  Lawton Wilson, removes box from Mason cornerstone, while Joe Johnson, only man in Whitewright who remembers the box placed in cornerstone 1912. Grady McCorstin (on right) and Paul Stephens (behind) look on. The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, July 6, 1972 pg.1 CORNERSTONE MOVED - REVEALS BOX Joe Johnson, a young boy in 1911 stood on the sidewalk of Grand Ave. and watched as the Masons sealed a cornerstone with a box enclosed inside, with a sidewalk ceremony. And last Friday he stood in about the same spot and watched as men broke the cornerstone open and removed the box, dated 1910 and 1911. Johnson remembered that a Bible and several coins were placed in the box at the time. The box was placed in the cornerstone after businesses rebuilt following the never to be forgotten fire. For the past 61 years the box has been sealed. Masons moved into their new building a few weeks ago and moved the cornerstone to the new location. The box will be opened with another ceremony planned soon. According to Paul Stephens, there isn't a Mason here today that remembers when the box was placed in the cornerstone. But it brought childhood memories back to Mr. Johnson when the box was removed last week. On Monday night the copper box, which measured......was opened by members of the Lodge at a regular meeting. Contained in the box were a number of items: A Bible containing the old and new testaments, which was designated as the property of the Whitewright Lodge and placed in the box on August 1, 1911; a copy of The Dallas Morning News, dated August 31, 1911, with a penciled notation at the top center of the first page, "deposited by S.H. Montgomery; a copy of the Whitewright Sun, dated June 16, 1911, giving a full page account of the fire on page 2; a copy of the Taylor Monitor, formerly known as a manual of Freemasonry...edition; a small size envelope with the return, "after five days, return to S.R. Glidewell, Jeweler and Optician, fine diamonds a specialty, Whitewright, Texas;" a small unmarked envelope on three pages of letterhead of the First National Bank capital and surplus $200,000.00, Whitewright and dated August 1, 1911; a list of the names of the 100 members of the Lodge, date of charter June 25, 1858 (should be January 24, 1856); a list of the officers of Past Master. Number 6 item was a business card about 2x3-1/2 inches with a picture of a horse and the following: "Dr. J.N. Powell, Veternairy Surgeon and Dentist, a picture of a small child with writing in ink on the reverse side, "Hellen Elisabeth, daughter of Bill and Fannin Powell; born August 20, 1909; an oval shaped metal identification tag marked, "Emmet Penn;" an oval shaped identification tag marked, "H.M. Lively; what appears to have been a coin a little larger than a dime with REX distinguished on one side and the letters W.T.R. stamped on the other side; a copper disc a little larger than a half dollar with "I FINISH SAHGENT & Co. made on one side; an old one cent piece, a 1908 Indian head penny; a chapter emblem of a metal keystone with a small loop at the top, inscribed J.L. Blackburn Chapter...Whitewright; a Chapter emblem consisting of a metal keystone with the Mark Masters letters on one side and on the reverse, Peter McKerina, Whitewright, Chapter No. 198; an 1894 half dollar with the letters TEM stamped on the heads side under a T lying on its right side; an 1883 quarter stamped with I.L. BOW; a 1908 quarter was the 18th item. The copper box was....., a 1909 on front and a 1910 on the back of the box. The box was opened by Paul Cook--, placing it in about three inches of water and heating the sorder with a welding torch. Whitewright Lodge #167 History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |