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2002 SESSION

028221456
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 195
Offered January 29, 2002
Commending the City of Portsmouth on its 250th anniversary.
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Patrons-- Lucas, Barry, Blevins, Bolling, Byrne, Chichester, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Marsh, Martin, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Miller, Y.B., Mims, Newman, Norment, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Trumbo, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple and Williams; Delegates: Baskerville, Bland, Christian, Joannou, Jones, J.C., Melvin, Sears and Spruill
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WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2002; and

WHEREAS, on February 27, 1752, the Town of Portsmouth, consisting of 65 acres of land owned by William Crawford, a Norfolk merchant, ship owner, and civic leader, was established by Act of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the 65 acres of land along the Elizabeth River was part of William Crawford's plantation, and the Town of Portsmouth was named for the famous English naval port; and

WHEREAS, by the time the Town of Portsmouth was separated from Norfolk County and granted independent city status by the General Assembly in 1858, Portsmouth already had a rich history; and

WHEREAS, in 1767, the Gosport Shipyard was established; in 1781, Portsmouth was occupied by British forces under General Benedict Arnold; and in 1801, Portsmouth became the county seat of Norfolk County; and

WHEREAS, during the War of 1812, Portsmouth and its shipyard were attacked by British forces, and, in 1820, the Portsmouth Navy Yard launched the Navy's first 74-gun ship of the line, the USS Delaware; and

WHEREAS, during the Civil War, the famed Confederate ironclad, the CSS Virginia, was built in Portsmouth and became the first ironclad in battle in 1862; and

WHEREAS, through eight annexations from 1763 through 1968, the City of Portsmouth continued to add territory and grow in size and influence; and

WHEREAS, the mid-20th century saw the opening of two vital Portsmouth transportation links—the Elizabeth River Tunnel in 1952 and the Midtown Tunnel in 1962; and

WHEREAS, throughout Portsmouth's 250 years of history, its location as a deepwater port and its shipping industry have been the common denominators of the City's growth and prosperity; and

WHEREAS, as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of Portsmouth, the citizens of the City can reflect with pride on Portsmouth's influential and historic past and look forward to a prosperous future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate the City of Portsmouth on its 250th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mayor James W. Holley III and the citizens of the City of Portsmouth on its 250th anniversary as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and best wishes for continued success and prosperity.