The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-10-07
MARKER UNWILLING
PROVES BIG OCCASION
Credit to Those Who Assisted-His.
tory of Spot.-Mrs. McLane's
Speech. -

While in the city yesterday, Mr..
McKissick was the guest at luncheon
at the Eureka hotel of the Civic Club,
as also were Mayor Mars, J. Allen
Smith, Geo. T. Barnes and
W. P. Greene. Mrs. Mary Taggart,
proprietor Of the hotel, had prepared
a splendid turkey dinner which was
thoroughly enjoyed. Following lun-
cheon, Mr.. McKissick was taken for a
ride over the city. .. ,.,,,a
Misses Sarah and Gladys Barnes
made the wreaths used in the decora-
tion of the marker. Mrs. w. A. Har-
ris, Miss Maggie Brooks apd Mrs.
Henry Norwood acted as ushers and
found seats for the dozen old SOL
diers who attended the exercises.
Mrs. j.. D. Kerr, Mrs. W. A. Harris,
Miss Maggie Latimer, Mrs. Gary and
Mrs. Greene decorated the portico,
American flags, bunting, potted
plants and cut flowers being used.
The ground on which the Marker
now stands was at one time a point
jutting out from the grounds SUR
rounding the Burt house and was
planted in trees. At first a pathway
was allowed by the Calhouns who
occupied the house and finally wide
roadway was made which was used
by every one. After Mr.. Stark pur-
chased the house the roadway was
maintained and the triangular
shaped bed full of shade trees was a
popular resort for the children and
nurses around town. For year or
two the Civic Club undertook to
beautify the triangle but the shade
trees made this impossible.
& in 1914 Mr.. Stark gave "The Tri-
angle" to the City Council for "the
use and benefit Of the Civic Club, I"
the gift being due directly to the ef-
forts of Mrs. W. p. Greene as presi-
dent of the Civic Club and Mrs.
Frank B. Gary, as chairman of the
Marker Committee. The council ac-
cepted this gift during the admin
stration Of DR.. C. C. Gambrell as
mayor and the deed was recorded in
the Office Of the Clerk of Court on
June 7th, 1914 and signed by Mayor
Gambrell, Mrs. Frank B. Gary and
Mrs. W. P. Greene.
The trees were cut down, a coping
was put around the triangle and a
handsome flower bed was maintained
for some years. In this work the
marker committee was helped and
encouraged by Mrs. ". D. 'Barks-
dale whose good taste and hard work
did much to beautify that Street. :
When the town took on the ways
Of city and paved the streets "the
triangle" was torn up and a smaller
space, fifteen foot circle, was set
aside for the marker.
At first Mrs. Frank B. Gary was
chairman Of the committee until i'll
health necessitated a prolonged stay
in the hospital, since which time Mrs.
Greene has been chairman, with
Mrs. Frank B. Gary second and
Mrs. Foster McLane, president Of
the Civic Club, serving, ex-oficio.
Mrs. Foster McLane, who presented
the marker to the city, spoke as fol-
lows:
"Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen:
after many days of work and
planning the Civic Club sees in the
erection of this Marker to commemo-
rate the last meeting of President
Divis' Cabinet, the completion of a
long deferred and hoped for task
eve take today, In this public
manner, pleasure in acknowledging
the unfailing courtesy and help Of
the City Council and we thank, the
people Of our fair city for their
friendship and encouragement in
the work we have done.
"It gives US pleasure to present
this marker to the city, Mr.. Mayor,
in the hope that it will ever instill in
the hearts of coming generations the
patriotism our fathers held so dear"
Mayor Mars, in behalf of the city,
accepted the marker and expressed
II