Masonic Temple Cornerstone Here – August 24, 1909
Evening Times-Republican, Marshalltown, Iowa, August 24, 1909, page 6
MASONIC TEMPLE CORNER STONE HERE
CUBE OF POLISHED GRANITE REACHES CITY AFTER TEDIOUS DELAYS.
STONE BEARS HISTORIC CIVIC INSCRIPTION
Block Finely Polished on Front and North Face, and Plainly Inscribed With Emblematic Data—Stone to Be Placed in Position Wednesday morning, Without Formal Ceremony.
The corner stone for the new Masonic temple, which by reason of delays in transit did not arrive In time for the official ceremonies for placing it In position held last Thursday, reached the city this morning, from the quarries at Rockville, Minn.
The stone was brought up from the freight depot this forenoon and workmen rolled it to the northeast corner of the building, where it will be placed in position Wednesday.
Its dimensions are, sides, 3 feet, 2 inches by 3 feet, and height 3 feet. The receptacle in which archives and articles heretofore announced will be placed is 12 inches long, 12 inches deep and 7 Inches wide.
Both west and north faces of the stone, which is a dark granite, are beautifully polished. On west or front face appears the following historic and emblematic inscription, cut In the plainest of letters and figures:
“Marshall Lodge No. 108, A. F. and A. M.
“Signet Chapter, No. 38, R. A. M.
“King Solomon Council, No. 20, R. and S. M.
“St. Aldemar Commandery, No. 30, K. T.
“Central Chapter, No. 67, O. E. S.
“August ——– 1909.”
The date of the corner stone laying was purposely left blank, and the figures “18”, the day of the official ceremonies, will be cut in later.
The north face of the stone is without any inscription whatever. On either side of the central entrance to the building there will be two large blocks of granite, identical in size and appearance with the corner stone, except that they are unpolished and contain no inscription.
Evening Times-Republican, Marshalltown, Iowa, August 24, 1909, page 6
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Marshalltown Public Library/Carnegie Building cornerstone laying ceremony – August 25, 1902
Evening Times-Republican, August 25, 1902, page 7.
CORNER STONE IS LAID
Ceremonies at New Carnegie Library Conducted Under Unfavorable Circumstances.
Grand Lodge Have Affairs In Charge
Large Crowd Present, Despite the Bad Weather—Ritualistic Service is Most Impressive—What the Corner Stone Contains.
The ceremonies of laying the corner stone of Marshalltown’s new $30,000 public library, the gift of Andrew Carnegie, were conducted this afternoon at 3:30 by the Masonic grand lodge of Iowa. Despite the fact that a drizzling rain had started early this morning, and gave promise to continue all day, a large number of people were present.
All of the grand lodge officers, owing to numerous other calls this week for similar duties, were unable to be present at the corner stone laying. Grand Master Willis Smith Gardner, of Clinton; Senior Grand Warden William Henry Morris, of Manchester; and Grand Secretary Newton Ray Parvin, of Cedar Rapids, were present, and the remaining offices were filled from the membership of the local lodges and visiting Masons.
Shortly after 2 o’clock Grand Master Gardner called the fraternity to order at the Masonic hall, opening in ample form as an emergent communication. The officers to fill the vacancies caused by the absence of the grand Lodge officers, were appointed, and shortly after 3 marched to the site where the new building is to be erected. The list of officers as appointed by Mr. Gardner, to assist in the ritualistic work, were as follows:
Most Worshipful Grand Master— Willis Smith Gardner, Clinton.
Deputy Grand Master—John W. Wells, Marshalltown.
Senior Grand Warden—William Henry Morris, Manchester.
Junior Grand Warden—A. M. Clark, Marshalltown.
Grand Treasurer—Byron Webster, Marshalltown.
Grand Secretary—Newton Ray Parvin, Cedar Rapids.
Deputy Grand Secretary—Joseph K. Morcombe, Cedar Rapids.
Grand Chaplain—Rev. John Knox Black, Marshalltown.
Grand Marshal—Conrad Ewald, Marshalltown.
Senior Grand Deacon—W. H. Vosburg, Gilman.
Junior Grand Deacon—W. B. Williams, Marshalltown.
Senior Grand Steward—G. W. Dean, LeGrand.
Junior Grand Steward—W. H. Aves, Melbourne.
Grand Tyler—John T. Upson, Marshalltown.
March To The Building.
The officers and members of the Masonic fraternity took up their march to the building shortly after 3 o’clock, headed by the tyler of Marshall Lodge. The two stewards came next, followed by the master Masons, stewards, junior and senior deacons, secretaries, treasurers, past masters, masters and the Forty-ninth Iowa band. The grand officers next followed, with them being those who bore the symbols to be used in the exercises.
As the officers were taking their respective stations the band played, after which Grand Master Gardner rapped with his gavel and declared that as Masons they could enter upon no great or important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of the Deity. Grand Chaplain BIack then led in prayer. A song from the ritualistic service always indulged in on occasions of this kind was then sung by a quartet composed of Mrs. E. O. Baughman, Miss Edna Baughman, Mr. E. E. Carver and Mr. John W. Wells.
