A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the founders of the town of Morehead City by commemorating the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Shepard's Point Land Purchase.

Whereas, the Town of Morehead City is named for Governor John Motley Morehead, who envisioned a "great commercial city"; and
Whereas, in the 1850s the Shepard's Point Land Company purchased 600 acres of land on the tip of the eastern peninsula that is now the site of Morehead City; and
Whereas, in 1857, a public auction was held, which sold 150 lots in Morehead City; and
Whereas, the last stop of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad was constructed in Shepard's Point, which connected Morehead City to the rest of North Carolina; and
Whereas, three days after the completion of the railroad in 1858, every property parcel in Morehead City and the surrounding area was sold; and
Whereas, on February 20, 1861, the Town of Morehead City, originally known as the City of Morehead, was officially incorporated by the North Carolina General Assembly; and
Whereas, Morehead City's first officers included Bridges Arendell, Jr. as Mayor and David S. Jones, J.W. Collins, and William H. Cunningham, Jr. as Commissioners; and
Whereas, in 1862, the War Between the States disrupted commerce and the port declined along with the town's population when Morehead City was occupied by Union troops; and
Whereas, Morehead City began to rebound in the 1880s with the completion of the Atlantic Hotel, which had a train depot entrance, grand ballroom, piers, sailing and ferry services to the beaches of Bogue Banks luring tourists to the area and helping establish Morehead City as the "Summer Capital by the Sea"; and
Whereas, the great hurricane of 1899, forced fishermen from nearby Shackleford Banks, Diamond City, and other fishing settlements to move their houses onto the mainland in the area they called the "Promised Land"; and
Whereas, the advent of available ice made shipping of fish, produce from nearby farms, and other products by rail to outside markets very effective; and
Whereas, the railroad remained important to Morehead City in the 20th century for businesses and individuals; and
Whereas, even today, the railroad plays an important role in keeping the port busy with shipments by rail to send abroad; and
Whereas, until service ended in 1950, the railroad passenger service encouraged the tourist business of Morehead City and Atlantic Beach; and
Whereas, Morehead City is situated on North Carolina's "Crystal Coast" and is home to one of the State's two seaports; and
Whereas, Morehead City is also home to Carteret Community College, as well as research institutes operated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Duke University; and
Whereas, Morehead City is the largest town in Carteret County with a population of over 7,800 residents; and
Whereas, in May 2007, Morehead City will commemorate the anniversary of the Shepard's Point Land Purchase and celebrate 150 years of culture and heritage; and
Whereas, plans have been made to celebrate the Town's sesquicentennial throughout the month of May, including a Sesquicentennial Celebration Week, May 12 through 19, 2007; and
Whereas, Morehead City's 150th anniversary is worthy of recognition and celebration; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of the founders of the Town of Morehead City on the Town's 150th anniversary.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly joins the citizens of the Town of Morehead City in celebrating the Town's 150th anniversary.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Mayor of the Town of Morehead City.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 17th day of April, 2007.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives