HR0111 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0111 LRB100 10265 KLG 20451 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Landmarks Illinois and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation honor individuals, organizations, projects, and programs whose work demonstrates a commitment to excellence in historic preservation with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award; and

WHEREAS, During the 2014-15 school year, students in Gibault High School's 1818 Saint Louis History course, participated in a research project to trace the history of some of Waterloo's most prized public buildings; the "Discovering the Buildings of Downtown Waterloo" project originated with the town's mayor, Thomas Smith, who wanted to install plaques denoting historic buildings; after the project proved to be too time-consuming for historians in the city, Gibault High School history teacher, Matthew Schweizer, volunteered his 1818 Saint Louis History class to complete the project; and

WHEREAS, The junior class, all 16 or 17 years old at the time, began writing historical plaques containing information about the buildings and people affiliated with them on approximately 50 of Waterloo's most prominent buildings; the students used municipal records, newspapers, biographies, and conducted oral histories with longtime residents in the course of their research; the project allowed the students to gain a deeper appreciation for history as they engaged with members of the Waterloo and Monroe County communities; the students compiled mini-biographies on the individuals who owned the downtown buildings; some learning that they had either family members or personal connections to the buildings they were studying; and

WHEREAS, At the conclusion of the project, the students presented their findings before the Waterloo City Council and at the Monroe County History Museum as part of the bicentennial celebration; everyone helping to compose the biographies are supporting authors on a published historical work; and

WHEREAS, Waterloo Mayor Thomas Smith nominated Matthew Schweizer and his class for the 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of their extraordinary work of preserving stories of people and special places throughout the State and showing how historic restoration has a positive impact on communities, the environment, and the people of Illinois, the Gibault High School Junior American History Project, "Discovering the Buildings of Downtown Waterloo", was awarded the 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for their effective local campaign to preserve and protect a historic resource; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the 2014-2015 1818 Saint Louis History class from Gibault High School and their teacher, Matthew Schweizer, on winning the 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award, and that we appreciate their hard work, long hours, and dedication to the "Discovering the Buildings of Downtown Waterloo" project; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we thank Matthew Schweizer and his students for their exemplary work and proud contributions to their community and their State, and for being examples of community advocacy and involvement.