The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-18
|. o. 0. F. CORNERSTONE
ALMOST THE BIGGEST EVENT IN
GREENsBURG HISTORY.
Ten Thousand People Witness the
Parade-scmething OF the Home
to Be Erected.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
GREENSBORO, Ind, May 17.-Ten thou
sand people met at this place to-day to
witness the laying of the cornerstone of a
building to be dedicated to the orphans,
widows and INDECENT members of the order
Of Odd Fellows. Tn Grand Lodge and
Rebekah Assembly, In session at Indianap-
oils, attended in a body. arriving on a spe-
cial train. A parade was at once formed
under the marshalship of General Bodine,
headed by the Greensburg Band, then came
Decatur County Uniformed Rank of K. of
p, visiting cantons from Muncie. Ander-
son and Indianapolis. school children. seven
hundred in number, subordinate lodges Of
i. o. o. f. Of the county and visiting
lodges, secret orders of the city, @. A. r..
Grand Lodge Of Indiana, Rebekah Assem-
bly,, Rebekah lodges and the When Band.
1t was a mile in length, reaching from the
courthouse square to the site of the home.
The ceremonies were in charge of the off,
GERS of the Rebekah Assembly, assisted by
the Grand Lodge officers. Elder ID. r. Van
Buskirk invoked the divine blessing and
Mayor A. NJ. Willoughby welcomed the
Grand Lodge. Assembly and visitors in be-
half Of the citizens. Governor VIII Cum
back. spoke in behalf of Decatur lodges,
touchingly referring TO the individual sac
rihces made by them that this temple of
~benevolence might be erected in Decatur
county and that each member and each cit
izen rejoiced with the members of the
Grand Lodge and all persons interested that
such a temple would be erected to perpet-
uate the memory of Odd Fellow ship in the
State. The welcome addresses were re-
sponded to by Mrs. Anna Lafollette, the re-
firing Assembly president.
Mrs. Judge Wiley, president OF the as
sembly, had charge of the ceremonies and
officiated at the laying of the stone with
other officers of the assembly. In the box
deposited In the stone was a statement Of
the movement begun by certain members
of the local lodge, the subscriptions which
secured the donation to be offered the Re-
bekah Assembly and other documents of
like character; a list of the subscribers and
the names of the different organized COM
mittees: Judge NJ. A; Chapman. of Ander-
son.. delivered the address on behalf of the
Grand Lodge. Mrs. Olive McGrey on be-
half of the trustees of the Rebekah As
se empty SPOKE OIL wnat mao oeen accom- PM
Encampment branch of the order, was much
embarrassed because il had not donated
anything and pledged his assistance to Sc,
cure a donation. Citizens of Greensburg and
all sister fraternities rejoice that such a
noble institution will be erected and main
tanned here. During. the services a telegram
va Il LAOAAi liz q L<toSt VI Y
lucky congratulating Odd Fellows of In
diana upon their success.
PLANS FOR THE HOME.
Visiting members from all over the State
are happy over the selection of Greensburg
by the state committee for the location of
this home. This place is known far and
wide as the city where trees grow on the
courthouse tower. At this time all have
been removed, but one which is about twelve
feet high. 1t is a frequent occurrence for
travellers to alight from the trains to view
this freak Of nature. The Grand Lodge, L.
o. o. F., OF Indiana, at its November ses-
sion of 1857, appointed a committee to Sc
lect a suitable location for a home for
widows, orphans and INDECENT Odd Fellows,
and the local lodge, with a membership of
over four hundred, Immediately set out TO
secure the home for this place. M. H.. In
gals, of the Big Four, gave his check for
$l,GVO and then John K. Walsh, of the South
ern Indiana, gave his check for $3.50.
Through the much appreciated generosity
locating of this home at Greensburg was
made possible There were many ad-
vantages offered here which, when consid-
cred by the state committee, outweighed
a higher cash proposition from other places,
and Greensburg was selected. The tract of
land donated by the Rebekah Assembly OF
the State contains 100 acres adjoining the
city on the east. Upon this there is a brick
residence of twelve rooms and nails erected
In 1S4 by X r. Cobb. surrounding the res
idence is a large grove Of cedar, pine, maple,
hickory, ash and elm, having been set out In
rows by Mr.. Cobb. In 1891 this iand was
sold to John f. Goddard, who added many
modern improvements and in 1898 he decided
it to the Rebekah Assembly. Nature alone
has made this an ideal spot and when re-
touched by a professional landscape gar
diner it will be one of the most attractive
places In the State. About sixty acres will
De converted into a park under the super
vision of j. Clyde Power, OF Indianapolis.
The site of the new building faces south
west toward the city, and is in the shape Of
a Maltese cross. The building will have
from which two-thirds of the county can be
seen on a clear day. The Big Four tracks
run within SO feet of the building and its
structure will be seen for miles before
reaching the city. There will be three build
ings erected by the order on this tract, the
three to cost Sl50,0o. The farm residence Is
to be converted into a hospital.
The cost of the first building complete Is
$4,000. 1he building is to be of brick, with
Bedford stone trimmings, with large veran-
das patterned after the Indiana building at
the Worlds Fair. In the basement are TO
be the play rooms of the children, the steam
heating, electrlc-lighting and water pump
On the first floor will be the offices, private
and public parlors, one for the women and
one FOR the men, dining rooms, kitchen,
Dath rooms and private bed rooms. On the
second floor will be the matrOn's room, sit
ting room, music room, library, bathroom
ana domitories, children's nursing room.
servants quarters and rooms for those
who are married. In all there will be about
Two hundred rooms, to be furnished by in
dfvidusl lodges. or groups of lodges. The
building is TO be completed for occupancy
on the first day of the new century and will
be the largest of the six of its kind in the
United States The plans OF other state
homes have been examined and improved
on. Under the laws of Indiana forty acres
of this tract, where the buildings are To-
Gated will be exempt from taxation.
The children viii be educated at the
Greensburg public schools, the home being
a half mile distant. 1t is claimed h at
other institutions of like character the
children arc educated within the institution,
put that under the present arrangement the
children will be independent of the home in
fuence. which Will be a decided advantage
ana advisable as they will be in touch with
from the high school into any of the col
iaQas of the State