HR1314

LRB093 24216 HSS 54420 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Hoskins Building Center was founded in Apple River 
3
in 1854 as Wm. Hoskins & Company and is currently one of the 
4
three oldest Jo Daviess County businesses; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, Wm. Hoskins immigrated to Jo Daviess County from 
6
Cornwall, England in 1847, and in 1849, he was one of many who 
7
traveled to California to seek his fortune in the Gold Rush; 
8
his western adventure was successful and he returned as a 
9
wealthy man to Jo Daviess County to start his business; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, In 1888, Mr. Hoskins established the Elizabeth 
11
lumberyard and went on to purchase a yard in Galena in 1897; at 
12
that time, he opened another yard in Cuba City, Wisconsin, that 
13
was disposed of in 1927; around 1941, the Galena yard was sold 
14
off and all that remained was the Elizabeth yard; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Elizabeth business 
16
changed hands and incorporated on July 23, 1960; in 1971, the 
17
Galena Lumber Company purchased the business and operated the 
18
yard until 1974, when Vincent E. Toepfer purchased its stock; 
19
and

 
20
    WHEREAS, On July 26, 2002, after working at Hoskins Lumber 
21
Company since 1989, Eric Wheelwright and his wife, Pam, 
22
purchased Hoskins Lumber Company and officially renamed the 
23
business as Hoskins Building Center; and

 
24
    WHEREAS, The business has grown significantly over the past 
25
two years, with four full-time workers and a part-time 
26
bookkeeper; the company's commitment to quality is witnessed by 
27
a long list of loyal contractors who deal with the business; 
28
while the Center's main trade area is Jo Daviess County, the 
29
company has provided material for projects in Dubuque, Madison, 
30
and Chicago; the organization's extensive delivery service 
 


 






HR1314
- 2 -
LRB093 24216 HSS 54420 r




1
boasts three delivery drivers and four delivery trucks, 
2
including one crane boom truck that has the capability of 
3
hoisting material to multiple floors; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, The Wheelwrights are active supporters of 
5
community organizations and projects; they are enthusiastic 
6
about continuing that support and are committed to quality as 
7
their business enters its 151st year; therefore, be it

 
8
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
9
NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
10
congratulate Hoskins Building Center in Jo Daviess County on 
11
the occasion of its sesquicentennial, and we salute the 
12
business for its rich history and tradition of quality in Jo 
13
Daviess County; and be it further

 
14
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15
presented to Hoskins Building Center as an expression of our 
16
esteem and with best wishes for its continued success.