A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the memory of J.w. Marsh on the OCCASION of the town of marshville's one hundred twenty‑fifth anniversary.
Whereas, the Town of Marshville, located in eastern Union County, was initially known as Beaver Dam; and
Whereas, the Town was originally inhabited by the Waxhaw Indians but by the 1750s, was also home to settlers from England, Germany, Wales, Scotland, and the State of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, the Town developed around the Central Carolina Railroad depot site, which enabled the Town to later emerge as a leading regional cotton market and agricultural center; and
Whereas, the Town was incorporated as Griffinsville on February 12, 1877; and
Whereas, J.W. Marsh and his family, Town proprietors and landowners, donated land for the construction of the first church, which was built in 1888; and
Whereas, by 1900, the Marsh family had also donated land for a Town Hall, school, and two additional churches; and
Whereas, the Town was renamed Marshville on May 11, 1895, in honor of the Marsh family; and
Whereas, the Town continued to grow and prosper and by the late 1920s had attracted poultry and lumber businesses to the area; and
Whereas, much of the Town's economy centers around the production of turkeys, eggs, soybeans, corn, milo, swine, broilers, and beef; and
Whereas, the Town is home to a number of well‑known businesses, including the Pilgrim's Pride Poultry Processing Plant, Edwards Wood Products, Carolina Wood Products, and Rebel Lumber Companies; and
Whereas, in 1985, a portion of the Town's downtown area served as a film location for the motion picture, "The Color Purple"; and
Whereas, in 2000, the Town had a population of 2,360 people; and
Whereas, for 125 years, the Town, known as the "Heartland of the Carolinas", has made significant contributions to the social and economic prosperity of the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of J.W. Marsh for the contributions he made to the development of the Town of Marshville.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly congratulates the Town of Marshville on its 125th anniversary and encourages the citizens of this State to join the Town in celebrating this special occasion.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Mayor of the Town of Marshville.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.