and WHEREAS, In commemoration of the centennial of the installation of the towers, Austin Energy, the municipal electric utility company, thoroughly restored the remaining towers in 1993 at a cost of $1.3 million; with extraordinary care and expertise, the company continues to keep the structures fully operational, adding to the unique spirit of the city; and WHEREAS, Today, Austin is the only city in the world to feature moonlight towers, which provide a vital link to the rich history of the community, and it is truly fitting that a day be set aside to pay tribute to these iconic local landmarks; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize May 3, 2017, as Moonlight Tower Day and encourage residents in Austin and across the Lone Star State to celebrate this unique element of the Capital City. Howard Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1183 was adopted by the House on April 6, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House