Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-07-09
Corner Stone Laying OF Charles Town
Hieh School Building.

OrS2niZ2tlCnS, Impressive M2SCntC
ceremonies attending the laying OF
the corner stone OF the New High
School building in course of con-
struction on the site of the old Charles
Town Academy in the afternoon, and
a parade of the Red Men, with fire
works display at night
The school children and members
of the various fraternal orders assem-
bled at the Court House at O'Clock
All of them were formed in an order
ly procession, the children with flags,
the lodge men in uniforms, or wear
ing insignia of their respective orders.
AT the head ofthe procession was
the Powhatan band, which was fol-
lowed by delegations from the P. o.
S. of A. lodges of the county, the
number of members in line being
about $50; Shenandoah Tribe No. 80
of Red Men; several hundred school
children, pupils of the Charles Town
Graded and High School; then came
the City Band members of Potomac
Commandery, Knights Templar, in uni
form Malta Lodge, No. 80, A. F. and
A. M. members ofthe Board of Edu-
cation and a deputation of the Grand
Lodge of West Virginia.
The line of march was on South
George street from fhe Court House
to McCurdy street, to Samuel, north
to the Baptist church, east on Con.
greSs street to Mildred, thence to
Washington street The course oil
the procession then was westward or
Washington street to Lawrence, south
on Lawrence to the building site
where the corner stone laying cere.
monies under the auspices of the
Grand Lodge were held.
Arriving at the building the Crane
Deputation assumed charge of the ser
vices, with B. ID. Gibson as Grand Mas
te:; Marion E Bo'ingter, Deputy Crane
Master; Frank w. Drew, Senior Crane
Warden; Frank ] Zlll, Junior Crane
Warden; Tracy L. Jeffords. Grand Treas
urei; c. Frank Gallaher, Grand Sec
rotary; Jos. w. Cockrell. Senior Crane
Deacon; Edgar l.. Lee, Junior Crane
Deason; Forrest w. Brown, Grand Ora
tor; kt. Rev. VIM. l., Gravatt. Crane
Chaplain; Iohn b. Brazer, Grand M ar
shall; A. d. Barr Grand Pursuivant; /
w, Wolff, Principal Architect; William
Wilt, Master OF Oldest Lodge; Walter A
Spengler, Grand Steward; David c. Full
ton, Grand Steward; J. J. Yourg Crane
Steward; Geo. w. Booton, Grand Stew
ard Jas. W. Carney. Grand Tier
The stone was placed in position
by the Grand Senior and Junior War.
dens, and the Grand Stewards.
The program of services was open
ed with music by the Powhatan band
followed by prayer by Ri Rev. w
L. Gravatt, Grand Chap,ain. Hon.
Tracy L. Jeffords delivered schol-
arly address, taking Education as his
theme. The advantages of education
al facilities in a community were
pointed out, and the speaker urged
his hearers TO lend their united sup
port to the cause of education.
After the address, the children, the
choir, and audience, with an accom-
paniment by the City Band, joined
in singing the "Star Spangled Ban
ner," and America" Then came an
address by Col Forrest w. Brown.
who reviewed the history Of Pablo
education in this county. He assert
ed with emphasis that Jefferson Coun-
ty was the first in any section of the
Union to establish free schools. Col.
Brown gave AN instructive history of
the old Charles Town Academy on
the site of which the new building
will be erected, interpreting his re-
marks with personal "reminiscences of
school days there.
Following his address were the
corner stone laying services. The
stone is large block of gray gran
lite. On one side of it are inscrib-
ed in gold letters "Ehe Charles Town
Graded and High School, 1912" On
the other face is the name Of the
architect who planned the building
A musical selection by the band
followed by the bcnedict.ol bv
Bishop w. L. Gravatt, closed the ex-
ercises.
Articles placed in the corner stone !:
Copy of the Holy Brb'e, copy of the
Schooi Law, course of study If the
Charles Town Graded and Hi. h Scho0,.
history of the Char'es Town Public
Schools. written by Prof Wright Den
ny; Baltimore Su", ln'v 8, d mocratic
NHinnal Convention; Spirit of |. ffrrson
August 20. 1910. Advocating Pond Is
u sane. OC'oier is, 1910. Pnl,m; :
tl"n Of Bond ISSr; Nov mh,rls 1910.
K suit OF b nd I>>u. July IS, 1910. Bds
Wanted; Farmers Advs cafe, N v-mber
10, 1870, Bond ! SUI; Spirit of !. ff- rson.
June is, 1912. History of the AcaG, my.
Farmers Adv ca'-. June 20 1912. Ad-
vertlse meht OF Bond; Picture of the
PONY Brigade. P cure Of the Acade.
my Rui ding. Pictur- % Pas Mt Rui!d
Ing,- Free Press. Corner Stone La,iqp:
w odrow Wilson Button. Copy of Pro-
eramm', Cons, Paper with names Of
members of poa.d of Educ on
AT night the members of Shenan-
doah Tribe of Red Men in the CO.'S
tunes of thc.- order gave a spectac-
ular street parade, using fire works to
enllven the display as they marched
his was wound up with a war dance
in the public square.
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