The Owosso Times

CORNER STONE LAID

Thousands Watch Impressive Ceremonies in Rain at New State Armory

Fine Addresses Much Appreciated—Prominent Masons and Military Officers in Attendance.

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 exception that the vast majority of the people who witnessed the ceremonies failed to go to the I. 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 outpouring 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 appropriate funds. With a bright day it is safe to state that it would have been impossible 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 H met the visiting Companies, A of Flint, and F of Saginaw, assigned by order of the State Military Board to attend the ceremonies, and escorted them to the present 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 G. T. Campbell and taken to the Wildermuth, which was headquarters for the day for the Masons. At 1 o'clock the three military companies assembled at the Odd Fellow temple for dinner as the guests of the Owosso Improvement Association.

After the invocation was pronounced by Rev. Bernard G. Mattson, the soldier 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 appetizing manner by R. J. Beehler, so rapidly that those who served them, A. D. Whipple, W. F. Gallagher, O. L. Sprague, L. B. Allison, Herbert Hawcroft, E. O. Dewey, W. A. Seegmiller, H. K. White—"bald-headed and gray-haired bankers and business men" as the squad of waiters was styled by Gen. Kirk—had hard work to keep a 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 particularly happy in his own remarks, and in order called upon E. O. Dewey of Owosso, Major Guy M. Wilson of Flint, Representative John T. Martin of Corunna, General Kirk of Ypsilanti, Capt. Martin of Saginaw, Mayor DeYoung 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 $2,000 by A. M. Bentley for the swimming pool made possible $15,000 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 their rifles preparatory to forming the parade which started from the corner of Mason and Washington streets headed by the Boy Scouts, the Owosso City Band, the three military companies, the infirmaries of the 32d and 33d regiments—the former under command of Captain Harold Hume of Owosso, and the latter of Lieut. Passmore of Saginaw—the Masonic lodges of the county, automobiles carrying the armory committee, city officials, members 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 impressive Masonic ceremonies, which always command the closest attention and teach an important lesson. When order had been secured by the Grand Marshal upon command of Grand Master George L. Lusk—a former Owosso citizen—Captain J. O. Parker of Company H. addressed the Grand Master and requested that the corner stone of the building be laid according to the Masonic usages. E. O. Dewey, being presented as chairman of the building committee, stated that the corner stone had been prepared and was ready to become the chief foundation stone of the building, also presenting a copper casket containing a list of articles to be deposited in the same. E. A. Bowd of Lansing, architect for the building, presented the working tools, after which the Grand Lodge officers carried out the Masonic service. At its conclusion Mr. Lusk spoke of the pleasure the occasion afforded him, commended the people of the county upon their enterprises and expressed the hope that work of erecting the edifice might proceed without interruption or accident. Capt. Parker announced that on account of the rain the remainder of the program would be carried out at the Odd Fellow temple. Mayor DeYoung presided over this gathering.

The program of the day was brought to a conclusion with a supper served to the visiting soldiers at the temple at which the good feeling felt by the companies for each other and for the way in which they had been treated by Owosso was manifest by repeated cheers and before they were over every one and everything connected with the affair was declared "all right." In addition to several who served at the dinner, E. F. Conant, L. L. Conn, Herman Dignan, Geo. U. Wright, E. M. Lampkin, Edw. Zimmerman assisted in caring for the inner needs of the soldiers. The fact that so many of the men of the city not connected directly with military affairs were willing to assist in this way touched the soldiers and was the subject of general comment.

While invitations were sent to all members of the legislature to be present and several had expected to get here, but two, Rep. A. Robertson of Saginaw, and J. Y. Martin of Corunna, graced the occasion with their presence.

The Masonic Grand Lodge was represented by Geo. L. Lusk of Bay City, grand master; John H. Hawks of Lansing, deputy grand master; Frank O. Gilbert of Bay City, acting senior warden; Hugh A. McPherson of Howell, junior grand warden; L. B. Winsor of Reed City, grand treasurer; Rev. W. H. Gallagher of Caro, grand chaplain; Chas. B. Eddy of Hart, acting grand treasurer; Ira A. Beck of Battle Creek, junior grand deacon; R. P. Anderson of Port Huron, grand marshal; James P. McGregor of Detroit, grand tiler.

The Michigan National Guard officers present from away were Brigadier General John P. Kirk of Ypsilanti; Major A. H. Gansser of Bay City; Major Guy M. Wilson of Flint; Chaplain Thos. E. Swan of Saginaw; Captain Harry W. Martin of Saginaw; Lieut. J. L. Passmore of Saginaw, 33d Infirmary; Captain Thos. Colloday of Flint.

Following is the list of articles deposited in the cornerstone:

History of L. B. Quackenbush Post Grand Army of the Republic, together with a copy of the rules and regulations, application blank, etc.

