The cornerstone was laid on June 17, 1842. It is not difficult to reconstruct the scene. Quite a crowd gathered. The little girls are absurd replicas of their mothers whose sleeves they firmly clutch. A spotted cow wanders down Main Street nibbling at the roadside buttercups and attracts no particular attention.
Dust rolls up from the wheels of an approaching farm wagon.
All reverently bow as he leads in long and impassioned prayer. The townspeople drum away along the plank walks toward their homes. The students stream across the cow-paths of the square to Tappan Hall and Ladies' Hall. All of the College faculty and their families and practically all the other residents were members. Religious services were held at first in various College buildings or in the big, circular tent which was erected for the purpose near the center of the square.