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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the citizens of the
4 Village of Rock City on the occasion of the village's 150th
5 anniversary in 2009; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The origins of the Village of Rock City began with
7 George Raymer and the many immigrants settled on the land
8 surrounding the waters of the Rock Run Creek, giving birth to
9 numerous failed settlements such as Jamestown and Graball; in
10 1856, it became widely known that the Racine and Mississippi
11 Railroad was building a line through the territory; in
12 response, the owners of the land around Rock Run Creek formed
13 the village of Rock Run City, which was later renamed Rock
14 City; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Despite predictions of great growth for the
16 Village of Rock City in its early days, growth during the
17 village's first few decades was slow; however, the villagers
18 decided to reverse their fortunes through a program of robust
19 economic growth and construction; the village eventually
20 boasted 3 general stores, owned by John Graham, David Wilcoxin,
21 and Perry Duncan; and
 
22     WHEREAS, During the 1860s, the Village of Rock City was

 

 

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1 centered on the outbreak of the Civil War, with dozens of men
2 from Rock City and the entire Rock Run Township enlisted in the
3 Union Army; following the war, Rock City enjoyed great economic
4 success with the Graham grain elevator and livestock sales at
5 the Valentine House; by 1877, however, agricultural prices
6 began to fall, with many Rock City residents feeling the pinch;
7 undeterred by the slumping market, the citizens of the village
8 built a school in 1878 and a Methodist church in 1879; the
9 1880s and 1890s saw new periods of growth and prosperity for
10 the burgeoning village; and
 
11     WHEREAS, The coming of the 20th century saw great changes
12 for the residents of the Village of Rock City; between 1910 and
13 1920, the village joined the "gasoline age", with automobiles
14 racing down the streets of Rock City and a new auto repair shop
15 being opened; the village also opened a new bank; and
 
16     WHEREAS, On April 6, 1927, the Village of Rock City was
17 caught in a fire that started in the Moellenbrandt's machine
18 shed; the fire eventually destroyed the village's grain
19 elevator, coal yard, lumber shed, and electrical substation,
20 along with the Hufford Garage, the Moellenbrandt home, and
21 numerous other structures; the conflagration helped expedite
22 the establishment of the Rock City fire department; and
 
23     WHEREAS, The Great Depression struck the Village of Rock

 

 

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1 City like most other places in the United States, making jobs
2 and money a scarce commodity; business went on as usual,
3 however, with new businesses opening their doors; during this
4 time, Clarno Lumber and Supply bought the Graham Elevator and
5 changed the name to Rock City Lumber and Supply; after the end
6 of Prohibition, Albert Kraul, the owner of the corner grocery,
7 opened a tavern in his establishment; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Between 1940 and 1950, many people migrated in and
9 out of the Village of Rock City, with many young men called to
10 serve during World War II; in the 1950s, the village acquired a
11 municipal water system, with a new well drilled in 1956 and
12 mains laid in 1957; also in 1957, the village's Main Street was
13 surfaced with blacktop; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Since 1984, many changes have occurred in the
15 Village of Rock City, including a new subdivision, an improved
16 water system, the removal of railroad bridges, and the arrival
17 of cable television; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Today, the Village of Rock City and its 313
19 residents plan to continue the legacy of hard work and
20 dedication to their village and ensure that future generations
21 learn of the rich heritage and tradition of the villagers that
22 came before them; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3 congratulate the citizens of the Village of Rock City on the
4 occasion of the village's 150th anniversary and wish them
5 continued success and happiness in the future; and be it
6 further
 
7     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8 presented to a representative of the Village of Rock City as a
9 symbol of our esteem and respect.