The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-11-15
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
LAYING OF TIE CORNER sToNE
A Large Crowd Assembled to Witness
the Ceremonies.
The Camp Fire in the Evening jolly
good time.

The Camp Fire in the Evening a jolly
good time.
Last Monday was a great day for
Hot Springs. The event of the corner
stone laying Of the Soldiers Home drew
many people to this place, including
some who had never visited this Sec
ton, though most of the people pres
ent were from the Hills country. The
event was pronounced success, des-
pite the unfavorable elements. bur.
ing the latter part of the week the
weather was all that could be desired.
Up to Sunday noon it was pleasant,
but in the afternoon chilly northeast
wind began to blow, which eliminated
in the evening with snow storm, Sc
that it made it rather dubious. How
ever, p.ople who had planned to come
had for the most part started before
the change Of weather occurred, sothat
it did not materially affect the attend-
ance.
Monday morning dawncd cold and
dreary, but the clouds dispelled and the
sun came out and all promised we'll.
But by the time the procession had
formed the clouds had again gathered,
scattering snow fakes were falling,
and a chilly wind was blowing, How
ever the storm did not increase and
though the weather was disagreeable
we are sure that none who attended
the exercises regretted being present.
1t was disappointment to many
that Governor MeIlette did not come.
but he deemed it best to cancel his en-
gagement here and goto Washington
to use his influence in other directions.
Consequently we missed his presence.
The procession was formed on Chica-
go Avenue, in front of the G. A. Il. head
quarters and was headed by the Custer
band. They were followed by dele
cation from Dakota Commandery No.
/, Knight Templars, from Deadwood,
who officiatea as escort to the Grand
Lodge: then the Masonic fraternity,
4 G. A. r. and all old soldiers, citizens
and carriages. All told there were
from $50 to 200 persons on foot and
there ,sere 81 teams, SO that the process
sion must have contained not far from
500 persons.
Arrived a. the grounds, the stone wa
first raised a short distance above it
resting place, suspended in full view o
the audience. Major I. A. Bones, o
Webster, President of the Board o
trustees of the Soldiers Home, then step
ped forward and introduced Mr.. Gee
V. Ayres, Grand Master A. r. e. A. NJ
who acted as master of ceremonies
He delivered short opening addres
and was followed hy prayer by tn
Grand Chaplain. After preliminar,
ceremonies by the officers of the gran
lodge, the list Of memorials which th
box was to contain, was read, and an Of
portunity given for additional memo
rials to be enclosed, The box with il
contents was then placed in the ston
and the stono lowered to its position
the band meanwhile playing Near.
My God To Thee Additional cer
monies followed, formally dedicatill
the stone and building to the noble o.
ject for which it was intended. II
entire ceremony was very ilnpressl,
and beautiful.
Gel. NJ. II. Price was then introduc,
as the orator Of the day. Owing to Il
inclemency Of the weather. he MAJ
only short address, but every wol
was listened to with close attentio
and all were sorry that circumstanc
could not have favored a longer a
dress. Those who were present at Il
camp fire in the evening, however, b
another opportunity to listen to t
eloquent colonel. To him are we j
debted largely for the location of t
Soldiers Home in our midst.
The ceremonies were cloaed wi
benediction by the Grand Chapla
and the lines were reformed and
procession marched back to the MINI
= kahta Hotel, where it was disband,
The corner stone is laid on the nor,
east corner Of the building, at the
So Of the basement story. 1t contains
81 81 following inscription:
+; ,5is 5s SOLDIERS HOME
= * 1880
- The box enclosed in tie stone