History of L. B. Quackenbush Woman's Relief Corps.

Souvenir History of Company G, 33d Michigan Volunteers.

Roster of Company H, 33d Michigan Infantry.

Certified copies of proceedings of the board of supervisors and city commission making appropriation for construction of armory.

Copy of act No. 103 public acts of 1913, providing additional appropriation for armories.

Copies of circular letters and addresses issued by Armory committee in the campaign for the passage of Act No. 103.

Roster and photographs of Grand Lodge officers F. & A. M. of Michigan participating in cornerstone laying.

Copies invitations addressed to Masonic lodges and Knights Templar, inviting attendance at corner stone laying; copy invitation addressed to members of the Michigan legislature.

List of committees and participants in laying of cornerstone.

Copy program of exercises.

Review of work of Owosso City Commission for its first year.

Copies of The Press-American, The Owosso Times, The Evening Argus, The Tyler-Keystone and The Michigan Sportsman.

Copies of directories Owosso lodges F. & A. M., B. P. O. E., Eagles, K. P., county, city, village and township officers.

Copy by-laws and list of members of Owosso Improvement association.

Programs 1915-16 of the Current Topic Club, Woman's Club and Shiawassee Chapter D. A. R.

Copy Michigan Legislative Handbook 1915-16.

Letters from members Michigan legislature.

Views of city of Owosso and Shiawassee county.

A brief summary of the addresses of Gen. Kirk and Major Gansser follow:

Major A. H. Gansser of Bay City, when presented said that when Capt. Parker notified him to be here for this auspicious occasion, he mentioned two things that a soldier usually enjoys, dinner and a parade.

"After that would come the 'hot air' shooters, but it seems the doctor's diagnosis of this Labor Day went wrong, for the air seems rather 'damp and cool.'

…Some one jestingly called this the 'christening of the new armory, but the weather man must have had genuine all round baptism in mind when he ordered it. However, this is bound to be a memorable day for Owosso for you have dedicated a temple to patriotism, a rallying place for your city and its people for all time to come.

"And right here let me beseech you, good neighbors, to never rest until you have gathered into your municipal arms this whole beautiful section of ground surrounding the armory.

"When some of the watch dogs of the state treasury came to me as chairman of the senate military committee, and urged me to report unfavorably upon Owosso's request for another $10,000 I said to them, this will be a fire proof building. It will be something more than a mere gun and drill floor for one military company. For in addition to that it will be a great public auditorium, where business man and farmer, church man and fraternalists, can come together for education and enjoyment. And so let us build these armories and auditoriums as though they were for eternity, as certainly they will be for the enjoyment of our children and children's children.

"Don't be niggardly, for that would be penny wise and pound foolish. If $30,000 will hardly build half a suitable auditorium, $15,000 added will make it the finest armory in all Michigan, then prudence and judgment command that we spend that other $15,000, and the legislature agreed almost unanimously.

"Now a similar problem confronts you, my good people. You have here an opportunity to add to the beauty of the building by buying all the available property immediately around it, and transforming it into a city park.

"City parks means breathing places, rest places, health. You can almost judge a modern American community by its city park system.

"Over in Bay City we neglected that municipal essential in the years when land was cheap, and finally we had to pay $200,000 for several blocks of buildings, tear these down and create a river front park and beauty spot. Timid folks held up their hands in horror when they learned what it would cost but progress and good judgment carried the day, and today one of Bay City's best civic assets is Wenona Park, and the park system that in ten short years has grown from that daring beginning.

"Owosso has a similar opportunity now. And the city that hand-cuffed a reluctant and unwilling legislature, securing almost unanimous approval for its successful attack on the state treasury, will not stop short of securing the proper park setting for your new municipal building, and no patriotic, enterprising citizen put any unreasonable obstacle in the way of the public good in this matter.

"And then your armory and the park surrounding it will be a lasting monument to the enterprise and civic pride of the people who made Owosso what it is in 1915.

"Having touched elbows with Owosso's military company for more than 24 years, I can assure you we up state always knew civic pride and genuine patriotism dwelt in Owosso, for the military company representing you always has been above the average.

"Your company has been in my battalion since 1908, and whether on some holiday parade, on strike duty at Calumet, or digging trenches on the military reservation at Grayling, they have been worthy of their mothers and their mother city.

"Naturally then, next to Senator Foster and your faithful public servant, Representative Martin, I was most interested in your efforts to get improved armory conditions for Michigan.

"But it took 'Fighting Dewey' and his valiant co-workers from Owosso to help the National Guard of this state to this recognition, and so every city which in future secures a state armory will owe a vote of thanks to you as pioneers for better treatment by our legislature of the national defense.

"Our national defense? Until the cataclysm broke over night in Europe

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