The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-12
ToLEpo,s TRIBUTE.
Laying the Conversions of the New Soldiers Ne
mortal Building.

Special Correspondence National Tribune
TOLEDO, O., July ), 1888.
The 18th of July, 1883, is now verify, and
for all time it must be a day of special interest
to Toledo, since it marked the grand ceremo-
MES of laying the cornerstone of the Toledo
Soldiers Memorial Building Notwithstanding
the intense heat of the morning-the thermom-
eter ranging from 81 in the shade to i10o in
the sun-and the rain of the afternoon, the
programme was carried out to the letter. The
project of d building belongs jointly to the g.
a. Il. and the patriotic citizens of Toledo. For
this reason and because of the dedieatory cere-
monies of the Masons for such occasions, For
syth Post was aided by the Knights Templars.
The cornerstone is now IN place bearing upon
one side of its polished surface the name and
date, and upon the other the following: In
memory of the Union soldiers and sailors of
Lucas county who lost their lives IN the war of
the rebellion"
The cornerstone is of blue Vermont granite
Beneath it was placed, IN box duly sealed
lists of the national, state, executive and judi
cial departments a list of the municipal Off
GERS, with population Of the city, historical
sketch, ETC.; list Of deceased soldiers who Went
from Lucas county; rosters of Forsyth Post
and Ford Post, and E0rSyt tn Post and Ford Post
AuxiiiarieS; Mitchell Post. South Toledo Brint
and Mcbride Post, Riehffeld Centre, and a @.
A. Z. badge; constitution and bylaws of the
IOieuO Oott4cFS memorial aSSOcIAtlGn, Win
names OF trustees and officers copies of Toledo
papers to date, and much valuable data be-
sides. The proposed building, upon which work
has already begun, Is I25 feet in length by
ninety-iive in width, three stories high, with
gothic gables and mansard roof and two towers,
one fronting on Adams street, the other on
Ontario.
The first floor viii be used as an arroory for
the Fourth Ohio battery and company rooms !;
no Sfo nil aTa~,rw5nI Toll
fifty by eighty feet, used for the storage of war
relies, ETC.; also, banquet hail. forty by sixty
five feet, to be used for Camp-fres festivals and
the like, and the third story will be devoted TO a
drill, hall, in Dimensions, sixty-four by one
hundred and four feet The building is to be
OF blue sandstone to the second story, while
the second and third stories viii be of brick
with eut-stone trimmings. 1t will stand In the
heart of the city upon ground donated by the
county and will be noble and beautiful struct-
ure, and perpetual reminder to coming gen
erations of the patriotism and sacrifices OF those
who gave up their lives for their country.
Following the ceremonials the organizations
participating formed in procession and marched
to the Fri-State fair grounds where an eloquent
address was delivered by General III. H. Glib
son, an orator not unknown TO fame. The vet
Grams of Forsyth Post turned out to the num-
Der of 500 Department Commander o. T.
Clarke and staff were present from Columbus.
The procession was made up of the Knights
| Templar Knights of Pythias, police, uniformed
Patriarchs, ire department, &c. Following the
| addresses, dinner was served In the main build
/ ing, under the auspices Of Forsyth Post Aux
Hilary. After this came the grand review; the
sham BATTLE "Stone River" and superb ex-
hibition by the famous gattling gun battery of
| Cleveland, one of two that have wide celeb
! rity in this country. The battle was made
more realistic by a drenehing rain.
The memorial project has an interesting his
tory and is the first direct result of the forma-
| ton of Womans Auxiliary in connection
with Forsyth Post. The Post had long dis
| cussed the project of soldiers monument OF
some kind, and had set aside small special
| fund for that purpose, but no active steps had
| been taken. But in the spring of 1879, after
| the ladies had formally organized and given
| the Post a banquet. they found that they had
| a surplus fund Of their own, which they pro-
! posed TO make the nucleus Of a monumental
fund TheTeupon they had q miniature mon
ument made whose base was safety bank for
| the deposit OF contributions. This they placed
| on the quartermasters desk at Post headquar-
| tiers. The hint was acted upon, and the result
was the appointment Of a committee by the
| Post to confer with the ladies. 1t was then
resolved to incorporate Memorial Association
| to be governed by board of trustees, consist
| ing of five members OF Forsyth Post, five OF thf
! Womans Auxiliary, and FIVE patriotic citizens
| distinguished for their efforts 10 aid the sol
| diers in the war days. The plan has been most
! successful, and has done much to revive pop
ular interest in the old soldier and his cause.