Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-05-12
Judge Ha1nes's Grafton.
The following was unavoida

My friends, we have met this
afternoon on a very interesting
occasion. The object and pur-
pose of the meeting is, to ger
manently lay and imbed the cor
ner stone Of the Town Hail.
The construction of this building
has often been canvassed, until
now there seems 10 be great una
nimity, on the part of the citi-
zens to proceed with the work;
and by the energy of our worry
Mayor and Town Council, the
structure as you perceive is now
a fixed fact
The building will be a beauti-
full and convenient one, and its
structure will add much to the
appearance of u town. The
lower story for the use of the
Mayor and Town Council and
for the engine and fire apparatus,
will be large and convenient. In
it the machinery can be kept in
good order, aud always ready
for instant use; which will Sc
cure great protection to the pro-
perty of the town. The town
ship,,in answer to the interest it
has taken in the structure, will
have a room set apart for town
ship purposes.
The second story is intended
for a Town Hall, "a convenient
place for literary pursuits, which
the convenience of the town has
long required. Here Lyceums
can meet, and a town Library
can DE collected and maintained
for the use of all; which from
time to time, may and doubtless
will, be enlarged by donations
of papers, books and specimens
of rare significance, both from
our w citizens and from
abroad. Here too, lectures will
be delivered during the long
winter evenings, upon literary
and scientific subjects, which
will improve the moral senti-
ments of our town.
When these subjects arc fully
considered, some estimate may
be formed of the usefulness Of
this building; and therefore,
am not astonished at the interest
manifested on this occasion.
In commemoration of fairly
commencing the work, we have
assembled this afternoon to lay
the corner stone of the main
building. Beneath this stone,
and imbedded in the rock, we
will deposit a tin box containing
sketches of past and present
events, uames and dates, especi-
ally connected with this locality,
together with specimens of lrac
tional currency, coins and other
matters representing the present
Estate of civilization; which items
fare of but little interest TO us al
present, but they are intended tc
reach over a vast period of time
and reveal to a future posJerity
somewhat of the lights and
shales of the past and the exist
ing present. This idea is a beau.
tiful and significant one to my
mind, and in contemplation may
be shared and enjoyed by us al
on the present occasion. The
Thought, that this building in
process of time, will become ole
and fall into decay; or be remov
ed for other and more Crane
structures, may be to us all a sol
emn and m%ournful reflection as
associated with our own change
but the suggestion naturally
arises, what will then be thu
most significant memento of thu
past to that generation? and my
mind at once recurs to the relic!
which we this day deposit in tn,
box. That generation will ex
!, anime them with wonder and as
constituent. Many speculation
will then be made respecting
their origin; and as we now spec
) ulate over the footprints of los
/ race on this continent, they will
, wonder who we were; but tn
contents of the box will explain
the matter. The mementoe
here deposited will explain them
selves, but the vestiges of a los
race, have all been obliterateC
by the dark ages of time, excep
} what can be read in petrifac
%tions, and traced on the surfac,
of the earth.
The Aborigines of this cont
nenJ were evidently ignorant O
letters and wholly unaquainteC
!, with the lights of history, which
so much adorns the intellect O
|; man in our age. They MAY
have understood the significance
of some rude hierogliphics Gu
on trees or coarsely marked on
stones; but these were wholly in.
adequate to an Intelligent trans.
mission to a future generation
who they were and what they
did on the earth. Their CHIEF
means of transmitting historical
auopfo from Ono ronoratio- - ..