St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-07-10
FAIRBANKS MUSEUM.
LAYING of the Corner Stone.

| banks Museum was laid with impress
sive ceremonies before at least 1000
people at 4 O'Clock Friday afternoon.
The celebration of the Fourth in this
place was quiet and undemonstra-
tive and the principal interest of the
day was centered in these exercises.
Judge Jonathan Ross presided and,
after selection by the band, in a
brief address welcomed all to the
| exercise in the name of the founder.
| The school children under the direc-
ton of Harry H. May, then sang
"Red, White and Blue" receiving a
hearty applause at its close. Next
came the reading of the scripture by
Rev. George M. Curl and this was
| followed by an able and scholarly
address by Hon. Henry c. Ide, who
| was frequently applauded. His ad-
dress is printed in full on the second
page of this paper. Next came
America" by the school children
and Mr.. May, followed by a prayer
by Rev. c. M. Lamson.
The corner stone was then raised
and swung into place by Mrs. Frank
lin Fairbanks, assisted by Architect
Lambert Packard and Master
Builder Alexander Taylor. Mrs. Fair
banks spread the mortar for the
stone with a beautiful silver trowel,
and afteward placed the level upon
it.
Col. Fairbanks then said:
But before stating the contents of
this box, let me say just a word to
you, my young friends: l want to
thank you for coming here and aid
ing in these exercises. You have
added very much to our enjoyment
by your songs.
This building is to be erected for
you. 1t is not for us older ones for
we shall soon pass away,
and you will take our places.
| want you to understand from this
time on, this building is to be yours,
and that you are to carefully guard
its interests, and | want each one of
you to say to yourselves, This is
my building, and | have an interest
in it."
Let me say just a word as to how
it was | started this collection. |
commenced it when | was a little
barefoot boy, running over these
hills. l then had no thought Of it's
amounting to anything in years to
come, but when l would pick up an
odd bit of stone l would wonder
what it was, and | would say,"Is this
a piece of shale or granite or what is
it?" And then l would go to my
books and perhaps from them learn
it was a piece of red sandstone like
what this building is to be made Of
So, one thing at time, my collec-
ton grew until now it is one of the
largest, if not the largest private col
lection in New England, and this is
to be brought here as a nucleus for
you to build upon, and l hope you
will add to it until this building can
no longer contain it all. | want you
to go through the world with your
eyes open and when you find any
thing, not be content until you find
made it for.
feel, Mr.. President, that this will
be in sense a separator. Some of
the boys and girls will care for none
of these things, while others will
dive away into the earth bringing to
light her many wonders. | would
be glad to see this last class continu-
ally increasing in numbers To
them, and to you all, | would say
study, learn, and develop your minds
and become useful, earnest men and
women in the land Go about with
your eyes open, my young friends,
and when you discover anything,
determine by research what it is you
have found.
l shall feel amply repaid for all l
am doing if it will create in you an
interest for these things and desire
to know more regarding the natural
sciences.
But let me say here that a collec-
ton of birds, animals, shells or what
ever it may be, is after all but a col
lection of dead things, unless used as
an illustrate to help in your search
for knowledge. The collection will
be placed at your disposal for said
purpose.
The articles deposited in this corner
stone were:
The program of the days proceedings
Announcement of the intended gift of
the Museum to the public by Rev. c. NJ
Lamson, published in this paper Oct. 10,
1889.
Newspaper articles descriptive of the
collection.
Copy of charter of incorporation.
Autograph photographs of the trus-
tees, Franklin Fairbanks, Frances A.
Fairbanks, Charles NJ. Lamson, Henry
c. Ide, Mary Fairbanks Herrick.
Photographs of Ex. Gov. Erastus
Fairbanks, Rev s. G. Clapp, first
pastor of the South Church. and photo
graph of.Paul Fairbanks Herrick, their
great-grandson. Photograph of the
North church; of Lambert Packard,
architect of it and the new Museum; of
the Athen9um and its founder, ex-Gov.
Horace Fairbanks; of the Y. M c. A.
building and its founder, Rev. Henry
Fairbanks; 1890 catalogue of st. Johns
bury Academy; North and South church
year book and articles of Faith for 1890;
national silver and copper coins of the
day; the last issue of the village papers,
also the Caledonian of June 10, 1890,
and the Boston Journal, and a copy of
the Bible.
Mr.. Fairbanks then said: The Bible is
the best general text book on all
branches OF natural science
The great navigator, Lieut.. Maury,
once said: Il have always found in my
scientific studies that when | could get
the Bible to say anything upon the sub
ject it afforded me firm platform to
stand upon, and a round in the ladder by
which l could safely ascend" Permit
me to refer to these sciences:
Geology. Where was thou when | laid
the foundations c,f the onr-tI, IyI,n