Senate Resolution 141 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY LUNDBY 1 3 A Resolution honoring the town of Center Point and its 1 4 surrounding community on the town's sesquicentennial 1 5 year. 1 6 WHEREAS, in 1839 Mr. Bartimeus McGonigle, who was 1 7 followed by others, founded a settlement near the 1 8 Cedar River that projected into the Eastern Iowa 1 9 prairie and was known as McGonigle's Point; and 1 10 WHEREAS, in 1854 a village plat was surveyed and 1 11 the name of the village was changed to Center Point in 1 12 recognition of the fact that it was the halfway stop 1 13 on a stagecoach route that extended from the city of 1 14 Marion to the towns of Quasqueton and Independence; 1 15 and 1 16 WHEREAS, Center Point grew into a thriving town, 1 17 becoming the site of a number of homes and businesses, 1 18 a thriving religious congregation, and a prosperous 1 19 farming community, with a historical heritage 1 20 preserved in the photographs of Mr. James Fairbanks; 1 21 and 1 22 WHEREAS, the citizens of Center Point treasure its 1 23 past, including main street buildings dating from the 1 24 1870s, which stand as a reminder of the town's 1 25 history, and also look forward to a promising future 1 26 with the construction of new houses and schools; and 1 27 WHEREAS, this tradition of preserving the past 1 28 while moving confidently forward is reflected in the 1 29 old site of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern 1 30 Railroad, the conversion of its depot into a 2 1 historical museum, and the establishment of the Cedar 2 2 Valley Nature Trail on its former rail bed, which 2 3 extends through Center Point and its surrounding 2 4 community including forested bottomlands, and rolling 2 5 farmlands; and 2 6 WHEREAS, on July 8 through 11, 2004, Center Point 2 7 and its surrounding community will celebrate the 150th 2 8 anniversary of the town's founding, in conjunction 2 9 with its Pork Days Celebration and the All School 2 10 Reunion with a number of events, including a concert, 2 11 talent show, parade, spelling bee, reenactment of the 2 12 pageant given 50 years ago, and the largest fireworks 2 13 display in Center Point history; NOW THEREFORE, 2 14 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 2 15 recognizes and extends its congratulations to the town 2 16 of Center Point and its surrounding community on the 2 17 town's sesquicentennial anniversary year and for its 2 18 150 years of service to its citizens and to the State 2 19 of Iowa; and 2 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an official copy of 2 21 this Resolution be prepared and presented to Mayor 2 22 Paula Freeman=Brown and Ms. Teresa Scheeler. 2 23 LSB 6482SS 80 2 24 da/sh/8