Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-18
OLD FAIR GROUNDS
RECHRISTENED As
EXPOSITION PARK
CornerstoneS of Two Exhibit
Buildings Laid on Site of
New Art Center
MASONIC RITUAL IS USED
Pretty Miss Bowen Uses Owens
River Water in Naming of
Breathing Spot
MASONIC RITUAL is USED

Assuming a new dignity commen-
surate with its future Importance,
Agricultural park surrendered it's
identity under that title yesterday aft
ernoon and henceforth will be known
under the broader name Of Exposition
| park.
The change in name occurred oppor-
| tunely, for a few minutes afterward
the cornerstones of two imposing
structures which are rearing their
majestic domes within shadow of the
park gate were put into position, while
| 5000 residents of Los Angeles, includ-
ing city and county officials, South
ern California members of the legis-
lature historical and artistic socie-
| ties of Los Angeles, members OF the
Knights Templar Communicates and
of the Sixth District Agricultural as
sociation gave rousing cheers to show
their appreciation of the plan to make
| the park the artistic center of South
ern California.
| daughter of william M. Bowen, pres
ident of the Sixth District Agricul-
| tural association, under whose aus
pices the exercises were held, pouring
| from a beautiful silver goblet water
from Owens river, pronounced the new
name of the park.
CoRNERSTON1Es LAID
| Then Dana r. Weller, grand master
of the Masonic grand lodge of Cali
| fornia, laid the cornerstone of the EX-
position building and Of the historical
museum and art gallery. The ceremony
was according to the Masonic ritual
and was participated in by the follow
ing officers: William M Bowen, grand
treasurer w. d. Stephens deputy
grand master; Mayor George Alexan-
der grand senior warden; p. b.
| md
T. McAllister, acting grand secretary.
The exercises were opened at 2;30 by
A. ]. Wallace, lieutenant governor
elect, who, acting as chairman, called
the meeting to order. DR.. ]. S. Thorn
son. Masonic grand chaplain, pro-
nounced the invocation. America
sung by a chorus of high school stu
dents and the audience, preceded the
formal christening.
| With q silver trowel made for the oc-
casion Grand Master Weller smoothed
the cement over the granite block on
which were chiseled the words: Cali
| fornia Exposition building, 1910" He
was followed by L. c. Gates, assembly
man, who made the formal dedicatory
address.
Referring to the proposed armory for
J the national guard which 1t is plsuned
| to erect in the park, he pledged him
self as a legislator to work for the
passage of an additional Appropriation
and said that the park offered an Ideal
place for the future defenders OF the
nation to be trained.
In concluding he paid tribute to
the energy of William M. Bowen, with
out whose services in behalf OF the
park it's present comprehensive status
would not have been attained, he de-
| clared.
The main exercises occurred on
platform in front of the Exposition
| building.
The silver cup used in the chirsten-
| ing ceremony will be placed in a casa
and put on exhibition in the exposi-
tion hall when completed.
The cup bore the following inscrip-
ton:
EXPOSITION PARK
Christened December Seventeenth,
Nineteen Hundred and Ten.
| with Owens River Water by
Mary Spencer Bowen.
Dedicated to the Development Of the
| Resources and Industries of the
| State OF California.
| For the Preservation OF the Historic
Scientific and Artistic Treasures
| of the Golden State.
The silver trowel, which also will be
preserved, bore the following inscrip-
| ton:
Trowel used in the laying OF the corner
stones OF the first permanent Exposition
| Building and the Historical Museum and
Art building in Exposition park, December
| nineteen, Nineteen Hundred and Ten.
RECORDS PLACED IN STONES
| Before the cornerstpnes were placed
and sealed large copper boxes contain
ing records bearing on the work OF the
park association and of the organiza-
tions connected Herewith were placed
in inches, where they will remain as
long as the buildings endure.
! Tn historical MnSplIn and ART
| building were placed the following
| Copy of the Los Angeles Herald, July
| u, 1910, containing an account of the
| breaking of ground for the building
copies of other daily papers of the
city; address by Mrs. William Housh,
delivered on that occasion; booklet, "A
Message from the Fine Arts League;
by laws and officials OF the league
| 1910 year book California Federation of
| Women's clubs; platform of Political
Equality league of California; roster
of CITY officials, city teachers, data of
the Historical society of Southern Cali
| fornia; county officers; bulletin of
Venice biological station; year book of
University Of Southern California.
| A copy of the city directory of Los
! Angeles for 1910, data in regard to
parks, clubs and maps of Los Angeles,
as Well as an eight-ounce bottle of
| owens river water used in christening
the park, were placed in the Exposi-
tion building.
The two new park buildings, one of
which is being erected by the city and
! the other by the county OF Los An
geles, are to cost $250000 each. The
| city, or Exposition, building is built of
steel and tapestry brick with terra
| Gotta trimming. The museum, or
county building, Is of steel and brick
and the interior win be OF white mar
BILE. The Exposition building is S25 by
1876 feet in dimension and the museum
! 29O by 1856. The latter structure has
a dome IS feet in diameter.
The park covers III acres and will
have a reinforced concrete grandstand
/ IL -I-Ll-- a a - 4