The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-31
CORNER STONE LAID
The Initial Ceremonies at the Montana
Soldiers Home.
ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR
Decoration Day Exercises in
the Principal Cities of the
State-Senator James Sligh's
speech I'm Philipsburg.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

| Special Dispatch to the Standard
columbia Falls, Mont, May 3d.
Three thousand people gathered here
to-day to witness the ceremonies Incl
dent to laying the corner stone of the
soldiers home. Early in the morning
teams began arriving in town to join
the q. A. r. march to the cemetery.
The local G. A. R., w. r.. c. and S. Of
V. were Joined by civic orders and the
memorial exercises were carried out at
the cemetery. A salute was fired over
uhe graves of the dead veterans by
comrades, and other societies decorat-
ed the graves of the dead The line
from the soldiers home site, where
Nat Lyons post, the /. o. o. F. and A.
q. U. w. lodges and citizens of Kalis-
pell disembarked from special cars
Governor Richards, with the Sons of
veterans as guard of honor, General
Wilson and other members of the home
commission headed the column of the
first division, with the drum corps, and
the second division with the Kalispell
band. In this line were 400 school chill
dren, all the civic societies, Woman's
Relief Corps and a hundred carriages
conveying visitors from various parts
OF the county and state and the families
of veterans. At the stand erected upon
the foundation of the home the exer-
songs by the children.
Judge ID. +. Smith, on behalf of Co
lumbia Falls, welcomed the visitors
Old Glory was hoisted on the 130-foot
pole and the firing of the salute ended
the morning programme. The people
scattered over the grounds and
through the groves and INDUCED in an
old-fashioned picnic dinner.
AT o'clock President Dolman of the
home commission made a brief address,
followed by Governor Richards in the
Grafton of the day. The governor was
listened to with marked attention and
received frequent applause. General
Wilson, department commander, made
a brief address, after which Colonel
Dolman named the articles which had
been contributed to the corner stone
receptacle box, made of Butte copper.
The articles included the laws under
which the home was created, the con-
stitution of the proceedings of the COM
mission, state and county newspapers,
among them the Standard, containing
matter regarding the homes an address |
by Mrs Kirkendall. the first president
of the Montana w. r. c.; roster of the |
G. A. r.; address by Mrs. Manchester. |
Butte; the card of d. j. Hennessy, con- |
tanning the formal presentation of the |
huge flag donated by the Copper City |
Commercial company; halyard, ropes |
anu pulieyS, COMMANDER ; DduBe, CIVIC /
society badges and other mementoes |
by Colonel Dolman, General Wilson,
w. r. c. officers and G. A. r. comrades
The laying of the corner stone was
impressive.
At the conclusion of the governors
the crowd cheered heartily
and the final stroke of the hammer
official ended the ceremony. The event
drew by far the largest gathering ever
seen in the Flat head valley. every most |
Of this large county being represented.
(T1he governors speech will be found
on Page 1S of this edition of the Stand
ard