PRINTER'S NO. 1012
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
143
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ, FOLMER, EICHELBERGER, WOZNIAK, RAFFERTY,
COSTA AND TARTAGLIONE, JUNE 3, 2015
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 3, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 230th anniversary of Dauphin County.
WHEREAS, Dauphin County's early roots reach back to the 1700s
when John Harris, Sr., was granted 300 acres of land along the
Susquehanna River where he initiated the first ferry service
across the river, for which the location was dubbed "Harris
Ferry"; and
WHEREAS, After 1729, when Harris Ferry was placed under the
jurisdiction of the newly formed Lancaster County, John Harris'
descendants argued that traveling the long distance to Lancaster
for court or legal business created a hardship; and
WHEREAS, The Harris family made an appeal to the General
Assembly, requesting a new county be created between Harris
Ferry and Lancaster; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly granted that request March 2,
1785, creating a new county and naming it Dauphin County in
honor of the prince of France, who had assisted the colonies in
the Revolutionary War; and
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WHEREAS, John Harris' descendants donated lots on Walnut and
Market Streets for the new Dauphin County courthouse while
Harris' son-in-law, William Maclay, established the set up of
the town as originally laid out by Harris; and
WHEREAS, In 1791, the town was formally named "Harris Ferry";
and
WHEREAS, By order of the act of February 21, 1810, the
Pennsylvania State Capitol was relocated from Lancaster to
Harrisburg, and Dauphin County's first courthouse served as the
State's capitol from 1812 until 1822; and
WHEREAS, Since then Dauphin County has produced many great
leaders in a variety of endeavors, including the fields of
religion, agriculture, patriotism, education, science and art;
and
WHEREAS, The year 2015 marks the 230th anniversary of Dauphin
County, which will be commemorated by a series of events
beginning in May and continuing through the summer, including
courthouse tours, creation of a heritage mural, a young artists'
alley and a quilt specifically crafted to honor the heritage of
African Americans in Dauphin County; and
WHEREAS, The courthouse tours will begin May 16, 2015, and
will be conducted by county dignitaries; and
WHEREAS, The young artists' alley will be incorporated into
the Cultural Fest on August 7, 2015, in Harrisburg, with the
theme "Home"; and
WHEREAS, In October 2015, the African-American Quilters
Gathering of Harrisburg will display a quilt created
specifically to memorialize and honor the contributions of the
United States Colored Troops and those involved in the
underground railroad; and
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WHEREAS, The heritage mural will be constructed at the Twin
Valley Players Colonnade in Millersburg and will depict Dauphin
County's many historical sites, including the Lykens Valley
Railroad and the Millersburg Ferry; and
WHEREAS, Along with these activities, the Hershey Harrisburg
Regional Visitors Bureau has launched a new website with an
entire section dedicated to the arts, heritage and museums as
well as other attractions throughout Dauphin County; and
WHEREAS, Starting in May 2015, the visitors bureau will
promote the 230th anniversary of the establishment and heritage
of Dauphin County and feature a multitude of events celebrating
this occasion; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate the 230th anniversary
of Dauphin County; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Dauphin County Commissioners at the Dauphin County
Administration Building, 2 South Second Street, 4th Floor,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108.
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