Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-31
GROUND BROKEN

Ground was broken for the state
Odd Fellows Home, mile north OF
Frederick, Monday afternoon, under
auspices of the grand officers, in the
presence % nearly 1000 persons. With
gold-plated shovel, j. A. Nissell, 92
Baltimore, for 70 years member OF
the order, turned over the first shovel
full of earth. Benjamin Cooper, Chris
tian Smith and James Wilkinson, Bal
timore, who joined the order 65 years
ago, followed with a shovel of earth
They are the four oldest Odd Fellows
in the state and were given an ovation
The ceremonies took place in an
open field. Grand Secretary William
A. Jones presided and the principal
address was delivered by Grand Mas
ter Judge Frank l. Duncan, Baltimore
county. Other grand officers present
were: Past Grand Masters John b
Spence, Baltimore; Rev. L. B. Hafer
Taneytown; and H. Dorsey Etchison
Frederick; Deputy Grand Master Jas
Wilkinson, Baltimore; Grand Treas
urer William F. Plummer, Baltimore;
Past Grand Patriarchs of the Grand
Encampment William G.Schmidt and
Samuel H Foxwell, Baltimore, and
Assistant National Secretary Edward
B. Pohlman, Baltimore. A large num-
ber of representatives of lodges and
many Rebekahs, the latter the wom-
ans auxiliary of the order, from Bal
timore, and other sections of the State
were also present.
Headed by the Boys High School
band the representatives of civic and
fraternal organizations and local mem
bers assembled in front of Odd Eel
lows headquarters and were taken to
the site in automobiles Following
prayer by Past Grand Master Rev. L.
B. Hafer, Grand Master Duncan, in an
address, said the ground-hreahng
marked the beginning of the most in
spring occasion that has ever taken
place in the Maryland jurisdiction.
After reviewing preliminaries leading
to active efforts in behalf of the home
he said Frederick was selected on ac-
count of the generous gift of the hand
some site by the county lodges. II
Dorsey Etchison and Robert A. Ben
nett, Frederick, were largely response
BILE for making it possible, he added, to
locate the home here. He said $780,
900 toward the first groupincludine
five buildings, was in hand and that
$3.50, 900 is still needed to complete the
home. He predicted that the entire
amount will be forthcoming and that
the home, affording protection to the
aged and maintenance and education
for the orphans, will be realized.Fol'
lowing a few remarks by Past Grand
Master Spence, the four oldest mem
bers, one after the other, were given
the gold shovel with which they turn,
ed over spade full of earth. Grand
and past grand officers and several
Rebekah officers also lifted shovel o1
earth.
The ceremonies opened with music
by the band, followed by singing IN!
Country 'Tis of Thee" led by Prof
George Edward Smith.
Work will begin at once on the erec
ton of the first group, including the
administration building and home fol
the aged and orphans. The last two
buildings completing the group will b'
the residence of the superintendent
and the hospital. The site embraces
95 acres of the most productive lant
in the county, on the Frederick ant
| Woodsboro state road, north of Fred
erick City limits. The buildings viii
occupy an elevation almost Opposite
the historic "Rose Hill Manor" th'
home of Thomas johnson, the frs
governor of Maryland, and will com
mand a magnificent view of the sur
rounding country.