Service Is Cut Somewhat.
The service was cut somewhat owing to the bad weather, and because the ritual itself was of such length that it would keep the spectators out long enough in the cold and bad weather. Mayor Jones was unable to be present for the address of welcome, for which he had been slated, and the response of Grand Master Gardner was also dispensed with, the grand master remarking in a humorous vein that one of theconditions of his election was that he was never to make a speech. If he did, he knew he could never stop, and the best way was to never begin. Architect G. C. Miller then delivered the square, level and plumb to the grand master and grand wardens, the grand master trying the square, the senior grand warden the level and the junior grand warden the plumb. After the stone was declared to be perfect the grand master returned the tools to the builder, Mr. John F. Atkinson. The stone was then consecrated by the three elements of consecration—corn signifying plenty; wine, prosperity, and oil, peace. The grand marshal’s proclamation that the stone was duly laid brought the ceremonies to a close, other than the music by the band and the benediction by Chaplain Black.
What the Stone Contains.
The enumeration of the articles forming the contents of the corner stone, which was also part of the service,are as follows:
Copy of the Masonic Code of Iowa, copy of the proceedings of the grand lodge of 1902 and the book of ceremonials, all elegantly bound in flexible blue leather and inscribed in gold with the date and occasion.
A small bronze medal, in memory of the dedication of the Masonic library at Cedar Rapids.
A copy of the invitation to the Marshall county lodges to be present.
A copy of the program of exercises for the corner stone laying.
List of members of Marshall Lodge No. 108, A.F. & A.M.
List of members of Iowa Valley Lodge No. 486, A.F. & A.M.
Copy of the history of the public library.
Copy of the statistics of the city of Marshalltown.
Copy of the librarian’s report of 1900, submitted to Andrew Carnegie when the request for the gift of $30,000 was made.
Names of ten who by a donation of $100 each, gave the first $1,000 to form the present library, viz: T. Binford, O. L. Binford, C. C. Gilman, A. A. Moore, George Whitten, Charles H. Ackert, Mrs. Sarah Lucas, F. C. Letts, F. J. Woodbury and Women’s Club.
Copy of Women’s Club calendar 1892, the year when the public library was founded.
Copy of the history of the Women’s Club.
Copy of the calendar of the Hawthorne Club, which has given something toward the support of the library since the year it was founded.
Annual reports of public library for the years 1888-1901.
Copy of the constitution and by-laws of the public library.
Picture and plans of new library building.
Copy of Chicago Tribune of May 4, 1902, containing a list of Andrew Carnegie’s public donations.
Copies of Times-Republican of Jan. 2, 1902: the Reflector of .Jan. 4, 1902, and the Herald of Jan. 9, 1902, all containing accounts of Mr. Carnegie’s gift to the city.
Copy of Beobachter of Aug. 14, 1902, with the account of the gift in German.
Copy of the financial report of the city of Marshalltown for the year 1901.
Copy of the city directory for the year 1902.
All of the above were enclosed in a copper box made and donated to the library by Abbott and Son. A large number of members from the different lodges thruout the county were in attendance at the corner stone laying.
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Marshalltown Club – the first Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce, that took up residency when the Masonic Temple opened for business in October 1910.
Evening Times-Republican, September 28, 1910, page 6
COMMERCIAL CLUB ROOMS ARE READY
Furniture and furnishings here—Rooms to be opened early next month.
Manufacturers and Jobbers Take Space
Will Display Goods in South Side of New Building—Furnishings Will Be Comfortable Electric Fixtures Have Been Installed and Building is Ready For Occupancy.
The Marshalltown Club will move into the new quarters in the Masonic building the first of the month. The lower floor of the building has been finished, and the light fixtures have been installed and all that remains is the furnishing of the new club quarters.
The furniture has arrived and will be moved into the rooms this week. The furnishings will be for comfort and the rooms, when ready for occupancy, will be as comfortable and as inviting as any in the state.
The billiard room at the rear of the north side of the building will be fitted with two billiard and one pool table. The fixtures are here and are being set up today.
Secretary Ray Doolittle said last night that he expected to open the rooms the first of next week and unless something unforeseen prevents these plans will be carried out.
Manufacturers Have Displays.
The south side of the first floor has been devoted to the exhibit of Marshalltown manufactured products. The space has been divided into booths and the booths rented to various manufacturers and jobbers. This display room has a floor space of about 90×20 feet. The space has practically all been taken, and the manufacturers will install their exhibits soon after the first of the month.
The display room will be open to visitors at all times. The front room on the south side of the building will be occupied by the secretary’s office. Entrance to the display room will be thru the secretary’s office.
The manufacturers who have taken space are Britain & Co., C. A. Dunham Company, Lennox Furnace Company, Western Grocer Company Mills, Marshall Oil Company, A. E. Shorthill Company, Fisher Governor Company, LaPlant Tool Company, Marshalltown Buggy Company, Marshall Vinegar Company and the Marshalltown Mitten Company.
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