Century-old Ti — Letter from President Harding

This is the latest in a series of posts about news reported a century ago in the Ticonderoga Sentinel.

Ceremonial laying of the cornerstone for the new Knights of Columbus Council № 333 building in downtown Ticonderoga was scheduled for Oct.12, 1921.

“It will be a red letter day for Columbianism, so far. at least, as the local council is concerned,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Oct 6.

Items to be placed in a copper box inside the cornerstone included a letter that President Warren Harding personally signed.

E. J. Mallon of Ticonderoga arranged for Harding to write the letter, the text of which is as follows:

“Please accept on behalf of your country my greetings for Columbus Day, October twelfth, and congratulations on the fact that on that day you are to lay the cornerstone of your new building. The sentiments which are suggested by the date, Columbus Day, and the place, the historical old town of Ticonderoga, surely would make the occasion a notable one.”

Other items to be placed in the cornerstone included a United States flag, seven grains each of wheat and corn symbolizing plenty, three silver coins representing prosperity, and copies of newspapers.

In other Oct. 6, 1921 Ticonderoga Sentinel news:

• The Ticonderoga High School football season opened its season on the road against “the more experienced” Fort Edward.

“The local boys fought hard but had to take the bitter end of a 38 to 0 score.”

• Clark McIntyre, Walter Gunning, Gerald O’Brien, John Crawley and Dr. Neal Reardon were in New York City attending World Series games.
• The Putnam Nine baseball team defeated the Dredges of Dresden 10–6 on Oct. 1 at the Putnam Corners ball field.
• A band was organized at the hamlet of White Church in Crown Point.

“Rehearsals are being held every week and the band gives promise of growing into an organization that will be a credit to the place and give it much pleasure.”

• Forest B. Wood of Ticonderoga was elected president for the coming year at the 87th annual meeting of the Essex and Champlain Baptist Association that met at First Baptist Church in Ticonderoga.

“Not one of the five sessions was without an outstanding feature in the way of a sermon or address, which served to make up a well-balanced program that held the interest of all.”

• Ford automotive mechanic Joe Rusby was visiting at the Graphite mining hamlet in Hague.

“He has done work on nearly all their cars and is always glad to lend a helping hand. It is quite useless to ask if we want him to stay. Of course we do.”

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.