HR0232 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0232 LRB102 18152 MST 25581 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the city of Gibson City on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, Gibson City was founded as a village in 1871 as a mile-square lot, which is now the intersections of IL Routes 9, 47, and 54; and

WHEREAS, The original land was purchased by Jonathan B. Lott, who built the first home and named the village after his wife, Margaret Gibson; and

WHEREAS, The village was incorporated in 1872 as Gibson but was later changed to Gibson City; the first trustees of the village of Gibson were J. H. Collier, S. J. LeFevre, Bruce McCormick, and W. T. Kerr, with T.D. Spalding serving as the first mayor; and

WHEREAS, Gibson City is located in Drummer Township, which was created in 1858, the second of 12 townships developed in Ford County; and

WHEREAS, The first business in Gibson City was a grain office opened by William Moyer, who would later donate $14,000 for a city library, the William Moyer Library, which was built in 1911; and

WHEREAS, Gibson City's businesses were ravished by fires on January 29, 1883, but the town would rebuild and, at that time, add the Burwell Opera House, which was known to be the finest opera house in the State outside of Chicago, boasting a stage, scenery, drop curtains, and gas lighting; this historic building, while currently vacant, still stands with hopes of being occupied again in the future; and

WHEREAS, Gibson City will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary at North Park on May 2, 2021 with fun, food, and music; in addition, the 1971 time capsule will be opened, and a new time capsule will be buried, which will be opened in 2071; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the city of Gibson City on the 150th anniversary of its founding and wish it many more wonderful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Gibson City as a symbol of our respect and esteem.