Masons Laying the Cornerstone of the Pocahontas County Board of Education Building in Marlinton, WV

PHP000519.jpg

Title

Masons Laying the Cornerstone of the Pocahontas County Board of Education Building in Marlinton, WV

Date

1948-Oct 11

Description

Marlinton Lodge No. 127 AF&AM laying the cornerstone at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Building in Marlinton, WV. The cornerstone held a small metal casket, approximately 7 x 4 x 4 inches, and contained two copies of The Pocahontas Times, two copies of The Marlinton Journal, a 1948 quarter and a 1948 nickel. At left in dark suit: Arnout Yeager, Principal of Marlinton High School. Center in light suit: Walter Jett, County Agricultural Agent. Right in dark suit: Paul Mason. The casket was opened in Marlinton on July 24, 2020 Because of their heritage as builders of cathedrals and other public structures, the Freemasons have historically performed a special ceremony at the laying of cornerstones for new buildings, upon request. In the Masonic cornerstone ceremony, the stone is checked, using ancient tools, to be certain it’s square, plumb (straight), and level because a building constructed on a poor foundation isn’t strong. Next, the cornerstone is consecrated with corn (or grain), wine, and oil — all of which are Masonic symbols of prosperity, health, and peace. Finally, the stone is symbolically tapped in place with a gavel. Inside each cornerstone, the Masons place a “casket” – a small, sealed box containing information and objects pertinent to the year in which the cornerstone was placed.

Place

Marlinton, W.Va.

Creator

Ted McElwee, Photographer

Identifier

PHP000519

Rights

See Rights and Reproductions

Type

Still Image

Format

Photograph

Citation

Ted McElwee, Photographer, “Masons Laying the Cornerstone of the Pocahontas County Board of Education Building in Marlinton, WV,” PRESERVING POCAHONTAS: ~ Pocahontas County W. Va. ~ Digital Archive, accessed November 23, 2024, http://pocahontaspreservation.org/omeka/items/show/1115.

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