State Representative David Reis presented Carmi Mayor Jeff Pollard a copy of a resolution passed by the Illinois House proclaiming Carmi’s Bicentennial celebration.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On April 10, 1816, in a log cabin now known as the
Robinson Stewart House, a town was born; the leaders decided to
call the new county seat Carmi, a name mentioned eight times in
Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and First Chronicles; and
WHEREAS, Carmi was a log cabin village founded on the bank
of the Little Wabash River; there were no streets – only dirt
roads; the village had promise of beauty and gracious living
even in a backwoods settlement; and
WHEREAS, Many came to Carmi from Virginia and the
Carolinas, where they had been accustomed to stately houses and
appreciated good architecture, art, literature, and music;
Carmi grew fast and settlers poured in; more and more cabins
were built and the town was thriving; by 1818, White County was
the third most populous county in the State; and
WHEREAS, The Little Wabash River which flows through Carmi
once marked the dividing line between the forest and the
prairie; and
WHEREAS, As the early settlers of White County poured into
the area, a mill on the river became the first business in town
to serve early farmers; today, Carmi continues to serve the
agriculture industry; and
WHEREAS, Today, the majority of farmers plant grain, corn,
soybeans, and wheat; there are also a growing number of farmers
who are turning to vegetable and specialty crops and a growing
number of farmers raising livestock; and
WHEREAS, Each year, more than $42.5 million of crops and
$4.5 million of livestock and livestock products are produced
and sold from White County; all of this is produced on 188,400
acres of cropland or 234,900 acres of total farmland, which is
controlled and operated by 448 farms; and
WHEREAS, Farming is a major source of income in White
County, but agricultural-related employment with fertilizer
companies, grain elevators, implement dealers, seed dealers,
accounting firms specializing in farm accounting, high school
agriculture teachers, and many other areas of agriculture still
provide most of the area’s jobs; and
WHEREAS, Agriculture is a cherished way of life for people
in White County and it provides a natural place to raise a
family and enjoy the harmonious relationship between nature and
the industrialized world; and
WHEREAS, Carmi is a community built on farming and
continues to reap the rewards of strong agricultural tradition;
and
WHEREAS, One of Carmi’s most famous visitors was Abraham
Lincoln, who visited the community to speak at a political
rally in 1840 and stayed in the building now known as the
Ratcliff Inn, which is a part of the White County Historical
Society; and
WHEREAS, The area was rich in natural resources and early
settlers used the river for transportation; the oil business in
Carmi goes back to 1939 with the discovery of the first oil
well in the area; nearly 75 years later, White County has
produced over a quarter million barrels of oil per year and
remains one of the top three oil producing counties in the
State of Illinois; it is still a hub of the industry for the
location of service companies; and
WHEREAS, The growth of the oil service industry is
expanding the services already offered, from drilling and
completion rigs, pulling units, supply companies, acidizing
and stimulation, cased hole logging and perforating, drill pipe
and casing inspection, coring services, down hole completion
tools, rock bit services, down hole production chemical
services, and injection pump and valve repair; and
WHEREAS, With a new facility that increases the reserves of
obtainable coal by 140 million tons, White County Coal is
positioned to aggressively develop new markets and additional
services and to establish itself as the supplier of choice for
customers, including services such as ash and scrubber
disposal; and
WHEREAS, A surprising amount of Carmi history, including
the Webb-Hay House, the Old Graveyard, Robinson Stewart House,
the Ratcliff Inn, and the L. Haas Store Museum, still stands
downtown; and
WHEREAS, Carmi takes pride in the tranquil beauty
throughout the town, the dedication of its loyal citizens, the
outstanding school system, and the continued success of the
business community; and
WHEREAS, To commemorate Carmi’s 200th birthday, 200 native
trees have been planted to help beautify the town for future
generations; and
WHEREAS, Carmi’s bicentennial festivities planned
throughout the year include Memorial Day, July 4th, Corn Day,
and the It’s a White County Christmas celebration in November;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
congratulate Mayor Jeff Pollard and the citizens of Carmi as
they celebrate the 200th anniversary of their community and
wish them many more years of success and prosperity in the
future; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Mayor of Carmi as a symbol of our respect and
esteem.
