Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-09-24
A GALA DAY +!
The Corner Stone of BeIm0nt's
New Capitol is Laid.
A Pretty Day, An Immense Crowd,
and a Great Time.
A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE INTERESTING MA
SONIC CEREMONIES, THE SPEECHES
ON THE FAIR GROUNDS, THE PROCESSION, AND
oaunnu unTrc nc IuTCDEcT
ON The FAIR GROUNDS, THE PROCESSION, AND
RANDOM NOTES OF INTEREST.
WE ARE ALL HAPPY, LET THE WORK GO ON
TO COMPLETION.

| Will now go down 1nCO I1e future history
of Belmont county as day to date from
The oldest inhabitant," some day, will
be looked upon as the greatest liar, when
he will be telling the incredulous that be
was there, and saw the crowds gathered
from every point of the compass.
| TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE.
There are various estimates put upon
the number of people in town on Tues
day, but we are willing to go on record
with the above estimate of the crowd.
All morning, the country from all direc-
tions poured in It's citizens by the wagon
load, carriage load, and all OTHER kinds
of vehicles, in professions, and of their
own sweet will with but one object in
view-to get here. Hope Commandery
and the St. Clairsville brass band were
kept busy as escort, bringing in the del
egatious from the constantly arriving
trains on both sides of town.
The September sun rose upon beau'
| tifully cleaned and banner bedecked vii
lage on Tuesday morning, and long be-
fore noon had it become evident that
our great day was to be great indeed.
The MONDAY beams fell down upon a
crowded town, and during the ceremo+
MES of laying the corner stone, it was an
interesting sight to look down upon the
sea of upturned faces, eager and inter-
ested in catching a glimpse of the stone
as il was raised by the powerful derrick,
and let slowly down over the copper
case, in which were placed the articles
for preservation. From every spot of
vantage ground in the vicinity these
faces could be seen. From the old court
house windows, from the court room to
the steeple, from the windows of the
dwellings and offices in the neighbor>
hood. and from the tops of the houses.
people viewed the ceremonies.
1t was gala day, and the farmer, the
mechanic, the business man, the laborer.
had all laid aside their avocatiOns and
come together at one point, with one
object in view, to celebrate the day that
marks an important era in Belmont
county's politics and social life. There
were family reunions, happy meetings
of old friends, and pleasant forming of
new and lasting friendships. Joy, peace
and happiness prevailed. During the
morning, and after the Masonic cere-
mony, thousands of people climbed up to
the platform and looked at and touched
the stone, which was the Mecca of the
days pilgrimage, and admired the struc-
ture so far as it is completed, the sound
and lasting foundation walls of Bel
mont's new capitol.
We give below short account of the
days proceedings, the day on which Bel
mont county's new capitol had its corner
stone laid at st. Clairsville:
ORGANIZATION.
Immediately after dinner, about half
past twelve, the Grand Lodge of Ohio was
opened by Grand Master J. NJ. Good
speed, and the following Grand Officers
were appointed: Deputy Grand Master,
5. 5. Williams; Sr. G. Warden, Jesse r
Purnell; Jr. G. Warden, William b Kirk |;
G. Chaplain, G C Sedwick; p. NJ s with
light, Julius Brilles, o G Williams, John
| Myer; Holy Bible, square and compass,
A NJ Shipman; G. Treasurer, b II Mack
all; q Secretary, n Cook; 2. NJ. with oil.
NJ w Glover; p. NJ. with wine. H 5
Trainer; Principal Architect, j W YOst;
P. NJ. with corn, H H Harrison; q. Stew
arts, d B Cuuley, L G Dysert; G. Tyler,
Alfred Lake; g. Marshal, John Cook;
Sr. G. Deacon, r. L. Howell; Jr. G. Dea-
con, j NJ Brilles.
THE PROCESSION.
The procession was formed by the
Chief Marshal of the Day, Col. j. f.
Charlesworth, in the following order:
Toronto Band, Charles Rex, leader, IA
pieces.
Steubenville Commandery.
Wheeling Drum Corps.
Cyrene and Wheeling Communicates
Quaker City Band, F n Carter, leader,
II pieces.
Hope Commandery, st. Clairsville.
Morristown Band, Elmer Gordon,
leader II pieces.
Hazen Lodge, Morristown.
MOriah Lodge, Ne. los, PoWhatan.
Union Cornet Band, Etnaville, II
pieces, Fred Applegarth, leader, Prof.
Schofeld. director.
Bridgeport Lodge, No. 1S1.
Ohio City Lodge, No. 486, Martins
| Ferry.
Mystic Tie Lodge. No. 1914. Uhrichs
vile.
Flushing Lodge, No. 29S.
Harrison Lodge, No. 219. Cadiz.
| MI. Pleasant Lodge, No. 216.
Quaker City Lodge, No 500.
Belmont Lodge, No. I6, st. Clairsville.
Friendship Lodge, No. 81, GAINESVILLE.
Grand Lodge of Ohio.
| st, Clairsville band, Will White, lead
er, II pieces.
Rising Sun Lodge, o o F. St. Clairs,
vile.
Wheeling City Band, W W McClel
land, leader, IA pieces.
Knights OF Pythias, from Barnesville,
Bridgeport and Martins Ferry.
Cavalry Division.
The procession was an imposing enc,
and as it marched, was marshaled Gy Col
Charles worth, assisted by Alfred Mitch>
ell, James Fitton, j Young. Col c $ S
Baron and Robert M wilkins, the latter
having charge of the cavalry. After
marching to the east end, it counter
marched to Marietta street. and then
again countermarched to the place where
the new buildings are to be. The white
plumes, gauntleted hands and bright
swords of the Sir Knights, and the gay
uniforms of the Knights of Pythias made
a pleasing sight.
1T WAS 2 O'CLOCK
When the procession, amid the blare of
all the bands in concert, came to stand
still in front of the new court house, and
the Grand Lodge filed up the stairs to
attend to the laying of the corner stone,