HR0482 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0482 LRB095 12297 GRL 37086 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The official celebration for the 125th anniversary of the founding of the village of Sims takes place on June 13-16, 2007; the village of Sims was established in 1882; and

WHEREAS, The village of Sims has a population of approximately 250-300 people; it is located in Wayne County; in 1812, Joseph White and two brothers, Thomas and George Waken, natives of northern England, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and traveled across many states until they reached a large and beautiful prairie in the State of Illinois; satisfied that this was the place to settle, they built their homes there; John, son of Joseph White, was the first child born in the township; the township was named Arrington, in honor of Charles Arrington, one of the earliest settlers who moved from Tennessee and resided there for about 20 years; and

WHEREAS, The village of Sims has had five names: Arrington, Arrington Station, Simms, Simms Station, and Sims, by which it is known today; John Simms had landed on the south side of the Louisville, Evansville, and St. Louis Railroad line, which was laid off by James Hilliard, County Surveyor in the summer of 1882; the original plot consisted of 12 acres; the Post Office was created at this point in 1882 and took the name Simms, which was later changed to Sims; as the village grew, it expanded both north and south of the original tract of land; Sims became a thriving village with three churches, a school, a blacksmith shop, two general stores, a five & dime store, Dr. Claire Dixon's office, Phillip's Shoe Cobbler, Bright's Mine Props, a bank, two barber shops, and many other industries and shops; during the summer months, a traveling skating rink would set up under a tent complete with a wooden floor, where young and old alike could roller skate for ten cents; and

WHEREAS, Thursday, March 11, 1915 was a dark day in the history of Sims, when foot men known as "Black Hatters" dynamited the General Baptist Church at the south end of the village; they desecrated the altar with animal remains; they were all convicted and sent to prison for their actions; the congregation continued holding services until 1995, when the new church building was erected; and

WHEREAS, Today, residents of Sims comprise all areas of the work force; factory workers, health care professionals, teachers, ministers of the Gospel, laborers, oil field workers, federal, State and village employees, farmers, railroad workers, self-employed business men and women, and retirees, among others; and

WHEREAS, Many members of the community have served or are serving in the military; the village has a very active Rebekah Lodge, with members who pulled together with the rest of the community during the April 2002 tornado that leveled homes and businesses just north of Sims along Route 15; despite the lack of electricity, they emptied freezers, refrigerators, and shelves to cook for and feed approximately 200 people two to three meals a day for almost two weeks during the clean-up; and

WHEREAS, The youth of Sims are involved in community service through Girl Scouts, helping with the Easter Egg Hunt with the Lodge, the Sims Celebration, and Sims Clean-up Days; the Sims School has been converted into a community center, which is available to have gatherings for families, the Sims Celebration, basketball games and other activities; and

WHEREAS, Direct descendents of John Simms reside in or own property in Sims; John Simms' son James married Martha Miller, whose brother gave some land to the Village where the General Baptist Church was built in 1905 and a new church was erected in 1995; and

WHEREAS, The people of Sims have suffered through hardships, wars, depression, tornadoes, and other disasters, but their resolve to continue on in spite of these setbacks makes this community special in their ability to pull together to pray for and support each other through their tough times; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the citizens of the village of Sims on celebrating the 125th anniversary of the village and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

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