PRINTER'S NO. 3927
No. 755 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY FLICK, E. Z. TAYLOR, HERSHEY, RUBLEY, SCHRODER AND
ROSS, MAY 26, 2004
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 26, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Congratulating Willistown Township, Chester County, on the 300th
2 anniversary of its founding.
3 WHEREAS, Willistown Township is located in southeastern
4 Chester County and currently has a population of approximately
5 10,000 people; and
6 WHEREAS, The Holmes Map of 1681 holds the first written
7 reference to Willistown; and
8 WHEREAS, Willistown was a part of the 50,000-acre Welsh Tract
9 surveyed for William Penn in 1684; and
10 WHEREAS, In 1704 Willistown became a township; and
11 WHEREAS, Willistown Township was first represented in court,
12 by Thomas Garrett as constable, in 1705; and
13 WHEREAS, The English Quaker families who dominate the
14 Willistown history were agriculture-oriented, with interests in
15 history and natural science, and they cherished their
16 homesteads; and
17 WHEREAS, Major crops included wheat, rye, Indian corn, oats
1 and hay; and
2 WHEREAS, By 1753 the Quakers who had settled in Willistown
3 Township organized a Society of Friends school there for their
4 children; and
5 WHEREAS, Storekeepers and tradespeople, including
6 cordwainers, carpenters and wheelwrights, contributed to the
7 Willistown Township economy in the 18th century; and
8 WHEREAS, The Okehocking area featured Willistown Township's
9 most active milling enterprises; and
10 WHEREAS, Willistown was the site of the eastern terminus of
11 the first operating railroad in this Commonwealth, completed in
12 1832; and
13 WHEREAS, In the 20th century, Willistown benefited from
14 agricultural advances and transportation developments; and
15 WHEREAS, With commuter railways and proliferation of the
16 automobile came new jobs and new housing; and
17 WHEREAS, Willistown has retained its rural character through
18 the centuries, exemplifying conservation and preservation
19 despite modern expansion and trends; therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate
21 Willistown Township, Chester County, on the 300th anniversary of
22 its founding.
E4L82JS/20040H0755R3927 - 2 -