HJ1044: Commending the Town of Shenandoah on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1044
Commending the Town of Shenandoah on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 27, 2009
Agreed to by the Senate, February 28, 2009

 

WHEREAS, the picturesque Town of Shenandoah, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains adjacent to the beautiful Shenandoah River, will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2009; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Shenandoah flourished in the early 19th century because of the area’s abundance of natural resources, including iron ore, wood for making charcoal, and high grade limestone; the Shenandoah River enabled the town’s original founders, Daniel and Henry Forrer, to establish the community’s iron industry; and

WHEREAS, the first post office was established in February 1838 under the name of Shenandoah Iron Works, and in 1866 William Milnes, Jr., and Thomas Johns purchased 32,000 acres, including the iron works; and

WHEREAS, the two partners expanded Shenandoah’s iron industry and built the Big Gem Cast Iron Furnace, which helped bring the railroad to the town in 1882; and

WHEREAS, the town was first incorporated in 1884 as the Town of Milnes, in honor of William Milnes, Jr., who became president of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad; and

WHEREAS, on March 8, 1890, the name of the town was changed to Shenandoah by an Act of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, businesses and industry grew and the Town of Shenandoah remained a railroad town for some time with the Norfolk & Western (N&W) Railroad taking over the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1891, and the N&W Railroad merging with the Southern Railroad to become the Norfolk Southern Railroad; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Shenandoah remains a historic railroad town today with the train station, located on First Street, as the only active rail station between Roanoke and Hagerstown; and

WHEREAS, the beauty of the Town of Shenandoah is associated with the “Daughter of the Stars,” which denotes the Native American legend describing the creation of the Shenandoah River and Valley as the place where "the morning stars placed the brightest jewels from their crowns in the river"; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Shenandoah is a natural wonderland with parks nearby that provide ample fishing, water sports, hiking trails, and picnic spots for residents and visitors to enjoy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate the Town of Shenandoah on the occasion of its historic 125th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mayor Clinton O. Lucas, Jr., in recognition of the Town of Shenandoah’s rich history and culture and its many contributions to the natural beauty and economic prosperity of the Commonwealth.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1044
Offered February 25, 2009
Commending the Town of Shenandoah on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
Patrons-- Gilbert, Plum and Shuler

Unanimous consent to introduce

WHEREAS, the picturesque Town of Shenandoah, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains adjacent to the beautiful Shenandoah River, will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2009; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Shenandoah flourished in the early 19th century because of the area’s abundance of natural resources, including iron ore, wood for making charcoal, and high grade limestone; the Shenandoah River enabled the town’s original founders, Daniel and Henry Forrer, to establish the community’s iron industry; and

WHEREAS, the first post office was established in February 1838 under the name of Shenandoah Iron Works, and in 1866, William Milnes, Jr., and Thomas Johns purchased 32,000 acres, including the iron works; and

WHEREAS, the two partners expanded Shenandoah’s iron industry and built the Big Gem Cast Iron Furnace, which helped bring the railroad to the town in 1882; and

WHEREAS, the town was first incorporated in 1884 as the Town of Milnes, in honor of William Milnes, Jr., who became president of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad; and

WHEREAS, on March 8, 1890, the name of the town was changed to Shenandoah by an Act of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, businesses and industry grew and the Town of Shenandoah remained a railroad town for some time with the Norfolk & Western (N&W) Railroad taking over the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1891, and the N&W Railroad merging with the Southern Railroad to become the Norfolk Southern Railroad; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Shenandoah remains a historic railroad town today with the train station, located on First Street, as the only active rail station between Roanoke and Hagerstown; and

WHEREAS, the beauty of the Town of Shenandoah is associated with the “Daughter of the Stars,” which denotes the Native American legend describing the creation of the Shenandoah River and Valley as the place where "the morning stars placed the brightest jewels from their crowns in the river"; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Shenandoah is a natural wonderland with parks nearby that provide ample fishing, water sports, hiking trails, and picnic spots for residents and visitors to enjoy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Town of Shenandoah be hereby commended on the occasion of its historic 125th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mayor Clinton O. Lucas, Jr., in recognition of the Town of Shenandoah’s rich history and culture and its many contributions to the natural beauty and economic prosperity of the Commonwealth.