Claremore Daily Progress

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October 28, 2012

Cornerstone ceremony to renew history

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — Rogers County will be celebrating a milestone at 10 a.m. on Tuesday as the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge presents the cornerstone for the new courthouse.

“We are honored to have them participate in the event. It is a piece of history that will be a part of the new courthouse,” Commissioner Kirt Thacker said.

The Ceremony will be conducted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Randell Rogers, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Rogers is a Lieutenant in McAlester for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.  

Several officers and members of the Grand Lodge and Will Rogers Lodge will be participating in the ceremony.

“We were contacted by the Masonic Lodge to participate in this traditional ceremony that dates back many, many years,” Thacker said.

The Masons laid a stone at the existing courthouse and will continue the tradition by honoring the new construction.

“I think it is pretty cool to have this ceremony to honor the 100 year design of this courthouse,” Thacker said.

In theory the courthouse should be standing for 100 and people will have something to be proud of and look back on, he added.

The old courthouse was built in 1937 for $25,000 and the new building will cost approximately $19 million. It is historic, he said.

Additionally, officials will be opening the time capsule that was placed with the stone at the old courthouse.

Several members of the Lodge and DeMolay and Rainbow youth groups will serve a meal at the Will Rogers Lodge, following the ceremony.

If the weather permits the ceremony will be held on the North East corner of the new courthouse. If inclement weather arrives the ceremony will be moved inside at the Will Rogers Lodge.

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