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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The history of the Village of South Chicago
3 Heights dates back to the spring of 1833, when Adam Brown and
4 his family stopped their wagon at the crossing of the Old Sauk
5 Trail and the Chicago-Vincennes Road (today known as Brown's
6 Corner), becoming the first permanent settlers to arrive from
7 Elkhart, Indiana; Brown was the first purchaser of land in the
8 south suburban area, then known as Thornton precinct, under the
9 federal pre-emption act of 1833; and
 
10     WHEREAS, On September 8, 1838, Adam Brown purchased 480
11 acres of land in what is now Bloom Township; the land purchased
12 was the area of the intersection of Vincennes Road, now Chicago
13 Road or Dixie Highway, and the old Sauk Trail; his farm
14 occupied all four corners, which were at the time the only
15 crossroads of the nation; Brown's Corner played an important
16 role in the development of the State of Illinois; many pioneers
17 and travelers passed through the intersection, which was mainly
18 a meeting and stopping place, as they traveled on their way to
19 other parts of Illinois; local traditions suggest that Brown's
20 Corner was a stop on the underground railroad; Brown's Corner
21 continues to serve the traveling public; and
 
22     WHEREAS, On March 20, 1907, civic minded citizens from the
23 Hannah and Keeney subdivisions of Chicago Heights voted to

 

 

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1 incorporate as a Village, and on May 7, 2007 adopted the
2 trustee form of government at a public meeting held at the
3 Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad passenger station,
4 formerly located at 29th Street; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The first Village Hall was built in 1908 at 2835
6 Jackson Avenue; the Village of South Chicago Heights held its
7 first election in 1908, with a total of 82 votes cast; and the
8 volunteer fire department was organized in 1909; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Today the Village of South Chicago Heights
10 provides many services to its residents; from fire and police
11 protection, to water and sanitary services, the families in the
12 community receive outstanding services while paying low taxes;
13 currently, there are hundreds of existing businesses within the
14 Village, and it is continually attracting new commercial
15 enterprises to the community; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The Village of South Chicago Heights has grown
17 through its commitment to serving the people through solid
18 fiscal management under good government; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The Village recently built a new picnic pavilion
20 located near the Senior Citizens Center, providing outdoor
21 activities and programs; the Village provides a courtesy van
22 transportation service; in the year 2000 the Village began

 

 

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1 acquiring Lake Michigan water; and
 
2     WHEREAS, According to the 2000 census, the Village has a
3 population of 3,970 residents; the 100th anniversary of the
4 Village of South Chicago Heights is being celebrated this year
5 by Village President David L Owen, Trustees Tony Capua, Patrick
6 J. DeFiore, Araceli "Sally" Marrufo, Terry L. Matthews, John M.
7 Ross, and Michael J. Tilton; therefore, be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 congratulate the people and government of the Village of South
11 Chicago Heights on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the
12 Village; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to Village President David L. Owen as a symbol of our
15 respect.