HJ1059: Commending the Town of Hurt.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1059
Commending the Town of Hurt.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2017
Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2017

 

WHEREAS, the Town of Hurt, a small town in Pittsylvania County with a rich history and a strong sense of community, celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2017; and

WHEREAS, what is now the Town of Hurt was originally part of a 1741 land grant from George II of England to Benjamin Clement; the Clement family lived on Clement Hill and excelled at gunpowder production, operating the first gunpowder mill in the region; and

WHEREAS, John L. Hurt, who supervised gunpowder production during the Civil War, married into the Clement family, became the owner of the Clement Hill plantation, and left the estate to his nephew, John L. Hurt, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, a visionary philanthropist, John L. Hurt, Jr., foresaw the area, which had by then become known as Hurt, as a thriving, planned community; to make his dream a reality, he developed a map of future streets, sold 100-foot lots, and financed homes; and

WHEREAS, John L. Hurt, Jr., helped the community grow responsibly, preserving natural springs for drinking water while selling 600 acres of his land for the development of a textile manufacturing company, which became one of Pittsylvania County’s largest employers for many years; and

WHEREAS, John L. Hurt, Jr., also supported the local school by supplementing the principal’s salary and funding a full position for a school librarian to ensure that students received the best possible education; and

WHEREAS, upon his death in 1964, John L. Hurt, Jr., bequeathed his estate lands west of U.S. Route 29 and any unsold lots to the Hurt community, provided that it incorporated as a town within three years; and

WHEREAS, the Hurt Town Council held its first meeting on January 3, 1967, and has worked to honor the hard work and enterprising spirit of John L. Hurt, Jr., by helping the community grow and thrive; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hurt continues to look to the future, with plans for a new industrial park and senior living center, as well as renovations and upgrades to Town Hall, where the original map of the town, drawn by John L. Hurt, Jr., is on display; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hurt will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a yearlong celebration featuring special events throughout 2017; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Town of Hurt on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Town of Hurt as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the town’s unique history and many contributions to the Commonwealth.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1059

Offered February 20, 2017
Commending the Town of Hurt.
Patron-- Adams

WHEREAS, the Town of Hurt, a small town in Pittsylvania County with a rich history and a strong sense of community, celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2017; and

WHEREAS, what is now the Town of Hurt was originally part of a 1741 land grant from George II of England to Benjamin Clement; the Clement family lived on Clement Hill and excelled at gunpowder production, operating the first gunpowder mill in the region; and

WHEREAS, John L. Hurt, who supervised gunpowder production during the Civil War, married into the Clement family, became the owner of the Clement Hill plantation, and left the estate to his nephew, John L. Hurt, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, a visionary philanthropist, John L. Hurt, Jr., foresaw the area, which had by then become known as Hurt, as a thriving, planned community; to make his dream a reality, he developed a map of future streets, sold 100-foot lots, and financed homes; and

WHEREAS, John L. Hurt, Jr., helped the community grow responsibly, preserving natural springs for drinking water while selling 600 acres of his land for the development of a textile manufacturing company, which became one of Pittsylvania County’s largest employers for many years; and

WHEREAS, John L. Hurt, Jr., also supported the local school by supplementing the principal’s salary and funding a full position for a school librarian to ensure that students received the best possible education; and

WHEREAS, upon his death in 1964, John L. Hurt, Jr., bequeathed his estate lands west of U.S. Route 29 and any unsold lots to the Hurt community, provided that it incorporated as a town within three years; and

WHEREAS, the Hurt Town Council held its first meeting on January 3, 1967, and has worked to honor the hard work and enterprising spirit of John L. Hurt, Jr., by helping the community grow and thrive; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hurt continues to look to the future, with plans for a new industrial park and senior living center, as well as renovations and upgrades to Town Hall, where the original map of the town, drawn by John L. Hurt, Jr., is on display; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hurt will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a yearlong celebration featuring special events throughout 2017; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Town of Hurt on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Town of Hurt as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the town’s unique history and many contributions to the Commonwealth.