HR1150

LRB093 23063 HSS 53028 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to recognize milestone events 
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that occur in the State of Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that the Village of 
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Patoka is celebrating its sesquicentennial during the weekend 
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of September 3, 2004 through September 5, 2004; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Patoka is a small town in Southern Illinois with 
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an interesting history and a promising future; the number of 
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settlers in this area grew steadily due to the abundance of 
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rich farmland, and businesses began to thrive; some historians 
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indicate that this community was named in honor of an Illinois 
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Native American, Patoka, Chief of the Cahokias; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Village of Patoka was established on July 4, 
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1854 and officially laid out by Brigham and James Clark; within 
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a year, C.F. Jones made an addition to the territory with the 
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building of the Illinois Central Railroad; shortly after the 
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building of the railroad, Cyrus Walker built the first home and 
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started the first store in Patoka, as well as handling the 
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duties of station agent; in 1856, Mr. Walker  built the first 
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business house and was also the town's first postmaster; other 
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businesses that came to town were a produce store, a blacksmith 
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shop, and a gristmill; during the late 1800s, farmers depended 
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on tomatoes as a main crop, and they would bring their harvest 
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to the town cannery for processing; the Patoka Register, a 
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weekly newspaper was started around 1906; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Churches were a vital part of the early life of 
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Patoka; there were six churches originally established and four 
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of the congregations are still active today; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1921, all-weather roads came to Patoka with the 
 


 






HR1150
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LRB093 23063 HSS 53028 r




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building of Highway 51; in 1936, the first oil well was 
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drilled, and this marked the beginning of the oil boom; and

 
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    WHEREAS, At one time, there were 11 one-room school houses 
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in the area; the schools were consolidated into a schoolhouse 
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in Patoka, which was later replaced by a brick schoolhouse 
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after fire destroyed it; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Today, the population of Patoka is approximately 
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633; the residents are celebrating the 150th anniversary of 
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Patoka at the Fall Festival in September; the Festival will 
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include music, fireworks, a parade, a Patoka History Museum 
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display, food, crafts, bingo, a cake walk, an antique tractor 
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display, water wars, a pedal pull, a petting zoo, jumps, a rock 
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climbing wall, pony rides, face painting, sand volleyball, the 
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Terrapin Hill Muzzleloaders, a history presentation, and a 
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veteran's memorial; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the Village of Patoka on the distinction of 
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reaching its sesquicentennial; and be it further

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