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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate the Lake Bracken Country 
4Club on the occasion of its 100th anniversary on October 23, 
52022; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, In 1920, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 
7(CB&Q) Railroad purchased 1,002 acres south of Galesburg for 
8the cost of $368,000 in order to build a lake to supply its 
9yards in Galesburg with water for steam locomotives and other 
10machines, equipment, and systems requiring large amounts of 
11water; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1921, Lake Bracken was formed with the damming 
13of Brush Creek, with a surface area of 172 acres; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Just two years later, the Knox County Country 
15Club approached CB&Q Railroad about the prospect of leasing 
16all 1,002 acres of the property to be used by the club; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The Knox County Country Club was incorporated on 
18October 23, 1922; a lease was signed between the Knox County 
19Country Club and CB&Q Railroad, with the latter maintaining 
20all rights to pump water, on December 28, 1923; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, In 1930, a nine-hole golf course was ready for 
2play, with the back nine holes becoming ready for golfers in 
31951; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, The Country Club Board changed the name from the 
5Knox County Country Club to the Lake Bracken Country Club in 
61947; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, In 1974, Bracken Holdings, Inc. was formed to 
8formally purchase the property from CB&Q Railroad, following 
9years of declining revenue for the railroad that led to a stark 
10increase in lease fees in 1965; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, In the last 50 years, the Lake Bracken Country 
12Club has added a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a 
13bathhouse; the club's current clubhouse was completed and 
14opened for business in 1988; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Outside of golf, the Lake Bracken Country Club 
16has a number of outdoor activities for recreation enthusiasts 
17to enjoy, including fishing, boating, ATV trails, hiking, a 
18playground, and sand volleyball courts; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, In July 2022, the Lake Bracken Country Club will 
20have a week-long celebration honoring that 100 years have 
21passed since the incorporation of the Knox County Country 
 
 
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1Club; therefore, be it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
3HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
4we congratulate the Lake Bracken Country Club on its 100th 
5anniversary; and be it further
  
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
7presented to the Lake Bracken Country Club and Bracken 
8Holdings, Inc. as an expression of our esteem and respect.