H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING IN THE STATE HOUSE
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island General Assembly, which was established by the Royal Charter of 1663, has met in various places during the past 300 years, including private homes, taverns, barns, colony houses and even under a tree, before moving into the State House on Providence's Smith Hill on January 1, 1901; and
WHEREAS, The 2001 session of the Rhode Island General Assembly marks the 100th anniversary of this noble institution meeting under the marbled dome of the State House; and
WHEREAS, Such a historic milestone allows us to take pause and reminisce about the past 100 years, the events that have shaped Rhode Island's strong democracy and the people the General Assembly has served honorably and consistently through times of plenty, times of need, times of war, times of peace, and times of hope; and
WHEREAS, Plans for building a new State House in Providence first surfaced in 1890, when the Rhode Island State House Commission was formed after Gov. Herbert W. Ladd noted the cramped conditions of the Old State House on Benefit Street in Providence; and
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island State House Commission selected the internationally renowned New York-based architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White to design the elaborate, distinctive and domed capitol building; and
WHEREAS, Groundbreaking occurred on September 16, 1895 and construction continued until the year 1904, with state officers moving into the magnificent edifice in 1900, and the General Assembly moving into its new home on January 1, 1901; and
WHEREAS, On that day, legislators admired their Marble Palace, which was 330 feet long, 180 feet wide, and 235 feet tall, and included 327,000 cubic feet of white Georgia marble, 15 million bricks, and 1,300 tons of steel beams, all at a total cost of $3 million; and
WHEREAS, During the 1901 session of the General Assembly, the House of Representatives consisted of 72 men, and the Senate contained 37 men, hailing from places like Anthony, Auburn, Crompton, Drownville, Lafayette, Niantic, Riverpoint, Rockville, Thornton and Usquepaugh, who all served their constituents during an incredible time of prosperity for the state; and
WHEREAS, In the year 2001, there are now 100 members of the House of Representatives and 50 members of the Senate, men and women, old and young, from all walks of life that represent the people of Rhode Island inside the Marble Palace, and take their place inside of more than 300 years of history since the General Assembly was created; and
WHEREAS, As we, members of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, embark on a new century, let us never forget the people we serve and our humble roots, which spread from the gilded shores of Newport to the proud past of the Blackstone Valley and take firm hold in the veins of marble coursing throughout this glorious building, our State House; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby commemorates the 100th anniversary of the General Assembly conducting its business in the Marble Palace, and looks forward to continuing its fine work on behalf of all Rhode Island residents for another 100 years; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to every member of the Rhode Island General Assembly.