HR0493 LRB095 12360 KXB 37210 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Village
3 of West Salem will take place June 29 through July 1, 2007; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The Village was officially incorporated by the
5 State of Illinois on February 8, 1857; West Salem, population
6 1100, is located in northern Edwards County in southeastern
7 Illinois; West Salem is home to the only Moravian Church in
8 Illinois, as well as being the birthplace of Champion
9 Laboratories, founded in the 1950s; and
 
10     WHEREAS, In 1814, Edwards County stretched all the way to
11 Canada and today is the second smallest county in the State;
12 the first settlers arrived in the area around 1820, and others
13 continued to make northern Edwards County their home; in the
14 fall of 1830, a small group of settlers arrived from Davidson,
15 North Carolina; among them was Peter Hinkle, a Moravian
16 blacksmith, who arrived in a two-horse wagon with just $10 in
17 his pocket; on May 25, 1844, his barn was the site of the first
18 Moravian Church service; most of the charter members had come
19 from Salem, North Carolina and the new settlement was called
20 New Salem; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Since the settlers had come west from Salem, North
22 Carolina, the name was changed to West Salem in deference to

 

 

HR0493 - 2 - LRB095 12360 KXB 37210 r

1 the other New Salem in Illinois; and
 
2     WHEREAS, From the early beginnings of the Moravian
3 settlers, a thriving town soon developed; the residents found
4 success through a healthy mix of agriculture and business; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Today, the village square stands as a beautiful
6 reminder of what has been, as well as what is yet to come; the
7 residents of West Salem have proven to be resilient, and hope
8 and optimism are in abundant supply as they continuously strive
9 to improve themselves and their community; and
 
10     WHEREAS, West Salem is taking pride in "Honoring the Past,
11 Appreciating the Present, and Planning for the Future";
12 therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15 congratulate the citizens of the Village of West Salem as they
16 celebrate the 150th anniversary of their community; and be it
17 further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to the mayor of the Village of West Salem as a symbol
20 of our respect and esteem.