The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-09-10
CORNER STONE LAID
Thousands Watch impress
Sive Ceremonies in Rain
at New State Armory
Fine Addresses Much Appreciated
Prominent MaSOnS and Military
Officers in Attendance.

VAisSiS III httSuuuuSSs
Despite the rain storm of Monday
the exercises in connection with the
laying of the corner stone for the State
armory being erected in this city were
a complete success with the single ex-
ception that the vast majority of the
people who witnessed the ceremonies
failed to go to the l. o. o. F. temple to
attend the completion of the program,
thereby losing the opportunity to hear
two thoughtful addresses by General
Kirk and Major Gansser The out
pouring of people was really surprising
with the weather conditions as they
were, showing the general interest of
the inhabitants of the county in the
construction of the building which has
been the subject of discussion for two
years past and for which many of them
petitioned the supervisors to appropri.
ate funds. With bright day it is safe
to state that it would have been i'm.
possible for the greater portion of those
who intended to be present to have
gotten within either hearing or seeing
distance of the armory.
Detachments of Company 81 met the
visiting Companies, A of Flint, and F
of Saginaw, assigned by order of the
State Military Board to attend the cere.
monies, and escorted them to the pre-.
sent quarters of the Company, while
citizens with autos met the military
officers and other visitors. The Masonic
grand lodge officers were greeted by DR..
A. M. Hume and q. T. Campbell and
taken to the Wildermuth, which was
headquarters for the day forsthe Ma
sons AT 1 o'clock the three military
companies assembled at the Odd Eel
low temple for dinner as the guests of
the Owosso Improvement Association.
After the invocation was pronounced
by Rev. Bernard g. Mattson, the sol.
der boys with Gen. Kirk, Col. Phillips
and Capt. Parker to lead the attack
made way with the huge piles of food,
which had been prepared in an appetiz-
ing manner by R. }. Beehler, so rapid
ly that those who served them, A. d.
Whipple, w. F. Gallagher, o. L.
Sprague, L. B. Allison, Herbert Haw.
croft. E. o. Dewey, w. A. Seegmiller,
FL. X. White--"bald headed and gray
haired bankers and business men, as
the squad Of walters was styled by Gen.
Kirk-had hard work to keep supply
of ammunition on the tables. And how
the soldier boys did eat preparatory to
enduring the after dinner impromptu
talks, with Col. M. j.. Phillips acting as
toastmaster. Col. Phillips was par.
ticularly happy in his own remarks,
and In order called upon E. o. Dewey
OF Owosso, Major Guy Nj. Wilson of
Flint. Representative John T. Martin
of Corunna, General Kirk of Ypsilanti,
Capt Martin of Saginaw, Mayor De.
Young of Owosso, Rev T. E. Swan of
Saginaw. In referring to the work
done to secure the money for the
armory, Col. Phillips called attention
to the fact that the gift of 81, 900 by A.
M. Bentley for the swimming pool
made possible SIS, 900 additional from
the state and called upon those present
to stand and join in three cheers for
Mr.. Bentley, which were given with a
will. The tribute was justly deserved.
The lateness of the hour compelled the
toastmaster to cut short the list OF
speakers to give the military companies
time to return to their quarters to
secure the rifles preparatory to forming
the parade which started from the cor
ner of Mason and Washington streets
headed by the Boy Scouts, the Owosso
City Band, the three military COM
panies, the inirmaries of the 32d and
33d regiments-the former under com.
mand Of Captain Harold Hume of
Owosso, and the latter of Lieut. Pass.
more of Saginw-the Masonic lodges of
the county, automobiles carrying the
armory committee, city officials, mem.
bers OF the legislature, state military
board and Masonic Grand Lodge
officers. Under the command of Maj
Gansser, the march was made to the
armory along the line determined upon,
the streets being lined with citizens
and visitors who came with the hope
that the rain would cease long enough
to permit them to witness the impress
i've Masonic ceremonies, which always
command the closest attention and
teach an important lesson. When or.
der had been secured by the Grand
Marshal upon command of Grand MIS-