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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to learn that the historic Pasfield 
4House Inn has been chosen to appear on  the official Springfield 
5city ornament for the 2014 holiday season; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Pasfield House Inn will be featured on the 
722nd Springfield city ornament, in a series depicting landmarks 
8or events unique to Springfield; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Pasfield House Inn, a historically 
10significant Springfield landmark, was acquired in 1996 by 
11former Republican Clerk of the House Tony Leone and extensively 
12renovated; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Tony Leone was recognized by the Illinois House of 
14Representatives for his revitalization of the west side of the 
15Capitol Complex, by being appointed to the Advisory Board of 
16the Illinois Capitol Historic Preservation Board, as well as by 
17the Illinois Governor as a trustee to the Illinois Historic 
18Preservation Board; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Pasfield House Inn is located just west of the 
20current State Capitol Complex and was once part of a 40-acre 
21estate that 3 generations of Pasfields had resided on since the 
 
 
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1early 1840s; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The Pasfields played a significant role in 
3Springfield becoming the State capitol; and
 
4    WHEREAS, George Pasfield and wife, Mary, arrived in 
5Springfield in 1831 and established the first grocery emporium 
6on the new public  square and was instrumental in the town's 
7early growth; and
 
8    WHEREAS, George Pasfield was among 40 local businessmen who 
9pledged to invest in a bond to build what is now the Old State 
10Capitol in Springfield should the legislature, then in 
11Vandalia, consider relocation to Springfield; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation 
13in 1837 to relocate the State's capitol to Springfield thanks 
14to the efforts of Abraham Lincoln and "the long nine", along 
15with the financial support of George Pasfield's business group; 
16and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, In the early 1900s, his grandson, George Pasfield, 
18Jr., owner of what is now known as the Pasfield House, became 
19President of a local business group, Capitol Grounds Purchase 
20Association, which acquired all residential property south of 
21the current Capitol building, allowing expansion; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, George Pasfield, Jr. testified before the 
2Illinois Senate, requesting that a building be erected on the 
3expanded grounds; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In 1918, construction began on the Illinois 
5Centennial Building, now the Howlett Building; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The Illinois Centennial Building, along with the 
7erection of the Supreme Court Building, established the 
8permanency of Springfield as the State Capital; therefore, be 
9it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12we commend Tony Leone for his passion and dedication to promote 
13and preserve the State's history, while raising the bar for all 
14future historical restoration efforts throughout the City of 
15Springfield; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That we laud the City of Springfield for choosing 
17the Pasfield House Inn to appear on  the official 2014 
18Springfield City Ornament; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That  a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to Pasfield House Inn proprietor Tony Leone and 
 
 
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1Springfield Mayor Michael Houston as an expression of our 
2esteem and respect.