Bill Text: TX HCR55 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Designating Canton as the official Home of the World Famous First Monday Trade Days.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-13 - Referred to Administration [HCR55 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HCR55-Introduced.html
| 82R6152 JH-D | ||
| By: Flynn | H.C.R. No. 55 | |
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| WHEREAS, Town markets were essential to the development of | ||
| Texas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, serving as important | ||
| hubs of economic activity for communities all across the state; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Today, that tradition lives on at numerous events, | ||
| but one market in particular, the World Famous First Monday Trade | ||
| Days in Canton, is especially noteworthy, being widely recognized | ||
| as one of the oldest and largest events of its kind; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Canton's market traces its origins to the 1850s, | ||
| when a circuit judge began holding court in the town on the first | ||
| Monday of each month; the proceedings drew numerous people to town, | ||
| and they used that opportunity to trade produce, farm equipment, | ||
| and livestock with one another; as the gathering became well-known | ||
| throughout Van Zandt County and beyond, participants converged on | ||
| Canton to barter for all manner of goods, with dogs and horses being | ||
| part of many of the exchanges; as a result, the market acquired the | ||
| nicknames "Dog Monday" and "Hoss Monday"; and | ||
| WHEREAS, With the passing years, the market's farm-oriented | ||
| products gave way to items such as antiques, collectibles, | ||
| furniture, and crafts; originally held in the courthouse square, | ||
| the event had grown so large by the mid-1960s that it moved to a | ||
| six-acre area two blocks away; the number of market days held each | ||
| month also expanded, initially incorporating the preceding weekend | ||
| days and now taking place Thursday through Sunday in advance of the | ||
| first Monday; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The popularity and size of First Monday Trade Days | ||
| have continued to grow in recent decades; today, it encompasses | ||
| more than 7,000 indoor and outdoor vendor spaces spread over 500 | ||
| acres; as many as 400,000 people arrive for each monthly event, | ||
| transforming a small town of 3,600 permanent residents into a | ||
| sizeable city; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Those who make their way to the trade days find a | ||
| huge range of items for sale and also enjoy a shopping experience | ||
| that is in keeping with the historic character of the market; since | ||
| First Monday began 150 years ago, individuals have gathered in | ||
| Canton to take part in a personalized form of commerce where they | ||
| have the opportunity to spend time with vendors, artisans, and | ||
| fellow shoppers; the continuation of this time-honored tradition is | ||
| a fitting tribute to our state's commercial heritage, and it is | ||
| indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate Canton as the official Home of the World Famous | ||
| First Monday Trade Days. | ||
