Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-15
A CURIOUS MEMENIO.
A CORNERSTONE LAID FORTY-I"o
YEARS AGO TAKEN UP.
Its Contents Ruined by Time-Kecorn vi
the Tablet-The Only Survivors VI
an Interesting Occasion, &c.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispstch.l
PETERSBURG. Va, March "a, 1890

PETERSBURG, VA, Marcn II, io'V'
Forty-two years ago the CORNERSTONE ol
the Odd-FellOws' building. on oycallG;as
street. was laid with impressive ceremonies
in the presence OF large assembiage Oh
people. On the 18th Of last November tnls
fine building with many others, Tell prey
10 the disastrous fire which occurred Oh
that dav. For reasons satisfactory 70 theIn-
selves The Odd-Fellows refrained from re-
moving the cornerstone Of their hands1nle
building, though. of course, ieenng auotp
interest in recovering AMI preserving 10
contents. All objections having Deeh oNtI-
come in this respect the cOrner-stpne was
formally taken mn to-day under the au-
spices Of and direction Of the properly
Committee Of the Association, ana IN ~
presence Of number Of lnteresteu Ouus
Fellows. The committee Is composed OK
Mcssrs. W. f. Parhnm. II. i. Atklssoh' anu
James VI. Parbam.
TIE CONTENTS.
To the disappointment OF ali present:
and indeed Of the entire mem peIsHIP u
tho order, the leaden box IN the stone was
found 20 contain only q mass 81 paPtI-puiH'
from which but little, if anything' intelh-
Cihle could be ascertained. Nothing 10 'ne
nature Of coins or Of any article OF
an understandable character wa5, iouhd.
This was surprise a. wei IL
5av and All the records which had
boon deposited in the box. az stated above,
had been reduced 10 a mass OF pulp ~ tho
influx Of water thrown upon the DuiIdlnS
10 extinguish the fire, and which had FOUND
its way INTO and filed the box.
rHE RECORD OF THE TABLET.
But the record Of the silver tablet which
had been iulaid upon the stone was IN
broken and PLAIN. It's legend Is Us follows;
F. l.. T..
THIS CORNERSTONE
Was Lsid by Monroe Lodge, No. 6, and Apo
matt0x Lodge, No If !. .. o. r., IN inc
Town Of Petersburg Va, This 18Th
day u May, Ammo DOmini
1913
TRUSTEES.
Geo. W. Boiling, Pres't; Alexander Donnan,
Jord. Branch. Y. Pres'L; john Burne,
A. |. Archer secretary James n. H. bruneti
Chris =. Fisher, Treas; j. :. Beckwilh'
William f. Fisher, Robert n. JOues,
SAUL H. MARK, james Nch"alhe'
George ". Adams.
BUILDERS.
stono-Mnsons-James Bowie, II. NcCleTy, no
bert Wright
Brick Nneon-Benjsmin F. Cox.
Carpenters Howard " Harvey.
1Iuuers-B0Oth 81 SOmmcfs.
PGiufer-Joseph l.. Blnglcy.
Eugragcr-L. j. PGg1nl.
ONLY THREE SURVIVORS.
OF the above li4t. comprising nj the time
and afterwards some Of Pctcrshurgs best
known citizens, only three survive They
are Alexander DOnnan, Esq, one of
tine foremost mcmbers Of our bar, at
whose suggestion mainly the hall was
erected: Samuel II. Marks. an honOrcd
merchant. the first Noble Grand of Apo
nattox Lodge. and the oldest Odd-Fcl-
low N the city. and Mr.. jerome som
mcrs, who fOrty-twO years ago timed the
roof Of the building, who has boon Il con
'nuOus member Of the order since That
date. and who is yet young and active
enough 90 roof tho handsome new build
inc which the Odd-Fellows propose shortly
10 erect. .All the others haye-some OF them
longago-passed TO their graves.
The three stonc-masons mentioned IN
tho list many wears ago formed the famous
firm of Bowie, Wright, and McCleyy,
and MANY Of the substantial buildings in
Petersburg and many monuments IN Old
Blaudford cemetery stand Us testimonials
to their fine workmanship.
TO De PRESERVED.
The little silver tablet viii be carefully
preserved by the Odd-Fellows as an lnte-
resting mcmeuto of the past. IL Will he
framed and hung upon the wall of Their
new building. And here il may he stated
that tho insurance on their burned build
inc has been satisfactorily adjusted, and
that arrangements will be begun al once
looking TO the erection Of a large, hand
some. and more convenient building than
the old one was.