HR1109

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Maple Street 
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Chapel Preservation Society on the 140th anniversary of the 
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Maple Street Chapel; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Maple Street Chapel and the Village of Lombard 
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have been linked together for 140 years; the Village of Lombard 
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was incorporated in 1869 and the Maple Street Chapel, the most 
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visible, enduring, and recognizable architectural structure in 
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the Village of Lombard, was dedicated on May 29, 1870; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, This National Historic Landmark chapel has a 
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Gothic design and a rich heritage; it was built for $5,000 with 
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a bat and board exterior and a natural oak and hickory wainscot 
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interior with unique Calico-leaded glass windows; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The soaring spire of the Maple Street Chapel has 
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been a welcoming sign to people coming to visit the Village of 
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Lombard; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Chapel was the site of the first Village Hall 
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and the first free Public Library; the bell of the chapel 
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served as the fire alarm for many years; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Originally built as a central worship space for 
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the congregation of the First Church of Lombard, the Maple 
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Street Chapel is currently preferred for special worship 
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services, concerts, wedding, lectures, meetings, and other 
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special occasions; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Noted Lombard citizen Josiah T. Reade was the 
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founder of the first free library located in the chapel; it was 
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through his love of books and his willingness to share 
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knowledge and insight that the library was established, with 
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over 6,000 of his books as the core of the collection in the 
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new Public Library; and
 
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    WHEREAS, William Plum, another notable Lombard citizen, 
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donated lilacs from his garden, and today there are over 300 
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varieties of lilac in the eight-acre Lilacia Park; his land and 
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home were donated to Lombard and became the home of Lilacia 
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Park and a library; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, For more than 20 years, the Maple Street Chapel 
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Preservation Society, Inc., and its predecessor group have been 
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the stewards that have maintained this vital part of Lombard 
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history; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
 


 






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congratulate Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society as they 
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commemorate the 140th anniversary of the Maple Street Chapel; 
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and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society as a 
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symbol of our respect and esteem.