[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24291-24292]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       ALEXANDRIA, VA--250 YEARS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 1999

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the record two 
resolutions in recognition of the 250th Anniversary of the City of 
Alexandria, Virginia.
  As Alexandria's former mayor, I am now proud to represent the city as 
part of the Commonwealth's 8th Congressional District. This historic 
seaport city, an early and continuing center of political, business and 
social life, has drawn from its rich cultural heritage up until the 
present day, and in so doing has become one of the most frequently 
visited tourist destinations in the nation today with 1.2 million 
visitors annually.
  To mark this special anniversary year, Alexandria has hosted hundreds 
of additional cultural events, concerts, symposia, tours and 
exhibitions, and residents and visitors alike have benefited from the 
valuable history lessons this great city is able to provide.
  I'm sure my colleagues here today will join me in congratulating 
Alexandria on its long and distinguished history.
  May the next 250 years be as remarkable for this very fine American 
city.

                              Proclamation

       Whereas, the site of Alexandria was occupied for several 
     thousand years by Native Americans; and
       Whereas, Captain John Smith and a party of explorers from 
     Jamestown first visited the site of Alexandria in 1608; and
       Whereas, a tobacco warehouse was established in 1730 at the 
     foot of Oronoco Street in what is now Alexandria, and a 
     settlement informally called Hunting Creek Warehouse grew up 
     around the warehouse; and
       Whereas, a group of Scottish merchants tried to name the 
     area Belhaven, after Scottish patriot John Hamilton, Baron 
     Belhaven, in 1749; and
       Whereas, the Virginia House of Burgesses and Council, upon 
     petition of other local residents, voted in May 1749 to 
     establish a new town called Alexandria, named after the 
     Alexander family on whose land the town was to be built; and
       Whereas, Governor Gooch convened the House of Burgesses and 
     Council in the Council Chamber on May 11, 1749, and gave his 
     assent to the bill establishing the new town.
       Now, therefore, I, Kerry J. Donley, Mayor of the City of 
     Alexandria, Virginia, and on behalf of the Alexandria City 
     Council, do hereby proclaim May 11, 1999 to be the 250th 
     anniversary of the creation of Alexandria, Virginia.
       In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused 
     the Seal of the City of Alexandria to be affixed this 11th 
     day of May 1999.
                                  ____


                     General Assembly Proclamation

       WHEREAS, Capt. John Smith and a party of explorers from 
     Jamestown first visited the site that was to become 
     Alexandria in 1608; and
       WHEREAS, a tobacco warehouse was established at the foot of 
     Oronoco Street in what is now Alexandria in 1730, and a 
     settlement informally called Hunting Creek Warehouse grew up 
     around the warehouse; and
       WHEREAS, a group of Scottish merchants tried to name the 
     area Belhaven in 1749; and
       WHEREAS, the Virginia Assembly, upon petition of other 
     local residents, voted on May 11, 1749, to establish a new 
     town called Alexandria, named after the Alexander family on 
     whose land the town was to be built; and
       WHEREAS, the town was created by local landowners and 
     Scottish merchants, with the first auction of town lots 
     occurring on July 13-14, 1749; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria was the site of the adoption of the 
     Fairfax Resolves in July of 1774 and the home town of 
     Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first 
     President of the United States George Washington, and of 
     author of the Virginia Bill of Rights and father of the U.S. 
     Bill of Rights George Mason; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria has been the home town of many people 
     prominent in our nation's history, including Gens. Light 
     Horse Harry Lee and Robert E. Lee, former President Gerald R. 
     Ford, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, General Harold 
     Spaatz, John L. Lewis, several Lords Fairfax, composer 
     Richard Bales, musicians Jim Morrison and Mama Cass, and many 
     Cabinet officers over the last 250 years; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria was ceded to the United States to form 
     part of the District of Columbia in 1791 and at the wish of 
     its citizens retroceded to Virginia in 1846; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria was the site in 1939 of a sit-in 
     demonstration at the Alexandria Public Library, in which the 
     participants demanded equal rights of use for black and white 
     customers; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria is the site of the Alexandria Academy, 
     which had among its three schools the Free School, 
     established by George Washington's contribution of 50 
     annually to educate 20 boys and girls whose parents could not 
     pay tuition, and which was the site of a school for children 
     of freedmen from 1812 to 1823; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria is the home of institutions of higher 
     learning including a branch of Virginia Tech and the Northern 
     Virginia Community College; and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria has many noteworthy museums, historic 
     sites, and tourist attractions, including the 
     internationally-renowned Torpedo Factory Arts Center, one of 
     the highest concentrations of 18th and early 19th century 
     buildings in the nation, and a rich and active cultural life; 
     and
       WHEREAS, Alexandria retains the prominent role it has had 
     since 1749 as a transportation center, by sea, road, and 
     rail; and

[[Page 24292]]

       WHEREAS, the City of Alexandria will mark its 250th 
     anniversary throughout 1999 with a year-long series of 
     diverse programs, activities, and public events; and
       WHEREAS, all residents of Alexandria can look back with 
     pride on their city's rich history and forward with 
     anticipation to an exciting and challenging future; now, 
     therefore, be it
       RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That the General Assembly commend the City of Alexandria on 
     the occasion of its 250th anniversary; and, be it
       RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Hon. 
     Kerry J. Donely, Mayor of the City of Alexandria, as an 
     expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and best 
     wishes for a glorious anniversary celebration.

     

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